Lucas Nakamune

Lucas focuses on international arbitration and complex dispute resolution, with particular emphasis on corporate, construction, and oil & gas disputes. He represents clients in proceedings administered by leading international arbitral institutions, including the ICC and the LCIA, with seats across the Americas and Europe, and proceedings conducted in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

His experience spans high-value disputes involving shareholders' agreements, EPC contracts, joint operating agreements in the oil & gas sector, and shareholders’ rights under Brazilian corporate law. Lucas advises domestic and foreign clients, including energy companies, investment funds, and construction companies, in arbitrations with an aggregate value exceeding USD 3.5 billion.

Lucas’s current and recent relevant cases include the representation of:

• Representation of a Brazilian oil and gas company in an LCIA arbitration initiated by a US investor. The dispute concerns the exercise of pre-emption rights for the acquisition of an interest in an offshore oil field under the Joint Operating Agreement executed between the parties (AIPN model). London is the seat of the arbitration, the proceedings are conducted in English, and Brazilian law governs the contract.
• Representation of a Chinese conglomerate in an ICC arbitration initiated by a French businessman and investment vehicles under his control. The dispute concerns the client's rights as a shareholder of a company that operates one of Brazil's most prominent luxury hotels. The claims involve the conversion of debentures into shares and alleged breaches of corporate agreements, including a shareholders' agreement and the company's bylaws. The arbitration is seated in New York, conducted in English, and Brazilian law governs the merits.
• Representation of one of Brazil's leading energy companies in ICC-administered arbitration initiated by a German company that is a market leader in the design, construction, and maintenance of nuclear power plants. The dispute, valued at over BRL 1 billion, concerns contracts for the construction of a nuclear power plant located in Brazil. The arbitration is seated in Bern, Switzerland, and is conducted in English. Brazilian law governs the contracts.
• The bankrupt estate of one of the largest construction and oil & gas companies in Brazil, in an LCIA arbitration against the largest Brazilian state-owned oil & gas company. The dispute, valued in excess of USD 2.4 billion, concerns the termination of two contracts related to deepwater drilling for oil exploration in Brazil, following allegations of corruption and non-payment. The contracts are governed by the laws of England and Wales. London is the seat of the arbitration and the proceedings are conducted in English.

• Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa (Insper), Post-graduate degree in Corporate Law
• Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Bachelor of Law (JD equivalent)

• Brazil

• English
• Portuguese
• Spanish