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

Pre-event Networking Drinks
5:30pm

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

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

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)

Navigating The Waters with Respect to Sanctioned Sovereigns
14:45

  • Designing an execution strategy around the US sanctions
  • How the sanctions regime has changed with the new administration
  • How to engage with sanctioned sovereigns

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

5:30pm
Pre-event Networking Drinks

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

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

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
Navigating The Waters with Respect to Sanctioned Sovereigns
  • Designing an execution strategy around the US sanctions
  • How the sanctions regime has changed with the new administration
  • How to engage with sanctioned sovereigns
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