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 non-U.S. clients in U.S. litigation, and U.S. clients that are facing litigation abroad. Among Diego’s clients are government agencies, international corporations and high-profile individuals.

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 its Court of Justice.

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 is able to handle cases in both languages. He 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 both in the U.S. and Mexico.

Diego is also experienced in Mexican Criminal, Constitutional and Amparo Law. Prior to 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.

Civil and Commercial Litigation

• Commercial Litigation (New York).  Advised the Mexican subsidiary of a leading multinational renewable energy company in a pre-litigation contractual dispute against a British company 
• Civil litigation (New York).  Currently advising and representing a Mexican businessperson in connection with a RICO Act lawsuit
• Commercial litigation (New York and California).  Advised and represented one of the world's largest cinema chains in several contractual disputes against U.S. companies 
• Commercial litigation (California).  Currently advising and representing a famous Mexican journalist and anchorwoman in a contractual dispute against two U.S. companies 
• Legal malpractice (Florida).  Represented a formerly publicly traded company in the United States against its former attorneys for legal malpractice 
• Civil rights (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

International Arbitration

• 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 
• Investor-State Arbitration (ICSID - UNCITRAL Rules - Mexican Law).  Represented a Singaporean multinational company against Mexico in connection with the Oceanography scandal, one of the largest frauds in Latin American history, related to the hydrocarbon sector in Mexico
• Commercial arbitration (ICC - UNCITRAL Rules - New York law).  Represented a Mexican company in the food industry against a US 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 South East Mexico, in a contractual dispute against a Swiss company 
• Investor-State Arbitration (ICSID - ICSID Additional Facility Rules - laws of Mexico).  Represented a group of U.S. investors against Mexico regarding the cancellation of their licenses to operate casinos in Mexico

White Collar Criminal Defense and Corporate Investigations

• High-Profile Criminal Defense (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 (EDNY).  Currently advising 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 (EDNY).  Represented another former governor of a state in Mexico who was under investigation by the DOJ for racketeering, drug trafficking and money launderingInternal Investigations and Enforcement
• 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).  Advise and represent a multinational pharmaceutical company in connection with a petition to unblock millions of U.S. dollars in client’s funds
• U.S. Economic Sanctions (OFAC).  Advise and represent 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