CONTACT
Genferstrasse 1
8002 Zurich
Switzerland
PROFILE
Elena is a highly experienced lawyer with nearly twenty years’ expertise in international dispute resolution. She was previously a partner at a leading international law firm in Spain, where she headed the firm’s European litigation and arbitration practice. She is now based in Switzerland, where she continues to advise clients on complex cross-border disputes.
An arbitration specialist, Elena has acted in over 50 international arbitrations—both institutional and ad hoc—under the rules of all major arbitral institutions. She has served as both counsel and arbitrator in proceedings conducted in Spanish, English, and French. Her deep understanding of arbitration processes and her ability to navigate complex disputes make her a sought-after professional in the field.
In addition to her arbitration work, Elena regularly represents and advises clients in litigation proceedings in Spain before all courts. She has acted as a legal expert in various issues of Spanish law and international business law, showcasing her broad legal knowledge and expertise. Elena is also a specialist in construction, energy and intellectual property matters, further enhancing her comprehensive legal skill set.
Elena is a CEDR-accredited mediator and regularly advises clients on contractual matters, as well as pre-litigation and pre-arbitration strategy, negotiations and settlement discussions. Her mediation experience complements her arbitration and litigation work, allowing her to offer clients a comprehensive and pragmatic approach to dispute resolution.
Elena is ranked in Chambers Global and Chambers Europe as a leading practitioner in dispute resolution and arbitration, and recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” by Legal 500 EMEA. She is also recommended in Arbitration and recognized as a “Future Leader” in Construction by Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal).
What Clients Say
“Elena knows the problem perfectly and manages it with excellence.”
“Elena Sevila Sánchez is a magnificent professional. She is able to understand the most complex problems through an in-depth study of the client’s business.”
“She gives absolutely perfect and ad hoc advice and defence to solve the problem.”
“Elena Sevila Sánchez has extraordinary advocacy skills. She leaves no issue unexplored and is relentless in fighting for her clients, consistently achieving outstanding results.”
“Elena Sevila Sánchez is an outstanding lawyer that provides top-notch advice and is amazing at cross-examining witnesses. Her deep knowledge and experience in international arbitration is a key asset.”
Recent Experience
International Arbitration
- Acting for a Spanish international construction group in a EUR 25 million ICC arbitration against one of its subcontractors on a hydroelectric project in Guatemala.
- Acting for a Luxembourg fund in a EUR 80 million ICC arbitration concerning two shareholders’ agreements and the call option clauses contained therein.
- Representation of a Spanish company in a EUR 50 million ICC arbitration brought against its partner, a Moroccan listed company and its chairman.
- Advising an international engineering group on the application for interim measures in an ICC emergency proceeding concerning the Tierra Mojada (Wet Soil) project in Mexico.
- Acting for one of the largest Spanish construction companies in a EUR 115 million FIDIC arbitration brought by its Finnish client in relation to delays in the construction of a power plant.
- Acting for an international fruit and vegetable company in a EUR 25 million ICC arbitration concerning breach of an investment agreement with its Tunisian partner.
- Acting for a major international construction company in a EUR 20 million ICC arbitration concerning a claim by a Saudi Arabian company for agency fees from eight major international construction companies.
- Acting for a Turkish international company (owned by a former owner of a Turkish football team) in a EUR 35 million SCAI arbitration concerning an agency fee.
- Acting for a tobacco company in an AAA-ICDR arbitration concerning the sale and purchase of certain brands under a share purchase agreement of a subsidiary (value not quantified).
- Advising a major Spanish telecommunications group in relation to an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Argentina following the award of mobile telephony licenses to a competitor, which amounted to unfair treatment.
- Advising a major Spanish telecommunications group in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Peru following decisions by the Peruvian tax authorities.
- Acting for a Spanish media company in a EUR 40 million OHADA arbitration against the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for breach of an agreement to install DTT in Equatorial Guinea.
- Acting for a film client in an IFTA-ICDR arbitration concerning the interpretation and performance of a marketing agreement in Spain relating to the portfolio of films produced and directed by Woody Allen.
- Acting in an ICC arbitration concerning a USD 4 billion claim brought by a consortium of construction companies against a bi-national company established in Argentina and Uruguay in relation to a contract for the construction of a hydroelectric plant on the river separating the two countries.
- Participation in a USD 80 million ad hoc arbitration concerning a claim by an international oil exploration and production company against a national company for breach of a contract to optimize oil production.
Cross-border litigation and litigation-related advice
- Representing a major Spanish energy developer in a EUR 100 million dispute relating to the performance of certain warranties in connection with its solar power plants in Panama.
- Representing together with a U.S.-based law firm a Spanish energy developer in a EUR 350 million lawsuit against the American subsidiary of a Chinese company. The Chinese company unlawfully prevented the Spanish company from connecting its solar plants to the nearest substation in Panama.
- Representing a private equity firm in relation to certain bonds issued by Bernard Madoff and marketed by the firm in Europe. Proceedings brought in the United States seeking to impose civil liability on the private equity firm.
- Representing a Spanish pharmaceutical group in the appeal of a court order setting the amount of EUR 30 million to be paid as “equitable remuneration” under article 70.4 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) following the supervening infringement of a product patent.
- Advising a Spanish company in a copyright and trade secret claim against a major multinational financial services company specializing in payment cards. Parallel proceedings were coordinated in the UK.
- Acting for a publishing group in a dispute arising from the termination of a publishing contract with the official broadcaster in the Spanish region of Galicia.
- Advising a major Spanish hotel chain in relation to the Helms-Burton Act and the H10 case brought before the EU Commission.
- Representation of the Madagascan Salt Producer Company in a claim under the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) against a Spanish manufacturer of industrial salt equipment.
Recognized.
