Mélida Hodgson is a Chambers ranked investor-state and commercial arbitration practitioner and arbitrator. Mélida is president of the American Society of International Law.
With three decades of experience practicing at the intersection of international arbitration and sovereign obligations, she represents clients operating worldwide across the range of arbitration fora, including the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), The Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), America Arbitration Association (AAA/ICR), and under the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
She is particularly respected as an arbitration expert in Latin America—and is consistently rated as one of the top lawyers for the region—where she has handled matters for sovereign clients Venezuela, Panama, and Peru. Her areas of expertise are infrastructure, construction, mining, transportation, energy, and business combination disputes.
In May 2024, President Joe Biden designated Mélida to the ICSID Panel of Conciliators. She will serve the standard six-year term on the ICSID panel. Mélida is also a vice chair of the ICC Institute of World Business Law and serves on the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR and its Task Force on Corruption in Arbitration, as well as on the Council of the AAA/ICDR. She is a founding member of the Washington Women in International Arbitration.
Experience
- Panama in arbitrations relating to the Panama Canal expansion, including an UNCITRAL treaty arbitration initiated by Spain-based Sacyr SA and an ICSID arbitration initiated by Italy-based Webuild SpA.
- Peru in an oil and gas dispute (Worth Capital).
- Peru in a mining dispute (Kaloti).
- Confidential commercial arbitration related to a cross border constructional dispute.
- Peru in a multimillion dollar ICSID contract arbitration regarding the construction of a Lima subway line (Metro de Lima Línea 2).
Perspectives
Recognition
International Arbitration — Latin American — International Counsel (2023-2025)
International Arbitration — Counsel — USA (2024-2025)
International Arbitration — Arbitrators — USA (2025)
International Arbitration — USA (2024)
"Thought Leaders" Arbitration — USA (2024)
"Thought Leaders" Arbitration (2023)
Arbitration (NY) (2025)
Credentials
Education
- J.D., New York University School of Law, 1992
- B.A., Vassar College, 1985
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
- U.S. District Courts for Southern and Western Districts of New York
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of International Trade
Government & Military Service
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Associate General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative (1998–2005)
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Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice (1996–1998)
Activities
- Member, ICSID Panel of Conciliators (appointed by the United States)
- President, American Society of International Law.
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Vice Chair of the Council (elected), International Chamber of Commerce Institute of World Business Law
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Member, ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR
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Board Member (elected), American Arbitration Association/International Centre for Dispute Resolution
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Member, American Bar Association Section of International Law, Latin America and Caribbean Council (2019–2021); former chair, Finance Division
- Member of the Indicative List of Panelists of the World Trade Organization (WTO) (2006-2012)
- Appointed to the Indicative Panelist Roster and selected as an Arbitrator in disputes under Chapter 19 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (2007-2021)
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Executive Council Member (elected), American Society of International Law and member of BASIL Task Force
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Founding Member, D.C. Women in International Arbitration
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Member, Hispanic Bar Association of the United States
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Adjunct Professor/Former Instructor, Washington College of Law of the American University (2009–2010)
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Trustee, Moravian Ministries Foundation in America (2014–2021)
Languages
- Spanish
- English