Patricia Nacimiento Herbert Smith Freehills

Patricia is the co-head of the German dispute resolution practice and part of the EMEA leadership team.

Patricia has over 20 years of experience as disputes practitioner. Her practice spans a wide range of disputes work with a special focus on domestic and international arbitration as well as investor state disputes. Patricia has significant experience in disputes related to energy, construction and post M&A. The German government has appointed her in 2007 as one of four arbitrators to the panel of arbitrators at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).

Patricia is a native German speaker and fluent in English, Spanish, Italian and French.

Professional background

As a party representative, she has conducted over 120 arbitration proceedings under the rules of numerous arbitration institutions – including ICC, ICSID, SCC, CIETAC, DIS, LCIA, ICDR, Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Indian Council of Arbitration, and the Danish Institution of Arbitration as well as ad hoc proceedings. She is also regularly appointed as an arbitrator and has led numerous international ICC-, DIS- and ad hoc arbitration proceedings as a chairperson, sole arbitrator or party appointed arbitrator.

For years, Patricia has been listed as a leading disputes expert in renowned rankings and directories such as Global Arbitration Review, Women in Business, Best Lawyers, Who's Who Legal as well as Chambers Europe, Chambers Global, Legal 500 and leading German directory JUVE. She publishes regularly on disputes related subjects and is co-editor of the leading arbitration manuals "Arbitration in Germany – The Model Law in Practice" (Kluwer 2015) and "The New York Convention – a Global Commentary" (Kluwer 2008).

Patricia gives lectures on arbitration at the universities of Heidelberg, Frankfurt and Saarbrücken.

Publications

She publishes regularly on disputes related subjects and is co-editor of the leading arbitration manuals "Arbitration in Germany – The Model Law in Practice" (Böckstiegel, Kröll, Nacimiento (eds.), Kluwer 2015) and "The New York Convention – a Global Commentary" (Kronke, Nacimiento, Port, Otto (eds.) Kluwer 2008).

Accolades

"intelligent, loyal, highly qualified and dedicated, with both managerial and analytical skills.", clients – Chambers Europe 2019

"If arbitration was "To Kill a Mockingbird" Patricia is an Atticus Finch of today's arbitration community" - Client's Choice Award 104