Case Studies

ICSID Enforcement

J.S. Held Strengthens Family Law Practice with Asset Acquisition of Luttrell Wegis

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The Situation

An oil and gas company obtained an ICSID award against the Republic of Ecuador valued at $374M plus interest. The government was refusing to pay the award.

How We Advised

We were engaged in developing the oil and gas company’s recovery strategy against Ecuador and subsequently helped manage the global enforcement efforts. After less than a year from the initial engagement, our work resulted in the Republic of Ecuador paying the award in full. Our work included the following:

  • Mapping out Ecuador’s global assets, assessing their value (monetary and strategic), and assessing the enforceability of priority assets (likelihood of successful enforcement based on jurisdiction, structures through which they were held, and commercial nature).
  • Building a profile of Ecuador’s political landscape, key decision makers, avenues for potential back-channel negotiations, and areas of vulnerability that could be exploited.
  • Developing a holistic recovery strategy to include enforcement targets, pressure points, jurisdic􀆟ons to focus on based on timing, cost and ease, and a communications strategy.
  • Identifying, briefing, and providing ongoing guidance to local counsel in Panama, Singapore, the Netherlands, the Dutch Caribbean, Brazil, and Luxembourg.
  • Supporting the local enforcement efforts and managing the timing of local enforcement measures.
  • Supporting the communications strategy to ensure it aligned with enforcement efforts.

Key Contact

Ashley Messick
Managing Director
Global Investigations
+44 20 8706 1923
[email protected]

Related Practice Areas

> Sovereign Debt Advisory
We are market leaders in sovereign debt recovery. Our team of political experts, investigators, and asset recovery specialists is focused on monetizing your award. Whether through a robust enforcement strategy, securing financial support and expertise, or supporting negotiations, we have successfully helped our clients recover sovereign debt in some of the most difficult jurisdictions around the world.

> Asset Search, Tracing & Recovery
Our investigative experts are recognized leaders in global asset tracing investigations and recovery. We deliver actionable intelligence to support recoveries in large-scale litigation and arbitration claims, judgements, and awards acting for corporations, banks, law firms, hedge funds, and litigation funders.

> Disputes
Our experts help clients and their legal counsel navigate and resolve complex and sensitive disputes around the world. We provide specialist financial, accounting, investigative, and economic advice and consulting to support clients throughout the dispute process, from pre-complaint to post-judgment, including in complex litigation, international arbitration, mediation, and cross-border disputes.

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