Practice areas

International, national and sports arbitration lawyers

B. Cremades & Asociados is an undisputed reference in domestic, international, commercial and investment protection-related arbitration.

The experience of B. Cremades & Asociados

The lawyers of B. Cremades & Asociados participate in arbitrations as counsel or arbitrators and provide their services in several languages – such as Spanish, English and French. B. Cremades & Asociados’ clients include sovereign States, State-owned enterprises, listed multinationals, SMEs, start-ups and individuals.

Investment protection arbitration

Under the main international arbitration rules, including ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC and SCC, as well as in ad hoc proceedings. The firm’s experience encompasses international arbitrations under both bilateral and multilateral international investment protection treaties, as well as public contracts. B. Cremades & Asociados has contributed significantly to the development of investor-State arbitration, having acted on behalf of both international investors and sovereign States.

Commercial arbitration

Under the main international arbitration rules, including ICC, UNCITRAL, SCC, AAA, ICDR, LCIA, CIETAC, CIAC, DIS, CRCICA, SIAC, CIAM, CIMA, CEA, CAM, Spanish Court of Arbitration and TAB, as well as in ad hoc proceedings. B. Cremades & Asociados has extensive experience in commercial arbitrations in which one of the parties is a State-owned enterprise. The firm’s expertise in commercial arbitrations has had such a legal and public impact that, in some cases, it has created judicial precedents for the Spanish Supreme Court. For example, the arbitration between the company PUMA (represented by B. Cremades & Asociados) and the company Estudio 2000 established case law regarding the liability of arbitrators in arbitration proceedings (STS 362/2017 of 15 February).

Sports arbitration

Under the main arbitration rules, including TAS-CAS, FIFA, FIBA and IHF. Members of the firm have acted in high-profile arbitrations, such as the transfer of the footballer Neymar Jr. from Santos F.C. to F.C. Barcelona in 2013.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Structuring and presentation of disputes before Dispute Adjudication Boards. Currently, B. Cremades & Asociados participates in dispute resolution boards in major infrastructure construction projects.

Arbitration-related services provided by B. Cremades & Asociados

The services provided by the lawyers of B. Cremades & Asociados include:

  • Assistance in the drafting of arbitration clauses and in the design of ADR mechanisms.
  • Preventive advice to clients so that their investments abroad are covered and protected by an international treaty.
  • Pre-litigation advice to clients in disputes submitted to commercial arbitration.
  • Pre-litigation advice to clients with investments abroad (or in Spain) when the State intends to implement measures contrary to the investments.
  • Advice and representation during the search for arbitration funding as well as during negotiations with the funder.
  • Applications for interim measures in arbitration proceedings or through the ordinary courts.
  • Applications for the appointment of arbitrators before the ordinary courts and arbitration institutions.
  • Advice and representation during all stages of arbitration proceedings.
  • Advice and representation in the drafting of out-of-court settlement agreements.
  • Advice on litigation related to arbitration proceedings.
  • Proceedings for the recognition (exequatur) of foreign arbitral awards.
  • Proceedings for the enforcement of arbitral awards.
  • Proceedings for the annulment of arbitral awards.B. Cremades & Asociados also provides strategic consultancy services to other national and foreign law firms in arbitration matters.

Examples of investor-State arbitrations in which B. Cremades & Asociados acted as counsel

  • Banreal Holding S.L. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, PCA Case No. 2023-32
  • Comercializadora Mediterránea de Viviendas S.L. v. Kingdom of Morocco,ICSID Case No. ARB/22/17
  • Raimundo Santamarta Devis v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Ad Hoc- UNCITRAL, PCA Case No. 2020-56
  • Inversiones Continental (Panamá), S.A. v. Republic of Honduras, ICSID Case No. ARB/18/40
  • Blue Bank International & Trust (Barbados) Ltd. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, ICSID Case No. ARB 12/20 (Annulment)
  • Elsamex, S.A. v. Republic of Honduras, ICSID Case No. ARB/09/4
  • Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal v. Argentine Republic, ICSID Case No. ARB/97/3

Examples of commercial arbitrations in which B. Cremades & Asociados acted as counsel

  • Heirs and Successors-in-interest to the Sultan of Sulu and Sabah v. Malaysia, Ad Hoc
  • Ad hoc arbitration Ms. Bárbara Gutiérrez-Maturana-Kalachnikoff, Ms. Bárbara Gutiérrez-Maturana-Larios-Kalachnikoff and Ms. Christina Gutiérrez-Maturana-Larios-Kalachnikoff v. Mr. Carlos Gutiérrez Maturana Larios Altuna and Mazacruz S.L.
  • Santos Futebol Clube v. Fútbol Club Barcelona, Neymar Da Silva Santos Junior, Neymar Da Silva Santos Senior and Neymar Sport e Marketing S/S Ltda., FIFA Cases 15-01254/itr and 15-01255/itr
  • CIMSA v. Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, S.A.B. de C.V., CIAC Arbitration No. 50-180-T-00867-11
  • Dunor Energía S.A.P.I de C.V. v. Comisión Federal de Electricidad, LCIA Arbitration No. 204865
  • ICC commercial arbitration between an Ecuadorian construction company and the Ministry of Public Works of El Salvador
  • ICC commercial arbitration between a Spanish gas company and a Qatari State-owned company
  • CIAM commercial arbitration between a Spanish law firm and two individuals
  • CAM commercial arbitration between a Spanish law firm and a Saudi individual
  • CAM commercial arbitration between a Spanish company and a Brazilian football club
  • Two CAC commercial arbitrations between an Austrian construction company and a Bolivian State-owned company
  • ICC commercial arbitration between a Spanish broker and a French aerospace company
  • ICAM commercial arbitration between former shareholders and a professional limited liability company
  • ICC commercial arbitration between shareholders of a Spanish listed gaming company
  • ICC commercial arbitration between a Panamanian electricity company and a Costa Rican construction company
  • Two CeCAP commercial arbitrations between a Panamanian electricity company and a Costa Rican construction company
  • Two ICC commercial arbitrations between a Salvadorian electricity company and a Danish engineering company
  • CIMA commercial arbitration between two listed Spanish electricity companies
  • CAM commercial arbitration between a Spanish tech start-up company and a Spanish investor
  • ICC commercial arbitration between Spanish individuals and a U.S. law firm
  • ICC commercial arbitration between an Asian State-owned oil company and a Latin American State-owned oil company
  • Ad hoc arbitrations in Spain relating to gas supply contracts
  • ICC arbitration between prominent French and Spanishtelecommunications companies
  • ICC arbitration involving the Colombian State-owned railway enterprise against an American company
  • Ad hoc arbitration involving a Spanish engineering company against a Middle East State-owned oil company
  • Multiple heavy plant construction disputes under the ICC Rules involving construction contracts in Europe and the Middle East
  • Dispute relating to international sale of goods and bank guarantees under the ICC Rules
  • Intellectual property dispute arising from a distribution contract involving Spanish and U.S. parties