Pilar Colomés Iess

Pilar Colomés Iess is a New York and Spanish practicing attorney and founding partner of GNCI Law. She is a Columbia University graduate (LL.M) with 15 years of experience representing corporations, investors and States in investment and commercial arbitration cases and complex transnational litigation disputes. Pilar’s experience covers a wide range of jurisdictions and industries where has practiced at the most prominent law firms and institutions around the world (Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague; Herbert Smith Freehills in London; Eversheds Sutherland in Spain; Kirkland & Ellis LLP in New York).

Pilar’s most notable experience includes successful representation of the Kingdom of Spain in the first two investment arbitrations related to the PV sector. Pilar also acted in representation of a group of Mexican investors in two highly complex ICSID and UNCITRAL investment arbitration proceedings arisen out of measures adopted by EU institutions in a EU member state. Those cases involved complex ancilliary issues such as consolidation, cross-border discovery proceedings (28 U.S.C. § 1782) as well as local and European Court of Justice litigation proceedings. Pilar has also represented various sovereign States and entities in investment and commercial arbitration matters worldwide including enforcement of ICSID awards in Spain and opposition to the recognition and enforcement of awards in foreign jurisdictions (UK, Latin America, USA).

Pilar has accumulated several victories as leading counsel in international commercial arbitrations where complex procedural and substantive issues arise (such as joinder of third parties or non-signatories, conflict of laws and conflict of forum rules) as well as sophisticated local and cross-border civil and commercial court procedures where complex court-related ancillary measures are involved (such as interim measures, freezing orders or injunctions, foreign discovery proceedings, enforcement/opposition to extrajudicial judgments and awards or annulment proceedings, among others).

Pilar is a Spanish native with english proficiency as a New York-admitted attorney. She is Professor of Public International Law at the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Madrid and of International Arbitration at the Universidad de la Rioja and is continuously recognized as a recommended lawyer for the international arbitration and cross-border litigation category in the most relevant rankings (Leaders League, Iberian Lawyer, Best Lawyers).

Investment arbitrations

• Representation of a Spanish investor in an ICSID annulment proceeding pertaining a construction and infrastructure investment in the Middle East. (currently)
• Representation of the Republic of Panamá in an ICSID investment arbitration under the USA-Panamá BIT. The case was settled. (2023-2024)
• Representation of a Latin American State in the enforcement of an ICSID award within an EU State. (2023)
• Representation of a British investor in the first stages of investment arbitration against an EU State arisen out of the State’s regulatory changes in the PV sector. (2022-2023)
• Representation of a group of Mexican shareholders and bondholders in an investment arbitration under the UNCITRAL and ICSID Arbitration Rules arising out of the deprivation of their rights and interests in Spain’s fifth largest bank as a consequence of its resolution and sale through the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM). The arbitration involved parallel proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union and discovery proceedings before the Southern District Court of New York. The two arbitrations were consolidated. (2017-2019)
• Successfully represented the Kingdom of Spain in a major investment arbitration run under the Arbitration Rules of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce for claims brought by multiple investors under the Energy Charter Treaty in relation to Spanish Photovoltaic sector.  (2012-2016)
• Represented the Kingdom of Spain in a major investment arbitration run under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules for claims brought by multiple investors under the Energy Charter Treaty in relation to Spanish photovoltaic sector. (2012- 2016)

Commercial Arbitrations

• Representation of a Spanish construction company in an ICC arbitration subject to Spanish related to breaches of an EPC contract. (currently)
• Successful representation of a Spanish manufacturing company in a multi-party and multi-contract Paris-seated ICC arbitration arisen out of the breach of two contract for the sale of goods subject to Spanish and Moroccan Law. The arbitration involved complex issues of joinder and conflict of laws. (2023-2024)
• Representation of a financial services company in various commercial arbitrations before the Madrid Court of Arbitration arisen out of breaches shareholder agreements and other related disputes with funds and financial advisors. (2023-2024)
• Represented a Spanish company in an international commercial arbitration run under the Madrid Court of Arbitration Rules for claims regarding alleged breaches of contract and of Spanish Agency Law. (2014-2015)

Transnational Litigation

• Representation of a Spanish company in enforcement proceedings in Morocco against a Moroccan counterparty. (currently)
• Successfully represented a Spanish company in cross-border litigation in the United States District Court, Western District of Arkansas, against an individual in connection with alleged breaches of contract under theories of implied-in-fact and implied-in-law contract law. Together with local counsel in Arkansas, we obtained the dismissal of the case on the basis of lack of jurisdiction, forum non-conveniens and close connection links pursuant to United States federal procedural rules. (2022-2023)
• Advised and represented a Colombian company in bringing claims relating to breaches of a contract for the manufacture and sale of industrial components subject to the Vienna Convention CISG before the courts of New Jersey. The dispute involved complex conflict of laws and forum issues, as well as related issues subject to New Jersey law. (2020-2024)
• Interim representation of the Kingdom of Spain in proceedings challenging the recognition and registration of an arbitral award before the High Court of Commerce and Property in England and Wales. (2022)

Domestic Litigation

• Represented a number of international banks in more than 25 different civil and commercial litigation cases and appeared before Spanish courts in all stages of the proceedings (evidentiary, trial, Appellate and Supreme Court; motions, enforcement, and interim measures, among others). (2012-2016)