Sovereign & States Litigation Summit USA

Gain actionable insights with managing complex and high-stakes disputes in North and Latin America.

23rd - 24th September 2025, Washington, D.C., USA

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Agenda

FIRE Americas Conference
9am - 5:30pm

Join us for the 3rd Annual FIRE Americas which will be held the previous day, at the same venue.

Click here for more information (requires FIRE Americas ticket - bundle ticket options are available) 

Pre-event Networking Drinks Reception
5:30pm

A unique networking drinks reception, where you will meet both the FIRE and Disputes Community.

Ticket holders of FIRE Americas and/or Sovereign & States Litigation Summit USA may attend this networking opportunity.

Registration & Welcome Refreshments
09:00

Chairperson's Opening Remarks
09:20

Sovereign & States Litigation in a Multi-Polar World – Chartering The Future
09:30

  • Key industries to look out for
  • International court’s impacts on climate change and energy transition
  • Popular selection with the seat of arbitration – is this changing?
  • Exploring national security in the international litigation and arbitration space

Francisco A. Rodriguez - Partner - Reed Smith (Miami)
Danielle  Morris - Partner - Wilmer Hale (DC)

Enforcement with Intra EU Investment Arbitration
10:15

  • How are US courts dealing with this?
  • The interplay with DIFC and LCIA
  • Bilateral Investment Treaties and the outcomes of terminations

Mahmoud Abuwasel - Managing Partner - Wasel & Wasel (DC)
Robert Kry - Partner - MoloLamken (DC / NYC)

Networking & Refreshment Break
11:00

Exploring The Concept of Sovereign Immunity
11:30

  • Deep dive with the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
  • What does it mean for enforcement against sovereigns?
  • Impacts on your litigation strategy
  • Compare and contrasting surveillance and employment

Viren Mascarenhas - Partner - Milbank (New York)
Tara J. Plochocki  - Partner - Sequor Law (DC)

Unpacking the Significance of Investor-State Disputes Settlement
12:15

  • Discussing the significance of the ISDS system with international investment
  • The challenges of sovereignty, transparency and enforcement
  • Balancing investor protection and state sovereignty

Caroline Richard - Partner - Freshfields (DC)
Bruce Marks - Founding and Managing Member - Marks & Sokolov (Philadelphia / Moscow)

Networking & Lunch Break
13:00

What Does It Take to Enforce Awards Against a Sovereign?
14:00

  • Key developments of the DC Federal Courts on matters involving European sovereign
  • Looking at recoverability rates and lengthy enforcement proceedings
  • How costly can it be? Establishing everyone’s expectation on the costs of enforcing awards
  • Challenges around enforcing against state-owned companies

Alexander A. Yanos - Partner - Alston & Bird (New York / DC)
Alex H. Loomis - Partner - Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Boston)

Parallel Arbitration and Criminal Proceedings Involving Corruption Allegations
14:45

  • Addressing arbitration claims or defences based on corruption allegations
  • Admissibility and weight to be given to arbitral evidence in domestic criminal proceedings
  • Interaction between criminal jurisdiction and arbitral jurisdiction
  • Circulation of evidence between the proceedings
  • Effect of a criminal judgment on the arbitral proceedings

Yves Klein - Partner - Monfrini Bitton Klein (Switzerland)
Érica Franzetti - Partner - King & Spalding (Miami / DC)

Networking & Refreshment Break
15:30

Best Practices for Client Communication for High Stakes Disputes
16:00

  • Key skills for navigating the range of clients you get
  • Minimising the number of surprises and managing expectations
  • Addressing cultural and diplomatic sensitivities
  • Reputational risks - Preparing for public and media inquiries

Richard C. Lorenzo - Regional Managing Partner Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment - Hogan Lovells (Miami)
Juan Perla - Partner - Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle (New York / DC)

Spotlight on Foreign Investment
16:45

  • Balancing investment opportunities and potential disputes
  • How political volatility impacts foreign investment in LATAM
  • Ensuring a comprehensive protection strategy
  • Growth of Chinese investments into LATAM
  • Exploring the Middle East and Sovereign Wealth Funds

José García Cueto - Partner - Clifford Chance (DC)

Chairperson's Closing Remarks & End of Conference
17:30

9am - 5:30pm
FIRE Americas Conference

Join us for the 3rd Annual FIRE Americas which will be held the previous day, at the same venue.

Click here for more information (requires FIRE Americas ticket - bundle ticket options are available) 

5:30pm
Pre-event Networking Drinks Reception

A unique networking drinks reception, where you will meet both the FIRE and Disputes Community.

Ticket holders of FIRE Americas and/or Sovereign & States Litigation Summit USA may attend this networking opportunity.

09:00
Registration & Welcome Refreshments
09:20
Chairperson's Opening Remarks
09:30
Sovereign & States Litigation in a Multi-Polar World – Chartering The Future
  • Key industries to look out for
  • International court’s impacts on climate change and energy transition
  • Popular selection with the seat of arbitration – is this changing?
  • Exploring national security in the international litigation and arbitration space

Francisco A. Rodriguez - Partner - Reed Smith (Miami)
Danielle  Morris - Partner - Wilmer Hale (DC)

10:15
Enforcement with Intra EU Investment Arbitration
  • How are US courts dealing with this?
  • The interplay with DIFC and LCIA
  • Bilateral Investment Treaties and the outcomes of terminations

Mahmoud Abuwasel - Managing Partner - Wasel & Wasel (DC)
Robert Kry - Partner - MoloLamken (DC / NYC)

11:00
Networking & Refreshment Break
11:30
Exploring The Concept of Sovereign Immunity
  • Deep dive with the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
  • What does it mean for enforcement against sovereigns?
  • Impacts on your litigation strategy
  • Compare and contrasting surveillance and employment

Viren Mascarenhas - Partner - Milbank (New York)
Tara J. Plochocki  - Partner - Sequor Law (DC)

12:15
Unpacking the Significance of Investor-State Disputes Settlement
  • Discussing the significance of the ISDS system with international investment
  • The challenges of sovereignty, transparency and enforcement
  • Balancing investor protection and state sovereignty

Caroline Richard - Partner - Freshfields (DC)
Bruce Marks - Founding and Managing Member - Marks & Sokolov (Philadelphia / Moscow)

13:00
Networking & Lunch Break
14:00
What Does It Take to Enforce Awards Against a Sovereign?
  • Key developments of the DC Federal Courts on matters involving European sovereign
  • Looking at recoverability rates and lengthy enforcement proceedings
  • How costly can it be? Establishing everyone’s expectation on the costs of enforcing awards
  • Challenges around enforcing against state-owned companies

Alexander A. Yanos - Partner - Alston & Bird (New York / DC)
Alex H. Loomis - Partner - Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (Boston)

14:45
Parallel Arbitration and Criminal Proceedings Involving Corruption Allegations
  • Addressing arbitration claims or defences based on corruption allegations
  • Admissibility and weight to be given to arbitral evidence in domestic criminal proceedings
  • Interaction between criminal jurisdiction and arbitral jurisdiction
  • Circulation of evidence between the proceedings
  • Effect of a criminal judgment on the arbitral proceedings

Yves Klein - Partner - Monfrini Bitton Klein (Switzerland)
Érica Franzetti - Partner - King & Spalding (Miami / DC)

15:30
Networking & Refreshment Break
16:00
Best Practices for Client Communication for High Stakes Disputes
  • Key skills for navigating the range of clients you get
  • Minimising the number of surprises and managing expectations
  • Addressing cultural and diplomatic sensitivities
  • Reputational risks - Preparing for public and media inquiries

Richard C. Lorenzo - Regional Managing Partner Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment - Hogan Lovells (Miami)
Juan Perla - Partner - Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle (New York / DC)

16:45
Spotlight on Foreign Investment
  • Balancing investment opportunities and potential disputes
  • How political volatility impacts foreign investment in LATAM
  • Ensuring a comprehensive protection strategy
  • Growth of Chinese investments into LATAM
  • Exploring the Middle East and Sovereign Wealth Funds

José García Cueto - Partner - Clifford Chance (DC)

17:30
Chairperson's Closing Remarks & End of Conference

Event Partners

Event Partner

Contact Us

Speakers

For Speakers enquiries please contact Melody Mok on +44 (0) 20 3997 8527 or email melody@thoughtleaders4.com

Partnership

For Partnership enquiries please contact Ben Jobson on +44 (0) 20 3059 9525 or email ben.jobson@thoughtleaders4.com

Venue & Logistics

For Venue & Logistics enquiries please contact Laura Fraser on +44 (0) 20 3433 2284 or email laura.fraser@thoughtleaders4.com

Marketing

For Marketing enquiries please contact Yelda Ismail on +44 (0) 20 3398 8551 or email yelda@thoughtleaders4.com

Booking & General Queries

For Booking & General Queries enquiries please contact ThoughtLeaders4 on or email info@thoughtleaders4.com