David Lindsey

David’s practice covers a wide range of industries, with a focus on construction, infrastructure, and oil and gas disputes in Latin America. Working as both as an advocate and arbitrator, he handles numerous matters involving cross-border enforcement of awards. David’s flexible, collegial approach makes him an ideal partner for clients and co-counsel located anywhere in the world.

David acts both for and against foreign sovereigns concerning, among other things, expropriation of investments, fair and equitable treatment under public international law, breach of treaty obligations, breach of contract, determination of applicable law, U.S. racketeering laws, and the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.

Before forming Chaffetz Lindsey, David was Head of Clifford Chance’s International Arbitration practice for the Americas. He started his legal career at Steel Hector & Davis in 1987, and opened their London office in the late 1990s.

• Won a substantial award for a Latin American construction company from a state-owned oil company in connection with a major project involving alleged delays, engineering issues and design changes.
• Represent several companies in arbitration to seek payment owed for the construction of large ships in Latin America in connection with expansion of the local oil and gas industry
• Advising a power company in resolving various arbitrations and litigation proceedings against the Brazilian electricity regulator and other Brazilian government entities as part of restructuring the power company’s Brazil operations.
• Obtained dismissal of a RICO action against The People’s Republic of China for lack of jurisdiction.
• Represent a European-based multinational in bringing breach of warranty and fraud claims in an ICC arbitration under New York law arising out of a corporate acquisition.
• Defending a U.S. power company against an instrumentality of an Indian state government in an ad hoc arbitration seated in India, and related Indian Supreme Court proceedings. The case involves allegations concerning the power company’s alleged obligation to modernize the distribution system of a power plant it had purchased.
• Represented a Swiss pharmaceutical company in a Netherlands arbitration proceeding against a U.S pharmaceutical company, regarding alleged breaches of a licensing and development agreement.

• International Arbitration in Latin America, Co-Editor (Kluwer).
• “An Overview Of The Law Applicable To Arbitrations Sited In New York,” International Arbitration in New York, Co-Author (Oxford University Press).