Case Details

José Alejandro Hernández Contreras v. Republic of Costa Rica (ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/25/3)

Subject of Dispute:

Telecommunications
Economic Sector:

Information & Communication
Instrument(s) Invoked:

BIT Costa Rica - Venezuela, Republica Bolivariana de 1997
Applicable Rules:

ICSID Additional Facility - Arbitration Rules

(a) Original Proceeding

Claimant(s)/Nationality(ies):

José Alejandro Hernández Contreras (Venezuelan)
Respondent(s):

Republic of Costa Rica (Costa Rican)
Date Registered:

May 1, 2025
Date of Constitution of Tribunal:

October 9, 2025

Composition of Tribunal

President:

Mélanie RIOFRIO PICHÉ (Canadian, Ecuadorian) - Appointed by the Parties
Arbitrators:

José Carlos FERNÁNDEZ ROZAS (Spanish) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)
Luis Alberto GONZÁLEZ GARCÍA (British, Mexican) - Appointed by the Respondent(s)

Party Representatives

Claimant(s):

ReedSmith, Miami, FL, U.S.A.
Respondent(s):

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, Washington D.C., U.S.A. and London, U.K.
Ministerio de Comercio Exterior (COMEX), San José, Costa Rica
Language(s) of Proceeding:

Spanish
Status of Proceeding:

Pending
Latest Development:

May 14, 2026 - The Claimant files a memorial on the merits.

(a) Original Proceeding

Published Decisions

Procedural Order No. 1

Procedural Order No. 2

Available on the ICSID Website

Procedural Order No. 1 (November 27, 2025) Spanish (Original)

Procedural Order No. 2 (November 27, 2025) Spanish (Original)

(a) Original Proceeding

Date	Development
May 1, 2025	The Acting Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
July 4, 2025	Following appointment by the Respondent, Luis González García (Mexican/British) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
July 8, 2025	Following appointment by the Claimant, José Carlos Fernández Rozas (Spanish) accepts his appointment as arbitrator.
October 9, 2025	Following appointment by agreement of the parties, Mélanie Riofrio Piché (Canadian/Ecuadorian) accepts her appointment as presiding arbitrator.
October 9, 2025	The Tribunal is constituted in accordance with ICSID Additional Facility Rule 29. Its members are: Mélanie Riofrio Piché (Canadian/Ecuadorian), President, appointed by agreement of the parties; José Carlos Fernández Rozas (Spanish), appointed by Claimant; and Luis Alberto González García (Mexican/British), appointed by Respondent.
November 24, 2025	The Tribunal holds a first session by video conference.
November 27, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 1 concerning procedural matters.
November 27, 2025	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 2 concerning procedural matters.
February 11, 2026	The Respondent files a request for security for costs.
March 2, 2026	The Claimant files observations on the Respondent’s request for security for costs.
March 16, 2026	The Respondent files a reply on security for costs.
March 26, 2026	The Claimant files a rejoinder on security for costs.
May 1, 2026	The Tribunal issues Procedural Order No. 3 concerning security for costs.
May 14, 2026	The Claimant files a memorial on the merits.