Oliver J. Armas

Partner

Practice Description

Oliver Armas handles complex domestic and international disputes. He has an extensive practice in U.S. federal and state courts, as well as before regulatory agencies, such as the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice, the New York Attorney General and state insurance regulators (including internal investigations, FCPA investigations, advice on OFAC and export controls, etc.).

A significant part of Mr. Armas's practice involves representing foreign and domestic clients in arbitrations before the ICC, AAA/ICDR, LCIA, ICSID, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and other arbitral tribunals.

Because he is fluent in Spanish (and can understand Portuguese), he routinely counsels clients on matters involving Latin America.

Mr. Armas has acted as a legal expert in certain aspects of U.S. law in foreign proceedings (e.g., Mexico and Peru), and has supervised litigation and conducted FCPA investigations in almost every country in Latin America.

Representative Matters

Litigation / Regulatory

• Defending a Brazilian mining and metals company in litigation concerning materials imported to the U.S.
• Representing a U.S.-based construction company and its Chilean subsidiary in litigation in Chile including an alleged defective mill in a copper mine.
• Representing a U.S. pharmaceutical in patent infringement litigation in Brazil.
• Representing Cayman-based and UK-based investment funds in litigation in Brazil, Bermuda and Uruguay relating to restructuring of debentures.
• Representing shareholders of Stan Lee Media Inc., in a derivative suit against Marvel Comics in federal court in New York. 
• Representing U.S. asset-based lender against an Italian clothes manufacturer (Diesel) in a trial in the Southern District of New York.
• Representing eight Argentine pension fund managers (and their Union) in an action to freeze their assets in New York and in subsequent appeals to the 2d Circuit.
• Prosecuting claims on behalf of a sports association regarding copyright infringement and Lanham Act violations.
• Representing a U.S. pharmaceutical in antitrust litigation in Mexico.
• Representing U.S. multinational in FCPA investigations in Latin America.
• Defending trademark infringement claims on behalf of a multinational corporation.
• Representing the Brazilian subsidiary of a U.S. pharmaceutical in an indemnity case in Brazil.
• Representing a U.S. pharmaceutical in an internal investigation regarding judicial corruption in Mexico.
• Representing a South American company in SEC and DOJ investigations.
• Representing a Chilean company in asset forfeiture case brought by DEA and Homeland Security.
• Representing trustee of a future flow receivables trust (governed by Colombian law), and noteholders in landmark recharacterization litigation.
• Defending a Colombian pharmaceutical in enforcement of arbitral award and related attachment of assets.
• Representing a multinational technology company in an international fraud case on behalf of a German subsidiary.
• Defending a multinational corporation in unfair competition and trade secrets litigation.
• Defending a consortium of Spanish and Mexican companies that won the concession to operate twelve airports in Mexico in an action commenced by a losing bidder.
• Representing a Chinese bank against the government of Iraq. 
• Defending one of the largest privately held companies in the world in a multi-million dollar litigation involving allegations of fraud and anticompetitive behavior.
• Representing a bank and its directors against insurgent shareholders seeking to sterilize voting rights during a proxy contest for election of directors.
• Defending London underwriters in two unrelated products liability actions involving catastrophic injuries from accidents with 30 ton capacity forklifts.
• Representing largest U.S. retail tire distributor in products liability claims against German manufacturer.
• Defending an investment bank which underwrote an initial public offering where the plaintiffs challenged the issuer's plan of conversion and public stock offering.
• Representing an Italian manufacturer in a products liability case.
• Representing an Argentine investment fund in confirmation and vacatur proceedings of an arbitral award involving "manifest disregard of the law" issues against a Spanish bank.
• Representing one of the largest distributors of prepaid telephone cards for the U.S. Hispanic market in a breach of contract case.
• Representing a Mexican company in anti-suit injunction case.

Arbitration

• Representing a Spanish solar (PV) energy company in a dispute with a U.K. company. (LCIA, London, English Law).
• Representing an owner in a construction dispute in Panama with its EPC contractor. (ICC, New York, New York law, English).
• Representing a U.S. insurance company against a Mexican sponsor/concessionaire of a toll road securitization. (ICC, New York, New York).
• Representing Cayman-based investment fund versus a Bermuda-based hedge fund in an ICC arbitration in São Paulo, Brazil. (ICC, São Paulo, Bermuda law, English).
• Representing an international medical device company regarding disputes about an exclusive distributorship agreement, intellectual property issues and related matters. (AAA, New York, English).
• Representing a global pharmaceutical company regarding disputes arising out of a development and license agreement concerning a proprietary compound. (JAMS, New York, English).
• Representing a Spanish solar energy company against a Chinese joint venture company. (ICC, New York, New York law).
• Representing a Dubai-based entity in a dispute involving the development of a port. (DIAC, Dubai, UAE law, English). 
• Representing a UK-based multinational and its Mexican affiliate in a potential NAFTA dispute against Canada.
• Representing an Argentine investment fund in an arbitration against a leading Spanish bank in a dispute arising out of joint venture. (ICDR, New York, Spanish law, Spanish language). 
• Representing a European company in an arbitration against a Japanese competitor in automotive industry. (ICC, Paris, Japanese law, English). 
• Representing a Malaysian company in a dispute against a U.S.-based oil and gas company in a dispute involving a joint venture in Qatar. (LCIA, London, NY law, English).
• Representing a European manufacturer in an arbitration against a leading supplier from Spain in automotive industry. (ICC, Madrid, Spanish law, Spanish). 
• Representing a graphic artist against a U.S. based hedge fund over an investment dispute. (AAA, New York, New York law, English). 
• Representing a Swiss investment fund in an arbitration against a U.S.-based hedge fund over an investment dispute. (ICDR, New York, New York law, English). 
• Representing a Mexican company in an arbitration against a U.S. conglomerate in a dispute over a joint venture. (ICC, New York, Mexican law, English). 
• Representing a Colombian pharmaceutical company in an arbitration against a U.S. pharmaceutical in a dispute about product licensing and distribution in Latin America. (ICC, New Jersey, New Jersey law, English). 
• Representing a large international investment bank in a NASD arbitration over the handling of certain notes from a Mexican issuer. (NASD, New York, New York law, English). 
• Representing a UK-based media company and its U.S. subsidiary in an arbitration with its former CFO and in a related EEOC case. (AAA, New York, New York law, English). 
• Representing world ranked tennis player from Argentina before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an appeal of an alleged doping violation. His initial two-year ban was reduced significantly. Eventually his suspension was overturned by the Swiss courts. (CAS, Switzerland, Swiss law, English).
• Representing a Colombian bank in a mediation in the Lehman bankruptcy. (JAMS, New York, New York law, English).
• Representing a U.S. steel company and its Mexican parent in an arbitration with its former CEO and president. (AAA, New York, New York law, English). 
• In a case of first impression, representing the State of New York in a dispute filed in Mexico under the NAFTA side labor agreement. (NAFTA/NAALC, Washington D.C., English). 
• Representing a Chilean natural gas company against an Argentine gas supplier. (ICDR, New York, Argentine law, English). 
• Sole arbitrator in a music royalties dispute. (AAA, New York, New York law, English). 
• Sole arbitrator in case involving alleged breach of a settlement agreement and related issues. (ICDR, Bahamas, New York law, English). 
• Sole arbitrator in an international commercial dispute over Sharia financing and related issues. (ICDR, Bahamas, New York law, English). 
• Special Master in an action between two Portuguese banks regarding contractual breaches relating to a failed merger. (ad hoc, New Jersey, New Jersey law, Portuguese).
• Co-arbitrator in a dispute involving a hotel development in Mexico. (ICDR, Mexico, Mexican law, English).
• Co-arbitrator in a joint venture dispute. (ICDR, New York, New York law, English).
• Co-arbitrator in a case involving breach of a distribution agreement in Central America involving retail and duty free cosmetics. (ICDR, New York, New York law, English).
• Co-arbitrator in case involving breach of a distribution agreement regarding pharmaceutical products (AAA, New York, New York law, English).
• Co-arbitrator in case involving the settlement of an estate in Central America (ICDR, New York, New York law, English).
• Co-arbitrator in case involving sale of wind turbines in Argentina and Brazil (ICC, New York, New York law, Spanish).

Honors

Mr. Armas is listed as a leading arbitration practitioner in:

• Chambers Global
• Chambers USA 
• Chambers Latin America
• Who's Who of International Arbitration
• PLC Which Lawyer 
• Guide to the World's Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration

Mr. Armas is also recognized as a leading litigation practitioner in:

• Who's Who of International Litigation
• Benchmark: Litigation (NY Star)
• PLC Which Lawyer

Mr. Armas is also on the roster of experts on Latin American issues of the Round Table Group, on the roster of International Arbitrators of the AAA/ICDR, designated as Honorary Fellow of the Center for International Legal Studies, and is rated AV (highest ranking) by Martindale-Hubbell.

Activities and Affiliations

Mr. Armas is on the Advisory Committee of the:

• Swiss Arbitration Academy (SAA)
• Argentine Commission of National and Transnational Arbitration (CARAT)

He is also a member of the:

• International Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association (International Law Section, Chair 2007 and current member of its Executive Committee)
• Association of the Bar of the City of New York (International Arbitration Committee)
• New York International Arbitration Club
• Hispanic National Bar Association (International Law Committee and Business and Securities Practice Committee)
• London Court of International Arbitration (the North American Users' Council and the Latin American Users' Council)
• USCIB of the International Chamber of Commerce

Publications

Speeches and Events