Hogan Lovells lawyers win precedent-setting Mexico City taxi arbitration decision at SDNY
New York and Miami, 15 May 2019 – A cross-office Hogan Lovells team from Miami and New York achieved a significant victory on behalf of Espiritu Santo Holdings, LP, in the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
SDNY Chief Judge Colleen McMahon granted ES Holdings an injunction in aid of arbitration, protecting our client’s equity interests and control rights in the Espiritu Santo Technologies, LLC partnership and affiliated entities. The company had accused its investment partner, L1bero Partners LP, of trying to seize control of the business, operated through a Mexican entity called Lusad, which developed technology to manage taxi meters in Mexico City's vast network of taxis.
The Hogan Lovells team was led by partners Mark Cheskin (Miami), David Dunn (New York) and Richard Lorenzo (Miami).
"The Court was very diligent and thorough," said David Dunn, "and fully understood and explained the serious issues and complex machinations presented".
Mark Cheskin also commented, saying: "This ruling shows that litigants can’t rush to a foreign court to avoid their arbitration requirements in the United States."
Critical support was provided by fellow Hogan Lovells partner Alvin Lindsay, counsel Juan Garcia, associate William Homer, and foreign law clerk Juliana De Valdenebro Garrido (all based in our Miami office), and senior associate Benjamin Fleming and associate Alan Mendelsohn (New York), who worked together closely on the SDNY submissions. Their work culminated in a spirited and contentious evidentiary hearing, which took place on Monday.
On Tuesday, the Court issued a 55-page decision granting the injunction, and vindicating the client’s concerns. Full access to the court documents, docket, and decision is available here.
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