Maria I.Pradilla Picas

Associate

Washington + 1.202.879.4640

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Maria Pradilla Picas focuses her practice on the arbitration and litigation of complex commercial and investment disputes, with a particular focus on Latin America. She has represented clients in investment treaty and commercial arbitration proceedings under UNCITRAL, ICSID, and the ICC rules.

Maria is currently assisting with two representations, brought under the ICSID arbitration rules, against Uzbekistan pursuant to the Energy Charter Treaty and the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan BIT. She is also representing a Canadian investor in proceedings against Kazakhstan in an UNCITRAL arbitration and a U.S. investor involved in ICC commercial arbitration proceedings against its Indian co-contractor.

Prior to joining Jones Day, Maria was co-chair of International Arbitration Month at Georgetown University Law Center, which brings together international arbitration practitioners and students for a month-long series of seminars and lectures. She was a member of Georgetown's Willem C. Vis International Arbitration Moot team and continues to participate as an arbitrator and volunteer assistant coach. She was born and raised in Venezuela and is a native Spanish speaker.

Experience

  • World Wide Minerals obtains arbitration award in excess of $50 million against the Republic of KazakhstanJones Day obtained an arbitration award on behalf of World Wide Minerals Ltd. ("WWM"), a Toronto-based mining company, and Mr. Paul A. Carroll, QC, WWM's President and CEO, which held that the Republic of Kazakhstan breached international law and the Canada-U.S.S.R. Bilateral Investment Treaty ("BIT") over 20 years ago.
  • U.S. construction company arbitrates dispute with Panama for violation of applicable treaties between U.S. and PanamaJones Day is representing a U.S. construction company in an international arbitration conducted under the Rules of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes against the Republic of Panama.
  • Eight years after original hearing, Jones Day secures asylum on remand for Guatemalan gay manIn December 2006, at just 17 years old, C.C. fled to the United States after three armed men threatened, kidnapped, beat, raped, and nearly killed him simply because he is gay.
  • Canadian mining company initiates UNCITRAL arbitration against KazakhstanJones Day represents a Canadian mining company in an UNCITRAL arbitration against the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  • Alhambra Resources initiates ICSID arbitration against KazakhstanJones Day represents Alhambra Resources Ltd., an international gold explorer and producer based in Calgary, in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Kazakhstan.
  • Federal Elektrik Yatirim ve Ticaret arbitrates issues against Uzbekistan under Energy Charter TreatyJones Day represents Federal Elektrik Yatirim ve Ticaret A.S. and three other claimants in an ICSID arbitration against Uzbekistan seeking millions of dollars of compensation under the Energy Charter Treaty and the Turkey-Uzbekistan bilateral investment treaty.
  • Kazakh investors initiate ICSID arbitration against UzbekistanJones Day represents Vladislav Kim and 11 other citizens of Kazakhstan in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Uzbekistan instituted pursuant to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments.
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    March 2016 Commentaries

    Miami International Commercial Arbitration Court: Another Reason Why Miami Is Becoming the Preferred Seat for Latin American Arbitrations

    Speaking Engagements

    • May 13, 2020
      The Impact of COVID-19 on Foreign Direct Investment
    • June 15, 2018
      De Ida Y Vuelta: Litigios y Arbitraje A Través del Atlántico
    • 13 junio, 2018
      Arbitraje y litigios transnacionales en las nuevas tecnologías: Blockchain y Crytomonedas
    • April 2, 2018
      2018 CIArb Conference: Arbitrating Disputes with Foreign Sovereigns and Sovereign-Owned Entities - "Career Transitions in the Field of International Arbitration"
    • October 30, 2017
      Investment Structuring and Treaty Protection IABA - IIEL Conference
    • June 21, 2017
      Global Disputes: Cross Border Arbitration and Litigation from the Spanish and American Perspectives
    • May 25, 2017
      Judicial Assistance: Hague Service and Evidence Conventions; 28 U.S.C. 1782
    • February 10, 2016
      Effects of the Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements on International Arbitration (Moderator)
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