Lucinda A. Low

Partner

• llow@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Washington Office

Lucinda A. Low is a partner in the Washington office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Her practice has a twofold focus: investment disputes; and counseling and representation on US and other compliance issues arising from investments abroad, particularly those relating to dealings with foreign governments, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and US sanctions programs.

In the course of her legal practice, she has been involved in AAA, ICC, LCIA, ICSID, and other institutional and ad hoc arbitrations. She was one of the first US lawyers to argue a claim before the Iran-US Claims Tribunal. Her arbitration experience encompasses representation of both claimants and respondents, and service as an expert witness and as an arbitrator.

Currently, she is lead counsel to Corn Products International in a large claim against Mexico arising under Chapter 11 of the NAFTA. She served on the panel of arbitrators in the so-called BSE Chapter 11 case (Canadian Cattlemen v. United States), the first class action-type claim under NAFTA Chapter 11, and is currently advising clients on other investor-state disputes as well.

She is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) panel of arbitrators and of the London Court of International Arbitration.

Ms. Low has published and lectured extensively on subjects related to her principal areas of practice. She co-taught International Business Transactions as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado School of Law, and International Conflicts of Law at the American University School of Law.

Ms. Low is a member of the Board of Directors of Transparency International - USA and the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on International Law. She was the first woman to Chair the ABA Section of International Law, and has served as Vice President of the American Society of International Law, and a member of its Executive Council and Executive Committee. She was the 2003 recipient of the William Ray Vallance Award presented by the Inter-American Bar Foundation, presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution toward improving the law and jurisprudence of the Western Hemisphere.

Ms. Low was listed in Best Lawyers in America 2010 for International Arbitration, and International Trade and Finance Law and in Chambers Global 2010 and Chambers USA 2009: The World's Leading Business Lawyers as a national FCPA Expert.

Ms. Low graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the UCLA Law Review.

Ms. Low is proficient in Portuguese, Spanish, and French, and has some knowledge of Russian and Japanese.

Professional Affiliations

• Board of Directors, Transparency
• International - USA
• Secretary of State's Advisory
• Committee on International Law
• International Bar Association
• Inter-American Bar Association
• American Bar Association