Eldy Quintanilla Roche

• Representing a major financial institution in ongoing arbitration, including emergency arbitration proceedings, over control of digital infrastructure assets in Latin America
• Representing Chevron Thailand Exploration & Production Co. in an ad hoc arbitration against the Kingdom of Thailand, concerning decommissioning of offshore assets in the Gulf of Thailand
• Representing Chevron Corporation in a treaty arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador, concerning the US$9 billion "Lago Agrio" environmental judgment issued by the Ecuadorian courts through fraud and corruption. In August 2018, the Tribunal found, inter alia, that Ecuador (i) breached FET and committed a denial of justice under customary international law and the BIT by issuing, rendering enforceable, maintaining the enforceability, and executing the Lago Agrio Judgment, and (ii) Ecuador’s judiciary violated Ecuador’s obligations under the BIT’s Umbrella clause. The Tribunal is currently determining the compensation Ecuador owes Claimants.
• Representing a global infrastructure developer in an ICSID arbitration against Peru arising from canceled concessions to build and operate fiber-optic networks in remote areas of the country
• Representing Salini Impregilo (n/k/a WeBuild) in its ICSID claim against Argentina under the Italy-Argentina BIT, arising from the termination of a bridge and tollway concession. In February 2018, the Tribunal upheld its jurisdiction over the claim.
• Representing an Asian Exploration & Production company in an ad hoc UNCITRAL arbitration against the Government of India involving cost-recovery issues
• Represented Gente Oil Ecuador Pte. Ltd in a UNCITRAL arbitration administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration arising out of a dispute involving a risk service oil contract with Ecuador. See award at https://www.italaw.com/cases/9454
• Represented an international airline in an arbitration under the ICSID Additional Facilities Rules against Venezuela arising out of Venezuela’s failure to permit the repatriation of the airline's locally generated profits
• Represented an Asian Exploration & Production company in an ad hoc UNCITRAL arbitration against the Government of India with respect to cross-boundary gas migration issues
• Represented Bear Creek Mining Co. in obtaining an ICSID award against Peru in an arbitration under the Canada-Peru FTA arising from Peru’s revocation of one of the company’s mining concessions. See Award here: https://www.italaw.com/sites/default/files/case-documents/italaw9381.pdf
• Represented South American Silver Corp. in obtaining an award in its UNCITRAL arbitration against Bolivia under the UK-Bolivia BIT arising from Bolivia’s nationalization of the company’s mining concession. See Award here: https://www.italaw.com/sites/default/files/case-documents/italaw10361.pdf
• Represented Burlington Resources Inc. in annulment proceedings of an ICSID arbitration award against Ecuador under the U.S.-Ecuador BIT arising from Ecuador’s nationalization of two of the company’s producing blocks.
• Represented investors in a multibillion-dollar mining dispute against a Latin American state
• Represented a Latin American pharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration related to claims arising out of the sale of the company to an international pharmaceutical company

Eldy Roché is a senior associate in King & Spalding’s International Arbitration team. She is a dual-qualified attorney with law degrees from civil and common law jurisdictions (Honduras and the U.S.) and an LLM in Comparative Law.  She also attended The Hague Academy of International Law Summer Program on Private International Law.  Eldy represents clients in investor-state and commercial arbitrations, focusing on energy, mining and infrastructure disputes, civil law issues, and international law.  She has experience in disputes involving the governing laws of Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, The Netherlands, India, and Thailand.

Eldy leverages her civil law background and language capabilities to represent her clients.  She has acted in English and Spanish language arbitrations before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) as well as in ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. She has worked closely with industry experts on issues related to reservoir engineering, decommissioning of oil and gas installations, environmental issues, telecommunication projects, and civil law. Since 2022, Eldy is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami School of Law, International Arbitration Program.

Before joining King & Spalding, she was a member of the global disputes practice at a large international law firm in Washington, D.C.  She also served as a Law Extern in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington (2009) and worked as an escribiente at the Court of Appeals in San Pedro Sula, Honduras (2002-2005). 

Admitted only in Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C.

Publications

• Co-Author, “The Breadth and Complexity of the International Energy Industry,” GAR- The Guide to Energy Arbitration 2015, updated in 2022 (with D. Bishop and S. McBrearty)
• Co-Author, “Offshore Decommissioning Liability And Bankruptcy,” Law 360, Apr. 5, 2017 (with
  E. Ripley)

Recognition

• Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list 2021 and 2022 editions, recognized for her work in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation
• CALI Award in Evidence, 2008
• SBA, Outstanding Public Service Award, 2008