The new Brown Rudnick partner reveals the challenges of representing Argentina before international tribunals
Experienced international arbitration attorney Ignacio Torterola has joined Brown Rudnick LLP as a partner in the international arbitration group in the Washington DC office.
What was your route into the profession?
I am the son of a practicing attorney. Since a young age, I have been exposed to the concept of law and justice and can undoubtedly attribute my route into the legal profession to this upbringing. I studied law in Argentina, but I was exposed in a practical manner to international law for the first time when I did my first master´s degree in Pisa, Italy, almost 20 years ago. This was the initial step that lead me afterwards to my diplomatic career and to the practice of international law and international arbitration.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
Representing Argentina before international tribunals in the aftermath of Argentina´s economic and social meltdown has been the most formative experience and my biggest intellectual challenge. Back in 2004 we were a young group of local practitioners that overnight had to set up a team and the infrastructure to deal with some of the largest cases in investment arbitration. Most of the Argentine achievements during that time would not have been possible without the personal contribution and sacrifices of those involved. We had to face experienced and well-equipped law firms in a context of a political disarray in Argentina. Considering the number of cases and the challenges that the situation presented, the overall outcome of the Argentine cases between 2004 and 2012 has been particularly outstanding.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
During my more than 20 years as an attorney, I have met some of the most talented lawyers. The Argentine cases definitely provided me with the opportunity to meet some of them, both those representing Argentina and those on the side of the investor. To name names will not serve justice to those that my memory may fail to name today. International law and arbitration is a field of great legal minds, and I have been lucky enough to work with some of those lawyers and learnt so much from them.
Just to give one example, Professor Crawford´s sagacity, eloquence and understanding of public international law during the CMS´s Annulment Proceedings impressed me greatly. I would also like to mention the legal philosophy contribution to the field of international law. In that regard, Argentine public international law professor Julio Barberis´ contributions to the understanding of the origin and creation of international law norms and regime based on Hart´s legal thoughts should be obligatory reading for young practitioners in investment arbitration to understand the formation and the sources of law in international law.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
My predilection for legal reasoning makes me appreciate when legal concepts are applied outside and beyond the legal profession. I take pleasure when I bump into legal concepts in literature. Some of the finest examples could be found in the classics, the Quixote and even fictional writers such as Latin American writers García Marquez, Cortazar and Borges.
