ICLG.com and CDR Magazine announce the appointments of Domenico Di Pietro as partner and Carmine A. Pascuzzo as of counsel. Domenico will be the firm's first London partner, and Carmine will be based out of GST's D.C. office. Both bring a valuable and unparalleled skillset to the table, as well as Italian as a working language in addition to the firm’s existing English, Spanish, Portuguese and French capabilities.
Ignacio Torterola is a Partner at GST LLP’s Washington, D.C. office. He has extensive experience advising and representing parties in International Arbitration. Mr. Torterola represented Argentina before international arbitral tribunals and litigation proceedings in the landslide of commercial and investment arbitration disputes concerning primarily the complex issues that arose from the 2001/2002 economic, social and political crisis in his country. In that regard, he represented Argentina in more than 40 high-stakes large-size ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitrations (jurisdiction, merits and annulment phases) under the Argentine BITs with the United States, Germany, UK, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Chile, among others, spanning the water and sanitation, oil and gas, manufacturing, infrastructure and financial services industries.
More recently, Mr. Torterola has represented other Sovereigns in Latin America in international litigation and commercial and investment arbitration.
Previously, Mr. Torterola was a professional diplomat, counsel and Deputy Director of the Office of the Argentine Treasury Attorney General, Office that represents Argentina in international legal disputes. Subsequently, he was the Head of the Argentine Liaison Office before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) at the Argentine Embassy in Washington, D.C (2006 – 2012). He has negotiated, on behalf of Argentina, the 2010 UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Understanding. Mr. Torterola has also represented Argentina before the OECD Investment Committee and UNCTAD Investment and Enterprise Committee. He writes and teaches extensively on international law and international arbitration, and published a commentary Book to the 2010 UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. He is Co-Director of International Arbitration Case Law (IACL).
Mr. Torterola is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian and has a good understanding and working knowledge of Portuguese. He has taught international arbitration and international law in the most prestigious universities worldwide.
Highlighted Cases
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International Arbitration,International Litigation
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International Arbitration
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International Litigation
Highlighted Publications
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Book Chapter
Co-Author, “Argentina” in Latin America Investment Protections, 2012.
Author, Nuevo Reglamento de Arbitraje de la CNUDMI, 2011, Nuevo Reglamento de Arbitraje de la CNUDMI.
Author, “Book Review García Rubio’s On the Application of Customary rules of State Responsibility by WTO Dispute Resolution Organs”, 2004, Revista del Servicio Exterior.
Co-author, The Arbitration Review of the Americas 2021, Chapter: "Concession Contracts in Times of Crisis". Co-authors Quinn Smith, Diego Brian Gosis, and Ignacio Torterola, 2020.
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Journal Article
Co-Author, The Better Way Forward: Investor-State Dispute Strategies, 2019, ICLG.com.
Co-Author, “Investor-State Disputes in Africa”, 2019, ICLG.com.
Co-Author, “The Guide to Infrastructure and Energy Investment” 3rd ed., 2018, Latin Lawyer.
Co-Author, “Investment Treaty Arbitration”, 2016, Latin Lawyer Guide to Infrastructure and Energy Investment.
Editor, “Tdm Latin America Special”, 2016, Transnational Dispute Management.
Editor, “The New ICC Arbitration Rules in Cases Involving States and State Entities”, 2012, Center for America and International Law.
Co-Author, “Investment Arbitration in Argentina”, 2012, Investment Arbitration in Latin America.
Author, “Multi-Tiered Investment Arbitration Clauses in Tratado de Derecho Arbitral”, 2011, Tomo I. Instituto Peruano del Arbitraje – Universidad Javeriana de Colombia.
Author, “Lawyers and Arbitrators ́ Conflicts of Interest: A State Lawyer Perspective”, 2011, Paris Journal of International Arbitration.
Author, “Los Institutos de la Emergencia en el Derecho Internacional y el Estado Argentino”, 2010, Revista Internacional del Arbitraje.
Author, “The Transparency Requirement in the New UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules: A Premonitory View”, vol. 1, no. 1, 2010, International Treaty News.
Author, “To Risk or Not to Risk? The State’s Perspective of Investor-State Dispute Resolution at the 20th Anniversary of ICSID”, 2009, Georgetown Journal of Law and Risk Management.
Author, “Notes on the Stay of Enforcement in ICSID Arbitration”, 2009, Transnational Dispute Management.
Author, “La Saga Continua: Comentario a las Decisiones Arbitrales en los Casos Continental C. Republica Argentina y TSA C. Republica Argentina”, 2008, Revista Arbitral Punto Medio.
Author, “Joint Ventures Contractuales y Societarias”, 1997, Revista del Derecho Comercial y de las Obligaciones: Edit. Depalma.
Author, “Cámaras Arbitrales de Cereales”, 1996, Revista del Derecho Agrario Argentino.
Related News
In this feature story, Law360 writes about GST LLP and its new partner and of counsel hires. Domenico di Pietro will be the firm's first London partner, boosting the firm's presence overseas while enlarging and strengthening its commercial and investment arbitration capabilities. Di Pietro told Law360 that in addition to the firm's high-profile team and fast-paced growth, he was attracted to the character and values of its lawyers, who he said are "devoted to offering the highest standard of assistance in international dispute resolution while bearing in mind the challenges currently faced by the entities that we assist."
Global Arbitration Review breaks the news of our firm's newest appointments: Domenico Di Pietro as partner and Carmine Pascuzzo as of counsel. Di Pietro is the firm's first London partner and will spend time drumming up business for that office among other initiatives. He is also the fifth partner at GAR 100 firm GST. Meanwhile, the boutique has strengthened its DC offering by hiring of counsel Carmine Pascuzzo. Pascuzzo previously spent time at the Venezuelan firm ADM & Asociados, where he was a junior partner.
In this expert analysis, a look at the Energy Charter Treaty and how recent arbitration decisions are likely to ripple through other energy economies. As Central and Latin America pivot toward renewable energy, GST LLP recommends governments reshape bilateral investment treaties to allow incentives for new technologies and improve dispute settlement mechanisms, while also providing both new and established energy companies with certainty and fair treatment.
Representing Guatemala, GST LLP applied to annul an ICSID award on the basis of Bulgarian arbitrator Stanimir Alexandrov's alleged failure to disclose ties with an expert witness – a year after Spain successfully annulled an award based on similar allegations. The state also argues there are contradictions in the decision and it violates the res judicata of a previous award issued in the same dispute.
IABA's Mid-Year Council Meeting and International Seminar dedicated to “Constitution and Democracy in the Times of COVID-19: A Way Forward and Effective Protection of Rights,” provided an insightful and timely discussion featuring prominent speakers from around the world, including GST LLP's Ignacio Torterola. Taking place February 17-19, 2021, the academic event was held virtually and provided a forum to review and improve institutional governance, as well as reflect on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Venezuela triumphs in Dutch Court of Appeals. A US$240 million claim brought by the members of the García Armas family was rejected based on their dual nationality in Manuel Garcia Armas and others v. Venezuela. According to Partner Ignacio Torterola, the judgment confirms that dual nationals bringing claims against their home state “is alien to international law, including investment law.” GST LLP served as counsel to Venezuela, while The Garcías were represented by Freshfields and Dechamps International Law.
Represented by GST LLP, Guatemala has lodged a counterclaim in a US$350 million DR-CAFTA dispute with third-party funded mining investors, seeking damages for alleged misrepresentation and a failure to meet environmental commitments. The state alleges that when obtaining their license, Kappes and KCA (the investors that hold licenses for the gold and silver mining projects) “omitted key information” in their environmental impact assessment (EIA), which did not meet international standards and failed to show the effect the projects would have on local water resources.
Powering the "Green Energy Revolution" calls for both foreign investment in mines and universal sustainable practices. Rich in lithium reserves - among other rare materials - certain Latin American countries are well-positioned to help accelerate the world's transition to renewable energy while modeling exemplary sustainable practices that make good sense for the environment, and for business. Co-written by GST LLP Partners Quinn Smith, Diego Brian Gosis, and Ignacio Torterola, the commentary includes insights from mining industry expert Barbara Filas.
Partners Ignacio Torterola and Diego Brian Gosis presented an executive training at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, a think tank at Columbia Law School, designed to create awareness and capacity-building among government officials to negotiate international investment treaties and defend investment disputes. Their presentation focused on jurisdictional defenses in international investment law.
GST LLP International Partner Ignacio Torterola invites the Washington Business Journal into his home office during the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares how he is both adapting to the new normal and keeping his international business thriving. Ignacio is featured, alongside prominent C-level executives in the Greater Washington region, in the paper’s “HomeWork” column.
Citing the unusual environment occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, GST LLP partners Ignacio Torterola, Quinn Smith and Diego Gosis share their cautions with Bloomberg Law regarding the use of executive power in the Defense Production Act. They warn that normal treaty templates including clauses referring to essential security interests may provide administrations the excuse to favor domestic investment over foreign, and that these actions may result in liability.
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