News 05 Dec. 2024
Partner Dr. Alexandra G. Maier Recognized Again in Lexology Client Choice Award 2025, Mining Experts Category 2025
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Event 23 Oct. 2024
Counsel Mohannad El Murtadi Suleiman to Speak at the 2nd Annual Africa Arbitration Day in New York
Event 18 Aug. 2023
Partner Borzu Sabahi Speaks at FDI Moot Shenzhen
News 25 Jul. 2023
Partner Eric Gilioli Ranked in Top 10 Influential Energy & Natural Resources Lawyers in Kazakhstan in Business Today
News 09 Apr. 2024
Curtis Announces New Partners and Counsels Across Offices in Spring 2024
Client Alert 28 Dec. 2023
U.S. to Impose Secondary Sanctions on Non-U.S. Banks For Financing Russia’s Defense Industry
News 28 Aug. 2024
Curtis Recognized for Excellence in Arbitration in Chambers Latin America Guide 2025
Event 22 Aug. 2023
Partner Dr. Claudia Frutos-Peterson to Speak at Arbitration and ADR Commission of the ICC Mexico
Publications 19 Dec. 2024
Curtis Partner, John Balouziyeh, Authors New Guide to Investing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the GCC
News 08 Oct. 2024
Curtis Boosts London Finance and Corporate Capability with Appointment of Partner Christopher Harrison
News 24 Aug. 2023
Curtis Attorneys Quoted in CoinDesk on FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s Strategy Ahead of His Criminal Trial
Client Alert 10 Jul. 2024
EU Adopts New Restrictive Measures Against Belarus
Client Alert 26 Jun. 2024
The EU Adopts its 14th Sanctions Package Against Russia
news
Curtis Secures Early Victory for Colombia, Highlighting Sovereign Defense Excellence
publications
Chairman, Partner
New York
P +1 212 696 6179
F +1 212 697 1559
Ranked in Band 3 for International Arbitration: Counsel
Recognized in Legal 500 USA “Hall of Fame” for International Arbitration (2020-2023)
Recognized by Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in International Arbitration (2023)
Recognized by Chambers Global as a leading lawyer in International Arbitration
Recognized by Chambers Latin America as a leading lawyer in International Arbitration
Two-time Burton Award winner for Distinguished Legal Writing (2012 and 2018)
Two-time GAR nominee for best lecture of the year (2014 and 2018)
The American Lawyer, "Dealmaker of the Year" (2009)
Latin Lawyer, "Restructuring Deal of the Year" (2009)
Euromoney's Expert Guides: Project Finance Lawyers (2006)
International Arbitration: Counsel
"George Kahale maintains his excellent reputation for state-side representation in investment treaty arbitrations."
Global Market Leaders - Arbitration (International)
"George Kahale does a good and effective job for his clients."
International Arbitration: Counsel - USA
"George has detailed knowledge of both the international arbitration system as well as the international transactions that structure and occasionally give rise to those arbitrations. In arbitration, he is a tireless advocate and brilliant strategist."
Arbitration (International) - Latin America - International Counsel
Dispute Resolution - International Arbitration - Hall of Fame
"Firm chairman George Kahale spearheads the global practice from New York and is widely revered for his record in prominent state-side representations."
"George Kahale is a well-established leader in the field of international arbitration, with a great deal of experience, and is fully committed to his client and to the case."
International Arbitration - International Counsel
"George Kahale III leads the team from New York and has been a leading figure in the firm’s work for Venezuela"
Latin America - International Counsel - Arbitration (International)
"George Kahale is one of the most intelligent men I have ever met," states a respondent, adding: "He is extremely dedicated to the interests of his clients."
International Arbitration Counsel - USA
"George brings a great deal of experience to international arbitration and is fully committed to his client and the case." "George is the wisest investor-state dispute lawyer I have ever worked with; he provides strategic and practical advice and delivers the best outcome." "He is extremely effective counsel and very strategically savvy. He has an excellent understanding of the clients' needs and outstanding presentation and argumentation skills."
International Counsel - International Arbitration
"George Kahale benefits from vast experience handling complex Latin American international arbitration cases. He enjoys a solid track record representing governments in major investment treaty disputes. 'George Kahale is one of the most intelligent men I have ever met,' states a respondent, adding: 'He is extremely dedicated to the interests of his clients.'"
International Arbitration, Hall of Fame
“He is a well-established leader in the field of international arbitration, with a great deal of experience, and is fully committed to his client and to the case.” “George Kahale is recognized as a ‘leader in the field of international arbitration,’ and counts state clients from LatAm, Asia, Africa and the Middle East among his clients.”
International Firms: International Arbitration
“George Kahale has a unique combination of superb legal skills and real-world intuition. His broad experience negotiating deals makes him one of the best international arbitration lawyers in the world.” “George Kahale is one of the smartest people I have ever worked with. He is a good team manager, building a spirit of cooperation and mutual support among all parties working with him.”
Nationwide International Arbitration
“George is the wisest investor-state dispute lawyers I have ever worked with; he provides strategic and practical advice and delivers the best outcome.” “He is extremely effective counsel and very strategically savvy. He has an excellent understanding of the clients’ needs and outstanding presentation and argumentation skills.”
Global Market Leaders - Arbitration
He "can deliver the best outcomes" by offering "strategic and practical advice."
USA International Arbitration
"George Kahale maintains his excellent reputation for state-side representation in investment treaty arbitrations...He is a very well-known figure in international law and especially investment treaty arbitration, and has a lot of expertise handling disputes for sovereign states."
Latin America-wide International Arbitration
"George Kahale is a brilliant lawyer with a very good ability to understand the case from a legal perspective."
"George can quickly point out and develop the complicated legal issues and give a simple but the best strategy to deal with client problems."
Global Leaders - Arbitration (International)
"Fantastic strategist" George Kahale has extensive experience assisting state-side clients with investment treaty arbitration across North and South America. One source remarks that he is "an esteemed and experienced lawyer."
"He is an esteemed and experienced lawyer and a really fantastic strategist."
"George Kahale is 'a bright legal mind with an excellent understanding of how companies and governments work,' which makes him 'unbeatable in both commercial and investment arbitration.'"
"George Kahale is one of the smartest men I have ever met. On top of that, he is an outstanding manager. He builds teams of experts and lawyers that are dedicated to the case and assist each other; their work capacity and flexibility to adapt to changes and learn the key-to-win core business elements exceeds most service organizations."
"George Kahale is a top lawyer in international arbitration. I am impressed by his simple and effective strategies. He has a great ability to develop novel arguments that are right to the point."
Global-wide International Arbitration
"George Kahale is a popular choice among sovereign states and state-owned entities seeking representation in high stakes investment arbitration. He brings considerable expertise to international disputes arising out of the energy, infrastructure and oil and gas spheres. A source describes him as 'a very impressive, smart guy' adding: 'He's a fantastic lawyer.'"
"Commentators hold George Kahale's abilities in very high regard, as one reports: 'I really appreciate his expertise, his in-depth knowledge and his understanding of the concepts of civil law jurisdictions. He's a tremendously experienced practitioner and you will be hard pressed to find anyone with as much ability in the investment arbitration world.'"
"George Kahale is very highly regarded by sources, who attest that 'in addition to his knowledge, experience, dedication and effort, he continues to stand out for his capacity to design strategies, the way of implementing them in each case, and above all the dexterity and agility that he shows throughout his respective audiences.'"
"George Kahale is highly experienced in acting for states in high-value investment treaty arbitrations. A market insider comments that 'he's a terrific advocate,' going on to highlight that 'his written work product is very thorough.' He also wins praise for his strategic approach and mastery of detail."
"George Kahale of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP is lauded as a 'very sharp' and 'extremely impressive' advocate."
"Sources commend George Kahale's ability to 'always think two steps ahead of everyone else in the room.'"
"George Kahale is held in high esteem by commentators, who report that 'he leads the entire effort' and go on to say: 'He provides a very unified direction – all the arguments are elaborated under his leadership and all the drafts and briefs are examined by the whole team, ultimately producing something that everyone is happy with.'"
"Clients draw attention to George Kahale's 'knowledge, experience and dedication,' adding that 'from his background as a transactional lawyer, he brings an excellent understanding of how businesses work and how deals are made, which is very useful in international arbitration proceedings.'"
"Clients are quick to praise George Kahale, describing him as 'a most impressive professional who understands everything in depth.' They continue: 'He is extremely persuasive and able to focus, letting nothing distract him. He has a very critical mind.'"
"He is very courteous, polite and effective when speaking before arbitration panels."
"George Kahale chairs the firm and is held in high regard as a 'very impressive advocate' in cross-border disputes. He is a go-to practitioner for states facing high-value arbitrations."
International Arbitration
"Extremely effective in developing and managing a team to work on a case."
"The 'incredibly smart' George Kahale cultivates an impressive profile for his work as sovereign-side counsel. 'He really sets an example for the younger lawyers on his team, and is completely dedicated to the case,' enthuse clients."
"Kahale is 'brilliant and extremely dedicated to the interests of his clients,' as well as an 'excellent manager of the teams he assembles for cases.'"
"The practice is headed by 'great team leader' George Kahale III, who 'has an excellent command of the facts and legal aspects of each case handled.'"
"One source said: 'He comes in with a lot of experience, is purposeful, extremely focused and gives his full attention to a case.'"
"Clients appreciate his deep understanding of the legal and economic implications of issues in the oil industry, and his 'exceptional work ethic.'"
Uganda General Business Law
"George Kahale is an esteemed practitioner and well versed in handling complex international commercial arbitrations. Sources note that 'he has always stood out and his stewardship of his team is beyond belief.'"
"According to one source, 'he is very strong in laying out the strategy of a case.'"
"In New York, George Kahale is the chairman of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, and is recognised for his wide-ranging experience of disputes arising in both North and South America. He impresses his clients, with one interviewee saying 'He is one of the smartest people I've ever worked with.'"
"Sources praise his 'laser focus on the right issues and questions,' as well as his professional approach and awareness of cultural sensitivities."
"Interviewees praise George Kahale for his litigation and management skills, with one saying: 'He builds a team that is completely dedicated to the case.'"
International Arbitration: Litigation
"He has 'a special strength with respect to his management teams: he builds a team that is completely dedicated to the case.' Kahale, Benard Preziosi, and Mark O'Donoghue are 'outstanding' and 'put the interests of the client first.'"
"The practice is led by George Kahale III in New York (who is 'not only an outstanding international arbitration lawyer, but also has a great ability to deal with very different people in very different environments, and is especially good at building team spirit')."
"Sources list his strengths as 'relentless attention to detail, great competence and industry-specific knowledge.' They add: 'He has a degree of worldliness and experience which is tempered by patience.'"
Global-wide Public International Law
"George Kahale is the firm's chairman and his broad international practice includes investor-state arbitrations. Sources say: 'George is one of the smartest people I've ever worked with. He has special strength in management skills - he is consistent in creating great enthusiasm, loyalty and teamwork.'"
"George Kahale co-chairs the group and is characterised as being 'very smart, with excellent presentation skills, superb at team-building, and able to see situations from all points of view.'"
"George Kahale III is hailed as 'one of the best lawyers around,' with an 'exceptional ability to see the big picture of each case.'"
"The team is highlighted for its 'unmatched dedication to serve the interests of its clients,' who esteem the 'truly international' character of the practice: the firm 'staffs each case with lawyers from several offices in the US, Mexico and Europe,' which brings 'international perspective' as well as 'an appreciated proximity to the client.' Headed up by 'outstanding manager' George Kahale III, who 'has an excellent understanding of how companies think and operate.'"
"Foremost among those engaged in the region is firm chairman and practice co-chair George Kahale III, a very 'visible character' with an 'advocacy style like no other.' He is described as 'one of the very best arbitration lawyers in the world' by clients, who highlight his 'experience in examining and cross-examining witnesses and presenting his clients' cases."
Corporate
Electricity
Energy (Oil & Gas)
Finance
Infrastructure Development
Public International Law
News 03 Dec. 2024
Curtis International Arbitration Attorneys Recommended by Lexology Index Arbitration Report 2025
A Commentary on the Proposal for Damages Reform in UNCITRAL Working Group III
Submission to the OECD's Public Consultation on Investment Treaties and Climate Change
It's Quantum! article from Columbia FDI Perspectives
Damages in ISDS: Just Compensation or Highway Robbery?
Lecture, IISD 12th Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators, Cartagena, Colombia
Keynote Address, 8th Investment Treaty Arbitration Conference, Prague, Czech Republic
ISDS - The Wild, Wild West of International Law and Arbitration
Rethinking ISDS, article from Transnational Dispute Management
BITs: Weapons of Legal Destruction? article from AR3 Magazine
Keynote Address, 8th Annual Juris Investment Treaty Arbitration Conference
Is Investor-State Arbitration Broken? article from Transnational Dispute Management
The Uproar Surrounding Petroleum Contract Renegotiations
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