Diego Durán de la Vega

Diego Durán de la Vega is a partner of Hughes Hubbard based in Washington, D.C. and Co-Chair of the Latin American Disputes practice group. His practice focuses on international disputes, including white-collar defense matters, internal investigations, commercial litigation, and international arbitration cases—including investor-state arbitration. He also has experience in compliance, where he assesses exposure, designs and implements programs, and provides training.

Diego mainly advises and represents clients from Spanish-speaking countries in U.S. litigation and U.S. clients who are facing legal issues in Spanish-speaking countries. Among Diego’s clients are international publicly listed corporations, high-profile individuals, and government agencies.

Diego has appeared before international arbitration tribunals, federal and state courts in the United States, and all levels of the Mexican judiciary, including the Mexican Supreme Court. He has also participated in cases before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and appeared before its Court of Justice.

In the areas of white-collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and compliance, Diego has represented and advised clients in various investigations and proceedings related to DOJ, SEC, CFTC, OFAC, and FinCEN, as well as federal prosecutors' offices across the United States. He has also represented clients in connection with extradition proceedings. In addition, he has participated in several internal investigations related to FCPA, money laundering, tax evasion, economic sanctions, and among others.

In the area of international arbitration, Diego has represented clients in the following industries: renewable energy, oil and gas, maritime services, engineering and construction, health, casino, and food franchising. He conducted such representations before the following international arbitration institutions: ICC, AAA/ICDR, JAMS, and ICSID. He also has experience with Ad hoc cases. In addition, Diego also has experience as an arbitrator: he currently serves as an arbitrator in two ICC arbitrations and one AAA arbitration and is included in the AAA’s roster of Consumer Arbitrators and the Mexican Arbitration Center National Roster of Arbitrators.

Diego’s experience as a litigator in Mexico and the U.S., his academic work in Europe, Mexico and the United States, and his cultural capabilities enable him to easily navigate complex cross-border legal issues. He has ample experience coordinating international legal teams and local counsel in different jurisdictions.

Because Diego’s native language is Spanish, and he is fluent in English, he can handle cases in both languages. Furthermore, Diego is licensed to practice law in both Mexico and the U.S. (New York and District of Columbia). He is the only attorney at the firm licensed to practice in both countries. This places Diego in a unique position to understand and navigate both Civil and Common Law systems.

Diego is also experienced in Mexican Criminal, Constitutional, and Amparo Law. Before joining both Hughes Hubbard and Quinn Emanuel, he was a successful litigator at one of the top criminal law boutiques in Mexico, where he defended and helped prosecute dozens of cases.

International Arbitration

• Commercial litigation, mediation and arbitration (AAA-New York). Representing Mexican company MBG, one of the largest media marketing companies in Latin America, in a contractual dispute against Forbes, in connection with the licensing of the brand in Latin America. Preliminary injunction proceedings are taking place before a federal court in New York
• Commercial arbitration (ICC-New York). Representing a Salvadorean company, one of the largest engineering and construction companies in Central America, in a commercial dispute under New York law against one of the largest EPC companies in the world. Arbitration to be administered by ICC and seated in New York
• Commercial arbitration (AAA-ICDR – Mexican law). Represented one of the largest construction materials company in the world, in a pre-arbitration commercial dispute with two thermoelectric energy companies in Mexico, owned by one of the largest US energy companies, in connection with potential breach of contract allegations. If case had gone to arbitration, it would have been administered by the AAA-ICDR, under Mexican law and seated in Houston, Texas
• Commercial arbitration (ICC – Mexico law). Co-arbitrator in a dispute between an international private company and a subsidiary of Mexico’s state -owned utility company, in a contractual dispute regarding the construction of a solar power plant
• Commercial arbitration (ICC – Mexico law). Co-arbitrator in a dispute between a Mexican company and a Malaysian company in connection with services provided in the Mexican oil and gas industry
• Consumer arbitration (AAA – Delaware and Federal law). Single arbitrator in a consumer dispute between an individual and a financial services company
• Commercial arbitration (AAA - ICDR rules - New York law). Represented the Mexican subsidiary of a Spanish multinational engineering and construction company in a commercial dispute related to a renewable energy project in Mexico
• Commercial arbitration (ICC - New York law). Represented a Mexican company in the food industry against a U.S. company, franchisor of a famous pastry shop, in a contractual dispute regarding the terms of its master franchise agreement
• Commercial arbitration (Ad hoc - UNCITRAL Rules - New York law).  Represented a Mexican company, the largest distributor of asphalt in Southeast Mexico, in a contractual dispute against a Swiss company
• Commercial Arbitration (JAMS – California law).  Represented a Mexican healthcare company in a contractual dispute against a U.S. company regarding the unjustified termination of a license agreement
• Investor-State Arbitration (ICSID - Mexican Law).  Represented a Singaporean multinational company against Mexico in connection with the Oceanografía scandal, one of the largest frauds in Latin American history, related to the hydrocarbon sector in Mexico
• Investor-State Arbitration (ICSID - ICSID Additional Facility Rules - Mexican law).  Represented a group of U.S. investors against Mexico regarding the cancellation of their licenses to operate casinos in Mexico

Civil and Commercial Litigation

• Commercial litigation (California). Representing one of the largest food retail chains in Mexico in a commercial dispute against Nestle related to parallel imports/gray market products
• Commercial litigation (New York). Representing a member of one of the wealthiest families in Mexico, in a cross-border legal battle in the U.S., Mexico and Cayman Islands for the control of certain family assets
• Commercial litigation (California). Represented one of the largest distributors of Hispanic foods in Southwest U.S. against Nestle, in a dispute in federal court regarding parallel imports / gray market products
• Commercial litigation (New York).  Represented the Mexican subsidiary of a leading multinational renewable energy company in a pre-litigation contractual dispute against a British company
• Commercial litigation (Florida).  Represented a group of defendants from Colombia and Panama in a dispute over the ownership of certain companies and assets
• Commercial litigation (New York).  Represented the largest hotel operator in Mexico in a pre-litigation dispute against one of the largest payment processors in the world, in connection with a contractual disagreement related to arbitrary increases of the deposit retention amounts as a consequence of the global pandemic
• Civil litigation (New York). Represented a Mexican businessperson in connection with a RICO Act lawsuit related to the NXIVM sex trafficking secret cult scandal 
• Commercial litigation (New York and California). Represented one of the world's largest cinema chains in several contractual disputes against U.S. companies
• Commercial litigation (California).  Represented a famous Mexican journalist and anchorwoman in a contractual dispute against two U.S. companies
• Commercial litigation (Illinois). Representing a Mexican software distribution company in a contractual dispute with a U.S. software global company
• Legal malpractice (Florida).  Represented a formerly publicly traded company in the United States against its former attorneys for legal malpractice
• Civil rights, pro bono (Virginia).  Represented undocumented families in a first impression case for violations of the Federal Fair Housing Act, for discrimination based on an impact theory or disparate treatment

White Collar Criminal Defense and Corporate Investigations

• FCPA and market manipulation (DOJ and CFTC).  Representing a Mexican businessperson in connection with parallel DOJ and CFTC investigations into alleged FCPA violations and market manipulation by an international commodities trading company
• Money laundering investigation (DOJ-SDCA). Currently representing a Mexican businessperson in connection with a DOJ investigation into Wynn casinos for alleged money laundering
• Internal corporate investigation (Mexico and the U.S). Representing the founder of a Mexican technology company, the largest in its specific industry in Latin America, in an internal investigation launched by a special committee of the company that looked into allegations of fraud, bribery and conflicts of interest
• U.S. economic sanctions (OFAC). Representing one of the largest Mexican home appliances manufacturer in connection with an application to unblock funds related to the Cuba sanctions program
• High-profile criminal defense (DOJ-SDTX).  Represented a former governor of a state in Mexico who was indicted for racketeering, drug trafficking, money laundering and bank fraud.  Coordinated legal teams in Mexico and Italy, where client was also facing charges
• High-profile criminal defense (DOJ-EDNY).  Represented a client in connection with the NXIVM scandal, in which Keith Raniere is facing charges for sex trafficking, forced labor and RICO violations
• High-profile criminal defense (DOJ-EDNY).  Represented another former governor of a state in Mexico who was under investigation by the DOJ for racketeering, drug trafficking and money laundering
• FIFA scandal-related investigation (DOJ).  Part of the team that represented a Swiss bank, and conducted an internal investigation, in connection with the DOJ investigations into racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering by FIFA officials
• DOJ’s Swiss Bank Program investigation (DOJ).  Part of the team that represented a Swiss bank, and conducted an internal investigation, in connection with DOJ’s Swiss Bank Program and allegations of aiding and abetting tax evasion of U.S. taxpayers.  Client was the first bank to reach resolution under the program
• Walmart FCPA investigation (DOJ and SEC).  Represented a high-level employee of Walmart Mexico in the worldwide FCPA investigation that DOJ and SEC conducted into Walmart from 2012 to 2018
• Stock manipulation investigation (SEC).  Represented a U.S. former publicly traded company, now owned by Mexican individuals, in connection with a SEC investigation into stock manipulation, and books and records violations
• U.S. economic sanctions (OFAC). Represented a major Latin American pharmaceutical company in connection with the successful release of several million dollars in blocked funds
• U.S. economic sanctions (OFAC).  Represented a Mexican real estate company in connection with a request filed before OFAC
• Extradition proceedings (U.S.).  Represented another former governor of a state in Mexico who was seeking political asylum in the U.S. and defending against an extradition request from Mexico based on several arrest warrants for embezzlement of public funds, corruption, racketeering and money laundering
• Extradition proceedings (U.S.).  Represented a Mexican businessman who was seeking political asylum in the U.S. and defending against an extradition request from Mexico based on an arrest warrant for embezzlement of public funds  
• Victims of visa fraud scheme (DOJ-WDTX). Currently advising two entities and its Mexican principals who were the victims of a visa fraud scheme in connection with a DOJ investigation