Geraldine R. Fischer
Associate
Washington, D.C.
Geraldine Fischer's litigation practice focuses on complex international dispute resolution. She has a special emphasis on international investment disputes arising out of bilateral investment treaties, representing sovereign governments and companies before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes ("ICSID"). She has also been involved in arbitration proceedings before the American Arbitration Association and litigation before U.S. courts.
Geraldine's work in the investor-State area reflects her service as International Attorney-Advisor for the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2002 to 2005. In that capacity she participated as the Lead Coordinating Attorney during the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, and was also a member of the inter-agency teams that negotiated FTAs between the United States and such countries as Australia (for which she won the Department of Commerce Silver Medal) and Chile, as well as the Central America-Dominican Republic FTA and Uruguay Bilateral Investment Treaty.
While at the Department of Commerce, Geraldine provided legal advice on international trade and investment issues, particularly involving Latin America. She also helped U.S. companies secure and use Export Trade Certificates of Review, which can provide antitrust immunity for specified export activities. Geraldine used this experience to provide substantial help with commercial law reform in post-conflict Iraq, including issues that involved foreign investment, free trade zones, commercial security interests, and competition.
Bars and Court Admissions
District of Columbia
New York
Representative Experience
The following is a brief summary of Geraldine's experience and accomplishments:
Defending a Latin American country in an ICSID (Additional Facility) arbitration brought by a Canadian gold mining company under a bilateral investment treaty
Representing a water company in ICSID annulment proceedings brought by a Latin American country
Representing a Latin American country in ICSID annulment proceedings brought by an Asian property developer
Defending a Latin American country in an ICSID arbitration brought by a Dutch company under a bilateral investment treaty, relating to promissory notes
professional / civic involvement
American Bar Association (International Law Section)
Hispanic National Bar Association
Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce
Representative in Washington D.C., Centro Jur�dico de Implementaci�n del Libre Comercio, a non-profit organization based in Santiago, Chile dedicated to promoting and establishing the necessary legal framework for free trade
publications
Reviving the U.S. Bilateral Investment Treaty Program, 39 INT'L LAWYER 243 (Summer 2005).
Co-author (with Laura Svat), Introductory Note of the Treaty Between the United States of America and the Republic of Uruguay Concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, 44 I.L.M. 265 (Mar. 2005).
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