Patrick Byrne is a partner in the litigation and arbitration group of B. Cremades & Asociados.
He focuses his practice on international investment treaty and commercial arbitration, as well as international litigation. His experience covers a variety of industries, including oil and gas, renewable energy, major infrastructure projects, real estate, banking, construction and mining, under various arbitral institutions and rules. In 2022 Patrick helped to obtain a $15 billion award against Malaysia on behalf of the heirs to the Sultan of Sulu, the largest unconsolidated award in arbitral history.
Patrick regularly represents clients in cross-border disputes in U.S. courts, including litigation against foreign states, enforcement proceedings for foreign arbitral awards and Section 1782 discovery proceedings. He also handles international sport disputes before the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Before joining B. Cremades & Asociados, Patrick spent his early years as a U.S. litigator in his native California, where his practice spanned the breadth of U.S. dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, government investigations and hearings, jury trials and appeals.
In addition to his practice, Patrick serves as Adjunct Professor at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, where he teaches common law principles to students in the International Advocacy LL.M. program. He is also a Founding Member of California Arbitration (CalArb).
Patrick is a dual citizen of the United States and the Republic of Ireland.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Patrick has worked on several investor-state and international commercial matters, including:
- Obtained a $15 billion award in an ad hoc arbitration against Malaysia concerning a contractual dispute
- Multibillion-dollar ad hoc investment treaty dispute between a European national and an Eastern European state
- ICSID annulment proceeding concerning a mining project in West Africa
- Dispute concerning the transfer of footballer Neymar Jr. from Santos Futebol Clube to FC Barcelona
- ICC arbitration concerning gas pricing revision in contract between Western European company and Middle Eastern state
- ICC arbitration concerning the construction of a North American nuclear power plant
- ICC arbitrations concerning a major Central American infrastructure project
- ICC commercial arbitration between Spanish individuals and a U.S. law firm
- ICC commercial arbitration concerning corporate governance of a publicly listed Spanish company
- SCC arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty concerning investments in natural gas in a Western European state.
- ICSID arbitration concerning licenses to explore, develop and exploit oil fields in a Central Asian state
- ICSID arbitration concerning the building and maintenance of infrastructure in a South American state
- ICSID arbitration concerning the building of solar plants in a Western European state
- ICSID arbitration concerning investments in resorts in a Central Asian state
- ICSID arbitration concerning banking investments in an Eastern European state
- PCA arbitration concerning a construction dispute in Eastern Europe
- ICC arbitration concerning a cement processing plant in North Africa
- ICSID arbitration concerning real estate investments in an Eastern European state
- ICSID arbitration concerning various investments, including several real estate projects, in an Eastern European state
- ICSID arbitration concerning investments in the insurance sector in an Eastern European state
- ICSID arbitration concerning investments in North African mining projects
- ICC arbitration concerning the construction of a hydroelectric plant in Southern Africa
- ICC arbitration concerning an aluminum smelter in Western Europe
- DIAC arbitration concerning hotel and resort construction in the Middle East
- SCC emergency arbitration proceeding concerning attachment of assets in an Eastern European state
- Investment-treaty dispute concerning resort development in North America
- Dispute concerning infrastructure project in Northern Europe Several disputes before a Dispute Adjudication Board concerning a major African hydropower project
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND COURT ADMISSIONS
- U.S. Supreme Court Bar
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- International Bar Association
- California Lawyers Association
- California Arbitration (CalArb)
- Spanish Arbitration Club
TEACHING
Mr. Byrne currently serves as an adjunct professor at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, where he teaches common law principles to students in the International Advocacy LL.M. program.