Nigel Blackaby KC
About
Nigel is based in Washington, DC and is co-head of our Latin America Practice.
Recognized as an 'undisputed leader in his field', Nigel has acted as counsel and arbitrator in over 125 ad hoc and institutional arbitrations, both commercial and investor-state, conducted in English and Spanish. He has particular expertise in Latin America and energy and mining disputes.
Nigel is widely recognized for his expertise in international arbitration. He is ranked Band 1 for international arbitration in Chambers & Partners (Global, Latin America and USA) and for public international law (Global), recognized in the Hall of Fame by Legal 500 (Latin America and USA), as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Arbitration by Lexology Index, as one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America by Lawdragon (2025), and was selected for Lawdragon's Hall of Fame for International Arbitration and Energy (2026). In 2020, he was appointed King's Counsel for excellence in advocacy (only one of a handful of English solicitor advocates to receive that distinction).
Nigel speaks French, Spanish and Portuguese.
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- Representing Repsol in its ICSID arbitration against Argentina for expropriation of its controlling share in YPF and subsequent $5bn settlement.
- Representing BG Group in its arbitration victory against Argentina in the first investment arbitration to be reviewed by the US Supreme Court.
- Representing Phillips 66 in its victory against PDVSA in an ICC arbitration concerning the control of a heavy oil refinery in Texas.
- Representing Crystallex mining corporation in its $1.4bn award against Venezuela for the expropriation of one of the world’s largest gold mines.
- Representing Pan American Energy in its ICSID claim for the expropriation of the second largest upstream oil company in Bolivia and the subsequent (largest) settlement agreed by Bolivia.
- Representing CMS, an integrated energy and petroleum company, Suez, Aguas de Barcelona and National Grid (among others) in their victories against Argentina arising out of the crisis measures.
Nigel Blackaby KC
700 13th Street, NW
10th Floor