Daniel M. Barbosa

Lawyers

Senior associate
Abu Dhabi

dbarbosa@gbsdisputes.com
+55 11 95493 7681

Daniel Barbosa is a senior associate at Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes.

He has advised private and State-owned entities in international arbitrations under the Rules of the ICC, LCIA, SCC, NAI, ICSID and UNCITRAL. His experience includes investment, energy, pharmaceutical and business disputes.

Daniel has also served as secretary to arbitral tribunals and sole arbitrators.

Experience as Counsel

Daniel is or was part of the team advising and/or representing:

Subsidiaries of Mubadala, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, in two ICC arbitrations in Switzerland against affiliates of the SIGNA group, formerly one of the largest luxury property groups in Europe. The dispute arose from the breach of various finance agreements. Our clients were awarded over EUR 900 million in damages. Austrian law applied.
An African shipping company in an ad hoc arbitration in London arising in connection with various charterparties purportedly entered into since 2007. The case concerned allegations of grand corruption and kleptocracy at the highest levels in an African State and in excess of USD 300 million was at stake.
Sonatrach, Claimant in an UNCITRAL arbitration in Geneva against two privately-owned European energy companies. The dispute arose from the termination of a production-sharing contract. Algerian law applied. Over USD 2.4 billion was at stake.
The Republic of Lithuania, Respondent in an ICSID arbitration brought by Veolia Environnement S.A. and others in relation to district heating and power generation systems in Lithuania (ICSID Case No. ARB/16/3). The claims were brought under the Lithuania-France bilateral investment treaty. Veolia initiated the arbitration and pursued numerous individual claims against Lithuania seeking in excess of EUR 120 million. Lithuania introduced counterclaims based on allegations of corruption and collusion. After almost ten years of legal proceedings, Veolia agreed to withdraw all of its claims and pay EUR 35 million to Lithuania in settlement of the dispute, which makes this case the first ever precedent of a State achieving an overall financial win after raising counterclaims in an investor-State arbitration.
Vilnius City Municipality and the Municipality-owned district heating company in an SCC arbitration in Vilnius against Veolia Environnement S.A. and a Lithuanian subsidiary. The dispute concerned the operation and management of a 15-year district heating concession in Vilnius and Lithuanian law applied. Veolia initiated the arbitration and advanced claims in the region of EUR 50 million. Our clients counterclaimed and secured an award in their favour for a net value of approximately EUR 56 million.
Sonangol E.P., Respondent, in three parallel NAI arbitrations in Amsterdam against Exem Energy B.V., a holding company beneficially owned by Isabel dos Santos. The dispute related to high-profile matters of embezzlement, corruption and money laundering in relation to a share sale and purchase agreement. Dutch and Angolan law applied. Sonangol enjoyed complete victory in all three cases, including findings in the main NAI arbitration that the relevant transaction could only be explained as an example of “grand corruption”. As a result, the relevant transaction has been declared null and void and Sonangol has been restored to its 100% shareholder position.
A subsidiary of Sonangol in an LCIA arbitration in London against a European holding company beneficially owned by Isabel dos Santos. The dispute related to high-profile allegations of embezzlement, corruption and money laundering and to the management and dissolution of a consortium for offshore gas exploration. English and Angolan law applied. The proceedings were terminated after the claims against Sonangol’s subsidiary were withdrawn.
A European life sciences company, Respondent in an arbitration brought by a European chemical company seeking indemnification under a Share Purchase Agreement. The law of the Claimant’s State applied. The arbitral tribunal dismissed the claims in their entirety and ordered the Claimant to reimburse all our clients’ legal fees and costs.
Latin American investment companies and two individuals, Claimants in an ICC arbitration in Paris against a major European telecommunications company. The dispute related to the breach of a settlement agreement that was previously entered into by the parties in relation to multiple claims brought in several litigation proceedings. Brazilian law applied. Over USD 15 billion was at stake. We also represented the Claimants in proceedings to revise the award rendered in the ICC arbitration before an arbitral tribunal, based on the Claimants’ allegations that the Respondents committed procedural fraud in the course of the arbitration, as well as in proceedings brought by our clients before the Paris Court of Appeal to seek the setting aside of that award. On 2 May 2024, the Paris Court of Appeal issued a decision setting aside the award rendered in the first arbitration on the ground that the President of the arbitral tribunal lacked the required independence. The decision was upheld by the Cour de cassation on 21 January 2026. The revision proceedings are still pending.
Latin American investment companies, Claimants in an ICC arbitration in London against a Latin American pension fund. The dispute related to the revision and breach of a settlement agreement that was previously entered into by the parties in relation to multiple claims brought in several litigation proceedings. Brazilian law applied.
Atlas Power and eight other Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Claimants in an LCIA arbitration seated in London against Pakistani State-owned entity National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC). The dispute arose out of the non-payment of certain amounts under Power Purchase Agreements concluded between the IPPs and NTDC. The law of Pakistan applied. Our clients’ claims were upheld in full in an award granting USD 104 million in damages and USD 24 million in interest.

Experience as Secretary

Assisting a co-arbitrator in ICSID proceedings regarding claims under a BIT relating to mining licenses.
Secretary to a sole arbitrator in ICC emergency arbitration proceedings dealing with matters of asset freezes and insolvency under OHADA law.
Secretary to a sole arbitration in ICC proceedings relating to a dispute arising out of a FIDIC contract for the construction of roads.

Education

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, LL.B.
Exchange student in the Master’s program of Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), MBA Essentials Certificate
Harvard University, Financial Analysis and Valuation for Lawyers
Harvard University, Data Science and AI Principles

Admissions & Courts

Brazil

Winner of the Thomas Wälde Award for Best Advocate in the 2011 Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot (FDI Moot)
Winner of the 6th Place Best Oralist Award in the International Rounds of the 2010 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
Winner of the 3rd Place Hardy C. Dillard Award for Best Combined Memorials in the 2010 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

“Comentário à decisão da Cour d’Appel de Paris, Pôle 5, Chambre 16, n. 22/14337, Tagidor Premium Investments International SA et al v. The G.B. Foods SA et al,” Revista Brasileira de Arbitragem, Vol. 22, No. 86, pp. 118-143 (Apr.-June 2025)
“Paris Court of Appeal Upholds the Supranational Character of OHADA Law in an Action for Annulment of an Arbitral Award,” Kluwer Arbitration Blog (19 April 2020)
“Two Sides of the Same Coin: To What Extent Is Arbitration with the Brazilian Administration Similar to Investment-Treaty Arbitration?,” in Investment Protection in Brazil (A. Levy, A. Gerdau de Borja, A. N. Pucci, eds., Kluwer, 2013) (co-author)