Berglind Halldorsdottir Birkland is a member of the International Dispute Resolution Group and is based in New York. Ms. Birkland’s recent representations include investor-state arbitrations and international commercial disputes before both the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the ICC International Court of Arbitration.
Ms. Birkland is also actively involved in the firm’s pro bono practice, particularly in the area of immigrant rights. In recognition for this work, she was awarded the Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Publico Award for outstanding pro bono service in 2010 and 2011.
Ms. Birkland joined the firm in 2009. She received a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2009 where she was a notes editor of the New York University Law Review. Ms. Birkland is the author of “Reining in Non-state Actors: State Responsibility and Attribution in Cases of Genocide,” 84 N.Y.U. L. Rev. 1623 (2009). She received a B.A. in Anthropology, summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota in 2006.
Ms. Birkland is a member of the Bar of New York. She is fluent in Icelandic.
Experience:
- Claimant Tethyan Copper Company (jointly owned by Barrick Gold and Antofagasta Minerals) in an ICSID arbitration against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and an ICC arbitration against the Pakistani province of Balochistan in disputes regarding a copper and gold mining project in the west of Pakistan.
- Gramercy Funds Management and Gramercy Peru Holdings in an investment treaty arbitration against the Government of Peru arising under the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement.
- A publicly-listed sporting goods company in a dispute arising out of a distribution agreement, winning dismissal of all claims for over €30 million in addition to an award of attorney’s fees.
- A leading Brazilian company in two ICC arbitrations seated in São Paulo (and parallel litigations in Brazil and France) totaling US$400 million relating to an investment in a Brazilian food retail business.
- A Cayman-Islands-based creditor in an ICC arbitration arising out of a borrower’s default on restructured loan obligations incurred by owners of a Latin American food and beverage group.
- The International Court of Arbitration® of the International Chamber of Commerce as amicus curiae in support of Chevron Corporation’s opposition to the confirmation of an Egyptian arbitral award before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Education:
- New York University School of Law, 2009, J.D.
- University of Minnesota, 2006, B.A.
Bar Admissions:
- New York
Cost
Rate : $$$