Lauren Friedman handles international arbitration matters in English and Spanish, with emphasis on issues involving New York law as well as Latin America. Lauren's practice focuses on energy, investor-state disputes, and post-acquisition disputes, and she also has significant experience on disputes involving the financial sector.  Lauren has handled some of the highest-profile and largest investment-treaty disputes to date, including multiple cases valued in the billions of dollars. She has served as lead counsel in high-value disputes, and regularly serves as lead oral advocate in final hearings.  Lauren prides herself on her ability to balance the details with the high-level strategy for the case. 

Lauren is consistently recognized as a leading partner by the top publications, including Chambers USA (2022), Legal 500 Latin America (2020-2022), Benchmark Litigation (2020-2022), and Who's Who Legal (2019-2021).  In 2021, Who’s Who Legal selected Lauren as one of the 10 “Most Highly Regarded” partners in the Americas under the age of 45.  Published client and peer interviews report that “Lauren is very smart and extremely well prepared,” “clients love her for her practical approach to matters,” and “she has in-depth knowledge of international law.”  She also was commended for her “outstanding capacity to generate and execute well defined and complex arguments,” her “great energy,” and her “very technical, thorough and professional” approach.  

Lauren has experience in a wide range of sectors, including energy, electricity, water distribution, banking, private equity, petrochemical, accounting, and construction.   

As a result of her decade of experience with environmental disputes in the energy space, Lauren is actively focused on the energy transition and climate change.  She has represented and advised clients on unique challenges related to the rapidly-development legal framework on the environment, including exit strategies and stranded assets.  She is a frequent lecturer on international arbitration both domestically and abroad. 

Publications

• Co-author, Reform to Mexican Electricity Law to Come into Effect, Texas Lawyer (March 2021)
• Contributor, “Hot Topic: Investor-Treaty Arbitration,” Corporate Disputes (January 2020)
• Co-author, EU-Mexico Trade Agreement: What Lies Ahead for the Future of ISDS?, New York Law Journal (May 2018)
• Co-author, Tariffs May Violate Investment Treaty Protections, Law 360 (April 2018)
• Co-author, “The Top-5 News in International Arbitration in 2017,” CIAR Global (January 2018)
• Co-author, “Creditors’ Options In Venezuela’s Disorderly Default,” Law360 (November 2017)
• Co-author, “Strategic Considerations in Selecting Emergency Arbitration,” Law360 (October 2017)
• Co-author, "Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision Underscores the Importance of Planning to Protect Overseas Investments," Mondaq (May 2017)
• Co-author, “Towards a Resolution of Outstanding Nationalization Claims Against Cuba,” Transnational Dispute Management (April 2016)

Seminars

• Faculty, 2022 ABA International Arbitration Masterclass (March 2022)
• Guest Lecturer, “Introduction to Investment Treaty Arbitration,” University of Chicago Law School (November 2017)
• Speaker, “Appointing and Challenging Arbitrators” at Columbia University Institute for Sustainable Investment: Executive Training on Investment Arbitration for Government Officials (August 2017)
• Co-speaker, “Best Practices for Drafting Arbitration Clauses,” Ministries of Peru (August 2017)
• Co-speaker, “Strategic Responses to Third Party Funding” at Columbia University Institute for Sustainable Investment: Executive Training on Investment Arbitration for Government Officials (July 2017)
• Moderator, "The Future of Environmental Claims in International Arbitration," New York State Bar Association (May 2017)
• Panelist, “Utilizing International Arbitration to Maximize the Effectiveness of Cross-border Investments,” Hong Kong Corporate Counsel Association Conference (February 2017)
• Panelist, “The Call for Specialized Arbitrators, Forums and Procedures in Energy Arbitration,” 4th ITA-IEL-ICC Joint Conference on International Energy Arbitration (January 2017)
• Panelist, “Damages in International Arbitration,” Columbia Law School (November 2016)
• Speaker, “Liability for Regulatory Conduct Under Investment Treaties” at Columbia University Institute for Sustainable Investment: Executive Training on Investment Arbitration for Government Officials (August 2016)
• Speaker, “Investment Arbitration: Lessons Learned for States and Investors” at the 16th International Seminar on Regulation for Public Services, Panama City (May 2016)
• Moderator, The Politics of Investment Treaties: Discussion and Book Launch (April 2016)
• Panelist, “Navigating the Relationship Between Regulators and the Regulated” at the 15th International Seminar on Regulation for Public Services in Argentina (September 2015)
• Speaker, “Liability for Regulatory Conduct Under Investment Treaties” at Columbia University Institute for Sustainable Investment: Executive Training on Investment Arbitration for Government Officials (July 2015)
• Speaker, “Settlement of Pending Claims Between the U.S. and Cuba: Outlook and Possibilities” at New York University Law School (April 2015)
• Speaker, “Settlement of Pending Claims Between the U.S. and Cuba: Outlook and Possibilities” at Harvard University Law School (March 2015)
• Panel Member, “The Restoration of U.S.-Cuba Relations” at American University Law School (February 2015)

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