Close

People

Érica Franzetti focuses on international commercial and investor-state arbitration across several industry sectors (e.g., energy and natural resources, life sciences, financial services, hospitality, and information technology) and jurisdictions (e.g., U.S., Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Croatia, Hungary, and the Philippines). She advises on multiple procedural rules, including the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), and United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) arbitral rules.

Prior to practicing international arbitration, Érica practiced law at a leading Brazil-based law firm, where she represented clients in complex commercial litigation proceedings before the Brazilian courts.

Érica also serves as arbitrator on international commercial arbitrations, teaches a course in investor-state arbitration as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, and frequently lectures in arbitration conferences. She is also an active advocate for the promotion of diversity within the international arbitration community.

 

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN  in Washington, D.C., New York, and Brazil. NOT ADMITTED IN FLORIDA.
Full Bio

Credentials

LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center

LL.B., Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Direito

Brazil

District of Columbia

New York

Arbitral Women

Arbitration and Mediation Committee of the International Court of Commerce (ICC) Brazil

Arbitrators of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)

Brazilian Arbitration Committee (CBAR)

International Bar Association – Dispute Resolution Section

Miami International Arbitration Society (MIAS)

Panel of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association (AAA)

Panel of Arbitrators of the International Centre of Dispute Resolution (ICDR)

Rising Arbitrators Initiative (RAI)

Portuguese

Spanish

Noted as "very intelligent and capable" and "always really professional and personable"


Chambers USA International Arbitration, 2023

Nominated as an "Associate to Watch"


Chambers Latin America, 2013-2015

Named a part of Arbitration Future Leaders


Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, 2018-2021

Named a "Rising Star" for commercial arbitration


Euromoney/Legal Media Group in its Expert Guides series 2018

Nominated as a "superstar" who stands out for her "extremely well-versed" approach in high-stakes international disputes


Legal 500, 2019

Noted as "extremely effective during cross examination and highly persuasive giving written and oral arguments."


The Legal 500 Latin America 2019

Ranked as “up and coming"


Chambers USA, 2020

Ranked as “up and coming" and “Foreign Expert for Brazil.”


Chambers Global 2021

Close

Recognition

Noted as "very intelligent and capable" and "always really professional and personable"


Chambers USA International Arbitration, 2023

Nominated as an "Associate to Watch"


Chambers Latin America, 2013-2015

Named a part of Arbitration Future Leaders


Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, 2018-2021

Named a "Rising Star" for commercial arbitration


Euromoney/Legal Media Group in its Expert Guides series 2018

Nominated as a "superstar" who stands out for her "extremely well-versed" approach in high-stakes international disputes


Legal 500, 2019

Noted as "extremely effective during cross examination and highly persuasive giving written and oral arguments."


The Legal 500 Latin America 2019

Ranked as “up and coming"


Chambers USA, 2020

Ranked as “up and coming" and “Foreign Expert for Brazil.”


Chambers Global 2021

Matters

Representing a global infrastructure developer in an investor-state dispute against Peru arising from measures related to concessions to build and operate fiber-optic networks in remote areas of the country (ICSID).

Representing a multinational chemical company in pre-dispute negotiations involving a steam supply agreement governed by the laws of Brazil.

Represented a President of an arbitral tribunal in a dispute between a Brazilian company and a North American company concerning the breach of a distribution agreement governed by the laws of the State of Florida (CAM).

See more

Close

Matters

Representing a global infrastructure developer in an investor-state dispute against Peru arising from measures related to concessions to build and operate fiber-optic networks in remote areas of the country (ICSID).

Representing a multinational chemical company in pre-dispute negotiations involving a steam supply agreement governed by the laws of Brazil.

Represented a President of an arbitral tribunal in a dispute between a Brazilian company and a North American company concerning the breach of a distribution agreement governed by the laws of the State of Florida (CAM).

Co-arbitrator in a dispute between a Swiss and an American company concerning the breach of a sales agreement governed by the laws of the State of Florida (ICDR).

Advising a major oil and gas company regarding multiple disputes arising out of its projects in a Latin American country.

Sole arbitrator in several arbitrations under the AAA Commercial Rules involving claims for breach of contract in the hospitality and the financial services industries.

Turkish investors in two investment disputes against Turkmenistan.

Guinean company in commercial arbitration arising out of a mining services contract governed by the laws of the United Kingdom (ICC).

An American company against a Brazilian company in a dispute in connection with an indemnity agreement governed by the laws of Brazil (ICC).

Swiss company against a Greek company in a dispute arising out of a share purchase agreement governed by the laws of the State of New York (JAMS).

The investor in MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Company v. Republic of Croatia (ICSID Case No. ARB /13/32), in which claims are asserted under the Energy Charter Treaty for the unfair and inequitable treatment and expropriation of MOL’s oil and gas sector investments in Croatia. The proceedings are being held in Washington, D.C.

Respondent in Croatia v. MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas PLC in a dispute regarding Croatia’s rights to terminate a shareholders agreement and a gas master agreement based on allegations of corruption (UNCITRAL).

An Asian State in an investor-state arbitration under the UNCITRAL rules involving an oil and gas project (PCA).

Afilias plc. in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .WEB.

Dotgay LLC in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .GAY.

Dotmusic LLC in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .MUSIC.

An American company in an arbitration against a Colombian company in connection with a commercial representation agreement governed by the laws of the State of Texas (ICC).

state-owned Dominican Republic fund in a commercial arbitration involving a power company (ICC).

Amazon.com, Inc. in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .AMAZON.

Claimants in Pluspetrol Perú et al v Perúpetro in a dispute arising out of a gas supply contract regarding royalty payments (ICSID Case No.ARB/12/28).

DotConnectAfrica Trust in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .AFRICA (ICDR).

Argentinean law firm in an arbitration against a Chilean gas company in connection with a fee agreement governed by Argentine law (ICDR).

Claimant in Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. Republic of El Salvador in a dispute under the Central America-Dominican Republic-Unites States Free Trade Agreement regarding the government’s refusal to issue mining exploitation licenses (ICSID Case No. ARB/09/12).

Claimant in ICM Registry v. ICANN in a dispute with ICANN concerning the top-level domain .XXX (ICDR).

Brazilian company in arbitration against an American company in connection with a distribution agreement governed by New York Law (ICDR).

Peruvian company against a major Brazilian construction company and other companies of the group. Respondents breached their payment obligations assumed in agreements associated with a gas pipeline project in Peru (ICC).

Matters

Representing a global infrastructure developer in an investor-state dispute against Peru arising from measures related to concessions to build and operate fiber-optic networks in remote areas of the country (ICSID).

Representing a multinational chemical company in pre-dispute negotiations involving a steam supply agreement governed by the laws of Brazil.

Represented a President of an arbitral tribunal in a dispute between a Brazilian company and a North American company concerning the breach of a distribution agreement governed by the laws of the State of Florida (CAM).

See more

Close

Matters

Representing a global infrastructure developer in an investor-state dispute against Peru arising from measures related to concessions to build and operate fiber-optic networks in remote areas of the country (ICSID).

Representing a multinational chemical company in pre-dispute negotiations involving a steam supply agreement governed by the laws of Brazil.

Represented a President of an arbitral tribunal in a dispute between a Brazilian company and a North American company concerning the breach of a distribution agreement governed by the laws of the State of Florida (CAM).

Co-arbitrator in a dispute between a Swiss and an American company concerning the breach of a sales agreement governed by the laws of the State of Florida (ICDR).

Advising a major oil and gas company regarding multiple disputes arising out of its projects in a Latin American country.

Sole arbitrator in several arbitrations under the AAA Commercial Rules involving claims for breach of contract in the hospitality and the financial services industries.

Turkish investors in two investment disputes against Turkmenistan.

Guinean company in commercial arbitration arising out of a mining services contract governed by the laws of the United Kingdom (ICC).

An American company against a Brazilian company in a dispute in connection with an indemnity agreement governed by the laws of Brazil (ICC).

Swiss company against a Greek company in a dispute arising out of a share purchase agreement governed by the laws of the State of New York (JAMS).

The investor in MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Company v. Republic of Croatia (ICSID Case No. ARB /13/32), in which claims are asserted under the Energy Charter Treaty for the unfair and inequitable treatment and expropriation of MOL’s oil and gas sector investments in Croatia. The proceedings are being held in Washington, D.C.

Respondent in Croatia v. MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas PLC in a dispute regarding Croatia’s rights to terminate a shareholders agreement and a gas master agreement based on allegations of corruption (UNCITRAL).

An Asian State in an investor-state arbitration under the UNCITRAL rules involving an oil and gas project (PCA).

Afilias plc. in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .WEB.

Dotgay LLC in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .GAY.

Dotmusic LLC in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .MUSIC.

An American company in an arbitration against a Colombian company in connection with a commercial representation agreement governed by the laws of the State of Texas (ICC).

state-owned Dominican Republic fund in a commercial arbitration involving a power company (ICC).

Amazon.com, Inc. in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .AMAZON.

Claimants in Pluspetrol Perú et al v Perúpetro in a dispute arising out of a gas supply contract regarding royalty payments (ICSID Case No.ARB/12/28).

DotConnectAfrica Trust in a dispute with ICANN regarding the top-level domain .AFRICA (ICDR).

Argentinean law firm in an arbitration against a Chilean gas company in connection with a fee agreement governed by Argentine law (ICDR).

Claimant in Pac Rim Cayman LLC v. Republic of El Salvador in a dispute under the Central America-Dominican Republic-Unites States Free Trade Agreement regarding the government’s refusal to issue mining exploitation licenses (ICSID Case No. ARB/09/12).

Claimant in ICM Registry v. ICANN in a dispute with ICANN concerning the top-level domain .XXX (ICDR).

Brazilian company in arbitration against an American company in connection with a distribution agreement governed by New York Law (ICDR).

Peruvian company against a major Brazilian construction company and other companies of the group. Respondents breached their payment obligations assumed in agreements associated with a gas pipeline project in Peru (ICC).

Credentials

LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center

LL.B., Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Direito

Brazil

District of Columbia

New York

Arbitral Women

Arbitration and Mediation Committee of the International Court of Commerce (ICC) Brazil

Arbitrators of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)

Brazilian Arbitration Committee (CBAR)

International Bar Association – Dispute Resolution Section

Miami International Arbitration Society (MIAS)

Panel of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association (AAA)

Panel of Arbitrators of the International Centre of Dispute Resolution (ICDR)

Rising Arbitrators Initiative (RAI)

Portuguese

Spanish

Noted as "very intelligent and capable" and "always really professional and personable"


Chambers USA International Arbitration, 2023

Nominated as an "Associate to Watch"


Chambers Latin America, 2013-2015

Named a part of Arbitration Future Leaders


Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, 2018-2021

Named a "Rising Star" for commercial arbitration


Euromoney/Legal Media Group in its Expert Guides series 2018

Nominated as a "superstar" who stands out for her "extremely well-versed" approach in high-stakes international disputes


Legal 500, 2019

Noted as "extremely effective during cross examination and highly persuasive giving written and oral arguments."


The Legal 500 Latin America 2019

Ranked as “up and coming"


Chambers USA, 2020

Ranked as “up and coming" and “Foreign Expert for Brazil.”


Chambers Global 2021

Close

Recognition

Noted as "very intelligent and capable" and "always really professional and personable"


Chambers USA International Arbitration, 2023

Nominated as an "Associate to Watch"


Chambers Latin America, 2013-2015

Named a part of Arbitration Future Leaders


Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, 2018-2021

Named a "Rising Star" for commercial arbitration


Euromoney/Legal Media Group in its Expert Guides series 2018

Nominated as a "superstar" who stands out for her "extremely well-versed" approach in high-stakes international disputes


Legal 500, 2019

Noted as "extremely effective during cross examination and highly persuasive giving written and oral arguments."


The Legal 500 Latin America 2019

Ranked as “up and coming"


Chambers USA, 2020

Ranked as “up and coming" and “Foreign Expert for Brazil.”


Chambers Global 2021