Akin Gump Achieves Landmark Result for Guatemala in International Labor Arbitration
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(Washington, D.C.) – Yesterday, a lengthy dispute came to an end when an arbitral panel ruled in favor of the government of Guatemala in an international labor arbitration proceeding brought by the United States under the labor chapter of the Central America - United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). An Akin Gump team advised the government of Guatemala throughout the proceeding.
The unprecedented ruling, in which the panel dismissed all of the United States' and AFL-CIO’s claims, is final and ends the six-year-long dispute during which Guatemala’s international image and exports may have been affected. The ruling is also of systemic importance, as it clarifies the legal standard to demonstrate a violation under the Labor Chapter of CAFTA-DR, in force in Guatemala since 2006.
The cross-practice, cross-office Akin Gump team that advised the government of Guatemala in this matter included international trade senior counsel Alan Yanovich in Geneva, international trade partner Steve Kho in Washington, labor and employment practice head Robert Lian in Washington and labor and employment senior counsel Brian Patterson in Houston.
Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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