International Arbitration: Investor-State Arbitration

Volterra Fietta has one of the world’s largest investor-State arbitration practices.  It represents States and foreign investors in investment treaty arbitrations before ICSID and other arbitral institutions.  In addition, the firm regularly represents governments in State-to-State arbitrations under the PCA and UNCLOS Annex VII rules as well as private and public entities in commercial arbitrations before the ICC, the LCIA and other arbitration centres. 

In two ICSID arbitrations against Venezuela, Volterra Fietta recently secured a USD 455 million award for OI European Group and a USD 370 million award for Koch Minerals and Koch Nitrogen International. Led by Robert Volterra and Álvaro Nistal, the firm then successfully represented OI European Group in ICSID annulment proceedings initiated by Venezuela.  The annulment application was rejected in its entirety and Venezuela was ordered to bear the entirety of the proceedings’ costs.

Equally, led by Robert Volterra and Graham Coop, the firm successfully represented Barbados in an UNCITRAL arbitration brought by a Canadian investor. The firm achieved the complete dismissal of all claims and USD 3 million in costs to Barbados.

The firm is currently representing Croatia in five ICSID arbitrations.  Among other clients, the firm also is representing Egypt, Nigeria and subsidiaries of Koch Industries in multiple high-profile arbitrations and annulment proceedings.