Kate Brown de Vejar

She/her/hersPartner

Global Co-Chair of International Arbitration

Deputy Managing Partner, Mexico City Office

Legal 500 Latin America testimonials describe Ms. Brown de Vejar as "outstanding … our firm finds that her focus, insight and strategic direction are best in class. Every interaction is the very definition of professionalism."

Emailkate.browndevejar@dlapiper.com

Call+52 55 52611886

Mexico City

About

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations International Arbitration

Bar admissionsAustraliaNew York

Mrs. Brown de Vejar “is celebrated as ‘smart and strategic’ by observers who cite her impeccable track record in disputes across the mining, oil and gas, and construction sectors.”

— Who’s Who Legal

The firm has done a “terrific job of providing proactive advice” in an ongoing arbitration. “Particularly strong team members” are partners Kate Brown de Vejar, Kiera Gans and Kaoru Umino.

— Director of a renewable energy investor

EXPERIENCE

Lead counsel representing a US telehealth group in its US150+ million ICC arbitration against its Indian subsidiary, seated in Chicago with Indian law applicable.
Represented a US energy giant in a US$70 million, English language, New York law ICC arbitration claim arising out of a combined cycle power plant in Mexico. The parties reached an amicable settlement in September 2022.
Leads the team representing the same US energy giant in a US$30 million, Spanish language, Mexican law LCIA arbitration claim against the principal contractor in a dispute arising out of the electromechanical works on a hydroelectric project in Mexico.
Lead counsel representing an energy sector client in an English-language US$100 million ICC arbitration arising out of a methanol plant project. The arbitration, seated in New York, with New York law and Delaware law applicable, ended in April 2021 with a favorable settlement for our client.
Secured a total victory for a retail sector client in a Spanish-language, Mexico City-seated ICC arbitration arising out of a long-term contract for the supply of hydroelectricity governed by Mexican law.
Lead counsel representing two investors in connection with their BIT claim against an Asian State arising out of investments in the renewable energy sector.
Led the team which achieved a total victory for the Republic of Lithuania in a US$300 million case brought in relation to the bankruptcy of Bankas Snoras (Fund for Protection of Investor’s Rights in Foreign States v. Republic of Lithuania, UNCITRAL Case). The case was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds and Lithuania also recovered 100% of its legal costs.
Represented a global leader in digital transformation in connection with a New York-seated ICDR arbitration arising out of a software development and ancillary agreements. The parties reached an amicable settlement in mid-2022.
Lead counsel representing a US-based sports data software company in its English language, Tokyo-seated ICDR arbitration with a foreign licensee. The matter ended in April 2022 with a favorable settlement.
Led the team that achieved a major victory for their Big Four tech sector client in an English language, San Francisco-seated ICC arbitration arising out of breach of a Delaware law confidentiality agreement.
One of the lead counsel in a Geneva-seated multi-billion dollar ICC arbitration for Turkmengas, Turkmenistan's State-owned gas entity, against the National Iranian Gas Company. The arbitration resulted in a resounding victory for Turkmengas, with NIGC found liable to pay in excess of US$2 billion.
Member of the team which secured a comprehensive victory for the owner of a utility plant in an ICC arbitration seated in New York, with New York law the applicable substantive law. The arbitral tribunal rejected the main contractor’s claim for payment, and awarded the plant owner millions on its counterclaims, as well as costs.
One of the lead counsel that secured a comprehensive victory for Turkmenistan in a US$570 million ICSID arbitration - all claims against Turkmenistan were dismissed and the claimant was ordered to pay US$1.7 million in costs. The case (Içkale Insaat Limited Sirketi v. Turkmenistan, ICSID Case No. ARB/10/24) involved 13 different civil engineering EPC contracts for facilities ranging from hotels and schools, to a man-made canal. The same team went on to defeat the claimant's request for a supplementary decision and rectification of the award in mid-2017.
One of the lead counsel that secured a total victory for Turkmenistan in a US$450 million ICSID arbitration involving claims arising out of 31 distinct EPC contracts for the construction of a range of facilities, including an industrial steel mill, a water treatment plant and a recycling plant (Muhammet Çap & Sehil Inşaat Endustri ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. v. Turkmenistan, ICSID Case No. ARB/12/6).