Latin America: The Arbitration Outlook

Corruption in the arbitration space is actively being discussed in countries like Peru.

BY JOACHIM BAMRUD

While the wave of country-specific arbitration cases spurred by leftist policies in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela has likely peaked, countries like Colombia are now seeing more cases – a trend expected to continue, experts say.

Meanwhile, commercial arbitration in general continues to grow in the region, they say.

Latinvex asked two leading experts on Latin America arbitration -- Jose Astigarraga, Founding Partner of Astigarraga Davis; and Paul Reichler, Chair of the International Litigation and Arbitration Department at Foley Hoag – about the outlook in Latin America in general and specifically in countries like Argentina and Colombia.

Argentina is the leader in total cases at The World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), according to the latest Latinvex analysis.

Meanwhile, Colombia has seen several key arbitration cases recently, including one filed this month by Spain-based Gas Natural at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) after Colombia’s government intervened Electricaribe, a unit of the Spanish energy company.

LATIN AMERICA

Latinvex: How do you view the outlook for Latin America arbitration this year?

Astigarraga: Now, more than ever, it ..

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Keywords: Argentina, Astigarraga Davis, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Foley Hoag, ICSID, Venezuela