Mercedes Fernández focuses her practice in the area of civil and commercial jurisdiction, both in arbitral and judicial proceedings. Her litigation experience is centered on disputes involving construction contracts and large civil engineering projects, construction defects, energy projects, commercial litigation, and conflicts arising from M&A transactions. Mercedes is also very active in investment arbitration. She leads the Global Disputes Practice in Madrid.
Mercedes has participated in proceedings before Spanish courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court. She has acted as counsel in national and international arbitration proceedings. Among the latter, she has participated in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations. Her broad experience in arbitration includes proceedings governed by United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Rules, as well as investment arbitrations before the World Bank (ICSID). She has civil and commercial law experience in construction, corporate matters, and acquisitions. Mercedes also acts as an independent arbiter.
Recent engagements include the representation of Urbaser (ACS Group) and CABB in an ICSID arbitration related to a dispute involving pesification and freezing of tariffs against the Argentine government, a current investment arbitration claim filed by two Spanish companies against Ecuador derived from the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, and the representation of a Panamanian company with Spanish capital in an ICC arbitration in Panama related to the structure of a hydroelectric plant.
Mercedes conducts classes and presentations on international, investment, construction, and engineering arbitration to students in programs offered by Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía and Instituto de Empresa.
Erfahrung
Weitere Veröffentlichungen
- July, 2020
2020-2021 Memento on arbitration. Section III. Lis pendens, res judicata and review of awards - November 12, 2019
Advances in information technology and advocacy: the essence remains - Expansión Jurídico - September 30, 2019
Default in arbitration, the nightmare of arbitrators and institutions - 2019 Yearbook of Private International Law - July 2017
2017 Arbitration Yearbook: The counterclaim in investment arbitration, reality or illusion? - 2017
Commentary to Law 29/2015 on International Legal Cooperation in Civil Matters - June 2016
2016 Litigation practice for lawyers - Sales contract of future property (plot): compliance with conditions and granting of public deed
Vortragstätigkeit
- 4 de abril, 2019
La diversidad de los equipos directivos: transformando retos en oportunidades - April 4, 2019
Successful Stories of Balanced Leadership: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities in the Workplace - 13 junio, 2018
Arbitraje y litigios transnacionales en las nuevas tecnologías: Blockchain y Criptomoneda - June 20, 2017
Spanish Club of Arbitration Annual Conference: "The effects of corruption on contracts in arbitration" - November 2015
3rd Conference of judges and arbitrators of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce: allied for the resolution of commercial disputes. 2nd Panel - Public order and judicial control of arbitration - Octubre 2010
Subsistencia del Arbitraje como Remedio Ocasional, en la actividad El Arbitraje y su Problemática Actual, organizada por el Servicio de Formación Continua del Consejo General del Poder Judicial, celebrada en Madrid entre el 29 de septiembre y el 1 de octubre de 2010 - October 2010
The Subsistence of Arbitration as an Occasional Remedy, Conference on the Current Problems of Arbitration, General Council of the Judiciary in Madrid - October 2009
The Arbitration Agreement in Writing, Second Joint Conference of the Spanish and French Arbitration Clubs in Madrid, Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association - Octubre 2009
Convenio Arbitral. Forma Escrita, en la II Jornadas Conjuntas Franco Españolas organizadas por el Club Español de Arbitraje y el Comité Français de l'Arbitrage con el patrocinio del Comité de Arbitraje de la IBA - Diciembre 2007
La eficacia de los sistemas alternativos en la resolución de conflictos, en la conferencia organizada por el Club Español de Arbitraje sobre "Arbitraje de Construcción: Algunas cuestiones de interés" - December 2007
The Effectiveness of Conciliation in Construction Arbitration, Spanish Arbitration Club - Mayo 2004
Segunda Conferencia Especial sobre Arbitraje sobre la nueva Ley de Arbitraje española, patrocinada por Jones Day en Madrid - May 2004
Second Special Arbitration Conference on the New Spanish Arbitration Law, sponsored by Jones Day - February 2004
New Spanish Arbitration Law Conference, workshop organized by NECSO Legal Department (Acciona Group) - Febrero 2004
Conferencia sobre la nueva Ley de Arbitraje española, jornada organizada por el Departamento Jurídico de NECSO (Acciona Infraestructuras), en Madrid
- University of Oviedo, Spain (Law Degree cum laude 1982)
- Member 24945 of the Madrid Bar Association
Chambers Global (2009-2023): Band 1
Chambers Europe (2009-2023): Band 1: Chambers Outstanding Contribution Award 2020 — Winner, Dispute Resolution
The Legal 500 EMEA (2011-2023, including 2022-2023 "Hall of Fame"): leading lawyer for Dispute Resolution, Projects, and Energy
The Legal 500's The Arbitration Powerlist: Iberia (2023)
Best Lawyers (2010-2023), including 2021 "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation: International Arbitration, Mediation and Litigation
Founder and board member of the Spanish Arbitration Club
- English and Spanish