Jose F. Sanchez
The Grace Building
1114 Avenue of the Americas
32nd Floor
New York, New York 10036
Jose is a trilingual lawyer with almost 20 years of experience handling approximately 80 arbitration matters in English, Spanish, and Portuguese around the world, including New York, Texas, Hong Kong, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, Mexico, Chile, and Brazil, among many others. Jose has acted as lead counsel, and won, high-profile bet-the company cases and cases involving claims for several hundred million dollars. He has a strong reputation for obtaining, and defeating requests for, injunctive relief in high-stake matters, and his work on injunctive relief in international arbitration is cited by counsel, arbitrators, and scholars around the world. Since joining Vinson & Elkins in 2019, Jose has focused his practice on cross-border infrastructure, energy-related, shareholder, and post M&A disputes. His 15 years of experience practicing arbitration in New York, together with his previous years of experience working in a civil law jurisdiction, added to his language skills, uniquely position Jose to represent clients most effectively in cross border disputes.
Since 2017, the most relevant publications have recognized Jose as a leading counsel in international arbitration, including Chambers and Partners Global, Chambers and Partners USA, Chambers and Partners Latin America, the Legal 500 US, the Legal 500 Latin America, Latinvex, and Latin Lawyer. For instance, Chambers USA has reported that Jose “holds an excellent reputation for his expert advocacy,” and “is deemed ‘one of the brightest lawyers in the field,’” and “garner[s] accolades from clients as a ‘brilliant, relentless and persuasive’ advocate and for his ability to ‘produce outstanding results under incredible pressure’” (2018). Chambers Latin America-Wide, in turn, has reported that clients refer to Jose as “a star“ who “really gets completely involved … like he’s defending his own mother […] comes up with fantastic ideas [and is] really very impressive” (2020).
In addition to acting as counsel, Jose has served as arbitrator in approximately 15 cases handled by several institutions, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and the American Arbitration Association, among others. Jose was a graduate of the first ever Arbitrator’s Academy for North America held by the International Chamber of Commerce.
As a rising leader on the international arbitration field, Jose is frequently invited to speak at arbitration events around the world and publishes legal articles in the most relevant legal publications. He is a member of the Arbitration Committee of the New York City Bar and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (New York branch), has been a regional representative of the ICC for North America (Young Arbitrators Forum), representative for North America for the LCIA (Young International Arbitration Group), and a member of the Global Advisory Board of the ICDR (Young and International Group).
Arbitration
An American company in an arbitration under Texas law concerning claims for several hundred million dollars in connection with the purchase and sale of natural gas
An American company and its Latin American subsidiary in a multimillion dollar arbitration under New York law related to the construction of five power plants in South America
Two North American companies in four arbitrations against an instrumentality of the Mexican government regarding the construction of gas pipelines in Mexico
An American oil company in a multimillion dollar arbitration under Texas law concerning oil assets and operations in Cameroon
A pharmaceutical company in a US $1 billion dollar arbitration under Japanese law concerning the validity of a license agreement to collect royalties worldwide on certain patents
A Japanese manufacturer in a US $1 billion dollar arbitration under Illinois law concerning the dissolution of a multibillion dollar joint venture with an American conglomerate
The majority shareholder of a North American company with revenue of over US $1 billion in an arbitration under New York law over ownership and control of the company
The owner of a large-scale port terminal for the handling of oil imports and exports in Latin America in a multimillion dollar arbitration related to the construction of that terminal
An American military contractor in a multimillion dollar arbitration against a Latin American country related to the construction and maintenance of two warships
A multinational financial-services company in a multimillion dollar arbitration concerning misappropriation of highly sensitive confidential information and related contractual claims
The Republic of Turkey in a multibillion dollar arbitration related to the construction of the largest infrastructure project in the country, involving Istanbul’s railway system
The owner and developer of a large underground mining project in the Americas and other open-pit mining projects in a multimillion dollar arbitration related to the sale of those projects
An American oil company in several arbitration proceedings concerning the sale of oil and gas companies for over $1.2 billion and indemnification claims by the buyers
An American company in a multimillion dollar arbitration against a Brazilian licensee over licensing and indemnification rights
An American company in a multimillion dollar arbitration against a licensee in Colombia over licensing and manufacturing rights
An American company in a multimillion dollar arbitration against a licensee in the Dominican Republic over breach of the license agreement
A European consortium of construction companies in a multimillion dollar arbitration against the Dominican Republic involving the construction and operation of a major highway
A multinational North American company and its sole shareholder in proceedings in Texas courts to enforce arbitration agreements in response to plaintiffs’ claims under the RICO statute and Texas law
A multinational electronics corporation in successfully enforcing dispute-resolution clauses in a multimillion dollar litigation concerning an American technology company’s claims for trade secret violations and patent infringement
A Korean technology company in a matter involving cross-border claims of trade secret misappropriation by an American multinational company
An instrumentality of the Polish Government in contractual disputes against an American licensee over broadcasting rights to television programs
A North American Company in proceedings in New York Courts to enforce an award in excess of $70 million issued in an international commercial arbitration
Several foreign companies in proceedings in New York courts to obtain discovery, under 28 U.S.C. 1782, in aid of foreign litigations and international arbitration
Several foreign companies in proceedings in New York courts for enforcement of a foreign judgment in excess of $120 million
Credentials
- Georgetown University Law Center, 2009; Master’s in Business and Economic Law (LLM); Distinction and Dean’s List
- Sergio Arboleda University, Bogota, Colombia, 2005; Bachelor of Law (JD equivalent); summa cum laude
- Before joining Vinson & Elkins, Mr. Sanchez practiced for 10 years at other large litigation law firms in New York and Washington DC, and before that at a distinguished Colombian law firm representing clients in litigation proceedings before the Colombian Supreme Court and in arbitration proceedings.
- Chambers USA, International Arbitration (Nationwide), 2022 and 2023; “Up and Coming” in International Arbitration (Nationwide), 2022; International Arbitration: Counsel (Nationwide), 2024
- Chambers Latin America-Wide, 2020: “Jose Sanchez continues to impress, with interviewees referring to him as ‘a star’ and continuing: ‘He really gets completely involved; it’s like he’s defending his own mother. He’s well spoken, writes very well and comes up with fantastic ideas. He’s really very impressive.'”
- Chambers USA, 2019: “José Sanchez… [has] a burgeoning reputation in the field, garnering accolades from clients as a ‘brilliant, relentless and persuasive’ advocate and for his ability to ‘produce outstanding results under incredible pressure.’ He focuses his practice on Latin American disputes, frequently appearing in international arbitrations conducted in English, Spanish and Portuguese.”
- Chambers USA, International Arbitration (Nationwide), 2020 and 2021; “Up and Coming” in International Arbitration (Nationwide), 2021: “Jose Sanchez has a growing reputation for his work on international arbitrations, with … source[s] [being] ‘very impressed with his deep knowledge of the international arbitration practice. He combines his experience with very smart solutions, and is simultaneously a very fine and strategic attorney.’”
- Chambers Latin America-Wide, 2019: “José Sanchez is praised by interviewees [who note that]: ‘He [gives] a very strong and positive impression from the start. He is dedicated, careful in the details, has a very strong legal basis and transmits total confidence to the client in every aspect…”
- Chambers USA, 2018: “José Sanchez… is deemed ‘one of the brightest lawyers in the field’ by impressed clients. He holds and excellent reputation for his expert advocacy, which includes proceedings held in Spanish and Portuguese. Sources state: ‘He is dedicated, careful in the details, has very strong legal basis and transmits total confidence to the client.”
- Chambers Latin America-Wide, 2018: “José Sanchez has impressed markets commentators, with one reporting: ‘It gave me great confidence to have someone as passionate, sharp and hard-working as him handling our case.”
- Legal 500 Latin America, International Arbitration, 2019 and 2025; “Rising Star” in International Arbitration, 2021 and 2022; “Next Generation Lawyer” in International Arbitration, 2023 and 2024
- Chambers Global, “Star Associates” in International Arbitration (Latin America-wide), 2020 and 2021; “Associates to Watch” in International Arbitration (USA), 2020 and 2021; “Up and Coming” in International Arbitration (USA), 2022; International Arbitration (Latin America), 2022–2024
- Chambers Latin America-Wide, International Arbitration, 2018–2024
- Global Arbitration Review GAR 30, 2024
- Latin Lawyer 250, 2020
- Latinvex, Latin America’s Rising Legal Stars, 2020
- Legal 500 U.S., Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration, 2020–2024
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), International Arbitration–Commercial (New York), 2023–2025
- Selected to the New York Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2023 and 2024
- North America Regional Representative, ICC Young Arbitrators Forum
- Arbitration Committee Member, New York City Bar
- Former North America Regional Representative, LCIA Young International Arbitration Group
- Former Member of the Global Advisory Board, ICDR Young and International Group
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, New York Branch
- NITA Advocate Designation
- ICC Young Arbitrators Forum
- New York
- Colombia
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
- Rankings & AwardsNovember 1, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 24, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 22, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 6, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsMarch 22, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 15, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 22, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 24, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 21, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 12, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 16, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsOctober 19, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsSeptember 2, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 18, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 16, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2022
- Rankings & AwardsFebruary 17, 2022
Publications
- “Applying the Model Law’s Standard for Interim Measures in International Arbitration,” in Maxi Scherer (ed), Journal of International Arbitration, (© Kluwer Law International; Kluwer Law International 2020, Volume 37 Issue 1) pp. 79 – 86.
- “U.S. Supreme Court reaffirms pro-arbitration stance,” International Law Office Arbitration Newsletter, March 1, 2012
Events
- “The Standard for Interim Measures in International Arbitration and in Emergency Arbitrations,” Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, New York (US), March 2020
- “ICDR-AMCHAM International Arbitration Conference,” Sao Paulo (Brazil), December 2019
- “ICC Chilean Arbitration Day,” Santiago (Chile), November 2019
- “Arbitrating Technology and Intellectual Property Cases: Latin American and European Approaches,” Miami Technology and Intellectual Property Arbitration Seminar, Miami (US), November 2019
- “iLaw2017: The ILS Global Forum on International Law,” Miami (US), November 2017
- “El arbitraje comercial internacional: un mecanismo eficiente de solución de controversias,” ICC Mexico, September 2016