Quinn Emanuel has a large and dynamic practice representing sovereign wealth funds and their portfolio companies in myriad disputes around the globe.  We have assisted these clients in highly confidential and sensitive investigations and regulatory inquiries in the United States and other countries.  We have also handled litigations and arbitrations involving their subsidiaries both as claimants/plaintiffs and as respondents/defendants.  These disputes range from discrete issues in one jurisdiction to complex multi-jurisdiction litigation and international arbitrations. 

There are several attributes of Quinn Emanuel that set us apart from other firms in this area.

Unique Resources and Experience.  Our firm brings a commitment of resources and depth of experience in litigation, arbitration and investigations that no other firm can provide.  Quinn Emanuel is not just a large firm, with over 1000 lawyers in 35 offices worldwide, but we also have over 25 partners who are former prosecutors and high level government lawyers.  As a result, we are keenly attuned to the sensitives and needs of sovereign wealth funds and government agencies. In every matter, we are sensitive to the unique commercial and governmental considerations of sovereign wealth funds, and help them devise strategies to account for those considerations. 

Rare Insight into the Other Side.  Quinn Emanuel is also unique in that we represent both plaintiffs and defendants, and have plaintiff/claimant-side experience in litigation and arbitration adverse to sovereigns that is second-to-none in the world.  This gives us rare insight into the thinking of the parties and lawyers on the other side.  It also helps bring a level of credibility to our representation of sovereign wealth funds that no other firms can provide.

Balanced Advice Combined with Unparalleled Trial Experience.  Notwithstanding our reputation as the most feared law firm in the world, we do not encourage our clients to file every possible case.  Instead, we give balanced advice, including, when appropriate, the advice that a case is not worth pursuing.   When we do advise clients to litigate, we do not push our clients to settle to avoid trial as many other firms do.  Rather, we work to maximize the value of cases, including by taking them to trial or arbitration when necessary.  Quinn Emanuel’s lawyers have handled over 2,500 trials and arbitrations – including on behalf of funds and government entities – and won over 86% of them.  In other situations where the client wishes to avoid escalating the confrontation, we have worked behind the scenes, sometimes without making any appearance in the dispute, to help resolve the matter.

Absence of a Corporate Practice and Its Conflicts.  As the largest firm in the world dedicated only to litigating and resolving disputes, the absence of any corporate practice leaves us free to represent sovereign wealth funds vigorously against issuers of securities and banks, without conflicts and without any hesitation about losing transactional matters as a result of our litigation strategies against the money center financial institutions. 

Many of our achievements in this space are confidential, and you will never read the details about them in the press.  That is by design.  We recognize that sometimes our clients’ best interests are served by settling cases.  The lack of publicity concerning the resolution—or even the existence—of many of these cases highlights the effectiveness of our deftness in resolving these disputes discretely and swiftly. 

Representative Clients:

  • Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia
  • Dubai World
  • Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC)
  • Kuwait Investment Authority
  • Mubadala (Abu Dhabi)
  • National Holdings / Emirates International Investment Company (Abu Dhabi)
  • Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

Recent Representations

  • We represented Public Investment Fund (PIF) and its subsidiary LIV Golf Inc. in connection with various matters related to the PGA Tour.  Following an antitrust suit against the PGA by LIV golfers, the PGA countersued LIV and the PIF alleging tortious interference.  Months into the litigation, the PGA agreed to merge with LIV, resulting in dismissal of the claims and counterclaims and allowing the LIV golfers to reapply for membership with the PGA Tour.  We also represented PIF in connection with subpoenas related to LIV and requests by media outlets include the New York Times to access materials related to the LIV/PGA case.
  • We represent Dussur, a Saudi investment company owned by PIF, the sovereign wealth fund, with respect to issues regarding the control of a clean energy joint venture.
  • We represented Gulf Investment Corporation’s subsidiary Pure Magenta in the Delaware Chancery Court in an action arising from a contemplated transaction of shares (involving another sovereign wealth fund) in AmEx Global Business Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a confidential settlement agreement amicably resolving all outstanding litigation arising from the transactions contemplated.
  • We represented GIC in connection with fraud litigation currently pending in Georgia state court as well as advise it in connection with related proceedings in Cayman Island courts.
  • We asserted securities claims on behalf of Kuwait Investment Authority and the affiliated Kuwait Investment Office in London, National Pension Service (South Korea), and public pension funds The Nova Scotia Teachers’ Pension Fund and The Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Fund arising from the corruption scandal at the Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras; we achieved successful settlements for the funds after less than a year of litigation and as part of $353 million in settlements and reserves announced by Petrobras.
  • We represent Dubai Ports World, a subsidiary of Emirati sovereign wealth fund Dubai World, in defending against a $10.4 billion claim brought by Russian tycoon Ziyavudin Magomedov against our client and other defendants.  The claim in London Commercial Court alleges a conspiracy to expropriate Magomedov’s interest in the Port of Vladivostok.
  • We obtained a complete defense verdict for our client Dubai World after a two week trial. Dubai World had been sued by Herve Jaubert, a Florida resident, alleging among other things that Dubai World had promised him tens of millions of dollars to lead a recreational and commercial submarine manufacturing venture in Dubai. He claimed that Dubai World reneged on the deal, used the police to have him arrested and threatened him with torture. Jaubert wrote a book about his allegations and tried to extort $30 million from Dubai World NOT to publish the book. At trial we proved that Jaubert had fabricated much of his book, including a recording of Jaubert’s alleged interrogation and threatened torture in Dubai.
  • We represented Infinity World, a subsidiary of Dubai World, in its dispute against MGM Mirage over the funding of the $8.5 billion CityCenter project in Las Vegas. A little over one month after we filed a complaint against MGM in the Delaware Chancery Court, MGM and CityCenter’s lenders capitulated to Dubai World’s demands. MGM agreed to fund its remaining equity contributions, to be solely responsible for potential cost overruns, and to pledge additional collateral as security for its funding obligations. CityCenter’s lenders agreed to fund the full $1.8 billion promised under CityCenter’s senior credit facility. The settlement ensures that the CityCenter project, which is expected to be a powerful engine for growth and employment in Las Vegas and Nevada, will be completed.
  • We advised Dubai World in connection with the aftermath of the Emirate of Dubai’s announcement that it would not guarantee Dubai World’s debts.  Specifically, we advised Dubai World and the  Dubai Government to amend its bankruptcy code to permit debtor in possession and worked with Latham & Watkins to rewrite the bankruptcy code over a long weekend.  The new code became law less than a week later.
  • We represented Dubai Ports World in an ICSID arbitration concerning Yemen’s expulsion of the company from the Port of Aden and claims by Yemen DPW was contractually responsible for investing over $500 million in the underutilized Port of Aden.  The matter was settled when Yemen agreed to pay back DPW for its entire investment.
  • We represented Dubai Ports World in an ICSID arbitration against Belgium concerning the un the unlawful interference with its container terminal concession at the Port of Antwerp. On 10 April 2021, the Tribunal issued a decision on jurisdiction and liability, upholding the claims and finding that Belgium had expropriated DP World’s investment and in February 2024, following a damages hearing, the Tribunal awarded damages to our client. This is the first-ever damages award against Belgium.
  • We represented Dubai Ports World in an LCIA arbitration in which Djibouti sought to rescind a $2 billion concession to build and operate a container terminal.  The Tribunal found the concession valid and binding on Djibouti, meaning Djibouti’s 2018 seizure of the container terminal was illegitimate. 
  • We represented Dubai Ports World in a trial in Dubai of Platinum Services claim that DPW had breached a contract Platinum to provide certain services to the Egyptian port of Sokhna.  Platinum and DPW settled the case after one week of trial when Platinum agreed to drop all charges.
  • We represented Dubai World’s subsidiary Infinity World in a nine figure claim MGM filed for breach of contract.  The matter was settled for a confidential amount.
  • We represent Mubadala, one of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds, in a variety of US regulatory and compliance matters and global internal investigations.
  • We represent Mubadala and the Kuwait Investment Authority in English proceedings against Swiss multinational Glencore.  Our clients are seeking damages from Glencore following the company’s conviction on bribery and market manipulation charges in 2022.
  • We represented Mubadala and its subsidiary Aabar Investments as a victim and private claimant in criminal proceedings against Falcon Private Bank before the Swiss Federal Criminal Court.  Following a week-long trial, the tribunal convicted the bank, in what is thought to be the first guilty verdict of a corporation in Swiss history.
  • We represented a subdivision of National Holdings in several international arbitration proceedings involving distressed investments.
  • We represented sovereign wealth funds and numerous other sophisticated clients in a collection of securities suits filed by our firm in Germany against Volkswagen related to the scandal arising out of VW’s manipulation of the emissions systems in its vehicles. 
  • We represented an Asian Sovereign Wealth Fund in a dispute arising out of its $800 million investment in commercial mortgage-backed securities in New York, achieving a swift settlement that avoided any adverse press in the United States or in the fund’s country.  
  • We advised an Asian Sovereign Wealth Fund in on its sovereign immunity in the United States.
  • We represented two Asian Sovereign Wealth Funds in inquiries from the U.S. Department of Justice concerning the bailout of AIG, successfully avoiding any subpoena being issued.
  • We represented a Gulf Sovereign Wealth Fund in an arbitration with a US financial institution. 
  • We represented an energy subsidiary of an Gulf Sovereign Wealth Fund in a dispute with an EPC contractor in Asia, achieving a swift and favorable settlement that enabled the energy project to be completed.
  • We represented the former CEO of an energy subsidiary of an Asian Sovereign Wealth Fund in government investigations in Brazil and the United States relating to the corruption at Petrobras.
  • We represented a Middle East Sovereign Wealth Fund in several matters involving efforts to recover damages from investments induced through fraud and misrepresentations as well as defending that fund in Madoff clawback cases.
  • We represent one of the Middle East’s largest Sovereign Wealth Funds in all of their significant internal and government investigations spanning the globe, from the U.S. to the Middle East to Europe to Asia.
  • We represented a fund charged with the duty of investing public assets in connection with an investigation of potential claims involving investments in structured finance securities.
  • We advised an Asian Central Bank in a dispute relating to the manipulation of its currency.
  • We advised an Asian Central Bank on communications it had with a banker in London who was suspended in a currency manipulation investigation.

 

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