Nahila A. Cortés

Counsel

Washington, D.C.
T +1.202.861.1655
F +1.202.861.1783

Overview

Nahila A. Cortes concentrates her practice on commercial and investment treaty arbitration representing corporate clients and sovereign states, primarily in Latin America. She also advises corporate clients in all phases of their investments and in complex cross border disputes. A substantial part of her work involves mining, infrastructure, environment, local communities and trade matters. Nahila is trained in both civil and common law and handles matters in English and Spanish.

Nahila has represented clients in arbitrations under the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), and in ad hoc arbitrations under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), among others. She has also advised international companies operating in Latin America on corporate and regulatory matters as well as on litigation before Argentinean courts.

Nahila has served as an assistant to arbitrators in commercial disputes and actively participates in academia as a guest lecturer on investment and commercial arbitration and commercial law at American University and Austral University. She regularly publishes articles, and participates as a coach and arbitrator in international moot court competitions.

* Not admitted in the District of Columbia, admitted in New York. Practicing pursuant to D.C. Rule 49(c)(8) under the direct supervision of Mark Cymrot during pendency of application for admission to the District of Columbia.

Select Experience

  • Representing a U.S. investor and its subsidiary in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Peru under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.
  • Representing a Central American country in an ICSID case under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement related to the agricultural sector.
  • Representing the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation of a Central American country in an arbitration administered by the PCA initiated by a Mexican company related to the construction and maintenance of roads.
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Experience

  • Representing a U.S. investor and its subsidiary in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Peru under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.
  • Representing a Central American country in an ICSID case under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement related to the agricultural sector.
  • Representing the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation of a Central American country in an arbitration administered by the PCA initiated by a Mexican company related to the construction and maintenance of roads.
  • Advised mining companies in IPO in New York and Australia.
  • Advised mining companies in the strategy and litigation proceedings related to provincial border disputes in Argentina, export duties and mining tenements claims.
  • Advised a large mining company on corporate and transactional aspects related to the development of their project in the north of Argentina, including permitting plans and presentations before mining and environmental authorities.
  • Advised mining companies in the management of trusts and in the development of large infrastructure projects in Argentina.
  • Advised companies in the construction and expansion of gas pipelines and aqueducts in the north of Argentina.
  • Advised the lenders in the project financing of four wind projects awarded under the RenovAr 1 program.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • The Legal 500 Latin America
    • Recommended in Energy and Natural Resources: Mining (2019 to 2020)

Memberships

  • Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA)
  • New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)

Admissions

  • New York
  • City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • *Not admitted in the District of Columbia, admitted in New York. Practicing pursuant to D.C. Rule 49(c)(8) under the direct supervision of Mark Cymrot during pendency of application for admission to the District of Columbia.

Education

  • Masters in Corporate Law, Austral University, Pilar, Argentina
  • LL.M., International Business Law and International Arbitration, American University Washington College of Law, 2015, magna cum laude
  • Superior Diploma, Public Policy, FLACSO Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2013
  • J.D. (equivalent), Austral University Law School, Pilar, Argentina, 2010, with honors

Languages

  • French
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish