Curtis Secures Early Victory for Colombia, Highlighting Sovereign Defense Excellence

In yet another significant victory for a sovereign client, Curtis has successfully defended the Republic of Colombia in an ICSID arbitration initiated by U.S. contractors, regarding the Cartagena Refinery modernization project.

The tribunal upheld Colombia's preliminary objection under the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA), dismissing all claims as inadmissible and ordering the claimants to pay Colombia's full costs and legal fees.

Curtis secured an early dismissal of all claims from the tribunal, composed of Mr. José Emilio Nunes Pinto (President), Mr. John Beechey, and Prof. Marcelo G. Kohen, effectively avoiding a lengthy and costly arbitration proceeding.

The Republic of Colombia was represented by Curtis partners Claudia Frutos-Peterson, Elisa Botero, and Fernando Tupa, along with associates Juan Jorge, María Paulina Santacruz Salazar, and Sara Lucía Dangón, with research support from associates Belen Ibañez, Jean Lambert, and James McGlaughlin. Curtis collaborated closely with Colombia's National Agency for Legal Defense of the State (ANDJE).

As the foremost law firm for sovereigns and state-owned entities, Curtis represents over 40 sovereign states and government clients, handling arbitrations involving claims totaling nearly US$100 billion. The firm's policy of exclusively representing states and state-owned entities in investor-state disputes ensures unconflicted, strategic counsel in high-stakes matters.