Clifford Chance
José García Cueto focuses his practice on commercial and investor-state international arbitration and mediation matters in Latin America and the US.
He has extensive experience advising in infrastructure (oil & gas, renewables, power plants, and construction disputes generally) post M&A disputes and investment related disputes.
He has experience advising on ICSID, ICC AAA, UNCITRAL, ICDR and ad hoc arbitrations, among others.
- Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Colombia S.A., The Bank Of Nova Scotia, ING Capital LLC, Banco Santander, S.A. and Clifford Capital PTE. LTD., as mandated lead arrangers, in the financing provided to Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce S.A, a company backed by PSA International (formerly the Port of Singapore Authority) and International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI), in connection with the expansion of the multi-purpose Port of Aguadulce located in Buenaventura, Colombia.
- Odebrecht Latinvest S.À.R.L. in a US$ 1.8 billion ICSID arbitration (Washington D.C. – USA) investment claim concerning the termination of a pipeline concession. The dispute is related to a US$7 billion concession that accounts for one of the most important energy infrastructure projects in the Americas and has a significant economic and political relevance in the region.
- Enel Green Power Costa Rica CAM S.A. and Enel Colombia S.A. in an ICSID arbitration against Costa Rica seated in Washington, D.C., for the indirect expropriation and other breaches of an investment treaty by Costa Rica in relation to two hydroelectric plants for the generation of energy.
- Doups Holdings LLC, an American investor, in a claim against Mexico under NAFTA arising of the termination of a concession in Mexico City.
- Sepadeve International LLC, an American investor, in a claim against Mexico under NAFTA arising of the termination of a concession in Mexico City.
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, Washington D.C.
- +1 202 912 5123
- Email me
- Follow me on LinkedIn
- Speaks English and Spanish
- Practice area Litigation, dispute resolution & risk management
Career and qualifications
- ESADE University, Barcelona, Spain (Law) 2009
- ESADE University, Barcelona, Spain (Master of Laws in Business Law) 2009
- Admitted as an Abogado in Barcelona 2009
- Associate, Garrigues, 2009
- Harvard University and Centro de Estudios Garrigues, Barcelona, Spain (Master Executive in Business Law) 2011
- Georgetown University Law Centre, Washington, D.C.,USA (LL.M) 2014
- Joined Clifford Chance 2014
- Admitted as an Attorney at Law in New York 2015
- Admitted as a Special Legal Consultant in Washington D.C. in 2016
- Admitted as an Attorney-at-law in Washington D.C. in 2021
- Partner since May 2022
Awards and citations
- Next Generation Partner – Legal 500 Latin America 2024.
- "José García Cueto is a rising star. One of the best arbitration experts. His ability to design strategies and anticipate the movements of the opponents in arbitration gives us the security of having the best legal defence. His legal and market knowledge is the best I have seen in the field of international arbitration." Legal 500 Latin America 2024: International firms: International arbitration – Tier 4.
- "The biggest plus is that they are lawyers of Hispanic American origin with a clear and defined client focus. José García Cueto is one of the best lawyers I have ever seen. He presents clear and convincing arguments and is an excellent interrogator." Legal 500, Latin America 2024.
- Next Generation Partner – Legal 500, United States 2023, International Arbitration.
- "José García Cueto is the best attorney of their generation: fast, accurate and convincing. He is very young and he is already partner and leading the LATAM arbitration practice in Clifford Chance." Legal 500, United States 2023, International Arbitration.
- Ranked Up and Coming – Chambers 2023, International Arbitration in USA – Nationwide.
- "José is one of the best attorneys of his generation. He is clever, fast, accurate: he could work very well under short-term deadlines." Chambers 2023, International Arbitration in USA – Nationwide.