Hughes Hubbard & Reed

Brian Vaca is an associate in the Miami office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed and a member of the International Arbitration practice group.

Brian has nearly a decade of experience practicing out of premier global law firms, where he has focused on advising foreign sovereigns and corporate clients in complex investment and commercial disputes. These cases have spanned various substantive areas, including energy, mining, infrastructure, sovereign debt, telecommunications, banking, and trademark disputes, among others. Brian has advised successfully in high stakes disputes with billions of dollars at stake, including matters with landmark legal issues, and arbitrations involving complex negotiations, crisis management, and investment protections.

Brian has gained widespread recognition for his work in international arbitration and litigation. He has been featured on the “Ones to Watch” list by Best Lawyers since 2021, Lawyers of Distinction in International Law in 2022, a Future Leader in Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal since 2022, was named a “Top Lawyer Under 40” by the Hispanic National Bar Association in 2024, and was recognized as an arbitration future leader in Lexology’s Arbitration Index in 2025.

Brian is an active contributor to the arbitration community, serving as the Vice-Chair of the Leadership Team of Young MIAS, the young professional division of the Miami International Arbitration Society (MIAS). In this capacity, Brian plays a key role in organizing educational programs, professional development initiatives, and networking events aimed at fostering connections and collaboration among emerging leaders in international arbitration. Through their involvement, Brian contributes to expanding Miami’s reputation as a global hub for arbitration and dispute resolution while actively supporting the growth of the next generation of arbitration practitioners.

Brian is also deeply committed to promoting diversity in the legal profession. He currently serves as the Deputy Regional President of Region 8 of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and represents the Young Lawyers Division at the national level for the same region, where he advocates for the growth and representation of Hispanic legal professionals across the field.

Brian holds a J.D. and LL.M. in International Arbitration from The University of Miami School of Law, where he graduated with honors and was president of the Hispanic Law Students Association, playing a pivotal role that resulted in the Hispanic National Bar Association recognizing the organization as the law student organization of the year in the United States in 2015. Brian was also one of few law students in his class to be inducted into The Society of Bar and Gavel, which is made up of students who have “displayed and lived up to the ideals of exemplary character, service to others, a positive attitude, and leadership.”

Professional Activities

Region 8 Deputy Regional President, YLD Representative for Region 8, Hispanic National Bar Association
Vice-Chair, Young MIAS
Steering Committee Member, International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution
Member, Miami International Arbitration Society
Member, International Law Section of Florida Bar

Recognitions

Hispanic National Bar Association “Top Lawyers Under 40,” 2024
Lexology’s Arbitration Index in 2025 “Future Leader in International Arbitration, Global,” 2025
Who’s Who Legal “Future Leader in International Arbitration, Global,” 2022 – 2024
Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” in Commercial Litigation, 2021 – 2023
Lawyers of Distinction “International Law,” 2022

Highlighted Publications

“What Investor-State Arbitrations Involving Latin American States Indicate about the Increasingly Relevant Dominant and Effective Nationality Principle,” The Future of Investment Law in Latin America, Transnational Dispute Management (2022)

Highlighted Lectures, Interviews, Seminars, Conferences and Webinars

Panelist, “Arbitraje de Inversión, tendencia y desafíos en Latinoamérica”, Congreso Internacional de Arbitraje Honduras, Tegucigalpa (March 2025)
Panelist, “Unclean hands as a defense in investment arbitrations,” 3rd Annual LATAM Investor-State Arbitration Conference, Miami (December 2024)
Panelist, “Careers in Law”, Phi Alpha Delta, Florida International University, Miami (October 2024)
Panelist, “Perspectivas Transatlánticas Miami-Madrid: Hubs de Influencia”, discussed the recognition, enforcement, and annulment of awards in Florida, Young MIAS, Miami and Madrid (September 2024)
Panelist, International Moot Court Program Reception, University of Miami School of Law, Miami (September 2024)
Panelist, "Congreso Internacional de Arbitraje en Guatemala, discussed the “Theory of the Case: Is it the Cornersonte?”, CIAG, CEIA, Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce, Antigua Guatemala (August 2024)
Lecturer, “Arbitration Agreement (I): Content and Drafting, Form, Arbitrability and Pathological clauses,” Litigando Derecho, Lima (August 2024)
Lecturer, “Practical Skills for New Associates,” Miami Law International LL.M. Programs, Miami (February 2024, February 2023)
Lecturer “Evidence in International Arbitration,” American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC (April 2023)
Lecturer, “Fair and Equitable Treatment,” American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC (May 2022)
Panelist, “Political and economic sanctions and the assessment of damages in international arbitration,” Juris Conferences, New York (December 2021)

Highlighted Matters

ICC commercial arbitration relating to the petroleum sector in the Southern Cone.
UNCITRAL/PCA investor-State arbitration relating to a metallurgy smelter on behalf of the Republic of Peru.
UNCITRAL/PCA commercial arbitration relating to a metallurgy smelter on behalf of the Republic of Peru.
Negotiation and pre-arbitration strategy on behalf of the Republic of Panama in relation to foreign investment in one of the largest copper reserves in the world.
AAA commercial arbitration relating to the fiber optic network in the Republic of Ecuador.
UNCITRAL/PCA investor-State arbitration relating to the banking sector on behalf of the Republic of Colombia.
ICSID investor-State arbitration relating to the banking sector on behalf of the Republic of Colombia.
ICSID investor-State arbitrations relating to the hydroelectric industry in the Republic of Peru.
Commercial arbitration relating to the hydroelectric industry in the Republic of Peru.
ICSID investor-State arbitration relating to the energy sector on behalf of the Republic of Panama.
ICSID investor-State arbitration relating to the automobile industry on behalf of the Republic of Panama.
ICC commercial arbitration relating to the natural gas sector in the Republic of Peru.
ICC commercial arbitrations relating to the hydroelectric sector in Central America.
Pre-arbitration strategy on behalf of an airport operator in Latin America.