Eleanor Erney
Locations
Languages Spoken
Italian | Spanish
Bar Admissions
District of Columbia New York District of Columbia
Education
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. Carnegie Mellon University, B.S., Phi Beta Kappa, Honors
Practices
Eleanor C. Erney is counsel in the Washington office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed. As part of the firm’s Arbitration practice group, Eleanor has more than ten years of experience in both investment treaty arbitrations and international commercial arbitrations under the ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL, SIAC, and LCIA Rules. She has represented both investors and Sovereign States in arbitration proceedings, including all aspects of arbitration proceedings and hearings. Eleanor’s work spans Europe, Central America, Latin America, and Asia.
Eleanor has significant experience in oral advocacy, drafting pleadings and motions in cases involving international law and cross-border transactions and in proceedings to enforce arbitral awards in the U.S. courts, as well as in proceedings to set aside arbitral awards.
With a background in the energy industry, Eleanor's practice has encompassed cases relating to mining, energy, real estate, aviation, power generation, green energy generation, and the construction sectors, and she also has experience in infrastructure development.
She is also an active member of the firm’s pro bono practice.
In addition to her legal work, Eleanor serves as the summer assignment coordinator and associate traffic manager for the Washington, D.C. office.
Selected Matters
Counsel to the Republic of Panama in an ICSID investor-State arbitration relating to the mining sector.
Counsel to the Republic of Colombia in an ICSID investor-State arbitration relating to the mining sector.
Counsel to the Republic of Panama in an ICC commercial arbitration relating to the mining sector.
Counsel to several Ukrainian claimants in the energy, aviation, and real estate sectors in several arbitrations against the Russian Federation arising out of measures carried out by the Russian Federation following the annexation of Crimea
Counsel to a U.S. investor in the mining sector in an ICSID Arbitration against the Republic of Turkey
Counsel to a South American State in a commercial arbitration arising out of a FIDIC Construction Contract (Spanish language arbitration)
Counsel to an investor in an arbitration against the Republic of Panama in the bioethanol industry
Counsel to 30 American citizens in proceedings against the Republic of Iraq before the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
Counsel to a French investor in proceedings against a Latin American country
Counsel to a major Japanese manufacturer in a Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) dispute against an Indonesian power station operator
Counsel to Ukrainian companies seeking enforcement of arbitral awards in D.C. Federal Court
Previous Experience
- Legal Intern, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, for an international technology and industrial conglomerate, 2013
- Fulbright Research Grantee, Energy and Oil Economics, Bologna, Italy, 2011-2012
Recognitions
- Named an Arbitration Future Leader – Non Partner by Lexology (formerly Who’s Who Legal), 2024-2025
- Recognized by peers in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, 2023-2025
- Recommended in The Legal 500 United States for Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (2021-2024)
- Recognized in Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, sponsored by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (2015-2025)
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Student Advocacy Award, 2015
Speaking Engagements
- Moderator, “Navigating M&A and Post-Acquisition Disputes,” Global Disputes Summit Washington, D.C., 19 February 2026
- Panelist, “Power, gatekeepers, and representation: who really shapes arbitration?”, New York Arbitration Week, 20 November 2025
- Panelist, “Mentorship in International Arbitration in the Washington, D.C. Legal Community: How to Organically Promote an Environment of Mentorship?”, Washington Arbitration Week, Washington, D.C., 6 October 2025
- Panelist, “The Trump Effect in the Americas in Investment and Trade, from Canada to the Patagonia,” World Arbitration Update, Mexico City, 21 May 2025
Highlighted Publications
- Co-author (with Diana Tsutieva and Simon Batifort), ASIL DRIG: The Future of Investor-State Dispute Settlement under the Energy Charter Treaty, Kluwer Arbitration Blog (March 29, 2021)
- Author, COVID Era Technological Innovations in the Future of International Arbitration, in 40 UNDER 40 INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION (Carlos Gonzalez Bueno, ed.) (2021)
- Co-author (with Diego Duran de la Vega), Arbitraje comercial y de inversión en el sector energético en America Latina, Tirant lo Blanch, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and the Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Center of the University of Houston Law School (June 2020)
Professional Activities
- Co-Coach of the Willem C. Vis Commercial Arbitration Moot Team at American University Washington College of Law, 2017 to present
- Adjunct Assistant Professor in International Commercial Arbitration at American University Washington College of Law, 2017 to present
- Member, American Society of International Law (2019-present) and Secretary of the Dispute Resolution Interest Group, 2019-2021
- Member, ArbitralWomen
- Member, National Associate of Women Lawyers
- Steering Committee Member, Institute for Transnational Arbitration
- Steering Committee Member, Global Disputes Summit Washington 2026
- Implementation Committee Member, Campaign for Greener Arbitrations
- Arbitrator, 2025 CPR Institute’s Africa Arbitration Day
Court Admissions
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
- United States Supreme Court
News & Insights For Eleanor Erney
View All News & InsightsHughes Hubbard Lawyers Recognized in 2025 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
Eight Hughes Hubbard lawyers have been named to the 2025 DC Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, which recognizes attorneys who dedicated significant time to pro bono service through the District of Columbia Courts during the past year.
Hughes Hubbard Named to GAR 100, Recognized as Leading International Arbitration Firm
Hughes Hubbard has once again been named to the GAR 100, Global Arbitration Review’s (GAR) annual ranking of the world’s leading international arbitration practices. This is the firm’s 11th year in a row appearing in the ranking.
DC Circuit Denies Russia’s Efforts to Delay Enforcement of Arbitration Award for Ukrainian Gas Companies
Hughes Hubbard successfully defeated an effort by the Russian Federation to delay enforcement proceedings of a $34 million arbitral award on behalf of a group of 11 Ukrainian petrol companies led by Stabil LLC.
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