S1: Bonus Episode: Ricardo Vásquez Urra

International Arbitrator appointed by the World Bank and Beijing Arbitration Commission

Ricardo Vásquez Urra travels around the world as an international arbitrator appointed by prestigious institutions such as the World Bank and Beijing Arbitration Commission. He represents clients in international litigation and arbitration. How did he start off his career as an international arbitration lawyer? What opportunities opened the door for him to build his global career? What qualities and experience are valued in new lawyers who are interested in international arbitration?

What do you as an international arbitration lawyer?

International arbitration is currently one of the most attractive legal fields for lawyers with international backgrounds. Our main task is to deal with cross-border disputes, which may be related to commercial issues between investors or states, such as investor-state arbitration under different rules of procedure. We advise and resolve these disputes before a tribunal typically consisting of three lawyers with different backgrounds who then issue a verdict regarding the dispute. Our work requires creativity, active listening, understanding of legal issues, and consideration of the opinions of legal experts. We must make a decision within a time limit. My international background, including multilingualism and global education, enables me to do the work in this field.

When you started off your career, did you know that you want to pursue international arbitration? How did you choose your practice area?

I used to work for the Chilean government as part of the team negotiating Free Trade Agreements, specifically the investment chapters within them. I had the opportunity to negotiate with counterparts from various backgrounds, including China, Japan, Australia, Korea, and some Latin American countries. My desire to become an international attorney was instilled in me during my education. I studied international law, with a focus on international trade and investor-state arbitration. After working in government for almost four years, I applied to be a judge but ultimately decided to move to Australia for personal reasons. I completed an International Commercial Arbitration LLM at the University of Sydney and worked under a barrister for a year. I returned to Chile to work in the government again, this time in charge of international commercial disputes. This experience gave me a wealth of knowledge and helped me realize what I wanted to do for the next ten years. Since then, I have worked as an attorney in private practice, handling litigation and arbitration, particularly in international commercial arbitration under International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and ICSID rules. I have been listed on rosters of arbitrators for the World Bank and the International Commercial Arbitration Commission. In Chile, I am part of the Chilean Chamber of Commerce's mediation and arbitration center.

What advice do you have for new lawyers who are interested in entering the field of international arbitration?

First of all, you have to challenge yourself and expose yourself to the world of international law. This means studying different legal systems and gain practical experience from working in a law firm, or in the government, or NGO where you can observe the work of international lawyers. It's important to figure out if you enjoy this type of work because it's very different from domestic law. As an international lawyer, you deal with different legal systems and issues that are unique to crossborder disputes.

You have worked with many young lawyers throughout your career. What qualities do you see in young lawyers who would most likely to succeed as an international arbitration lawyer?

First of all, language is key. You must be able to manage at least English to become an international attorney, as a lot of the work is conducted in English. Secondly, you need to have commitment. Commitment not necessarily means being at the office for 16 hours per day, but working in order to achieve what you were asked to do. Additionally, it means studying what you may not know as a young lawyer, as there is a difference between what you learn at university and what you deal with in the real world when you have to handle real disputes with real issues that are not yours. Lastly, I think it's important to love what you do and the people you work with. When you are really focused on doing something that you really love, it becomes easier to stay committed. If you love what you do, and you have fun with it, you are most likely to excel in your field.

Reflecting on your own career trajectory, what qualities or experiences opened the doors for you to enable you to build your global career?

Determination and resilience are essential qualities for success as an international attorney because there will be times when you fail, and you must keep pushing forward. For example, I always aspired to work in investor-state arbitration, but it was challenging to become involved in disputes or to be appointed as an arbitrator twenty years ago in my country. When you have a goal and can envision yourself achieving it, you must be resilient and tough minded to succeed, as it is not a sprint but a marathon. Sometimes it may take more than a couple of years to achieve your goal, and it may take a decade or longer, so you must remain determined. From my experience, it is important to remain steadfast in your path and focus on the end goal.