Gonzalo Flores

About Gonzalo Flores

Gonzalo Flores is an independent arbitrator and recognized authority in international investment law and investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS), based in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. A Chilean national with extensive experience across civil law and common law jurisdictions, Gonzalo holds law degrees from the University of Chile and Cornell University Law School.

From 2016 to 2025, Gonzalo served as Deputy Secretary-General of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID, known as CIADI in Spanish), the world's leading institution devoted to the resolution of international investment disputes. Elected by ICSID member States for two consecutive six-year terms, he frequently acted as Secretary-General.

After years in private practice, Gonzalo joined ICSID in 1998. Through his tenure, he supervised hundreds of international investment arbitrations and conciliation proceedings conducted under the ICSID Convention, the ICSID Additional Facility Rules and the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. His experience encompasses landmark cases that shaped international investment law and spans disputes arising under investment laws, international treaties and contracts, across a wide range of economic sectors.

As Deputy Secretary-General, Gonzalo led the Centre's operational management, overseeing a Secretariat of more than 75 professionals, while helping define ICSID's strategic direction. He spearheaded major institutional initiatives, most notably the 2022 revision of the ICSID Rules and Regulations and the Code of Conduct for Arbitrators in International Investment Disputes, developed jointly with UNCITRAL.

Gonzalo is a frequent speaker at conferences on international investment law and procedure worldwide. He has lectured at leading universities across the Americas, Asia and Europe, and contributed to training programs for government officials and private sector practitioners around the globe.

He is fluent in English and Spanish, with working knowledge of French.

Professional Experience

GF Arbitration | Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area | www.gfarbitration.com

Leading expert in international investment law and investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS). Extensive experience in complex international arbitration and conciliation proceedings under the ICSID Convention, investment treaties, investment laws, and contracts.

International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) The World Bank Group | Washington, D.C.

Elected by ICSID member States to two six-year terms, beginning in October 2016 and re-elected in October 2022. Repeatedly acted as Secretary-General in the absence, inability to act, or recusal of the incumbent.

Supervised more than 600 ICSID arbitration and conciliation proceedings under the ICSID Convention, Additional Facility Rules, and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. Oversaw the Centre's operational management and represented ICSID at the highest levels before governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations. Led cross-institutional engagement with the World Bank and other international organizations on matters of international investment law, ISDS reform, institutional governance, and development policy.

Chief Counsel (May–Oct 2016) | Team Leader (Mar 2007–Apr 2016) | Senior Counsel (Jul 2003–Feb 2007) | Counsel (Feb 2000–Jun 2003) | Junior Counsel (Jun 1998–Jan 2000)

Served as Secretary of Tribunals and Annulment Committees in over 75 arbitration proceedings, across all regions of the world, including emblematic ICSID cases such as: Maffezini v. Spain, Occidental v. Ecuador, Abaclat et al v. Argentina, ConocoPhillips et al v. Venezuela, Suez/Vivendi v. Argentina, Repsol v. Argentina, Tethyan Copper v. Pakistan, TC Energy v. United States.

Additional Professional Experience

Senior Associate. Advised clients on corporate and financial matters — asset securitization, debt instrument issuance, secured transactions, and corporate restructuring — and on international arbitration proceedings.

Associate. Advised insurers, reinsurers, and brokers on civil liability policy coverage and related disputes.

Researcher. Reviewed the compatibility of NAFTA Chapters XII and XVI with Chilean law.

Counsel. Drafted contracts and reviewed legal documentation for secured transactions.

Junior Counsel. Assisted members of the firm in insurance-related disputes in domestic courts and arbitration proceedings.

Academic Appointments

Frequent lecturer at leading universities across the world and contributor to ISDS training programs around the globe

Magíster en Derecho LLM con Mención en Litigación avanzada (LLM Program)

LLM in Transnational Arbitration and Dispute Settlement (TADS LLM)

Distinguished Visiting Fellow. Comprehensive introduction to the role and functioning of ICSID, its institutional foundations, procedural framework, evolution and contemporary practice.

Adjunct Professor Lectured on international investment law and investor-State dispute settlement mechanisms.

Education

Master of Laws (LL.M.)

Licenciado en Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales (LL.B.)

Recognition and Awards

Lexology Index (formerly Who's Who Legal) — ranked Thought Leader in Arbitration since 2013

Diario Financiero Chile — Leading Lawyers (2020) Mejores Abogados Chilenos en el Extranjero

Bar Admissions and Professional Memberships

Bar Admissions

Admitted to the Chilean Bar, Supreme Court of Justice (1995)

Memberships

International Bar Association (IBA)

American Society of International Law (ASIL)

Asociación Latinoamericana de Arbitraje (ALARB)

Portuguese Arbitration Association (APA)

Indian Review of International Arbitration — Editorial Board (2021 – present)

Colegio de Abogados de Chile A.G.

Libertades Públicas A.G., Santiago, Chile (Founding Member, 1997 – present)

Languages

Spanish (native) • English (fluent) • French (working knowledge) • Portuguese (reading) • Italian (reading)

Publications and Interviews

Selected publications since 2016 | Full list available upon request.

Publications

El Arbitraje CIADI según las Nuevas Reglas de 2022 (with Francisco Grob Duhalde), in CAM Santiago: 30 Años de Desarrollo Institucional del Arbitraje y de la Mediación (November 2022)

At the Forefront of International Investment Law: Modernizing the Rules and Regulations of the ICSID, Manchester Journal of International Economic Law, Vol. 16, Issue 1 (April 2019)

International Investment Law and the Modernization of the Rules and Regulations of the ICSID, Asia Business Law Journal (November 2018)

Comments to Keynote Remarks: The Math: Caution + Habit + Bias, ITA in Review, Vol. 1, Issue 1 — 15th Annual ITA-ASIL Conference on Diversity and Inclusion in International Arbitration (April 2018)

Interviews

Young ICSID Profiles – Special Interview with Gonzalo Flores (Video) (available, with transcripts, in English, Spanish and French) (October 2025)

Diez Preguntas con Gonzalo Flores, Observatorio de Arbitraje Internacional y Derecho de las Inversiones Extranjeras, Universidad de Buenos Aires (August 2021)

Conversation with ICSID Deputy Secretaries-General — Young ICSID Arbitration Stories: Episode One (Podcast) (December 1, 2020)

CIADI alista cambios a reglamento para tener arbitrajes más efectivos en tiempo y costos, Diario Financiero (September 30, 2018)

Selected Speaking Engagements

Selected speaking engagements since 2016 | Full list available upon request.

2026

Exposure Bias and Decision-Making in International Arbitration — City St George's, University of London | Online | July 9, 2026

ASIL Abroad - Buenos Aires. From Washington to Buenos Aires: Did ISDS Deliver on its Founding Promise? | Buenos Aires, Argentina | July 6–7, 2026

Sciences Po Law School and Squire Patton Boggs — (Keynote Speaker) Roundtable Discussion: Checks and Balances in the ICSID System | Paris, France | June 4, 2026

IV Comillas Arbitration Day (Keynote Speaker): El papel de Hispanoamérica en el desarrollo del arbitraje de inversiones. Universidad Pontificia Comillas | Madrid, Spain | June 3, 2026

XX Congreso Internacional del Club Español Iberoamericano del Arbitraje. Visión LATAM 360: Economía Estratégica del Arbitraje Latinoamericano. Arbitraje Internacional y Valor Económico: de la Estrategia Financiera a la Ejecución Efectiva | Madrid, Spain | June 1–2, 2026

Presiding Arbitrator, Final Round, XIII Competencia de Arbitraje Internacional de Inversión (CAII) [13th edition of the Investment Arbitration Moot Competition]. American University, Washington College of Law • Universidad Externado de Colombia | Washington, D.C. | March 23–27, 2026

¿Debe Haber una Inversión para Obtener la Protección de Inversiones? Perspectivas de la Práctica. Opening Conference XIII Competencia de Arbitraje Internacional de Inversión (CAII) • American University, Washington College of Law • Universidad Externado de Colombia | Washington, D.C. | March 23, 2026

ROAP Americas 2025/6 Finals — Arbitrator. Delos Dispute Resolution. Member of the tribunal adjudicating the Finals of Delos's Remote Oral Advocacy Programme (ROAP) Americas — advanced training program in oral advocacy and cross-examination for international arbitration practitioners across North and Latin America | Online | March 19, 2026

The Adaptation of Investment Arbitration: Geopolitics and Sector Synergies — Arbitration Channel | HardTalk Alliance | Washington, D.C. | February 20, 2026

2025

Present and Future of Foreign Investment Dispute Resolution — 69th Congress of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA), (Online) Guadalajara, Mexico | October 30, 2025

Tendencias en el Arbitraje de Inversiones y el Rol de Latinoamérica en el CIADI (Keynote Speaker) — XV Conferencia Latinoamericana de Arbitraje (CLA), Asunción, Paraguay | September 24–26, 2025

Contractual and Conventional Tools for the Protection of Foreign Investors and State's Regulatory Power — Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), (Online) Cairo, Egypt | May 28, 2025

60th Anniversary of the ICSID Convention — Opening Remarks — Washington, D.C. | March 25, 2025

2024

Introduction to ICSID Procedure — Singapore International Arbitration Academy | Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore | November 25, 2024

Damages and Reparation in Investment Arbitration: ICSID's Perspective — 5th Annual Conference of the African Arbitration Association | Douala (Cameroon) | October 11, 2024

Opening Remarks — 5th Annual Conference of the African Arbitration Association Douala (Cameroon) | October 9, 2024

Introduction to ICSID — Cameroon Arbitration Week, 3rd Annual Edition, Douala (Cameroon) | October 8, 2024

2023

Looking Through a Prism: Perspectives on Contemporary Issues in Energy Disputes — CIArb & Ankara Energy Disputes Arbitration Center Washington, D.C. | September 12, 2023

Tendencias en el Arbitraje de Inversión en Latinoamérica: Actualidad y Desafíos — CAM Santiago & ALARB Santiago, Chile | August 30, 2023

The Impact of Third-Party Funding on Investment Arbitration — 24th Annual IBA Arbitration Day Lisbon, Portugal | April 14, 2023

The New ICSID Rules and Regulations 2022 — Associação Portuguesa de Arbitragem (APA) Lisbon, Portugal | April 13, 2023

2022

El Nuevo Reglamento CIADI 2022 — Keynote Speaker — Universidad del CEMA (Video) — V Jornada de Arbitraje Internacional Buenos Aires, Argentina | November 17, 2022

The 2022 Amended ICSID Rules — Investment Arbitration Committee of the Mexican Chapter of ICC Mexico City | November 11, 2022

The Evolving ISDS Landscape — ACICA & CIArb Australia International Arbitration Conference Melbourne, Australia (Online) | November 7, 2022

The ICSID Rules 2022, an Introduction — 1st MIAS LATAM Investor-State Arbitration Conference – Keynote Speaker (Video) Miami, Florida | October 30, 2022

World Arbitration Update — ICSID Rules Amendments — Washington Arbitration Week (WAW) (Video) Washington, D.C. | September 30, 2022

Enmiendas 2022 a las Reglas del CIADI: Principales novedades — ICSID and Asociación Latinoamericana de Arbitraje (ALARB) (Video) (Online) | August 25, 2022

Un nuevo marco para la solución de controversias entre Estados e inversores: ¿reforma o revolución? — XIII Latin American Arbitration Conference (CLA) Montevideo, Uruguay | June 2–3, 2022

Ethically Challenged? A Commentary (Video) — 10th ITA-IEL-ICC Joint Conference on International Energy Arbitration Houston, Texas (Online) | January 21, 2022

2021

Proceso de enmiendas a las reglas y reglamento del CIADI: ¿Dónde estamos y hacia dónde vamos? — Fide Fundación - Foro Arbitraje y Litigación Internacional Madrid, Spain (Online) | November 30, 2021

A Adesão de Angola à Convenção de Washington Sobre Arbitragem de Investimentos (Video) – X Conferencia Internacional de Arbitragem de Luanda – Dez anos de Arbitragem Angolana. Balanço e Perspectivas Luanda, Angola (Online) | November 25, 2021

Building Arbitrator Diversity in International Law – Opening Remarks (Video) — Law, Justice, and Development Week 2021 – Law, Racial Equity and Development – The World Bank Washington, D.C. (Online) | November 9, 2021

Introduction to ICSID Arbitration — Legal Associate Program Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Beijing, China (Online) | October 19, 2021

Investment treaties and disputes: What's the forecast for CIS-related disputes? (Video) — ABA International Law Section and Russian Arbitration Association; 13th Annual Conference on the Resolution of CIS-Related Business Disputes Moscow, Russian Federation (Online) | September 22, 2021

Mediación en materia de infraestructura y de Inversión (Video) — CIArb, CAM Santiago & CPA - Mediación & Arbitraje Internacional (Online) | August 18–19, 2021

Chile ante el CIADI: Hermanos Ríos contra la República de Chile (Video) — ICSID-CAM Santiago Cooperation Agreement Signing Ceremony Santiago, Chile (Online) | August 11, 2021

Procedural and Substantive Issues in Investment Treaty Arbitration - ICSID History, Procedure and Upcoming Reforms — Singapore International Arbitration Academy 2021, Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore Singapore (Online) | June 22, 2021

Tendencias y últimas novedades en arbitraje de Inversión desde la óptica del CIADI, UNCTAD y situación en México — Comité Arbitraje de Inversión ICC México Mexico City (Online) | May 18, 2021

Addressing The Key Challenges Facing International Arbitration After The COVID-19 Pandemic. — Arbitration Round Table: Identifying and solving key challenges due to the disruption of the Pandemic (Online) | May 11, 2021

Procedimiento de Arbitraje de Inversiones bajo CIADI — Cámara de Comercio de Medellín – Diplomado Online de Arbitraje Comercial Internacional (Online) | May 2021

ICSID-SIMC Cooperation Agreement Signing Ceremony – Opening Remarks – Singapore International Mediation Centre and ICSID (Online) | May 26, 2021

2020

The Rise of Technology in International Arbitration — Inaugural Washington Arbitration Week (WAW) (Online) | December 3, 2020

COVID-19 and International Arbitration — Washington Arbitration Week (WAW) (Online) | November 30, 2020

Angola and ICSID: An introduction to investor-State dispute resolution at ICSID — (Angola e o ICSID: Introdução à resolução de disputas entre investidores e Estados no ICSID). Luanda, Angola (Online) | November 24, 2020

Practical Implications of Economic & Political Sanctions on Law Arbitration — International Bar Association (IBA) 2020 (Online) | November 11, 2020

Law of the Energy Transition — 2nd OPEC – ECS – OPEC Fund Annual Legal Workshop: Law of the Energy Transition. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) (Online) | October 13, 2020

Arbitraje y Derecho Societario - Arbitraje Domestico e Internacional en Derecho Societario (Video) — Centro de Conciliación y Arbitraje de la Superintendencia de Sociedades de Colombia (Online) | September 24, 2020

Latin American International Arbitration Course (LAIAC) — Geneva University Law School and Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Online) | July 20–31, 2020

Executive Training on Investment Treaties and Arbitration for Government Officials — Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) (Online) | July 13–24, 2020

ICSID Rules Reform / Arbitration Reform II: Modernising Institutional Rules and Practices — Paris Arbitration Week (PAW) (Online) | July 9–10, 2020

Virtual Arbitration Proceedings Amidst COVID-19: Efficacy and checklist for best practices — Kenya branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Nairobi, Kenya (Online) | May 29, 2020

2019

Las enmiendas del CIADI y la iniciativa de mediación — Investment Arbitration Committee of the Mexican Chapter of ICC Mexico City | December 3, 2019

Enhancing International Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainability through Dispute Settlement — Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) Forum 2019 – Keynote Speaker Singapore | November 20, 2019

Arbitraje de Inversión: Chile y el CIADI. Hacia la próxima década — Arbitration Center of Santiago's Chamber of Commerce (CAM-Santiago) – Keynote Speaker Santiago, Chile | September 25, 2019

Innovations and Current Perspectives of Leading Arbitral Institutions — 7th ITA-IEL-ICC Joint Conference on International Energy Arbitration Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Institute for Energy Law of The Center for American and International Law, and ICC International Court of Arbitration Singapore | September 18–19, 2019

Effective and reliable dispute resolution for foreign investment — Chile Day – London Conference Invest Chile – Chilean Investment Promotion Agency London, UK | September 10–11, 2019

Is it Really Possible to Annul an ICSID Award? — XI Conferencia Latinoamericana de Arbitraje (CLA) CEDEP (Centro de Estudios de Derecho, Economía y Política) Asunción, Paraguay | May 30, 2019

2nd Inter-Sessional Regional Meeting on Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform — Exploring the Reform Agenda – Ongoing Reforms - Amendments to procedural rules used in ISDS UNCITRAL and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | February 13–14, 2019

2018

Briefings on the Proposed Amendments to the ICSID Rules — ICSID Secretariat - Series of twelve presentations explaining and discussing proposed amendments to the ICSID Rules and Regulations with experts at specialized law firms in various locations | October – December 2018

Current issues and potential for reforms 5th International Conference for a Euro-Mediterranean Community of International Arbitration — UNCITRAL, OECD and Spain's Ministry of Justice Madrid, Spain | November 19–20, 2018

Contemporary and Emerging Issues on the Law of Damages and Valuation in International Investment Arbitration — Young ICSID Book Launch Series Washington, D.C. | October 25, 2018

ICSID Rule Amendments Process — International Arbitration Committee (ABA Section of International Law) Washington, D.C. | October 9, 2018

Proposed Amendments to the ICSID Rules: Disqualification, Incapacity and Resignation of Arbitrators (Video) | October 9, 2018

Seminario web sobre Propuesta de Enmiendas a las Reglas del CIADI — Webinar, in Spanish, with an overview of the proposed amendments to ICSID Rules and Regulations | October 9, 2018

First Inter-sessional Regional Meeting on ISDS Reform – Duration of ICSID Proceedings 2018 Trade Law Forum — UNCITRAL and the Government of South Korea Incheon, Korea | September 10, 2018

Regional Economic Integration, Trade Disputes, and the Construction of the Rule of Law — Tsinghua University Law School – 1st World Forum on the Rule of Law Beijing, China | September 9, 2018

Introduction to ICSID and Overview of the Proposed ICSID Rules Amendments — Tsinghua University Law School Master of Law Program in International Arbitration and Dispute Settlement (IADS) Beijing, China | September 8, 2018

International Organizations and the Promotion of Effective Dispute Resolution — 2018 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Legal Conference Beijing, China | September 5–6, 2018

Introduction to ICSID — CIArb 3rd Arbitration Conference Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Caribbean Branch Georgetown, Guyana | April 26–27, 2018

CIADI: Su procedimiento desde la perspectiva de la jurisprudencia más reciente y las enmiendas al Reglamento de Arbitraje. España y sus casos de energías renovables — CIAMEN Madrid, Spain | April 12–13, 2018

Diversity and Inclusion in International Arbitration — 15th Annual ITA-ASIL Conference. Commentator to Keynote Remarks Washington, D.C. | April 4, 2018

A conversation with Mr. Gonzalo Flores — University of the District of Columbia Speakers Series Washington, D.C. | February 21, 2018

Women in Arbitration — American Society of International Law – Tillar House Washington, D.C. | January 10, 2018

2017

As actividades do ICSID e os seus mais recentes desenvolvimento — Conferência Internacional Sobre Arbitragem e Protecção Do Investimento – Keynote Speaker. Associação Portuguesa de Arbitragem (APA) Lisbon, Portugal | December 5, 2017

Current Issues in Investor-State Dispute Settlement — MOJ-Seoul IDRC Workshop on Investor-State Dispute Settlement – Keynote Speaker. Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center (Seoul-IDRC), KCAB International Investment Arbitration Center and Korean Council for International Arbitration Seoul, Korea | November 13, 2017

Joint Workshop on Investor-State Dispute Settlement — Seoul ADR Festival - Ministry of Justice/SIDRC Seoul, Korea | November 10, 2017

Mechanics of Arbitration: A Practical Guide Through an Arbitral Proceeding – A Demonstration Exercise APEC Workshop on ISDS Prevention and Management Washington, D.C. | October 3, 2017

Investor-State Dispute Settlement — International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD) Training Workshop – Keynote Speaker and Panelist Bangkok, Thailand | April 3–5, 2017

ICSID and its Role in Investor-State Dispute Settlement — Training for Government Officers of Myanmar Naypyidaw, Myanmar | April 1, 2017

2016

Taller – Introducción al CIADI para funcionarios de Gobierno — Workshop for officers at Guatemala's Ministry of Economy and Procuraduría General de la República Guatemala City | December 14–15, 2016

Restatement of the Law, The U.S. Law of International Commercial Arbitration — Advisers and Members Consultative Group Meeting – American Law Institute (ALI) Philadelphia, PA | October 26, 2016

The 2016 International Institutional Arbitration Reports and Important Case Updates — 5th ICDR & Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá (CCB) International Arbitration & Mediation Conference - The Future of International Commercial Arbitration Bogota, Colombia | October 18, 2016

International Monetary Fund Seminar: Argentina Litigation & Settlement: Roundtable Discussion IMF HQ2, Washington, D.C. | May 9, 2016

Introduction to ICSID and ICSID Arbitral Practice for Member State Officials — Ministry of Financial Services and Investments of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Nassau, The Bahamas | March 30–31, 2016