Luis Capiel is a partner at Arias SLP. He has over 15 years’ experience
practicing international arbitration with international law firms in Europe
and Latin America.
He has acted as counsel and arbitrator in international arbitrations undervarious applicable domestic laws, administered by the major arbitralinstitutions in Europe and the Americas (ICC, PCA, ICSID, ICDR and
Swiss Arbitration Centre, among others). He has focused his practice oncomplex commercial and construction disputes in the engineering andconstruction, banking and finance, insurance, private equity, electricity,and oil & gas sectors.
He is ranked as a dispute resolution lawyer in leading international legal
publications and directories including Chambers and Partners and Who’s
Who Legal.
Luis Capiel
Arias SLP
Languages
Spanish, English, German
Nationalities
Germany, Argentina

Luis is a member of the Arbitration Court of the Swiss Arbitration Centre
and of its Special Committee. He also serves on the board of the Spanish
and Ibero-American Arbitration Club and holds the position of deputy
director of its journal, Iurgium.
He has been an honorary professor at the Universidad Autónoma de
Madrid and guest lecturer and speaker at universities and conferences.
He holds a law degree from the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and LL.M.
(First Class Honours) from The University of Auckland. He was admitted
to the Munich Bar in 2007 and to the Madrid Bar in 2008.



Representative matters as arbitrator or tribunal secretaryCo-arbitrator in an arbitration between a Chinese engineering company and an Italian EPC contractor
in relation to a dispute arising from the supply of electric equipment for a solar plant (ICC, Madrid,
Spanish law, English)Co-arbitrator in an arbitration between a UK company in the aviation and railway industry and a Spanish
railway company in relation to a dispute arising from the purchase of rolling stock coaches (ICC, Paris,
Spanish law, English)

Sole arbitrator in an arbitration between an Uzbek agricultural company and a Spanish supplier of agroindustrial products in relation to a dispute arising from the purchase of a green sprout production plant(MIAC, Madrid, Spanish law, Spanish)Sole arbitrator in an arbitration involving Spanish and Cabo Verdean companies in the hospitality
industry in relation to a dispute arising from a loan agreement and a hotel lease agreement (ad hoc,
Madrid, Spanish Law, Spanish)Administrative Secretary in an arbitration between investors from Israel and South Africa and an African
State in relation to an investor-State dispute (PCA, capital of an African State, Investment Law of an
African State, English)1Administrative Secretary in an arbitration between a UAE shipbuilding company and a public company
of a Central African State in relation to a dispute arising from a vessel supply agreement (ICC, Zurich,
Swiss law, English)

Sole arbitrator in an arbitration involving a Spanish prosthetics manufacturer and a Portuguese
distributor constructor in relation to a dispute arising from a distributorship agreement (CAM, Valladolid,
Spanish Law, Spanish)Tribunal Secretary in an arbitration involving a European/African oil & gas group and a US/Africangroup, provider of oil & gas solutions, in relation to a dispute arising from agreements for the supply of
two LNG plants and for the provision of related services in an African country (ICDR/AAA, New York
City, New York law, English)Administrative secretary in an arbitration between a western European company and an eastern
European State in relation to the alleged expropriation of a project for the construction and operationof a hydroelectric plant in that eastern European State (ICC, Paris, law of the eastern European State,
English)

Administrative secretary in an arbitration between a Latin American distributor and an Asian motor
vehicle manufacturer in relation to a dispute arising from a distributorship agreement (ICC, Frankfurt,
law of an Asian State, English)

Sole arbitrator in an arbitration involving a Spanish hospital group and a Dutch cryonics company inrelation to a dispute arising from a services agreement (CAM, Madrid, Spanish law, Spanish)Administrative secretary in four parallel arbitrations involving a Spanish developer and a Spanish
constructor in relation to a dispute arising from construction contracts for various housing complexes(CAM, Madrid, Spanish law, Spanish)

Representative matters as counsel

Representing a Portuguese investor in an arbitration against an African State in relation to a disputearising from the seizure of four gas turbines (ICSID, Washington D.C., BIT, Spanish)Representing a Latin American subsidiary of a German automotive and arms manufacturer in anarbitration against a Latin American state-owned petroleum company in relation to a dispute arisingfrom an agreement for the construction, operation and maintenance of a training and simulation centre
for offshore oil production (ICC, Latin American city, law of a Latin American country, Spanish)Representing a Spanish renewable-energy company in an arbitration against a Chinese solar panel
manufacturer in relation to a dispute arising from solar panel supply agreements for solar farm projects
in Brazil (ICC, Frankfurt/Madrid, Spanish law, English/Spanish)Advising an Israeli Information Security and Cybersecurity group of companies in a multijurisdictional
dispute against a former manager related to the misappropriation of trade secrets and business
opportunities

Advising a UAE company on the enforcement in Spain of an ICSID award against a North African State(Spanish Courts)2Advising a Spanish provider of solar trackers in a potential dispute against an Italian/Spanish joint
venture in relation to damages to a solar plant in the Middle East (ICC, Madrid, Spanish law, English)Advising a US law firm in relation to its client's (a French investment trust) dispute against its insurancecompany related to the operating losses derived from the closure of shopping centres in Spain during
the COVID-19 lock down

Representing a Singapore-based global energy company in an arbitration against a Spanish
multinational energy utility in relation to a dispute arising from a deal on the transfer of an LNG portfolio
and the supply of natural gas (CIMA, Madrid, Spanish law, English)Representing a Spanish claimant in an arbitration against parties from the Dominican Republic andSpain in relation to a dispute arising from a family office agreement (CAM, Madrid, Spanish law,
Spanish)

Representing a Spanish manufacturer of automotive components in an arbitration brought by amanufacturer of automotive components from Liechtenstein in relation to a dispute arising from anagreement for the supply of lock nuts (ICC, Paris, Swiss law, English)Representing a Southeast Asian State in court proceedings for the appointment of an arbitrator broughtby parties from another Southeast Asian country (Spanish Courts)

Advising a Mexican electric utility in a dispute against a Spanish EPC contractor arising from an EPC
contract for the construction of a combined-cycle plant in Mexico (ICC, Mexico City, Mexican law,
Spanish)

Representing a Spanish natural gas trading company in setting aside proceedings against an award
rendered in a CRCICA arbitration against a North African state-owned holding company of gas projects(Spanish Courts)

Advising a Spanish construction company in a dispute against a Spanish company in the renewableenergy industry arising from an EPC contract for the construction of a biomass power plant (CAM,
Madrid, Spanish law, Spanish)Representing a Chilean construction company in an arbitration against a Peruvian public body inrelation to a dispute arising from a road construction agreement (ICC, Panama, Peruvian law, Spanish)Representing a Colombian infrastructure concession company in an arbitration against a Spanish
construction company in relation to a dispute arising from an EPC contract for the construction of
motorways (ICC, Madrid, Colombian law, Spanish)Advising a Latin American company in the renewable energy sector in a dispute arising from an EPC
contract for the construction of a wind farm project (ICC, city of a Latin American State, law of a Latin
American State, Spanish)Advising a Spanish bank in a dispute arising from an agreement to transfer the business of the Spanish
subsidiary of a US bank (ICC, Madrid, Spanish law, English)Representing a Spanish construction company in an arbitration brought by a Qatari construction
company in relation to a dispute arising from two memoranda of understanding and multiple joint

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venture agreements for the construction of infrastructure projects in Qatar (ICC, Geneva, Swiss law,
English)

Representing a Spanish photovoltaic energy company in an arbitration brought by a Spanish solar
panel manufacturing company arising from a payment agreement in respect of certain amounts owed
under several manufacture and supply agreements (CIMA, Madrid, Spanish law, Spanish)Representing an African company in the metalworking industry in several exequatur proceedings
initiated before the Spanish courts by three Spanish companies requesting that it be declared thatcertain partial awards issued in an ICC arbitration seated in Paris could not be recognized in Spain(Spanish Courts)

Advising a Spanish urban mobility company in a dispute against a Spanish multinational company,
leader in outdoor advertising, arising from a service agreement (TAB, Barcelona, Spanish law,
Spanish)

Representing the Directors of a Spanish company in an arbitration in which a corporate liability action
was brought against them (ad hoc, Madrid, Spanish law, Spanish)Representing a Spanish natural gas trading company in an arbitration against a North African stateowned holding company of gas projects in relation to a dispute arising from a gas supply agreement(CRCICA, Madrid, law of a North African State, English)Representing an Asian engineering and consulting company in the mobility sector in relation to therecognition and enforcement in Spain of an ICC award issued in London (Spanish Courts)

Advising a European subsidiary of a Latin American business conglomerate, shareholder of aEuropean bank, in a dispute arising out of the resolution of that bank (Spanish and European Courts)

Representing the European Central Bank (ECB) in an action brought by a German newspaper
publisher for annulment of the decision of the Executive Board of the ECB, rejecting an application foraccess to certain documents concerning the public deficit and the public debt of Greece (General Courtof the European Union, Luxembourg, EU law, German)Representing a Spanish infrastructure group in emergency arbitrator proceedings brought by a
Peruvian consortium in relation to a dispute arising from a subcontract agreement for the constructionof an oil refinery (ICC, Miami, Spanish law, Spanish)Representing a Spanish company in the finance industry in an arbitration against Brazilian and US
companies in relation to a dispute arising from credit card chips supply agreements (ICC, Madrid,
Spanish law, Spanish)Representing a Spanish consortium in emergency arbitrator proceedings and in an arbitration against
an Ecuadorian regional government in relation to a dispute arising from an infrastructure construction
contract (ICC, Santiago de Chile, Ecuadorian law, Spanish)Representing a German company in the naval shipbuilding industry in an arbitration brought by a
Venezuelan public company in relation to a dispute arising from a supply and maintenance agreement(ICC, Madrid, Venezuelan law, Spanish)4

Representing a Spanish electric utility in an arbitration brought by a Spanish infrastructure and services
company in relation to a dispute arising from an SPA of a holding company (CAM, Madrid, Spanish
law, Spanish)Representing a Spanish bank in an arbitration brought by an English insurance company in relation toa dispute arising from a SHA for a joint venture for insurance distribution (CAM, Madrid, Spanish law,
Spanish)

Advising a US private equity firm in a dispute against a Spanish multinational telecommunications
company arising from the sale of a global provider of customer relationship management (ICC, Madrid,
Spanish law, English)Representing a Canadian oil & gas company in an arbitration against a Spanish EPC contractor in
relation to a dispute arising from a memorandum of understanding, referred to a project to develop,
build and operate underground gas storage facilities (ICC, Madrid, Spanish law, English and Spanish)Representing a German EPC contractor in an arbitration brought by a Portuguese company in thechemical industry in relation to a dispute arising from an EPC contract for the construction of a nitricacid production plant (ICC, Madrid, Spanish law, English)Advising a Spanish EPC contractor in a dispute against a publicly owned Venezuelan mining company
arising from an EPC contract for the construction of an iron ore concentration plant (ICSID/UNCITRAL,
Spain-Venezuela BIT) (Caracas Chamber of Commerce, Caracas, Venezuelan law, Spanish)Advising a Spanish EPC contractor in a dispute against a publicly owned Venezuelan electric utility
arising from an EPC contract for the construction of a combined-cycle power plant (ICSID/UNCITRAL,
Spain-Venezuela BIT) (Caracas Chamber of Commerce, Caracas, Venezuelan law, Spanish)Representing an Argentinian entrepreneur in the seafood industry in an arbitration against various
respondents of the BVI and the USA in relation to a dispute arising from a stock option agreement for
an Argentinian fishing company (ICC, Buenos Aires, Argentinian law, Spanish)Representing a Spanish electric utility in an arbitration against another Spanish electric utility in relation
to a dispute arising from a gas supply agreement (CAM, Madrid, Spanish law, Spanish)Representing a UK private equity firm in setting aside proceedings against an award rendered in an
ICC arbitration against a US private equity firm (Spanish Courts)

Representing a Spanish bank in an arbitration brought by a Swiss insurance company in relation to a
dispute arising from a SHA related to a joint venture for insurance distribution (CIMA, Madrid, Spanish
law, Spanish)Representing a German real estate developer in court proceedings against a German clothingcompany in a dispute arising from a contract for the development and construction of a property in
Spain (Spanish Courts)

Representing a Spanish bank in an arbitration brought by a Russian electric utility in relation to a
dispute arising from a demand guarantee (ICC, Paris, English law, English)5

Representing a Spanish EPC contractor in an arbitration against an Argentinian electric utility in relation
to a dispute arising from an EPC contract to upgrade a gas power plant to a combined-cycle plant (ICC,
Paris, Argentinian and Swiss law, Spanish)Representing a UK private equity firm in an arbitration brought by a US private equity firm in relation toa dispute arising from a letter of intent concerning the acquisition of a group of companies in the beauty
care industry (ICC, Madrid, Spanish law, English)Representing a Spanish EPC contractor in an arbitration against the Ministry of Works and Transportof an African State in relation to a dispute arising from an EPC contract to upgrade several airports(ICC, Paris, law of an African State, English)Representing a Spanish company in the electric power industry in an arbitration against a Central
American State in relation to a dispute arising from a tariff review for electricity distribution (ICSID,
Washington D.C., BIT, Spanish)Representing an Italian valve manufacturer in an arbitration brought by a Spanish EPC contractor in
relation to a dispute arising from an agreement to supply valves for gas pipelines (CAM, Madrid,
Spanish law, Spanish)Representing a US charterer in an arbitration brought by an Italian vessel operator in relation to a
dispute arising from a charter-party (ad hoc, London, English law, English)

Accolades“Luis Capiel of acts as counsel on arbitrations in the energy sector. His experience extends to acting
in international disputes involving Latin America and Asia” (Chambers Global 2024)“Luis is very meticulous and also sensitive to the commercial issues relevant to the matter. It helps indetermining the issues that are worth fighting for.” (Chambers Europe 2024)“Arias SLP’s Luis Capiel has over 15 years’ experience managing complex arbitration cases withinternational clients across Europe and Latin America and earns a listing this year for his top-notch
performance in the research.” (Who’s Who Legal 2023)“Luis Capiel has been good to work with. He is very good at getting to core issues as quickly as
possible.” (Chambers Global 2023)“Luis Capiel acts as counsel on arbitrations in the infrastructure sector. His experience extends to acting
on international disputes involving Latin America.” (Chambers Europe 2022)“Luis Capiel is a ‘brilliant mind’ with ‘unparalleled expertise in preparing written submissions’. He
receives nominations for his ‘technical knowledge, business-oriented approach and extreme
efficiency’.” (Who’s Who Legal 2021)
Ranked in Dispute Resolution (Chambers Global, Spain 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021)
Ranked in Dispute Resolution (Chambers Europe, Spain 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021)
Recommended in Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal: Global Guide Arbitration 2024)

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Recognized as Leader in Arbitration (Who’s Who Legal: National Guide Iberia)
Recognized as Future Leader (Who’s Who Legal: Global Guide Arbitration 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020,
2019, 2018)
Ranked in International Arbitration (The Best Lawyers in Spain 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)
Conferences and teaching

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Master’s Degree in the Legal Profession: International litigation,
International Arbitration (2017-2024, Madrid)Delos Dispute Resolution: GAP Journal Series. Conflicts of Interests and the new IBA Guidelines: A
Case Study for Latin America (Panelist) (23 May 2024)



5th Global Conference of the Co-Chairs’ Circle: The Future of International Arbitration. What does the
skillset of the ideal future arbitration practitioner look like? (Moderator) (17 May 2024, Frankfurt a.M.)

Open de Arbitraje 2024. Commercial arbitrations in the context of sudden changes in circumstances(Panelist) (9 May 2024, Madrid)

ICC Costa Rica and ADR Section of the Madrid Bar Association: Seminar. Virtual aspects inarbitration II. Evidence, Experts, Expert determination (Panelist) (24 November 2020)



XIII CEA-40 Conference: Efficiency in arbitration: The end justifies the means? Panel session on
expedited and emergency arbitrator proceedings (Moderator) (16 June 2019, Madrid)

ICDR Young & International: Latin American Arbitration, Panel discussion on Latin American
arbitration (Panelist) (2 October 2018, Paris)



VIII Annual Congress of the Austrian-Spanish Lawyers’ Association (AHAUJ): Arbitration, mediationand other alternative means of dispute resolution: New developments, Commercial and corporate
arbitration in Spain and Latin America (Speaker) (5 May 2017, Vienna)

CEA-40: The second chair lawyer up for debate: the best techniques in support of the first chairlawyer in an arbitration, Opening and introduction (Panelist) (23 February 2017, Madrid)Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Master’s Degree in Corporate Legal Counseling: EU Law andinternational regulation of markets, Dispute resolution in international trade, Practical case (2017,
Logroño, Spain)Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Master’s Degree in the Legal Profession: Private InternationalLaw, Investment arbitration and practical arbitration cases (2016, Madrid)Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Degree in Business Administration: International Trade Law,
International Commercial Arbitration (2015, Madrid)

IE University, LL.B. y LL.B. + B.B.A. Dual Degree: European Legal History, Law in the Nazi Regime(2012 and 2013, Segovia, Spain)7

IE University: Transnational lawyer (21 November 2012, Segovia, Spain)

Publications


Iurgium. Deputy Director (since 2021)



Mexico’s new policy on the lithium industry, Lexology Latin America notes (22 March 2022)

The Dominican Republic’s Recent Legislation on Public-Private Partnerships, Lexology Latin America
notes (9 June 2021)

The potential impact of Directive 2014/24/EU on construction arbitration in Europe, International
arbitration and EU law (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021)

Prueba, Memento Arbitraje (Francis Lefebvre, 2020)

Is Arbitration In Venezuela In Danger? Kluwer Arbitration Blog (27 May 2020)



Arbitrating Conduct of Business Duties for Investment Services Providers, Butterworths Journal ofInternational Banking and Financial Law, Vol. 31, No. 4, (2016)Spain, International Arbitration (Global Legal Group, 2015 and 2016)



Novedades en el Reglamento Bruselas I refundido, Actualidad Jurídica Uría Menéndez, Nº 40 (2015)

El Arbitraje Comercial Internacional en Latinoamérica, Cuadernos de Derecho para Ingenieros. El
marco jurídico de las empresas multilatinas (Iberdrola/La Ley, 2014)



Arbitraje CCI en torno a una garantía bancaria sujeta a derecho inglés: el principio de “cumplimiento
estricto” (strict compliance) y las garantías a primer requerimiento, 2014 Práctica Contenciosa para
Abogados (La Ley, 2014)

El Arbitraje Comercial Internacional en Alemania, El Arbitraje Comercial Internacional en Europa(Palestra Editores, 2013)

El Juez de Apoyo en la Nueva Legislación Arbitral Francesa, Spain Arbitration Review, Issue 11(2011)

Spain, Getting the deal through. Arbitration in 50 jurisdictions worldwide (Global Arbitration Review,
2010)



El Principio de Kompetenz-Kompetenz en España, Spain Arbitration Review, Issue (2010)



Pasado, Presente y Futuro de la Convención de Nueva York. Reseña con Consideración delBorrador de Van den Berg, Arbitraje Comercial y Arbitraje de Inversión. La Convención de Nueva
York de 1958: Reconocimiento y Ejecución de Laudos Arbitrales. Tomo 2 (Magna Ediciones, 2009)

The 2009 Rules of Arbitration, The International Litigation Quarterly, Vol. 25, Issue 3 (2009)8

The 2009 Rules of Arbitration of the Court of Arbitration of Madrid, Mealey’s International Arbitration
Report, Vol. 24, Issue 3 (2009)

Professional memberships


Madrid Bar Association

Munich Bar Association

Member of the Arbitration Court of the Swiss Arbitration CentreMember of the Special Committee of the Arbitration Court of the Swiss Arbitration CentreMember of the Award Scrutiny Commission of CIAM-CIAR

Board Member of the Spanish and Ibero-American Arbitration Club (CEIA)Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)

Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit (DIS)Austrian Arbitration Association (Arb|Aut)International Bar Association (IBA)

Panel of arbitrators of the Vienna International Arbitration Centre (VIAC)



Panel of arbitrators of the Madrid Court of Arbitration (CAM)Panel of arbitrators of the Court of Arbitration of the Madrid Bar Association (ICAM)

9