Biography: Arbitration

Luiz Olavo Baptista has practised law for more than 40 years and has acted as lawyer, counsel and arbitrator both in Brazil and abroad.

He has advised international corporations, governments and individuals in matters related to international investments and negotiations, and participated in the drafting of international agreements.

He is a member of the ICSID Panel of Conciliators, the French Arbitration Association (AFA) and the ICC Commission on Arbitration. He has acted as arbitrator in commercial disputes, in proceedings at the United Nations Compensation Commission, under the Mercosur Protocol of Brasilia for the Resolution of Controversies, and before ICSID and the ICC International Court of Arbitration. He also participates in the leading Brazilian arbitration organisations.

Mr Baptista was a member of the WTO Appellate Body from 2001 to 2009, which he chaired in 2008. He was also a member of the Hague Permanent Court of Arbitration (1996–2002) and in 1998 was designated special representative for Brazil in a fact-finding and mediation mission related to trade issues.

He was a former president and board member of the São Paulo Bar Association. He was a member of the Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association (1981–83, 1986–87) and chaired the São Paulo Lawyers Assistance Fund (1983–85).

Mr Baptista received his law degree from the Catholic University of São Paulo in 1964 and his PhD from Paris II University in 1981. He is a retired full professor of the Department of International Law at the University of São Paulo Law School.

Mr Baptista writes and speaks fluently in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.