Overview
Paulo Maza Moreno is an international associate in the firm’s top-ranked International Arbitration Group, with over eight years of experience in international and transnational disputes, with a particular focus on high-stakes international arbitration. His practice focuses on complex commercial and investor-state arbitration, as well as public international law.
Paulo has played a central role in some of the most significant disputes in the market, acting as lead associate in multiple bet-the-company matters across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, ports, energy, construction, mining, infrastructure and shareholder disputes. His experience spans proceedings under all major arbitral frameworks, including ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, ICDR and LCIA. Paulo’s experience spans the full lifecycle of international disputes. He has acted both as counsel and as secretary to arbitral tribunals, giving him a sophisticated understanding of arbitral dynamics from multiple vantage points. He regularly advises clients on strategic pre-dispute positioning, including complex negotiations, risk mitigation and crisis management in high-pressure, cross-border contexts. A bilingual attorney, Paulo is dual qualified in civil and common law jurisdictions, allowing him to seamlessly navigate disputes involving diverse legal systems and legal cultures. In addition to his practice, Paulo has taught international arbitration at Universidad Panamericana and frequently lectures on arbitration and public international law. He is also actively engaged in pro bono work in public international law, including representing victims before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Education
- New York University School of Law, Master of Laws, LL.M.
- Universidad Panamericana, Bachelor of Laws, LL.B. (summa cum laude)
- Escuela Libre de Derecho – ICC, Diploma in International Arbitration (summa cum laude)
Representations
- A world-class insurance and financial services company in an ICC arbitration against a Latin American state arising out of a nationalization process.
- A global diversified conglomerate in an ICC arbitration concerning a complex, multibillion-dollar infrastructure project.
- A Zurich Insurance Company in its dispute against the Republic of Bolivia concerning the nationalization of the pension sector (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. et al. v. Plurinational State of Bolivia, PCA Case No. 2021-05).
- A major telecommunications company in its dispute against the Republic of Colombia, securing an award exceeding $380 million — the largest ever rendered against Colombia (Telefónica, S.A. v. Republic of Colombia, ICSID Case No. ARB/18/3).
- A toll-road concessionaire in a bet-the-company dispute against the Municipality of Lima, defeating an attempt to annul a concession exceeding $2 billion, securing dismissal of all claims and obtaining damages for the client (Rutas de Lima S.A. (II) v. Municipality of Lima).
- A Colombian energy conglomerate in its dispute against the Republic of Guatemala concerning the country’s largest energy infrastructure project (Grupo Energía Bogotá S.A. et al. v. Republic of Guatemala, ICSID Case No. ARB/21/59).
- A Spanish energy conglomerate in a high-value commercial dispute against Mexico’s state-owned power utility, developing a targeted arbitration strategy that resulted in a successful settlement of a $400 million dispute.
Engagement & Publications
Speaking Engagements:
- "Real-World Applications of AI in International Arbitration," Young MIAS, Miami Arbitration Week, Panelist.
- "Arbitration and Project Finance: Complex Multi-Party and Multi-Contract Projects," NYU School of Law, Moderator.
- "Unlocking Opportunities: A Roadmap to a U.S. Career," NYU School of Law, Moderator.
Publications:
- "Enforcement of Annulled Awards: International Conception and Proposal for Domestic Application," ICC Mexico, Pauta, No. 95 (2021)