Bianca M. McDonnell
Biography
Overview
Bianca McDonnell is an Associate in White & Case's International Arbitration Practice in New York and previously in Madrid. Bianca focuses on complex international arbitration cases involving investment, commercial and construction claims. Bianca has represented clients in international arbitrations under the leading institutional arbitration rules, including those of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes and the International Chamber of Commerce, amongst other institutions.
Prior to joining White & Case, Bianca worked for a leading international arbitrator as assistant and secretary to the tribunal. Bianca has also acted as a voluntary Expert Advisor for the U.S. Government's Department of Commerce's Commercial Law Development Program, where she has taught law students from developing countries in the Middle East and Asia about international arbitration and oral advocacy for the Willem C. Vis Moot. Bianca is also active in White & Case's pro bono sponsorship of the Willem C. Vis Moot.
Sydney
Experience
Some examples of her experience include:
Representing the US claimants in a multibillion-dollar ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Honduras: Honduras Próspera Inc. et al. v. Republic of Honduras, ICSID Case No. ARB/23/2. Bianca is also involved in other ICSID arbitrations brought by Latin American investors against the Latin American State.
Representing a consortium of European-based contractors against the Panama Canal Authority in an ICC dispute worth in excess of US$2.5 billion, related to the Panama Canal Expansion Project. The arbitration is seated in Miami and the contract is governed by Panamanian law. Bianca has also been involved in proceedings before the project's Dispute Adjudication Board.
Secretary to the Tribunal in an energy dispute between two Mexican companies before the Centro de Arbitraje de México. The proceedings are in Spanish, with Mexican law applying.
Successfully represented a Japanese conglomerate in an ICSID arbitration against the Kingdom of Spain under the ECT in relation to a concentrated solar power plant: Mitsui & Co., Ltd. v. Kingdom of Spain, ICSID Case No. ARB/20/47. The proceedings are in English and Spanish.
Successfully represented a Belgium industrial group as claimant in a post-M&A dispute against a Spanish company, brought under a Share Purchase Agreement in the Madrid Court of Arbitration. We obtained a favorable merits award and damages proceedings are ongoing.
Successfully represented a sovereign State in the High Court of Madrid in annulment proceedings to uphold an UNCITRAL jurisdictional award dismissing a US$12 billion claim in favour of the State. The proceedings were in Spanish.
Secretary to the Tribunal in a multibillion-dollar ICC construction arbitration brought by a Colombian state-owned entity against a major US construction company concerning the construction of an oil refinery in Cartagena, Colombia. The seat of arbitration was New York, with New York law applying.*
Assistant to the Tribunal in an ICSID arbitration against Belgium brought by DP World PLC concerning a concession in the Port of Antwerp.*
Assistant to the Tribunal in an ICSID arbitration brought by Cyprus Popular Bank against Greece, related to events which occurred during the Greek financial crisis.*
Assistant to the Tribunal in an ICSID revision proceeding brought by Hungary against a French investor on the basis of the Achmea Judgment.*
*Prior to joining the Firm
Panelist: 'Navigating the World of International Arbitration', NYU Law International Arbitration Association (2024, New York).
Panelist: 'International Arbitration and Project Finance', NYU Latin American Arbitration Society (2024, New York).
Moderator: 'Arbitrability of Corruption - Treading in Treacherous Waters', Annual Moot Alumni Association's International Commercial Law & Arbitration Conference (2023, Vienna).
Panelist: 'Abogada v. COVID-19: Ser mujer y no morir en el intento', CEA Mujeres (2020, Webinar).
Panelist: 'Asistentes y Secretarios del Tribunal Arbitral', Webinar, Guatemala VYAP (2020, Webinar).
Interview with Silvia Marchili, MAD VYAP & Mexico VYAP Arbitration Coffee Breaks (2020, Webinar).
Panelist: 'El rol de los precedentes en el arbitraje', ICDR Y&I and Mexico VYAP (2019, Mexico City).
Moderator: 'Behind the scenes of decision making', IX Coimbra International Arbitration Conference under 40 event (2019, Coimbra).
Colloquium on International Investment Law and Competition Law, presenting an article on 'The Use of Evidence Obtained through a State's Special Antitrust Powers in Investment Arbitration' (2018, Zaragoza).
Article, 'The Use of Evidence Obtained through a State's Special Antitrust Powers in Investment Arbitration', in the European Yearbook of International Economic Law, Springer, Co-author with Krystle Baptista (2020).
Case note, Theodoros Adamakopoulos and Others v. Republic of Cyprus, ICSID Case No. ARB/15/49, in European Investment Law and Arbitration Review, European Federation for Investment Law and Arbitration and Queen Mary University, Brill | Nijhoff, Volume 5 (2020).
