SIMON NAVARRO GONZALEZ is a partner in the global arbitration practice at Sidley. Based in New York, Simon focuses on international arbitration and litigation, with an emphasis on Latin America and Spain. With over 15 years of experience in Europe and the United States, he has represented clients in complex, high-value commercial and investment treaty arbitrations, both ad hoc and under the rules of the major arbitral institutions. He has advised in a broad range of industries, including oil and gas, energy, banking and insurance, M&A transactions, construction, maritime, infrastructure, airports, and concession contracts.
Simon travels regularly to Latin America and Spain to help clients navigate their cross-border legal issues and represent them in international disputes. Simon is currently representing clients in various investor-state and commercial arbitrations under both common and civil law, in Spanish and English, including the largest NAFTA claim against Mexico, and a combined strategy of disputes leveraging investor-state arbitration, commercial arbitration, and international trade claims. Simon has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by The Legal 500 Latin America (2021), and was also recognized as “Rising Star” at the Annual Meeting of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution. He regularly participates in panels on current arbitration topics organized by various institutions, including Columbia Law School, NYIAC, and others.
Simon has dual training in civil and common law, is licensed to practice in New York and Spain, and is bilingual in English and Spanish. He earned his law degree from Universidad de Oviedo, where he graduated with honors and was granted two scholarships to further his studies at the University of Glasgow and Universidad de Salamanca. He holds a Master in Business Law degree (LL.M.) from Instituto de Empresa, where he was ranked first in his class. He also holds a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) from Columbia Law School, where he was awarded James Kent honors for outstanding academic achievement. Prior to joining Sidley, Simon was of counsel at another global law firm in New York. He also was an Assistant Professor at the Master in Legal Business from IE Law School.