Gustavo J. Lamelas

Gustavo J. Lamelas has more than 20 years of broad-ranging experience as a commercial dispute resolution advocate in domestic and international litigation, trial, appellate and arbitral proceedings.

A significant portion of his experience has been representing Spanish-speaking clients, based both in the United States and abroad.

Mr. Lamelas' career has been divided roughly equally between large multi-national law firms and his own Miami-based practice.

His experience ranges from highly complex international disputes to comparatively routine business advisory work.

He has handled many different types of controversies, including (but not limited to): real estate litigation, employment disputes, airline industry litigation, construction disputes, lender liability matters, distribution agreement controversies, cruise ship venture disputes, employment controversies, personal injury matters, professional liability defense, securities cases, shareholder disputes and telecommunications matters.

Professional Organizations

American Bar Association (Central and South America Sub-Committee Co-Chair, International Litigation Committee, Litigation Section, 2012-2013)
El Club Español del Arbitraje - Florida Chapter (President, 2011-2012; Board Member, 2011-2013)
Coral Gables Bar Association
Cuban American Bar Association
Dade County Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Florida Bar (International Law Section Webinar Program Chair, 2011-2012; Vice Chair, International Litigation and Arbitration / International Business Transactions Conference, 2013; Chair, International Business Transactions Conference, 2013; Chair, International Dispute Resolution Roundtable Committee, 2013)
Miami International Arbitration Society
American Society of International Law

Publications and Presentations

Speaker, "Cuba: A Future in International Arbitration," El Club Español del Arbitraje - Florida Chapter, August 21, 2013
Moderator, “Opportunities and Risks in Providing U.S. Discovery ‘Assistance’ to Foreign Legal Proceedings,” American Bar Association Litigation Section Annual Conference, April 25, 2013
Publication, “The Application of U.S. Discovery Methods to the Taking of Evidence in International Arbitral Proceedings,” American Bar Association Litigation Section Annual Conference, April 2013
Speaker, "What is the Impact of Trade on Miami and What is Miami's Impact on Trade?, University of Miami International Law Society, April 9, 2013
Welcoming Speaker, Florida Bar International Business Transactions Conference, February 28, 2013
Speaker, "Opportunities and Pitfalls in Drafting International Arbitration Clauses," Florida Bar International Law Section Audio Webcast, December 13, 2012
Publication, "Constitutional Defenses Available to Foreign Instrumentalities," ABA Internatiional Litigation News & Developments, July 19, 2012
Publication, "Ill-Defined Boundaries?: The Scope of Arbitral Authority in the United States," The International Law Quarterly, Spring 2012
Speaker, "International Arbitration in Peru," El Club Espanol del Arbitraje, Florida Chapter, March 28, 2012
Publication, "Republic of Argentina v. BG Group: 'Arbitrability' as a Threat to the Finality of International Arbitration Awards," DLA Piper International Arbitration Newsletter, Q1 2012, March 27, 2012
Publication, "Megaupload y el alcance extraterritorial del derecho estadounidense," DiarioJurídico.com, March 2012
Panel Chair, "What You May Not Know About Litigating in Latin America," Florida Bar International Litigation and Arbitration Conference, February 24, 2012
Speaker, "Managing U.S. Discovery Assistance in International Arbitration," Florida Bar International Law Section Webinar,
December 8, 2011
Moderator, "What to Do When the Export Laws of the United States May Have Been Violated," Florida Bar International Law Section Webinar, November 2011
Speaker, "The Potential Impact of Domestic Investment Laws on the Scope of ICSID Arbitration," Florida International University Investment Arbitration Conference, November 9, 2011
Introductory Speaker and Panel Chair, "Strategic Choices in International Arbitration: The Impact of Forum Selection and Choice of Law Decisions," American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, August 2011
Publication, "Emerging Conflict Over the Control of the Arbitral Seat in Post-Arbitration Proceedings," The International Law Quarterly, Summer 2011
Publication, "The Evolving Standards for Extending US Discovery Assistance to International Arbitrations," IBA Arbitration News, March 1, 2011, Vol. 16
Publication, "Court Applies Functional Test to Request for Discovery Assistance," ABA International Litigation New &
Development, December 17, 2010
Moderator, "The Future of US Property, Trade and Investment in Cuba," Inter-American Law Review Symposium, February 20, 2010

Past Experience

The trial of personal jurisdiction and forum non conveniens issues in a post-divorce contract dispute between two Chilean nationals
Represented multiple real estate developers in numerous lawsuits involving construction defect allegations, purchase / sale contract disputes and borrower / lender disputes
The trial of a contract dispute between a Miami consulting firm and a national roofing company
The representation of Venezuelan, Spanish and Ecuadorian interests in expropriation controversies against foreign sovereigns
Multiple lawsuits for and against several telecommunications companies regarding contract and trade secret disputes
The defense through a receivership trial of a shareholders' derivative action regarding control over a medical billing company
The arbitration of a dispute regarding the construction of a beverage plant by an Argentine concern
Restrictive covenant actions by, between and against physicians
Post-arbitration trial and appellate court proceedings regarding a dispute between Ecuadorian and Chilean bottling concerns
Defense against employment discrimination and wrongful termination claims
The representation of the Federative Republic of Brasil against the perpetrators of a massive public fraud
The arbitration of a construction defect dispute between a condominium association and a developer
The trial of a breach of contract action by a Spanish hotel owner against a prospective purchaser
The trial of a claim by a national real estate investment firm against a large water sub-metering company
Numerous commercial and residential landlord-tenant controversies (on behalf of both landlords and tenants)
An international family dispute regarding the disposition of a securities account
Lender liability claims regarding alleged mishandling of bank accounts
The trial of a property boundary dispute
The prosecution and defense of numerous foreclosure actions
The representation of a Canadian airline in disputes over engine leases and fuel procurement
Representation of a European bank in defense of a lender liability action
Defense of a real estate developer against a construction-site brain injury claim
Representation of a Swiss cruise ship concern in controversy with Dominican port operator
Various appeals in Florida, New York and California