Band 3
Provided by David M Orta
Spanish, English
David Orta is Chair of the U.S. International Arbitration Practice and of the Latin America International Arbitration Practice. Chambers Global and Chambers Latin America report that clients call David Orta a “tenacious” advocate, “a vastly experienced attorney who inspires real confidence, with a remarkable ability to see all the angles.” They also report that Mr. Orta wins praise from clients for his dedication and “goes above and beyond to get the best result.” Clients also reported to Chambers that “David Orta is easy to deal with and is always available to comment on any action related to the matter at hand. He is always open to discussing different proposals and strategies.”
David is a trial lawyer and arbitration advocate with many years of experience successfully representing clients all over the world in complex international arbitrations (including investor-state (treaty) arbitrations and complex, international commercial arbitrations) and complex, commercial transnational litigations. David’s clients and cases have spanned most continents, including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. David represents both governments and investors in international arbitration matters. His experience spans many sectors, including energy, oil and gas, transportation, infrastructure, construction, power plant, telecommunications, mining, and post-merger and acquisition disputes. He also serves as arbitrator and expert in international investment and commercial arbitration disputes.
David has handled numerous investor-state arbitrations under bilateral and multilateral investment treaties administered under the auspices of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). David also has represented clients in treaty and commercial ad hoc arbitrations administered under UNCITRAL Rules and international commercial arbitrations administered by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR/AAA). David also has handled many commercial, transnational litigations within and outside of the United States, including post-M&A and asset sale disputes, arbitral award enforcement proceedings and asset recovery litigation.
David has received various accolades for his work, including being named consistently as a Leading International Arbitration Advocate by Chambers Global, Chambers Latin America, Legal 500, Euromoney’s Expert’s Guide to the World’s Leading Commercial Arbitration and being named consistently as “one of the world’s leading commercial arbitrators” by the International Who’s Who Legal. David has been referred to as “a very terrific and capable lawyer” and this is backed by his consistent rankings and notable representations. Most recently in 2024, David was selected by Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Guide for his work in International Litigation. In 2024, 2023 and 2021, David was selected as one of 500 litigators selected from around the world by Lawdragon 500 for Global Litigation. Lawdragon 500 selected 38 honorees from Quinn Emanuel, a larger number of attorneys than any other firm included. He was also named a Top 100 Lawyer for Arbitration & Litigation by Latinvex for 2018-2025. He has been named on two separate occasions (once by the National Law Journal and once by Washingtonian Magazine) as one of the Top 40 Lawyers under 40 in Washington, DC; selected numerous times for inclusion in Super Lawyers—Washington, D.C. for international arbitration, named to the 2014 Lawyers of Color Hotlist, named one of the world’s leading practitioners in The International Who’s Who of Asset Recovery Lawyers 2012, elected as Member of The American Law Institute, included in Global Arbitration Review 100 (2010 Edition) “Names to Know,” and named in Lawdragon 500 “New Stars, New Worlds” in 2006. He regularly lectures on topics of international arbitration and public and private international law all around the world and has published numerous articles on topics of interest within the international arbitration community.
Lender Liability & Other Banking Financial Institution Litigation
Class Action and Mass Arbitration Group
Construction Litigation
Domestic U.S. Arbitration
Energy Sector Disputes
Government Contracts Litigation
Litigation Representing Plaintiffs
Real Estate Litigation
Transnational Litigation
Investigations, Government Enforcement & White Collar Criminal Defense Practice
Latin America Practice
Sovereign Litigation, Arbitration and Workouts
Section 1782
International Arbitration
Redwood Capital
Bluemountain Capital
Neuberger Berman
Avenue Capital
Natrugy
Pan American Energy
Grupo Isolux Corsan, S.A.
B-Mex, LLC and various U.S. investors in a Mexican casino project
Ali Allawi
Progas Energy Holdings
Spentex Industries Limited & Spentex Netherlands, B.V.
Offshore Exploration & Production LLC
Pala Investments
Norcast, S.ár.l
Churchill Mining Plc
Republic of Panama
Republic of El Salvador
Republic of Guatemala
Largest state-owned power company in El Salvador
State-owned Geothermal power company in El Salvador
David M. Orta, Brian H. Rowe, Julianne Jaquith, Kristopher Yue, “The Arbitration Review of the Americas 2020: Investment Treaty Arbitration in the Americas.” (published in August 2019), Global Arbitration Review.
Firm Memorandum: Title III Suits Under The Helms-Burton Act - A Primer, (May 2019).
David M. Orta, Tai-Heng Cheng, Julia Peck, “Getting the Deal Through (United States Chapter) – Investment Treaty Arbitration 2016." (published in November 2015), Law Business Research Ltd. For further information please visit www.GettingTheDealThrough.com
David M. Orta, Tai-Heng Cheng, Julia Peck, “Getting the Deal Through (United States Chapter) – Investment Treaty Arbitration 2015." (published in November 2014), Law Business Research Ltd. For further information please visit www.GettingTheDealThrough.com
David M. Orta, Tai-Heng Cheng, Julia Peck, “Getting the Deal Through (United States Chapter) – Investment Treaty Arbitration 2014." (published in November 2013), Law Business Research Ltd. Reproduced with permission from Law Business Research Ltd. This article was first published in Getting the Deal Through: Investment Treaty Arbitration 2015, (published in November 2014; contributing editor: Stephen Jagusch and Epaminontas Triantafilou, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP). For further information please visit www.gettingthedealthrough.com.
David M. Orta and Giselle Fuentes. "What is the effect of International Arbitration Rules on the Availability of Assistance in the Production of Evidence Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782?." World Arbitration & Mediation Review Volume 4, No. 3, 2011.
David M. Orta. "Defending Class Actions." Diversity & The Bar Magazine, p.60, November/December 2007.
David M. Orta. "The Crossroads Between Enforcement And Execution Of Arbitration Awards And Sovereign Immunity-A Primer For In-House Counsel." (PDF: 2.56 MB) International Chamber of Commerce Members' Handbook, UK Edition, Spring 2006.
David M. Orta. "The Class Action Threat to Sovereign Workouts." International Financial Law Review, 41 July 2003.
Provided by Chambers
David Orta has a wealth of experience in Latin American arbitration matters, offering particular insight into cases involving Argentina, Ecuador and Mexico. His practice covers advising corporate clients on both commercial and investor-state mandates.
Provided by Chambers
David Orta is very results-oriented. He boasts creative thinking and a smart legal mind, and provides us with a good level of insight.
David Orta is very results-oriented. He boasts creative thinking and a smart legal mind, and provides us with a good level of insight.