Aníbal Martín Sabater

Licensed in several US jurisdictions, England and Wales (solicitor), and Spain, Aníbal has represented clients in disputes conducted in English or Spanish and governed by the laws of more than 25 nations around the globe.  Those disputes covered a broad range of industries, such as construction, oil and gas, mining and natural resources, power generation and distribution, fishing, food processing, banking and private equity, shipping, sports, project finance, technology, and telecommunications.

In addition to representing clients in pending arbitrations, Aníbal routinely assists companies in evaluating, preserving, and strategizing about their international claims and defenses. He also acts frequently as an arbitrator. Click here for details on Aníbal’s experience as an arbitrator.

Aníbal joined Chaffetz Lindsey in January 2015 and was previously a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, having spent 11 years with the firm in its Houston and New York offices. Prior to that, Aníbal practiced for six years at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in Madrid.

Recent first chair experience includes:

• Representing an power plant owner in an ICC arbitration concerning defective equipment supplied to the plant
• Representing an equipment supplier in an ICC arbitration over a natural resources project in Latin America
• Representing the claimant in APM Terminals Callao S.A. v. Republic of Peru, ICSID Case No. ARB/21/28
• Representing the contractor and O&M operator of three solar plants in an ICC arbitration against the owner
• Representing the owner of a Latin American windfarm in an ICDR construction arbitration against the balance of plant contractor.
• Representing the owner of one of Latin America’s largest wind farms in an ICC dispute adjudication board process against contractor.
• Representing the owner of four power plants in Latin America in an ICC arbitration against the contractor responsible for their construction.
• Representing the owner of a North American solar power plant in an ICC construction arbitration against contractor (claims exceeded $1 billion).
• Representing a private equity fund in an ICDR case over a financial transaction.
• Representing a financial institution in two multiparty ICC arbitrations over a put-option and several loan agreements – the dispute also involved seven related court proceedings in the U.S. and Latin America.
• Acting for a contractor in a protracted multi-party ad hoc international mediation over a construction project in North America.
• Representing the Claimant in Albacora S.A. v. Republic of Ecuador (PCA Case No. 2016-11). The dispute arises out of the Spain-Ecuador Bilateral Investment Treaty – claimant alleges, among other things, Ecuador’s breach of fair and equitable treatment obligations concerning fisheries investments in a  tax-free zone.
• Representing two complainants before the European Court of Human Rights in cases over due process and economic rights’ violations.
• Acting as settlement counsel for a leading hospitality brand in a dispute submitted to SCC arbitration.
• Representing an American company in an ICC arbitration against a Russian licensee over a technology license agreement.
• Representing two US companies in a dispute involving the fracking industry (ICDR mediation, followed by ICDR arbitration).
• Representing a U.S. drilling company in an ICC arbitration against a Latin American partner.
• Acting as coordination counsel for a company involved in several related court disputes in Europe.
• Acting for a European vessel owner in an AAA construction dispute with a U.S. shipyard.
• Advising a multinational over its conduct of business in internationally contested territories in Latin America.

Less recently, Aníbal also acted for a US oil services company in a dispute against an Eurasian state-owned entity in an ICDR arbitration; as part of this representation, Aníbal successfully argued one of the first emergency relief application ever granted in the ICDR system.

• “Optional Provisions for the Terms of Reference and Procedural Order No. 1,” ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin (December 2023).
• “The Decalogue to Work with Cocounsel,” in “Surviving in the Field of International Arbitration: War Stories and Lessons Learned (English & Spanish-Bilingual Book),” Wolters Kluwer (September 2020).
• The Impact COVID-19 Will Have on the Future of International Arbitration,” CIAR Global (July 2020).
• “International Arbitration Pre-Hearing Checklist,” Practical Law (June 2020).
• “What covid-19 means for Latin American arbitration,” Latin Lawyer (April 2020).
• “An Arbitrator’s Obligation to Use Reasonable Efforts to Issue an Enforceable Award and Its Interaction with the New York Convention,” 60 Years of the New York Convention: Key Issues and Future Challenges, Wolters Kluwer (2019), co-Authored with Lidia Rezende.
• “Tracing the Evolution of International Investment Law Through the Catalyst of Energy Disputes” OGEL Journal in International Investment Law (March 2018), Co-Authored with Mark D. Stadnyk.
• Model Extradition Treaty, Co-Authored by Aníbal Sabater (International Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association, March 2017).
• “Optional Appellate Arbitration Rules: Are They Good For Your Case?” (with Practical Law Arbitration), Thomson Reuters (September 2015).
• “ICDR arbitration–the lawyers’ perspective” LexisPSL (August 2015).
• “International Arbitration Pre-Hearing Checklist” New York International Arbitration Center (July 2015).
• “Increasing Convergence and Sophistication in Emergency Arbitral Relief” Mealey’s International Arbitration Report Vol. 29, #12 (December 2014), Co-Authored with Mark Stadnyk.
• “New York’s International Arbitration Judge, One Year Later” New York Law Journal (November 17, 2014), Co-Authored with Mark Stadnyk.
• “‘Flintlock’: Precluding Punitive Damages in Arbitration” New York Law Journal (September 22, 2014), Co-Authored with Glen Banks.

• “Recent Trends and Developments in Commercial Arbitration in Mexico, Central America, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Brazil, Guatemala, and Chile,” Miami International Arbitration Society (MIAS) and Friends Second Annual LATAM Tour, (May 2024).
• “2024 AAA Higginbotham Fellows Program,” American Arbitration Association’s Higginbotham Fellows Program, (May 2024).
• “International Arbitration in the Oil & Gas Sector,” Hialsa X Chaffetz Lindsey Oil &Gas Arbitration Masterclass Harvard University, (Massachusetts, March 2024).
• “Perspectives and Trends: Arbitration Involving State Entities In Latin America,” Penn Law International Arbitration Association & Penn Carey Law Brazilian Association, (Pennsylvania, March 2024).
• “The AAA-ICDR Updates on the Current State of Affairs in International Arbitration,” ILaw 2024: Global Forum on International Law, Speaker (Miami, February 2024).
• “Passing the Batch,” Spanish Ibero American Arbitration Club (Club Español e Iberiamericano del Arbitraje), (February 2024).
• “Public Construction Contracts and Construction Arbitration,” New York Arbitration Week, (New York, November 2023).
• “Current Trends in International and Investment Arbitration in Latin America,” IBA Annual Conference, (Paris, October 2023).
•  “What Will Successful Law Firms Look Like in the Future,” International Association of Lawyers (UIA) 67th Congress, (Rome, October 2023).
• “Recent Developments in International Arbitration,“ International Association of Lawyers (UIA) 67th Congress, (Rome, October 2023).
• “Parallel Proceedings in Arbitration: International Tribunals, Judges and Oversight Bodies,” Colombia Arbitration Week, (Virtual, September 2023).
• “Rise of the Machines or Sleep Mode: Is International Arbitration Ready for the Technology Revolution?” ICAL Alumni Association 20th Anniversary Conference, (Stockholm, August 2023).
• “Arbitraje, Regulaciones ESG y Transición Energética,” Mexico Arbitration Week, (Mexico City, May 2023).
• “Arbitration & Sanctions,” UIA International Arbitration Conference, (Bilbao, May 2023).
• “Arbitration in the Context of Energy Transition,” 9th Harvard International Arbitration Conference, (Cambridge, March 2023).
• “Flexibilidad y automatismos en el proceso arbitral,” Arbitration Live and Rubio Arbitration, (Virtual, July 2021).
• “Arbitraje Internacional, perspectiva y opiniones sobre la región LATAM,” Society of Construction Law North America, (Virtual, May 2021).
• “Plenary Presentation on Cross-Examining and Redirecting Fact Witnesses,” ABA’s Section of International Law Arbitration Skills Masterclass, Faculty (Virtual, May 2021).
• “E-Discovery in International and Domestic Arbitration v. E-Discovery in Court,” HNBA Corporate Counsel Conference, Panelist (Virtual, March 2021).
• “How to Maintain a Professional Network without In-Person Contact,” UIA Webinar Series, Moderator (Virtual, January 2021).
• “Challenges and Opportunities for Lawyers and Clients in the New Normal,” UIA Webinar Series, Moderator (Virtual, January 2021).
• “Arbitration Coffee Breaks,” MAD VYAP / MX VYAP, Speaker (Virtual, December 2020).
• “The Debts of International Arbitration with Civil Law and Anglo-Saxon Law,” Arbitration Commission of the Mexican Bar Association, Speaker (Virtual, September 2020).
• “Arbitration in Complex Contracts,” Arbitraje Alumni, Panelist (Virtual, September 2020).
• “How will COVID-19 affect International Arbitration? Opportunities and Challenges,” Flor & Hurtado, Speaker (Virtual, July 2020).
• “Partes de Laudo: Decisión y Deliberación,” CAMCANACO, Panelist (Virtual, June 2020).
• “How Can COVID and the “New Normal” Influence the Development of the Lawyers’ Activity,” UIA, Moderator (Virtual, May 2020).
• “Three-Part Series: NYIAC Talks Podcast Spotlight on International Arbitration in Latin America: Towards Harmony or Dissonance?,” NYIAC, Speaker (May 2020).
• “Counsel’s Role in the Quantum Phases – Effective Advocacy, Cross-Examination Techniques, the “Hot Tub” and Relations with the Expert – Including related Ethical/Disqualification Issues,” Damages in International Arbitration Conference, Panelist (New York, November 2019).
• “Judicial Review and Conflict Solution: ASIER’s Perspective,” XIV Ibero-American Congress of Regulation of ASIER, Panelist (Medellin, November 2019).
• “China Special Session,” 63rd UIA Congress, Panelist (Luxembourg, November 2019).
• “Mediation and Arbitration for Businesses along the Belt Road,” 63rd UIA Congress, Panelist (Luxembourg, November 2019).
• “Arbitraje en temas corporativos,” ICC Peru Arbitration Day, Panelist (Lima, September 2019).
• “Changed Circumstances: Practical Insights from Seasoned Arbitration Counsel and Arbitrators,” ITA Annual Workshop & Meeting, Moderator (Dallas, June 2019).
• “The Overhaul of ISDS – Issues and Trends,” Tulane Energy Conference – The Changing Landscape of Cross-Border Energy Transactions, Tulane Center for Energy Law, Speaker (New Orleans, March 2019).
• “An Arbitrator’s Obligation to (try to) Issue an Enforceable Award: Achmea and Beyond,” New York International Arbitration Club, Speaker (New York, February 2019).
• “Trends and Challenges in International Arbitration: A comparative approach between Chile and USA,” Seminar hosted by CAM Santiago and Ortuzar, Vergara & Boetsch Abogados, Panelist (Santiago, January 2019).
• “Recalcitrant Parties: Balancing Legitimacy and Due Process,” 8th Investment Treaty Arbitration Conference, Panelist (Prague, October 2018).
• “The Impact of Sanctions on International Arbitration,” 7th Annual GAR Live New York, Panelist (New York, September 2018).
• “Would you recommend Miami as the seat for international arbitration?” Latin Lawyer-GAR Arbitration Summit, Panelist (Miami, April 2018).
• “The Impact of Sanctions on International Arbitration, Enforcement Proceedings and Settlement Agreements,” 7th Annual GAR Live NY Conference, Panelist (New York, September 2018).

• Past Chair, Association of the Bar of the City of New York – International Law Committee
• President, International Association of Lawyers – Commission on “The Future of the Lawyer”
• New York International Arbitration Center – Director & Former Executive Committee Member
• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Chair, Spanish Arbitration Club – NY/DC Chapter Honorary President
• Vice President, International Law Association – American Branch
• ICC Taskforce on Financial Institutions
• ICC Taskforce on Emergency Arbitrator Proceedings