Robert Reyes Landicho

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Areas of Work

International Arbitration, Investor-State Arbitration, Public International Law, Judgment Enforcement & Asset Recovery

Overview

Robert Reyes Landicho is an international arbitration lawyer who focuses on high‑value energy, infrastructure, and construction disputes across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. He represents states, state‑owned entities, and multinational companies in complex cross‑border disputes, including commercial arbitration, state‑state arbitration, and investor‑state arbitration. Rob is recognized for his experience in international energy and infrastructure arbitration, his strategic judgment, and his ability to navigate matters that involve overlapping treaty, commercial, and national court issues.

Rob has acted as counsel in arbitrations administered under the leading international arbitration rules, including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA-ICDR), among other institutional rules. His work spans disputes involving oil and gas, refining, drilling, LNG, hydrogen production, pipelines, and major power and construction projects.

In his commercial arbitration practice, Rob has represented clients in high‑stakes disputes involving large‑scale energy and infrastructure projects. His matters include acting for a Middle Eastern state in two ICC arbitrations arising from breaches of a cross‑border pipeline treaty, and representing a state‑owned refinery company in an ICC arbitration concerning the construction of a Hydrogen Production Unit. He has also represented an American company and its Latin American subsidiary in multimillion‑dollar New York law arbitrations relating to the construction of multiple power plants in South America, both of which ended in favorable settlements for the client.

Rob also has broad experience in matters involving states and state‑owned entities. He represented the Republic of Iraq in an ICC arbitration concerning alleged treaty breaches, which resulted in a USD 1.471 billion (net) award in favor of Iraq before interest. He further represented Mobil in ICSID annulment proceedings against the Argentine Republic, where the ICSID ad hoc Committee upheld a USD 266.9 million (net) award in favor of Mobil. Rob has also acted in investor‑state disputes under the OIC framework and in arbitrations involving long‑term concession agreements, franchising arrangements, and complex cross‑border commercial contracts.

In addition to his arbitration practice, Rob frequently advises clients on national court proceedings that intersect with international arbitration, including Section 1782 discovery applications in the United States, award enforcement actions, and proceedings involving foreign sovereigns. His experience includes representing a Middle Eastern state‑owned oil company in Section 1782 proceedings in the Southern District of New York (S.D.N.Y.) and representing a Middle Eastern state in arbitral award enforcement proceedings before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (D.D.C.).

Rob has been recognized internationally for his work in arbitration and cross‑border disputes. He has been named a Law360 Rising Star in International Arbitration, a Future Leader in Lexology Index/Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration and Construction, a Rising Star in Super Lawyers, Texas – International, and is ranked in Legal 500 EMEA for Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation. These recognitions reflect his depth of experience in international arbitration, particularly in disputes involving sovereigns, state‑owned entities, and major energy and infrastructure projects.

Rob is admitted in Texas and also has appeared before the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts.

Texas
US District Court, Southern District of Texas
US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit

J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2013, (Development Editor, Berkeley Business Law Journal; Clinic Director, Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project; Jurisprudence Award, Appellate Advocacy; Prosser Prize, European Union Law; Highest Honors, International Arbitration)
B.A., College of William & Mary, 2008, Government with honors

Representative Matters

International Energy, Infrastructure, and Construction Disputes

Represented an American company and its Latin American subsidiary in two multimillion dollar arbitrations under New York law related to the construction of five power plants in South America; ended in favorable settlement for the client.
Represented a renewable energy fund in an AAA-ICDR arbitration against a project developer under New York law; ended in favorable settlement for our client.
Representing a state-owned drilling company against a Lebanese contractor in an ICC Arbitration relating to the drilling of wells.
Representing a Middle Eastern state in two ICC arbitrations against another state involving breaches of a pipeline treaty between the two states; the case also involves ancillary proceedings in different jurisdictions.
Represented a Middle Eastern state-owned refinery company against an Italian contractor in an ICC Arbitration regarding the construction of a Hydrogen Production Unit for use in the refining process.
Representing a Middle Eastern state-owned oil company against a Dutch contractor in Section 1782 proceedings (S.D.N.Y.).
Advising a Middle Eastern state-owned entity regarding commercial resolution of disputes and project restart strategies for a project involving the reconstruction of two oil terminals.

State-State and Investor-State Arbitrations

Represented the Republic of Iraq against the Republic of Turkey in an ICC arbitration arising from various treaty breaches, resulting in a US$ 1.471 billion (net) award to Iraq before interest.
Represented Mobil in ICSID annulment proceedings against the Argentine Republic, where an ICSID ad hoc Committee rejected Argentina’s application to annul the ICSID award in favor of Mobil. The Committee upheld a US$ 266.9 million (net) award in favor of Mobil. (Mobil Exploration and Development Argentina, Inc. Suc Argentina and Mobil Argentina S.A. v. The Argentine Republic).
Represented two individual investors in related OIC investor-state treaty arbitrations brought against the Republic of Indonesia, in relation to the aftermath of the collapse of a bank in 2008 (Al-Warraq v. Indonesia).
Represented a Middle Eastern state-owned airline against a UK concessionaire relating to a long-term airport concession.
Represented Master Sub-Franchisee in an ICDR arbitration regarding breaches of a Sub-Franchise Agreement to be performed in the United Arab Emirates. Resulted in an award in favor of our client, along with interest and costs.

National Court Proceedings

Representing a Middle Eastern state-owned oil company against a Dutch contractor in Section 1782 proceedings (S.D.N.Y.).
Representing a Middle Eastern state in arbitral award enforcement proceedings in U.S. Federal District Court (D.D.C).
Representing European state-owned energy companies against multiple plaintiffs in a tortious interference and conspiracy claim (S.D. Tex.).
Advising a Texas limited liability company in a dispute with a German limited liability company involving the international sale of goods in a Court of Appeal in Germany.
Represented Goldman Sachs Bank USA in an admiralty proceeding in U.S. Federal District Court (S.D. Fl.) regarding the enforcement and foreclosure of a ship mortgage.
Represented the Ministry of Oil of the Republic of Iraq in a proceeding in U.S. Federal District Court (S.D. Tex.) regarding the export of cargoes of oil from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to the United States.
Represented an international fashion house in lawsuit against the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) in New York State Courts, for breaches of contract related to an investment in Tajikistan. Resulted in a judgment in favor of the international fashion house dismissing the International Finance Corporation's breach of contract claim.
Represented a Yemeni limited corporation company in a New York State temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against a Maltese company and Delaware limited liability company, in a dispute arising out of the purchase and fabrication of custom-built Heavy Fuel Oil generators.

Speaking Engagements

"Effective Navigation of Arbitral Procedural Crossroads," Panelist, Center for International Legal Studies (CILS) International Arbitration Symposium – July 3-5, 2026 (Salzburg)

News & Publications

Press Releases

March 30, 2026

Noteworthy

Lexology Index (Formerly Who’s Who Legal), “Future Leader (Non-Partner): Arbitration,” 2022–2025; “Future Leader (Non-Partner): Construction,” 2023–2025
Legal 500 EMEA, Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation, 2024
Law360, Rising Star, International Arbitration, 2023
Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), Texas Rising Stars list, 2020–2025

Professional Affiliations

Inclusion Committee, Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA); Immediate Past Strategic Planning Co‑Chair (2023–2025), ITA; Programs Co‑Chair (2021–2023), ITA; Past Chair, Young ITA (2019–2021)
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association – Civil Rights Committee (NAPABA)
Past Board of Directors, National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA)
Board Member, Texas Filipino American Bar (TFAB)
Immediate Past Director, Past Vice President - Asian American Bar Association of Houston (AABA of Houston)
Accredited Mediator, ADR Center – IMI
Board Member, American Constitution Society – Houston Lawyer Chapter
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), UAE Branch
Young International Arbitration Group (YIAG), LCIA
Houston International Arbitration Club (HIAC)
Young Arbitrators Forum (YAF), ICC
Young & International (Y&I), ICDR
The Pro Bono College of the State of Texas
Young ICCA
Young ICSID