Jenner & Block’s head of international arbitration in New York has joined Arnold & Porter,…

Jenner & Block’s head of international arbitration in New York has joined Arnold & Porter, bringing experience in investment litigation and Latin American matters.

Arnold & Porter added Melida Hodgson as a partner in his international arbitration practice in New York.

More recently, ending nearly three years at Jenner and block where she served as head of international arbitration in New York, Hodgson brings to bear more than two decades of experience in acting on behalf of governments, public organizations and corporations in the context of high-stakes proceedings, such as commercial contract and investment disputes and alleged violation of the World Trade Organization (WTO rules).

She has acted as counsel in international arbitrations under International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and has also served as an arbitrator.

Latin American issues are an additional area of ​​interest for Hodgson, who has acted for a number of regional governments, including advising Panama in UNCITRAL proceedings against a Panama-based infrastructure company. Madrid. Sacyr related to the development of the Panama Canal and representing Peru in a multi-million dollar arbitration over the construction of a railroad in Lima.

Hodgson began his career with four years at Shearman & Sterling, followed by seven years as Associate General Counsel at the United States Trade Representative, the federal agency charged with promoting and regulating United States trade policy.

She then returned to private practice with three years at Miller & Knight, leaving as a lawyer for 14 years in Foley Hoag where she became a partner, then joined Jenner & Block.

In a statement, Arnold & Porter’s Global Co-Chair of International Arbitration Paul Di Rosa described Hodgson as “a widely respected and well-known practitioner whose extensive experience in private practice as well as in government will serve our clients well”, further noting “her extensive experience representing state and corporate entities in complex and high-stakes international litigation”. .

Arnold & Porter elevated nine litigation attorneys to partner status in January and hired a former associate U.S. attorney with regulatory and criminal litigation skills to lead its white-collar defense and investigative practice in Chicago. of Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila.

Other firms adding former government lawyers include Debevoise & Plimpton who recruited a former Security and Exchange Commission trial supervising attorney in November.