Maria I.Pradilla Picas

Maria Pradilla Picas focuses her practice on the arbitration and litigation of complex commercial and investment disputes, with a particular focus on Latin America and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). She has represented clients in investment treaty and commercial arbitration proceedings under UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law), ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes), LCIA (London Court of International Arbitration), and ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) rules across a range of industries, including mining, energy, telecommunications, and construction.

Maria is currently representing investors with high-value and novel claims against CIS, Latin American, and Arab states. Her prior representations include advising investors in arbitration proceedings against Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, a U.S. investor on a construction dispute in Panama, and a U.S. investor in ICC commercial arbitration proceedings against its Indian co-contractor. In addition to her international dispute resolution practice, Maria advises clients on international legal matters, including treaty interpretation and risk management strategies. She also maintains an active pro bono practice representing clients in human trafficking, asylum, and custody matters.

Maria is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Law teaching international arbitration and a coach for Georgetown University Law Center's LL.M. international arbitration moot court team. She is a frequent speaker and author on international arbitration. Maria was co-chair of International Arbitration Month at Georgetown and coach of its Willem C. Vis International Arbitration Moot team. She was born and raised in Venezuela and is a native Spanish speaker.