Vanessa Alarcon Duvanel
Counsel, King & Spalding
Vanessa is an attorney specialized in international arbitration. She is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and holds dual qualifications as an attorney admitted to practice in Switzerland and the State of New York, USA.
Vanessa has acted as counsel and arbitrator in over fifty international arbitration proceedings, both ad hoc and institutional (under the ICC, Swiss Rules, LCIA, SCC, AAA-ICDR, LCIA, CAIP, ICSID and DIS) governed by various procedural and substantive laws, including, Swiss, English, French, German, Portuguese, Turkish, Jordanian, Russian, Australian, New York, Peruvian. Her experience includes high-value and complex disputes over technical and innovative processes in the pharmaceutical and construction industries, as well as matters involving allegations of fraud, corruption, counterfeits, and other intellectual property matters.
Vanessa is a frequent speaker on international arbitration topics and has authored multiple articles and contributed chapters in books on international dispute resolution. She was appointed to the CAfA Arbitration Pool in April 2021.
In addition to her dispute resolution practice, Vanessa regularly advises clients on Swiss contract and commercial law issues, including art transactions and exhibitions. Vanessa’s law practice includes pro bono legal services to not-for-profit organizations promoting human rights and diversity, including in the art world.
She is a member of the European Advisory Board of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), sits on the Program Committee of the New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC) and a member of several other professional associations such as the Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA), ArbitralWomen, Ordre des Avocats de Genève. In addition to being included in the CAfA Arbitrator Pool, Vanessa is also on the list of arbitrators of ICC Switzerland.
Vanessa’s educational background includes: LL.M. in General Studies with emphasis on Intellectual Property (New York University School of Law); Licence en droit avec mention (J.D. equivalent; the University of Neuchâtel, School of Law). She practices in English, French, Spanish and German.
Jurisdiction: Switzerland and U.S.A