Ricardo Ugarte

Former chair of Winston’s International Arbitration Practice, Ricardo Ugarte applies his multilingual capabilities to advise clients in international arbitrations and lawsuits filed across the world, including in the U.S., Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe.

Ricardo has nearly 30 years of litigation and international arbitration experience. His practice is focused on high-stakes international commercial arbitration as well as investment treaty arbitration for clients in a wide variety of industries, including oil and gas, renewable energy, mining/metals, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and transportation. Ricardo is a fluent Spanish speaker and conversant in French and Italian.

Ricardo has a global disputes practice, having spent a significant portion of his career working in Winston’s European offices in Geneva and London. Ricardo is currently based in the firm’s Chicago office. During the course of his practice, Ricardo has represented clients in disputes filed in the United States, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and numerous jurisdictions in Europe (including England, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland). Clients recognize Ricardo as a “superb” “standout partner” that “leads the firm’s [International Arbitration] group in a very astute way.” “His ability to handle a wide array of arbitration matters is what sets him apart.”

He has tried high-profile arbitrations, some with stakes well in excess of US$1 billion, and has appeared as counsel in UNCITRAL, ICC, ICSID, AAA-ICDR, and SCC arbitrations. He has represented clients in several areas of law, such as contract and commercial law, fraud, product liability, insurance coverage, and issues of criminal law that arise in civil disputes, as well as international law.

In light of his investment treaty experience, Ricardo was elected to serve on the ICC’s Task Force on Investor-State Arbitrations.