Felipe Sperandio

Full Profile

Felipe is recognised by the market as one of the leading Latin American dispute specialists based London.

His deep understanding of the business environment in Latin America is recognised by the companies from that region as a valuable asset in securing the resolution of international disputes on a cost-effective basis. 

Educated in both Brazil and England he has notable experience in disputes related to (i) oil & gas projects; (ii) construction of hydroelectric power plants, steelmaking plants, wind parks, refineries, nuclear plants, and commercial and residential developments; (iii) mining and exports of natural resources; (iv) swap, finance and financial advisor contracts related to infrastructure projects; (iv) trading of commodities; and (v) telecom.

Felipe is also an associate at Queen Mary University of London, teaching international and comparative commercial arbitration in the LL.M. (Master) degree, and supervising dissertations on international dispute resolution. He has taught visiting classes on international arbitration in Harvard Law School, Sciences Po, and in renowned Brazilian universities.

Published several academic works cited in judgments rendered by the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice and Court of Appeals. Academic works include, by way of example:

Author and editor of International Arbitration in Latin America: Energy and Natural Resources Disputes (Kluwer International, 2021);

Co-authored of International Arbitration Law and Practice in Brazil (Oxford Press, 2020);

Co-authored Curso de Arbitragem (Thomson Reuters, 2018);

Co-authored 20 anos da Lei de Arbitragem, homenagem a Petrônio R. Muniz (Atlas, 2017);

Co-authored Direito Processual Empresarial, Estudos em Homenagem Manoel de Queiroz Pereira Calças (Campus Elsevier, 2012).

Felipe has spoken in major international conferences in more than 10 countries, and is one of the organisers of the Oxford Arbitration Day.

Experience

• Representing two South American contractors in ICC arbitration against a consortium of oil companies in a USD 160 million claim and USD 105 million counterclaims. Disputes arising out of an EPC contract for the construction of eight offshore oil platforms (FPSOs).
• Represented a Brazilian steel-making conglomerate in ICC arbitration against two Chinese engineering companies in USD 150+ million claims and USD 35 million counterclaims.
• Advising a Brazilian contractor on the validity and enforceability of an arbitration agreement against an Angolan state-owned entity, in a USD 90 million claim. Also advising on third party funding prior to commencing ICC arbitration.  
• Represented a US manufacturer in a 90 days' ICC arbitration seated in New York and governed by Brazilian substantive law. Disputes related to the stoppage in the production of one of the largest aluminium refineries in the world. Successfully bound a non-signatory to the arbitration, and prevailed both on jurisdiction and on the merits. Further, represented the client in enforcement proceedings in Brazil under the New York Convention. This case resulted in the Superior Court of Justice's precedent on binding non-signatories to an arbitration agreement. 
• Represented one of the largest South American construction companies in a USD 180 million LCIA arbitration seated in London, against a Central American state-owned entity. The disputes related to a FIDIC contract for the construction of a highway system. Successfully bound the non-signatory State to the arbitration, and defeated parallel litigation proceedings in the home courts of that State.  
• Represented international reinsures in parallel litigation proceedings in Brazil and England, with three subsequent LCIA arbitrations in London, governed by Brazilian substantive law. The USD 1+ billion dispute related to the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in the Amazon.  This case became the precedent in England in relation to the law applicable to the arbitration agreement.   
• Represented a South American mining company in four consolidated LCIA arbitrations seated in London. The disputes related to mining operations in Zambia. Parallel court proceedings in Brazil, Zambia, and England – the latter resulting in the legal precedent in relation to the jurisdiction of national courts to grant injunctions prior to the constitution of an arbitral tribunal. Successfully defended set aside proceedings in the English High Court, and obtained a world-wide freezing injunction in the English courts against the opposing party. Represented the client (together with local counsel) in proceedings to enforce the awards in Zambia, creating the precedent in that jurisdiction in relation to the interpretation of international public policy under the New York Convention. 
• Represented Brazilian mining and trading companies against a group of banks in USD 230+ million CCBC arbitration seated in São Paulo. One of the largest banking and finance arbitrations in Brazilian history. Successfully defeated over 95% of the claims brought by the banks.
• Acted as arbitrator in disputes related to construction projects and commercial contracts, both under Brazilian and English law.
• Advised South American companies in settlement discussions in China, USA, England, Angola, the Netherlands, and Trinidad Tobago.