Csaba M. Rusznak
Founder & Managing Member
Csaba is the Founder and Managing Member of Sovereign Arbitration Advisors.
Previously, he worked as an international arbitration lawyer at Arnold & Porter, a preeminent law firm in the United States.
He focuses his practice on international arbitration and transnational litigation. He has experience with investment and commercial arbitration cases, and has acted as counsel for States and private parties in Europe, Latin America, North America and Asia.
In May 2020, Hungary appointed him to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators (as a conciliator).
Earlier in his career, Csaba served as a federal law clerk to The Hon. Martin LC Feldman of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and to The Hon. David A. Faber of the US District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, which gave him a deep understanding of US court practice and procedure.
Industry experience
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Power Generation
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Mining
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Oil & Natural Gas
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Financial Services
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Media
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Transportation
Education
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Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (B.S.F.S.) magna cum laude
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Vanderbilt Law School (JD) Dean’s List
Languages
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English
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Spanish (reading ability)
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Portuguese
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French
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Hungarian
Selected Representations
Investor-State Arbitration
Acting as advisory counsel to a Western European State in connection with an ongoing investor-State dispute related to the energy transition. (engagement confidential).
United Mexican States v. Lion Consolidated L.P. (Case No. 1:21-cv-03185 (D.D.C.). Representing a Latin American businessman in an intervention in U.S. federal court proceedings to support vacatur of an investor-State award rendered against the United Mexican States. (ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/15/2).
Enel S.p.A. v. Republic of Turkey (ICSID Case No. ARB/21/61). Representing the Republic of Turkey in an investment arbitration brought by Italian power conglomerate Enel related to the renewable energy industry.
Defending the Kingdom of Spain in seven actions filed in Washington, DC federal court to enforce ICSID awards.
Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd et al. v. Kingdom of Thailand (UNCITRAL). Represented the Kingdom of Thailand in an investor-State arbitration involving claims by an Australian mining company.
Infinito Gold Ltd. v. Costa Rica (ICSID Case No. ARB/14/5).
Represented Costa Rica in a dispute over gold mining rights brought by a Canadian claimant.
LSF-KEB Holdings SCA et al. v. Republic of Korea (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/37). Represented the Republic of Korea in a multi-billion dollar investment dispute involving the Lone Star Funds, with respect to certain bank regulation and tax matters (one of the largest claims in ICSID history).
Emmis International Holding BV et al. v. Hungary (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/2). Represented Hungary in an investment arbitration initiated by former owners of a radio broadcasting license for Sláger Rádió.
Electrabel S.A. v. Hungary (ICSID Case No. ARB/7/19). Represented Hungary in an investment arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty arising out of Hungary's termination of Power Purchase Agreements.
Accession Mezzanine Capital LP et al. v. Hungary (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/3). Represented Hungary in an investment arbitration initiated by former owners of a radio broadcasting license for Danubius Rádió.
Commercial Arbitration
Assisted a major Canadian energy infrastructure company with two contract-based ICC disputes. (engagement confidential).
ICC arbitration on behalf of large Colombian infrastructure company related to the transportation and mining industries. (Confidential). Represented company in bringing affirmative claims for underpayment of fees, as well as defended against a billion-dollar counterclaim for breach of contract.
Investors in connection with a dispute arising from the sale of a half-billion dollar media company to an overseas buyer. (Confidential).
Advisory Engagements
Advise a Middle Eastern construction conglomerate in connection with the enforcement of a foreign court judgment in the courts of the United States. (Confidential).
Advice to a litigation funder in connection with an investment arbitration proceeding against a MENA State related to the financing and construction of a large infrastructure project. (Confidential).
Advice to a litigation funder in connection with ongoing investment arbitration claims related to the banking industry. (Confidential).
Advised a Latin American State with respect to building in-house investment arbitration defense capabilities. (Confidential).
Performed a risk assessment for a Middle Eastern State in connection with threatened investment claims. Following the engagement, the State reached a settlement with the potential claimant. (Confidential).