Vivasvat Dadwal (Viva)

• Successfully obtained production of documents and depositions in contested Section 1782 discovery applications in aid of foreign bankruptcy proceedings in England and the Netherlands on behalf of Refinería de Cartagena, S.A.S. in the Southern District of New York, the District of Massachusetts, and the Southern District of Texas.
• Advising a multinational aerospace and defense technology company regarding the parties’ obligations and remedies for delivery of aircraft fuselage parts (ICC, French law).
• Representing a multinational aerospace and defense technology company in a dispute (ICC, UAE law) with the Armed Forces of a Middle Eastern government, involving the supply of helicopter acoustic warning technology.
• Representing Chevron Corporation in a treaty arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador seated in The Hague, concerning the US $9 billion “Lago Agrio” judgment issued by the Ecuadorian courts, resulting in precedent-setting awards in favor of Chevron, including a finding of denial of justice and treaty breaches by Ecuador's courts, as well as numerous interim measures awards ordering Ecuador to prevent enforcement of the court judgment.
• Representing a Canadian chemical producer in a London-seated arbitration over shared services and facilities under ICC Rules.
• Counsel for former United States diplomats and international development practitioners as amici curiae before the United States Supreme Court in support of certiorari in Jam v. International Finance Corporation, No. 21-995.
• Representing the Republic of Turkey in an ICSID arbitration brought by Westwater Resources, Inc. involving uranium mining projects.
• Represented Union Fenosa Gas in an ICSID arbitration against the Arab Republic of Egypt concerning the Damietta LNG Project. The tribunal awarded UFG over US $2.2 billion, finding that Egypt’s unilateral interruption of gas supply to the plant breached Egypt’s treaty commitments to treat UFG’s investments fairly and equitably.

Viva is an Associate in King & Spalding’s New York office and a member of the International Arbitration practice. Her practice involves commercial and investment treaty arbitrations, as well as enforcement proceedings before U.S. courts.  

Viva has counseled clients in various sectors, including energy, mining, and aerospace and defense. She handles disputes under all major institutional rules, including the ICC, ICSID, SIAC, as well as ad hoc proceedings under the UNCITRAL Rules.  Her practice also involves court proceedings in relation to arbitration, including U.S. recognition and enforcement proceedings and Section 1782 discovery.

In 2025, Viva was elected to the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), an independent, non-governmental organization committed to advancing the development of space law and fostering the rule of law in the peaceful exploration and utilization of outer space.  In 2024, Viva was selected to participate in Toyota’s Counsel in Motion program, a prestigious professional development initiative designed for mid-level attorneys from Toyota's partnering law firms. Viva is the Secretary to the CPR Institute’s Arbitration Committee, which serves as a valuable resource for corporate counsel, lawyers, academics, and practitioners involved in arbitration.  Prior to this, Viva was selected to serve as secretary to the IBA Arbitration Committee’s Task Force for the Revision of the 2014 Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration. 

Viva studied law at McGill University and at the National University of Singapore, graduating with joint Bachelors of Common and Civil Law. Prior to law school, Viva worked for the Government of Canada, assisting with international trade and investment treaty negotiations. 

Viva is a Fulbright Scholar (2014-2015) and a member of the Global Shapers Community (an initiative of the World Economic Forum).  Viva holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Hons.) in Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Windsor and her Master of Arts degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Ottawa.