
David Attanasio resolves cross-border disputes. With extensive experience in Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) as well as many other industries, his practice focuses on crafting compelling advocacy for his clients and finding creative solutions for their international disputes – from the simplest to the most complex – through international arbitration, cross-border litigation, and other means. While David’s practice is global, he is deeply conversant with disputes relating to Latin America.
Leading legal directories have recognized David for his international arbitration advocacy. Chambers USA has highlighted him as “Up and Coming,” with sources commenting that he is “a true intellect and student of arbitration” who “brings a great insight to international arbitration issues.” He is listed as a “Future Leader” in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide, based on his “established name… for difficult issues of public international law” and his “excellent reputation across Latin America.” Legal 500 US has recommended David as “a great legal thinker in the field of international law.”
Drawing from a wide range of options, David seeks optimal solutions for his clients’ disputes. Beyond his deep experience in international arbitration under most major rules, David also represents his clients in cross-border litigation – including before the New York federal courts – and advises them on public international law issues and dispute resolution mechanisms, including business and human rights, diplomatic law, international organizational law, and human rights law.
Clients benefit from David’s active leadership in international dispute resolution. He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Law Association (American Branch) and co-chairs its Investment Law Committee. He has been a member of the global International Law Association’s Rule of Law and International Investment Law Committee. He has also taught courses on international arbitration at Georgetown University Law Center as an adjunct professor of law.
A frequent speaker and writer on international arbitration, investment law, and human rights law, David has co-authored an award-winning treatise on investor-state arbitration entitled International Investment Protection of Global Banking and Finance (Wolters Kluwer, 2021) and is the sole author of the Spanish-language monograph State Responsibility Based on the Actions of Private Actors (Universidad de los Andes/Editorial Temis, 2016).
Prior to joining the partnership of Womble Bond Dickinson, David was counsel at an Am Law 50 law firm. He also has held a Fulbright Fellowship and served as a visiting professor at the Universidad de los Andes and as an associate professor at the Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, both in Bogotá, Colombia.
Representative Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. The listed experience is representative and not complete. It includes matters handled at prior firms.
Commercial Disputes
- Represented three Mauritian private equity firms in an LCIA commercial arbitration against the limited partners of a fund regarding an unlawful attempt to remove the firms as general partner and manager.
- Representing MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc in a contract-based UNCITRAL arbitration with the Republic of Croatia concerning hydrocarbon royalties.
- Represented MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc in a contract-based UNCITRAL arbitration with the Republic of Croatia concerning corporate control of an energy company.
- Acted as tribunal secretary in a European Development Fund arbitration between a European construction joint venture and an African State concerning railway construction.
- Acted as tribunal secretary in a European Development Fund arbitration between a European construction joint venture and an African State concerning water well construction.
Investor-State Disputes
- Representing MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc in an ICSID investor-State arbitration with the Republic of Croatia concerning regulation of natural gas sales and pricing.
- Represented MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas Plc in an ICSID investor-State arbitration with the Republic of Croatia concerning corporate control of an energy company, breach of contractual commitments, and regulations of oil & gas exploration and production.
- Represented two Singaporean companies in an ad hoc investor-State arbitration with an Asian State concerning expropriation of a phosphate mining and refining project.
- Represented a South American State in an UNCITRAL investor-State arbitration against a European mining company relating to the reversion of mining assets to the State.
- Represented a South American State in a PCA/UNCITRAL investor-State arbitration with a Canadian mining company relating to the termination of a mining project.
- Represented a South American State in an ICSID investor-State arbitration with two European mining companies relating to the enforcement of domestic financial regulations.
- Represented a South American State in an ICSID investor-State arbitration with a French foreign oil company relating to the termination of an oil contract.
- Represented a company in an UNCITRAL investor-State arbitration with a State concerning a bauxite mining and refining project.
- Represented a Central European State in an UNCITRAL investor-State arbitration with two European companies relating to regulation of the domestic gambling sector.
- Represented a Central European State in an UNCITRAL investor-State arbitration with a European company relating to the privatization of a formerly State-owned construction company.
Internet Governance Disputes
- Represented an internet company Limited in an Independent Review Process under the ICDR Rules against the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers regarding the failure to delegate a top-level internet domain name.
- Represented an internet company in an Independent Review Process under the ICDR Rules against the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers regarding the failure to delegate a top-level internet domain name for political reasons.
- Represented an internet company in an Independent Review Process under the ICDR Rules against the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers regarding the rejection of a community-based application for a top-level internet domain name.
- Represented an internet company in a dispute against the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, including in pre-dispute negotiations, regarding the rejection of a community-based application for a top-level internet domain name.
Thought Leadership
Select Publications
Books
- International Investment Protection of Global Banking and Finance: Legal Principles and Arbitral Practice, Wolters Kluwer (2021) (Co-Author)
- La responsabilidad estatal frente a los hechos de actores privados: Jurisprudencia internacional [State Responsibility Based on the Acts of Private Actors: International Jurisprudence], Universidad de los Andes/Editorial Temis (2016)
Articles and Chapters
- “International Investment Law, General International Law, and the Rule of Law” in Procedural Issues on the Rule of Law and International Investment Law (Andrea Bjorklund et al. eds.) (forthcoming 2025)
- “Investment Treaty Interpretation in Central Asian Investor-State Arbitrations” in International Investment Law and Arbitration (Crina Baltag et al. eds.) (2022) (Co-Author)
- “Applicable Law in Central Asian Investor-State Arbitrations” in International Investment Law and Arbitration (Crina Baltag et al. eds.) (2022) (Co-Author)
- “Non-Pecuniary Remedies Revisited: Expanding Influence of the ILC Articles?” 37 ICSID Review 313 (2022) (Co-Author)
- “The Problem of State Territorial Obligations,” 24 Journal of Ethics 427 (2020)
- “The New York Convention’s Concept of Arbitration and the Enforcement of Multilateral Investment Court Decisions,” in 60 Years of the New York Convention: Key Issues and Future Challenges (Katia Fach Gómez et al. eds.) (2019) (Co-Author)
- “The U.S. Supreme Court and Arbitration,” 2019 B-Arbitra 521 (2019) (Co-Author)
- “ICSID Rule 41” in The ICSID Convention, Rules and Regulations: A Commentary (Gloria Alvarez et al. eds.) (2019) (Co-Author)
- “Annulment and Set-Aside of Awards” in Business Guide to Trade and Investment, Vol. II (Patrick McCrory et al. eds.) (2018) (Co-Author)
- “Recognition and Enforcement of Awards” in Business Guide to Trade and Investment, Vol. II (Patrick McCrory et al. eds.) (2018) (Co-Author)
- “Extraordinary Reparations, Legitimacy, and the Inter-American Court,” 37 University of Pennsylvania International Law Journal 813 (2016)
- “Militarized Criminal Organizations and Human Rights Court Review of State Protection Efforts: Evidence from Colombia,” 41 Florida State University Law Review 341 (2014)
- “Return within the Bounds of the Pinheiro Principles: The Colombian Land Restitution Experience,” 11 Washington University Global Studies Law Review 1 (2012) (Co-Author)
Case Reports
- Mesa Power Group, LLC v. Government of Canada (PCA Case No. 2012-17), 20 ICSID Reports 267 (2022) (Co-Author)
- Caratube International Oil Company LLP v. Republic of Kazakhstan (ICSID Case No. ARB/08/12), 19 ICSID Reports 424 (2021) (Co-Author)
- Churchill Mining Plc and Planet Mining Pty Ltd v. Republic of Indonesia (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/14 and 12/40), 18 ICSID Reports 527 (2020) (Co-Author)
- International Decision: Urbaser S.A. and Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia, Bilbao Biskaia Ur Partzuergoa v. The Argentine Republic, 111 American Journal of International Law 744 (2017) (Co-Author)
Speaking Engagements
- “Investment Law, Human Rights, and the International Control of Industrial Harms,” International Law Weekend 2024, International Law Association (American Branch), New York City (October 25-26, 2024)
- “Third Party Funding in Colombia," Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría, Bogotá, Colombia (July 22, 2024)
- “Navigating Uncharted Waters: The Future of Transatlantic Relations and the South China Sea,” The Atlantic Council, Washington, DC (March 7, 2024) (Co-Organizer)
- “Investment Arbitration Reports – The ICSID Report, New ICSID Rules and Code of Conduct,” iLaw 2024, AAA-ICDR Arbitration Track, Miami (February 16, 2024)
- “International Arbitration and the Challenges of Financial Services in the First Three Decades of the New Century,” Washington Arbitration Week, Washington, DC (November 29, 2023) (Organizer)
- “Human Rights and Investor-State Arbitration,” Judicial, Court, and Case Management for Judges Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Washington, DC (August 3, 2023)
- “Drafting Pleadings in International Arbitration,” Legal English and Legal Writing Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Washington, DC (July 27, 2023)
- “International Investment Protection of Global Banking and Finance,” International Borrowing & Debt Management, Negotiation, and Renegotiation Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Washington, DC (July 11, 2023)
- “El arbitraje de inversión en jaque: Cuando los estados abandonan los tratados,” Club Español de Arbitraje, XVII Congreso Internacional del CEA, Madrid (June 20, 2023)
- “2023: The Year of Near or Full Financial Crisis? An Update of Investment Arbitration In Financial Services: The World of Banking, Prudential Measures, and Sovereign Bonds,” World Arbitration Update, Online (May 25, 2023)
- “Indemnización por daño moral,” Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje, XVII Congreso Internacional de Arbitraje IPA, Lima, Peru (April 27, 2023)
- “Emerging Issues in Investment Disputes in Central Asia,” New York City (April 20, 2023)
- “Hydrocarbon Projects in Times of Transition,” 12th Annual Energy Law Symposium, Texas A&M School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas (March 24, 2023)
- “Hot Topics in Investor-State Disputes in Central Asia,” George Washington Law School, Washington, DC (February 21, 2023)
- “Non-Pecuniary Remedies Revisited: Expanding Influence of the ILC Articles?” Celebration of the ICSID Review Special Issue on the 20th Anniversary of the Draft Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, Washington, DC (December 7, 2022)
- “Seabed Mining: Jurisdiction, Merits And Quantum,” Washington Arbitration Week, Online (December 2, 2022)
- “International Investment Law, General International Law, and the Rule of Law,” International Law Association Rule of Law and International Investment Law Committee, Online/Vienna, Austria (November 4, 2022)
- “Controlling Mis-Implementation and Misuse of Global Anti-Money Laundering Standards,” International Law Weekend 2022, International Law Association (American Branch), New York City (October 21, 2022)
- “International Investment Law, General International Law, and the Rule of Law,” 2022 Biennial Conference on International Economic Law, American Society of International Law International Economic Law Interest Group (September 24, 2022)
- “Corporate Diplomacy: In the Room Where it Happens,” Symposium on Global Business: The Challenges of Doing Business in an Imperfect World, Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law, Online (June 27, 2022)
- Book Launch: International Investment Protection of Global Banking and Finance, New York International Arbitration Center, Online (December 16, 2021)
- “Review and Enforcement of Investor-State Arbitral Awards,” International Investment Treaties and Investor-State Arbitration Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Online (December 3, 2021)
- “Investment Treaty Arbitration in the Digital Era: Using BITs to protect Cryptocurrency Investments?” Washington Arbitration Week, Online (December 1, 2021)
- “How to Develop the Right Skills in Law School for Working in International Arbitration, How to Build a Career in International Arbitration,” Georgetown International Arbitration Society, Washington, DC (November 19, 2021)
- “Investment Law and the Future of International Energy Governance,” International Law Weekend 2021, International Law Association (American Branch), Online (October 29, 2021)
- “The Latest Challenges in Latin America,” Investment Arbitration Workshop, International Law Association (American Branch) Investment Law and International Arbitration Committees, Online (April 14, 2021)
- “Sovereign Immunity,” The Sovereign Counsel Series Presented by Dechert LLP (February 16, 2021)
- “Enforcement of Emergency Arbitrator Orders and Awards,” Conferencia del LIA: Arbitraje de Emergencia: Estado Actual y Proyección a Futuro, Latin American International Arbitration, Online (December 14, 2020)
- “Review and Enforcement of Investor-State Arbitral Awards,” International Investment Treaties and Investor-State Arbitration Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Washington, DC (December 4, 2020)
- “Investor-State Disputes, International Finance, and the Economic Crisis,” International Law Weekend 2020, International Law Association (American Branch), Online (October 24, 2020)
- “Interrogatorio de Testigos y Peritos en el Arbitraje Virtual,” II Conferencia Los Jóvenes y el Futuro del Arbitraje, Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje, Online (May 21, 2020)
- “Responses to Findings of Corruption in Investment Arbitration: Reassessing the Options,” 2020 Biennial Conference on International Economic Law, American Society of International Law International Economic Law Interest Group, Miami (February 15, 2020)
- “Investment Arbitration & Human Rights,” International Arbitration Day, University of Virginia Latin American Law Organization, Charlottesville, VA (January 31, 2020)
- “Review and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards,” International Investment Treaties and Investor-State Arbitration Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Washington, DC (December 12, 2019)
- “Climate Change and International Investment Law,” Roundtable, George Washington University School of Law (November 21, 2019) (Conference Co-Organizer)
- “Investment Law and Human Rights: Friends, Strangers, or Enemies?” International Law Weekend 2019, International Law Association (American Branch), New York City (October 11, 2019)
- “Document Production is a Useful Tool in International Arbitration,” Freshfields-ASIL Young Arbitrator Debate Series, Washington, DC (July 25, 2019)
- “Resolving Corruption Allegations in International Arbitration: Practical Challenges,” Harvard Law School, Cambridge MA (April 15, 2019)
- “Negotiation of Treaties for the Promotion and Protection of Foreign Investment,” The Embassy Law Series Presented by Dechert LLP (April 10, 2019)
- “What to do About Corruption Allegations? Debating the Options for Investment Law,” Georgetown International Arbitration Society and International Law Association (American Branch) Investment Law Committee, Washington, DC (February 19, 2019)
- “Review and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards,” International Investment Treaties and Investor-State Arbitration Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Washington, DC (December 6, 2018)
- “Investment Arbitration, Human Rights Defenses, and the Transformation of International Law,” 2018 Biennial Conference on International Economic Law, American Society of International Law International Economic Law Interest Group, Montreal, Canada (September 22, 2018)
- “Is Investment Arbitration at Serious Risk?” International Law Weekend 2018, International Law Association (American Branch), New York City (October 19, 2018)
- “Investor-State Dispute Settlement as a Norm Generating System,” Harvard International Law Journal 2018 Symposium: Frontiers of International Law, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA (March 31, 2018)
- “Resolver Conflictos entre el Derecho de los Derechos Humanos y el de Inversión [Resolving Conflicts between Human Rights and Investment Law],” Inversión Extranjera y Arbitraje de Inversiones en Colombia: Retos y Oportunidades para el País y la Región [Foreign Investment and Investment Arbitration in Colombia: Challenges and Opportunities for the Country and the Region], Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia (March 21, 2018)
- “Practical and Strategic Dimensions of Counterclaims in Investor-State Arbitration,” Georgetown International Arbitration Society and International Law Association (American Branch) Investment Law Committee, Washington, DC (February 13, 2018)
- “Review and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards,” International Investment Treaties and Investor-State Arbitration Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Washington, DC (December 7, 2017)
- “Investment Law and Restrictions on Regulation of Latin American Extractive Industries,” Georgetown University Latin American Conference, Georgetown University, Washington, DC (October 27, 2017)
- “NAFTA: What Does the Future Hold?” International Law Weekend 2017, International Law Association (American Branch), New York City (October 21, 2017) (Organizer)
- “Review and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards,” International Investment Treaties and Investor-State Arbitration Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Washington, DC (December 8, 2016)
- “What Role for Human Rights Norms in Denial of Justice Decisions?” Roundtable, Denial of Justice Claims in BIT Arbitration, Fifth LL.M. International Arbitration Competition Conference, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC (April 6, 2016)
- “Review and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards,” International Investment Treaties and Investor-State Arbitration Seminar Series, International Law Institute, Washington, DC (December 10, 2015)
- “Extraordinary Reparations, Legitimacy, and the Inter-American Court,” American Society of International Law Midyear Meeting and Research Forum, Chicago (November 8, 2014)
- “El futuro de iniciativas multi-actores [The Future of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives],” Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Bogotá, Colombia (August 26, 2013) (Conference Organizer)
- “Reparaciones tranformadores: Un marco de arreglo social [Transformative Reparations: A Social Repair Framework],” Foro Fulbright, Seminar Series, Bogotá, Colombia (June 19, 2013)
- “El enfoque transformador [The Transformative Focus],” Fundación Ideas para la Paz, Bogotá, Colombia (May 14, 2013)
- “Return Within the Bounds of the Pinheiro Principles: The Colombian Land Restitution Experience,” DeJuSticia, Seminar Series, Bogotá, Colombia (June 23, 2011)
Professional Activities
- International Law Association (ILA), Rule of Law and International Investment Law Committee
- American Branch (ABILA), Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the International Investment Law Committee
- International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Group
Honors & Awards
- Named an “Up and Coming” Lawyer for International Arbitration: Counsel by Chambers USA (2022-Present)
- Recommended in Legal 500 US for Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (2021-Present)
- Recognized as a “Future Leader” in the Who’s Who Legal Arbitration Guide (2021-Present)
- Received "High Honors" Award for 100+ hours of pro bono service from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court (2021)
Languages
- Spanish