Pablo Bentes

Biography

Pablo obtained his law degree and M.B.A. from the University of Sao Paulo, and a master's degree in international law from the University of Miami School of Law, where he is currently an adjunct professor. He started his legal career as an associate in one of Brazil’s largest law firms in 1999. He is admitted to the bar in Brazil.

Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, Pablo served as Legal Officer at the Appellate Body Secretariat of the WTO. In this capacity, he assisted Appellate Body Members to adjudicate appeals in a wide range of subject areas, including agricultural and industrial market access, subsidies, trade remedies, intellectual property, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade. among others. He also acquired in-depth knowledge of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and the manner in which it can be best used by WTO members to resolve trade disputes. Subsequently, Pablo joined a large international firm as Managing Director, and specialized in representing WTO Members before the WTO dispute settlement mechanism. Pablo acted as lead lawyer in a number of cutting-edge WTO disputes in the areas of industrial subsidies, public health, intellectual property, financial services, and trade remedies.

Pablo was featured as "Next Generation Lawyer – Dispute Resolution: International Trade" in Legal 500 US for three years in a row. Law360 has repeatedly named him a "Rising Star". He is a welcomed speaker at international podiums and publishes regularly in professional journals and international media.

Practice Focus

Pablo is one of a handful of practitioners in the world to successfully represent WTO members in all stages of dispute settlement proceedings, frequently acting as lead counsel in oral pleadings before WTO panels and the Appellate Body.

Representative Legal Matters

Represented the Government of Argentina in a WTO dispute against Panama on the taxation of financial services from suppliers located in tax havens.
Represented the Government of Australia in a WTO dispute on the regulation of packaging and advertising of tobacco products.
Represented the Government of Brazil in reversing on appeal adverse WTO panel rulings against industrial subsidies.
Represented the Government of Argentina in WTO dispute on various import measures and domestic content requirements.
Represented Brazilian steel producers in negotiating an exemption from Section 232 duties in the United States.

Professional Honors

Law 360, Rising Star in International Trade (2015-2016).
Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO: Brazil Experts Based Abroad (2013-2014).
The Legal 500 US, Litigation: International Trade (2013-2016).

Professional Associations and Memberships

WTO Indicative List of Panelists (Brazil)
Member of the American Society of International Law (ASIL)
Member of the Editorial Board of “Revista de Derecho Económico Internacional”, ITAM, Mexico
Vice President of the ABCI Institute, Washington, DC
Chapter-Chair of the New York State Bar Association in Geneva.

Admissions

Brazil (2000)

Education

University of Miami (LLM International Law) (2003)
University of Sao Paulo (MBA Finance and Risk Management) (2001)
Harvard Law School (Program of Instruction for Lawyers, Negotiation Workshop) (2001)
University of Sao Paulo (JD) (1999)

Languages

English
French
German
Portuguese
Spanish

Previous Offices

Washington, DC

Author, “In Search of a Genuine and Substantial Cause: The Analysis of Causation in Serious Prejudice Claims”, in “The Use of Economics in Dispute Settlement”, Pauwelyn and Carpenter (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2017.

Author, “From Baksheesh to Bribery: Examining the Global Fight Against Corruption and Graft”, Brazil Chapter (with Lucinda Low), Oxford University Press (forthcoming)

Author, "Enhancing the Brazil-EU Strategic Partnership – From the Bilateral and Regional to the Global", ed. M. Emerson and R. Flores – Book Review, World Trade Review, Vol. 14, nr. 1, January 2015.

Co-author with M. Simpson, “International Legal Developments in Review: 2009” (International Trade Section), The International Lawyer, Vol. 44, nr. 1, Spring 2010.

Co-author with V. Povarchuk, “International Legal Developments in Review: 2008” (International Trade Section), The International Lawyer, Vol. 43, nr. 2, Summer 2009.

Co-author with S. Ettinger, “International Legal Developments in Review: 2007” (International Trade Section), The International Lawyer, Vol. 42, nr. 2, Summer 2008.

Author, “A Cumulatividade na Determinação de Dano a Indústria Norte Americana” (“Cumulation in the Analysis of Injury to the United States’ Industry”), in A. Lima-Campos (ed.), Ensaios em Comercio Internacional, Ed. Singular, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2005.