White & Case LLP - Lawyers - Jonathan C. Hamilton

Practice Experience

Jonathan C. Hamilton practices in international dispute resolution and cross-border investment. Based in Washington, DC, he also has worked in the Firm’s New York and Mexico City offices and as a visiting associate with a leading firm in Peru. He advises on international matters that often involve strategic coordination spanning multiple jurisdictions, focusing on arbitration, litigation and diverse corporate matters. His experience includes sectors such as aviation, commodities, construction, defense, energy, finance, media, oil and gas, telecommunications and sovereign issues.

Mr. Hamilton is listed in the International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration and recognized by Chambers and Global Arbitration Review, which called him "a name of the future." He is partner in the group named Chambers USA International Arbitration Team of the Year. His arbitration experience includes disputes under the ICSID, ICC, ICDR, AAA and UNCITRAL rules. He is Chairman of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration Americas Initiative.

His practice encompasses:

Investment disputes related to sovereign bonds issued by Argentina, the electricity sector in Peru, the energy sector in Ecuador, an oil refinery in Bulgaria, a real estate project in Chile, an airport in the Philippines, investments in Venezuela, utilities in Argentina, a publishing enterprise in Chile, a concession with Paraguay and a factory in Central America;
Commercial disputes related to an infrastructure project in the Andes, an infrastructure project in Bolivia, banks in Mexico, a construction project in Mexico, an infrastructure project in Southeast Asia, a joint venture in Brazil, nuclear materials from the CIS, a commodity sold in Mexico, an airport in Costa Rica, an airline in Peru, energy procurement in Mexico, collections in Mexico and a bank in Colombia; and
Cross-border investment including counseling on transactional structures and corporate matters; advising on transactions involving financing, lending, leasing and joint ventures; and negotiating dispute mechanisms and settlements.

Notable recent examples of his experience include:

Success in Aguaytia Energy, LLC v. Republic of Peru, a US$150 million energy dispute under a legal stability agreement (2008);
Success in Plama Consortium Ltd. v. Bulgaria, a US$300 million Energy Charter Treaty case related to an oil refinery (2008);
Success in Fraport v. Philippines, a US$425 million arbitration related to an airport construction project (2007);
Success in U.S. Energy Corp. v. Nukem, Inc., a US$174 million dispute before federal courts and an arbitral tribunal (2006); and
Advising on corporate and investment matters worldwide.

Mr. Hamilton has prior experience as a federal law clerk, a research assistant to legal fiction author John Grisham and the Editor-in-Chief of the Virginia Journal of International Law. He is committed to public service and pro bono service. He has served on philanthropic boards, a delegation to observe elections in Mexico and working groups on US-Latin American relations.

Bars and Courts
District of Columbia Bar
New York State Bar

Education
JD, University of Virginia, 1998
MA, University of North Carolina, 1994
BA, Brandeis University, 1991
Program, Oxford University, 1990

Professional Associations and Memberships
American Bar Association
American Society of International Law
Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Executive Board and Chairman of Americas Initiative
International Bar Association
International Law Institute ADR, Advisory Committee
Latin American Arbitration Review, Board of Advisors
Latin America Energy Advisor, Board of Advisors
Virginia Journal of International Law, Board of Advisors

Awards and Recognition
The International Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration

Publications
Contributor, “Latin America Disputes Q&A,” Latin Business Chronicle, 2009
Contributor, “Building the Hemispheric Growth Agenda: A New Framework for Policy.” Council of Americas Trade Advisory Group Report, 2009
"50 Años de la Convención de Nueva York: Implicancias para América Latina," AmCham Peru, 2008
"Managing Risks Through International Dispute Resolution," in Strategies for Successful Arbitration: Leading Lawyers–Inside the Minds, Aspatore Books, 2008
"A Decade of Latin American Investment Arbitration," in Latin American Investment Treaties Arbitration: The Conflicts and Controversies, Kluwer Law International, 2008
Ecuador and Investment Treaties, Commentary, Latin Business Chronicle, 2008
"Protecting International Investment," Commentary, Latin America Energy Advisor, 2008
"Protecting Latin American Investments," Americas Society News & Views, 2007
"The Compendium of Latin American Arbitration Law," Author, 2000-2008
Featured in articles in Investors Business Daily, Platts Oilgram News, Latin Lawyer, Latin American Advisor, Latin American Energy Advisor, Global Arbitration Review, 2008
"¿Se Acabó el Arbitraje" en América Latina? La Evolución del Arbitraje en el Perú y en América Latina, El Arbitraje en el Peru y el Mundo, 2007
Latin American Arbitration in Comparative Perspective, International Disputes Quarterly, 2007
Ecuador Investment Arbitration, Commentary, Latin America Advisor, 2007
Ecuador Threatens to Pull Out of U.S. BIT, Commentary, Latin Lawyer, 2007
Bolivian Investment Arbitration, Commentary, Latin America Energy Advisor, 2007
Latin American Investment Treaties, Commentary, Latin America Energy Advisor, 2006
Brazilian Arbitration, Commentary, Latin America Energy Advisor, 2006
Featured in Article "RWE Nukem Thanks Savior," Global Arbitration Review, 2006
Commentary on US-Latin American Relations, Radio Programas del Peru, 2004
Featured in Article on Latin American Pro Bono, Latin Lawyer, 2003
"Dispute Resolution in Latin America," International Dispute Resolution, 2002
"Alternative Dispute Resolution Gains Acceptance in Mexico," International Dispute Resolution, 2002
"Brazil Ratifies New York Convention," International Dispute Resolution, 2002
"The Role of Law and the Rule of Media and Politics in International Affairs," Proceedings of the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law, 2002
"The Privatization of Substantive Law in International Commercial Arbitration," Liber Amicorum: Karl Heinz-Böckstiegel, assistant to Judge Charles N. Brower, 2001
"Agents of International Discourse," Virginia Journal of International Law, 2000
"Arbitration Provision Interpreted and Upheld Based on Textile Industry Custom and Practice," International Dispute Resolution, 2000
"Ethics Code for Mediators Prepared for Mexican Mediation Institute," International Dispute Resolution, 2000
"International Arbitration as a Component of Latin American Reforms: The Case of Peru," 1997

Speaking Engagements
“Assessment and Valuation Methods” the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA) Centro de Mediación y Arbitraje Comercial de la Cámara Nacional de Comercio de la Ciudad de México (CANACO), 2009
"Organization and Procedure in Investment Arbitration: Successes in State Arbitration," UNCTAD/IDB Advanced Training Course on Managing Investment Disputes, San Jose, Costa Rica, 2008
"Insider Insights in Complex Energy Disputes," Brazilian Arbitration Committee/Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Saõ Paulo, 2008
"Investment Protections Under the Energy Charter Treaty," Conference on "Arbitration Beyond Borders: Effective Strategies from the Experts," University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 2008
"Winning a High Stakes Energy Charter Treaty Case," Seminar on "Energy Charter Treaty Arbitrations Against Sovereign States," International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), Washington, DC, 2008
"Latin American Dispute Resolution and International Lawyering," American Society of International Law, Washington, DC, 2008
"50 Años de la Convención de Nueva York: Implicancias para América Latina," Seminario Internacional de la Nueva Ley de Arbitraje, Lima, Peru, 2008
"A Decade of Latin American Investment Arbitration," Georgetown University Law Center, 2008
"Latin American Investment Treaties: How Effective, How Useful," Inter-American Dialogue, Washington, DC, 2008
"International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation," International Centre for Dispute Resolution Conference, Washington, DC, 2007
"Current Legal Issues in Latin American Investment Treaty Arbitration," American University Washington College of Law, 2007
"Investment Treaty Protections for Outbound Brazilian Investments," São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, 2007
"The Efficacy of Latin American Investment Treaties," New York State Bar Association Conference, Lima, Peru, 2007
"Litigation and Arbitration in a Globalized Legal Market," University of Virginia School of Law, 2007
"How to Handle an Oil and Gas Case: Special Evidentiary Issues," American University Washington College of Law, 2007
"Investment Arbitration in Latin America," American University Washington School of Law, 2007
Seminario Nacional y Taller Especializado Sobre Controversias Inversionista-Estado, Lima, Peru, 2007
"¿‘Se acabó el Arbitraje’ en América Latina?," Peruvian Congress on International Arbitration, Lima, Peru, 2007
"Investment Treaty Arbitration in the 21st Century," Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Buenos Aires, 2007
"Cross-Border Disputes from Argentina to Uzbekistan," University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 2007
"Investment Protection and Litigation," Latin America Conference, International Bar Association, São Paulo, Brazil, 2006
"El Destino de Arbitraje en América Latina," Executive Meeting of Latin American Law Firms, San José, Costa Rica, 2006
"The Arbitration Challenge for Latin American Sovereigns," Florida Bar International Law Section, Miami, 2006
"Pan-American Arbitration Enforcement," International Centre for Dispute Resolution Conference, Philadelphia, 2006
"Finality and Enforceability of International Arbitration Awards in Latin America," American Society of International Law and Penn State International Law Review, Washington, DC, 2006
"Beyond the Return of the Calvo Doctrine in Latin America," University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, 2006
"How to Handle a Bilateral Investment Treaty Arbitration," American University, Washington, DC, 2006
"Arbitration in Latin America," Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2005
"Emerging Issues in Latin American Arbitration and Dispute Resolution," Washington, DC, 2005
"Public International Law and Foreign Investment Practice," American Society of International Law, Washington, DC, 2005
"Redacción de Cláusulas de Arbitraje: Aspectos Jurídicos y Prácticos," Seminar, Santiago, Chile, 2005
"The Privatization of International Dispute Resolution: Arbitration from Investment to Enforcement," Seminar, Washington, DC, 2005
"The Lessons of International Law in Practice," University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 2004
"Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Central and South America," World Trade Day Conference, Biloxi, Mississippi, 2004
"Advanced Techniques for Handling an International Arbitration Case," American University, Washington, DC, 2004
"Latin American Investment Disputes: From NAFTA to the Chile FTA," Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 2003
"International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution in Latin America," Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, 2002
"Arbitraje Expedito para la Solución de Incumplimientos de Pago," Centro de Mediación y Arbitraje Comercial, Cámara Nacional de Comercio, Mexico City, 2002
"Minimizing the Legal Risks of Doing Business in Mexico," US Trade Delegation to Mexico, Mexico City, 2002
"Mecanismos de Solución de Disputas," Seminario, Administración de Disputas Internacionales en Negocios, Mexico City, 2002
"Legal Aspects of the Mexican Aviation Market," Latin American and Caribbean Aviation Conference, Miami, 2001
"La Protección de los Derechos de Garantía," Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior (Bancomext), Mexico City, 2001

Languages
English
Spanish
Russian

Citizenship
United States