Lawrence H. Martin

  • Partner
  • Washington, D.C.
  • 202 261 7395 direct
  • 202 785 6687 fax

Lawrence Martin is a partner in the firm’s Washington office and a member of its international litigation and arbitration practice group.

Larry concentrates his practice in international disputes, typically involving foreign sovereign governments and/or their agencies and instrumentalities. Larry represents foreign sovereign interests in proceedings before the world’s leading dispute resolution fora, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). He has particular experience in international environmental cases and disputes relating to the Law of the Sea. Larry also frequently represents foreign sovereigns in litigation before the courts of the United States. Reflecting his capabilities at representing clients in high-profile disputes, he has been named one of Washington, D.C.’s top lawyers by Washingtonian magazine and identified in Chambers Global 2011 Guide in its rankings of the top international law practitioners.

In addition, Larry has considerable experience in general civil litigation matters before United States courts, including insurance industry controversies, copyright disputes and product liability lawsuits.

Bars and Court Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • District of Columbia
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Representative Experience

The following is a brief summary of Lawrence's experience and accomplishments:

  • International Litigation and Arbitration

    • Representing Bangladesh before ITLOS in a maritime boundary delimitation case against Myanmar.
    • Representing Bangladesh in a maritime boundary arbitration against India brought under the terms of Annex VII to the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention and administered by the PCA.
    • Defending Uruguay in an ICSID arbitration brought by the Phillip Morris family of companies challenging Uruguay's tobacco control laws.
    • Defending Nicaragua before the ICJ in a case brought by Costa Rica alleging violations of sovereignty and misuse of the San Juan River.
    • Representing Nicaragua before the ICJ in a territorial sovereignty and maritime boundary proceeding against Colombia.
    • Representing Ecuador before the ICJ in a case relating to Colombia’s aerial spraying of toxic herbicides along the two States’ international boundary.
    • Defending Uruguay in an ICJ case brought by Argentina concerning the construction of a cellulose mill on the Uruguay River.
    • Representing Georgia against the Russian Federation in a case before the ICJ arising under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
    • Representing Bolivia in an ICSID arbitration brought by an Italian telecommunications company relating to Bolivia’s nationalization of its telecommunications industry.
    • Representing Ecuador in an ICSID arbitration brought by an American oil company relating to the imposition of a tax on windfall profits from the sale of oil.
    • Representing Venezuela in an ad hoc arbitration pursuant to UNCITRAL rules brought by a Canadian coal company relating to the nationalization of Venezuela’s coal industry.
    • Defending Nicaragua before the ICJ in a case brought by Costa Rica relating to navigational rights on the San Juan River.
    • Representing the Republic of Guyana in a maritime boundary arbitration against the Republic of Suriname brought under the terms of Annex VII to the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention and administered by the PCA.
    • Defending the Republic of Uganda in an ICJ case brought by the Democratic Republic of the Congo relating to armed activities on the territory of the Congo.

  • Foreign Sovereign Litigation before United States Courts

    • Defending Venezuela's national oil company in a federal court action brought by a Nigerian corporation alleging fraud.
    • Defending Venezuela in a federal court action brought by a Venezuelan company relating to the validity of an alleged waiver of sovereign immunity.
    • Defending Bolivia in a federal court action brought by an Italian telecommunications company relating to the attachment of sovereign funds in aid of an ICSID arbitration.
    • Representing the Republic of Iraq in several federal court actions brought by American citizens alleging mistreatment by the former Saddam Hussein regime.
    • Representing the Republic of the Philippines in a federal court action brought by an American hospital to collect for unpaid medical services.
    • Defending the United Republic of Tanzania in federal court action brought by an American company to collect on US$500 million in sovereign debt.

  • Commercial Litigation before United States Courts

    • Representing a U.S. valve and pump manufacturer in asbestos related cases throughout the United States.
    • Representing a leading U.S. medical device manufacturer in a federal court action to secure insurance coverage for product liability lawsuits.
    • Representing a U.S. power company in a Massachusetts state court action to secure insurance coverage for environmental clean-up costs.
    • Defending a leading U.S. insurance company in a national action brought by the company’s agents’ association alleging contract violations.
    • Defending a leading U.S. insurance company in a National Association Of Securities Dealers (NASD) arbitration brought by one of its regional managers alleging unlawful termination.
    • Representing a U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturer in product liability cases before District of Colombia courts.
    • Representing a U.S. satellite television company in federal court litigation throughout the United States relating to the distribution of network television programming.

professional / civic involvement

  • Representing a Sudanese national detained at the United States Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, both in habeas corpus action before U.S. federal court and in military commissions proceedings at Guantanamo
  • Representing persons with disabilities in a federal court action to make local supermarket chain wheel-chair accessible
  • American Society of International Law (Member)
  • D.C. Bar Association
  • Boston Bar Association