International Arbitration

Suescún Abogados is a leading firm in Colombia for international arbitration. We have been involved in a number of major, complex and demanding international arbitrations under international standards.

Suescún Abogados is a leading firm in Colombia for international arbitration. We have been recognized by independent industry guides and rankings as Band 1 firm in Colombia for international arbitration.
Suescún Abogados is a leading firm in Colombia for international arbitration. We have been involved in a number of major, complex and demanding international arbitrations under international standards.
The Legal 500 Latin America 2015 describes Suescun Abogados as “a firm very focus in arbitrations” and “whit people very good”. This firm is know for be “very request for complete cases”.

Some internationals cases

Following is a list of some of the arbitration tribunals on which members of Suescún Abogados have participated as arbitrators or before which they have appeared as lead counsel to one of the parties:
Refinery of Cartagena
Suescún Abogados is representing Refinería de Cartagena in an ICC international commercial arbitration, seated in New York, under Colombian and New York law, against Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CB&I), an EPC contractor. The dispute concerns costs and delays in connection with the construction of a refinery in Colombia (a mega-project), with the claim valued at several Billion dollars. Currently being the largest and one of the most complex construction disputes in the world.
Construction of water treatment plant

Arbitrator in a USD$100 million dollars ICC international commercial arbitration, under Colombian law, with the seat in New York, between Colombian and Korean companies, related to the construction of a water treatment plant.

Thermoelectric in Argentina
Served as arbitrator in a USD$60 million dollars ICC international commercial arbitration, under Argentinian law, with the seat in Montevideo (Uruguay), between Argentinian and Spanish companies, related to the enlargement of a thermoelectric plant in Argentina.
Charter contract
Chairman in an international commercial arbitration, under the rules of the Chamber of Commerce of Barranquilla, seated in Colombia, between Spanish and Colombian companies, in disputes arising from a maritime freight contract.
Signed management contract
Suescún Abogados advised a confidential client in a dispute concerning a consulting contract executed with a global engineering contractor. The dispute was submitted to international arbitration (ICC Rules) and the seat was Paris.
Transportation of coal by a railway network
Suescún Abogados led the defense of two subsidiary companies of Goldman Sachs in a USD$1650 million dollars ICC multy-party arbitration, entirely conducted in English, related to transport of coal through a railway network in Colombia.
Supply and installation of turbines
Suescún Abogados represented a multinational consortium (Stork and Vepica) against Siemens in an international commercial arbitration, under the Rules of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá (CCB), arising out of a supply and installation of turbines contract. The dispute was settled in our clients favour, where we played a significant role.
Transaction contract
Served as arbitrator in an ICC international commercial arbitration arising out a settlement agreement.
Stocks buyselling
Served as arbitrator in an international commercial arbitration held in Bogota, under the International Arbitration Rules of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogota, between a brazilian and colombian companies, arising out of a share purchase agreement.
Construction of marine works and structures
Suescún Abogados successfully represented Carbones del Cerrejón Limited (Glencore), multinational which is the largest mining company in Colombia, in a ICC international arbitration, under Colombian law, against a multinational consortium, related to the construction of marine works and structures. The tribunal dismissed all claims (USD$60 million dollars) brought by the consortium and awarded all counterclaims and damages sought by Cerrejón (USD$40 million dollars). Consequently, the Tribunal ordered the consortium paying 100% of both the costs of the arbitration and of the costs of Cerrejón’s legal representation.
Credits pending payment
Suescún Abogados advised an international bank in disputes with a public entity, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, arising out from outstanding debt. The disputes were submitted to international arbitration.
Expansion of a thermoelectric plant
Served as Chairman in Paris in a USD$370 million dollars ICC international arbitration related to the enlargement of a thermoelectric plant in Argentina, under both Argentinean and Swiss law.
Gas transportation
Served as arbitrator in an ICC USD$200 million dollars international commercial arbitration, under Argentinean law, seated in Buenos Aires, related to the transport of gas.
Construction of a hydroelectric plant
Successfully represented an international consortium in an international commercial arbitration held in Bogota under ICC Rules against ISAGEN, related to the construction of a hydroelectric plant, obtaining a USD$70 million dollars award. The Council of State of Colombia confirmed such award; being the first time it revises an international award rendered by an arbitral tribunal seated in Colombia. In addition, the Constitutional Court of Colombia confirmed the ICC award in its first revision ever of an international arbitration award.
Agency and distribution

Served as arbitrator in an international commercial arbitration held in Santiago (Chile) under ICC rules, related to agency and distribution.

Construction of off-shore platforms
Served as chairman in COMMISA v PEMEX, a USD$430 million dollars ICC international commercial arbitration held in Mexico City under Mexican law, related to the construction of offshore gas platforms.This is becoming a seminal case in international arbitration since it is one of the few cases around the world which have been set aside in the seat and meanwhile enforced in a different jurisdiction (New York).
Construction of the Medellin Metro
Served as arbitrator in a USD$1600 million dollars international ad hoc commercial arbitration held in Panama City under UNCITRAL rules, related to the construction of the Medellín Metro. At the moment such arbitration was the biggest commercial arbitration ever in Colombia.
Gas transportation
Served as arbitrator in an international commercial arbitration held in Paris under ICC Rules, related to the construction of a gas pipeline. (I) Served as arbitrator in an international commercial arbitration held in Paris under ICC Rules, related to the construction of a gas pipeline. (II)
Construction project and financial problems
Served as chairman in an international commercial arbitration held in Buenos Aires under ICC Rules, related to a public construction project and financial problems arising out of the so-called “corralito” laws enacted in Argentina before the economic crisis of 2001.
Agency and distribution

Successfully represented a multinational company in an international commercial arbitration held in Paris under ICC rules, related to agency and distribution in both Latin America and Colombia.

Construction of gas pipelines
Served as witness expert in an international commercial arbitration held in New York City under ICC Rules, related to the construction of gas pipelines.
Financing of a hotel complex
Served as sole arbitrator in an ICC international commercial arbitration held in Panama City under the laws of the State of Maryland (USA), related to the design, construction, technical assistance, and financing of a hotel complex.
Oil sales contract
Served as chairman in an ICC international commercial arbitration held in Mexico City under Mexican law, related to an international contract for the sale of oil and maritime freight services.