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Venezuela Holdings, B.V., et al (case formerly known as Mobil Corporation, Venezuela Holdings, B.V., et al.) v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, ICSID Case No. ARB/07/27

New
Short Name:

Mobil and others v. Venezuela

Case Type:
Investment Protection Disputes, International Investment Agreement (Investor–State)
Seat of Arbitration:
Applicable Treaty:
Netherlands-Venezuela BIT (1991)
Applicable Legal Instruments:
Netherlands-Venezuela BIT
Economic Sector:
Mining and Quarrying, Including Hydrocarbons (oil and Gas)
Outcome:
In Favour of Claimant(s)
Amount of Damages:
US $189,454,482
See case mapped on Investor-State LawGuide

Available documents

3 Nov 2008
Procedural Order Concerning Questions of Procedure Pursuant to ICSID Arbitration Rule 20 (not public)
Document Details:
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Claimant appointee:
Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Chair/President:
Gilbert Guillaume
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Covington & Burling
Respondent's counsel
Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle, Procuraduría General de la República
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


10 Jun 2010
Decision on Jurisdiction
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Decision on Jurisdiction
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Claimant appointee:
Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Chair/President:
Gilbert Guillaume
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Decision on Jurisdiction
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


9 Oct 2014
Award of the Tribunal (English)
Award of the Tribunal (Spanish)
Document provided by: ICSID
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Award of the Tribunal (English)
Award of the Tribunal (Spanish)
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Claimant appointee:
Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Chair/President:
Gilbert Guillaume
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Award of the Tribunal (English)
Award of the Tribunal (Spanish)
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


13 Feb 2015
Opinion and Order of US District Court for the Southern District of New York on enforcement of ICSID Award against Venezuela
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Opinion and Order of US District Court for the Southern District of New York on enforcement of ICSID Award against Venezuela
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Opinion and Order of US District Court for the Southern District of New York on enforcement of ICSID Award against Venezuela
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


4 Mar 2015
Judgment of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Judgment of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Chair/President:
Paul A. Engelmayer
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Judgment of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


12 Jun 2015
Decision on Revision (English)
Decision on Revision (Spanish)
Document provided by: IAReporter
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Decision on Revision (English)
Decision on Revision (Spanish)
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Claimant appointee:
Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Chair/President:
Gilbert Guillaume
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Thomas L. Cubbage III, Miguel López Forastier, Covington & Burling, Gaëtan Verhoosel, Scott Vesel, Three Crowns, René J. Mouledoux, Eugene J. Silva II, Exxon Mobil Corporation
Respondent's counsel
Reinaldo Enrique Muñoz Pedroza, George Kahale III, Benard V. Preziosi, Miriam K. Harwood, Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle, Gabriela Álvarez-Ávila, Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle, Viceprocurador General de la República
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Decision on Revision (English)
Decision on Revision (Spanish)
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


17 Sep 2015
Decision on Stay of Enforcement of the Award
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Decision on Stay of Enforcement of the Award
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Decision on Stay of Enforcement of the Award
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


30 Mar 2016
Submission of the United States of America Regarding Jurisdictional Immunity of Venezuela
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Submission of the United States of America Regarding Jurisdictional Immunity of Venezuela
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Submission of the United States of America Regarding Jurisdictional Immunity of Venezuela
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


9 Mar 2017
Decision on Annulment (English)
Decision on Annulment (Spanish)
Document provided by: ICSID Website
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Decision on Annulment (English)
Decision on Annulment (Spanish)
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Chair/President:
Franklin Berman
Arbitrator(s)
Rolf Knieper, Cecil W. M. Abraham
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Covington & Burling, U.S.A., Three Crowns
Respondent's counsel
Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle, Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle, U.S.A. and Mexico City
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Decision on Annulment (English)
Decision on Annulment (Spanish)
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


11 Jul 2017
Decision of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Rejecting Ex Parte Recognition of the Award
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Decision of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Rejecting Ex Parte Recognition of the Award
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Rosemary Shankman Pooler, Hall
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Decision of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Rejecting Ex Parte Recognition of the Award
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


1 Mar 2021
Decision on Respondent’s Representation
Document provided by: IAReporter
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Decision on Respondent’s Representation
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Respondent appointee:
Andrea Giardina
Tribunal/Panel chair
Chair/President:
Nicolas Angelet
Arbitrator(s)
Nicolas Angelet
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Decision on Respondent’s Representation
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


10 Jul 2023
Resubmission Award
Document provided by: IAReporter
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Resubmission Award
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Claimant appointee:
Stephen L. Drymer
Respondent appointee
Respondent appointee:
Andrea Giardina
Tribunal/Panel chair
Chair/President:
Nicolas Angelet
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Resubmission Award
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


22 Nov 2023
Petition to Enforce Arbitral Award Before US District Court for the District of Columbia
Document provided by: Investor State Law Guide
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Petition to Enforce Arbitral Award Before US District Court for the District of Columbia
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Petition to Enforce Arbitral Award Before US District Court for the District of Columbia
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


26 Sep 2025
Memorandum Opinion of the US District Court for the District of Columbia
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Memorandum Opinion of the US District Court for the District of Columbia
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Leonard P. Stark
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Memorandum Opinion of the US District Court for the District of Columbia
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


26 Sep 2025
Order and Judgment of the US District Court for the District of Columbia
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Order and Judgment of the US District Court for the District of Columbia
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Leonard P. Stark
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Country in which this occurs:
United States
Print reporter
Entities
Document Summary
Order and Judgment of the US District Court for the District of Columbia
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.


7 Apr 2026
Order of the United States Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Order of the United States Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Robert Leon Wilkins, Gregory George Katsas, Neomi Jehangir Rao
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Country in which this occurs:
United States
Print reporter
Entities
Venezuela Holdings B.V., Venezuela
Document Summary
Order of the United States Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.

Procedural Posture

This document is an Order issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, addressing a motion for summary affirmance in an action for the recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award rendered under the auspices of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The appellant, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, appealed the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the appellees, seeking to resist enforcement of the underlying ICSID award.

Court's Analysis

The principal legal issue before the Court was whether the ICSID tribunal's decision to permit legal representation designated by the government of Nicolás Maduro, rather than that of Juan Guaidó, deprived Venezuela of due process or vitiated the tribunal's jurisdiction. Applying the full faith and credit mandate of 22 U.S.C. § 1650a, the Court relied on its binding precedent in Valores Mundiales, S.L. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The Court held that the representation issue had been fully and fairly litigated before the ICSID tribunal and therefore could not be relitigated in enforcement proceedings, even when framed by the appellant as a jurisdictional defect.

Furthermore, the Court rejected Venezuela's arguments that enforcement was precluded by the United States government's prior recognition of the Guaidó regime. The Court also dismissed Venezuela's reliance on the act of state doctrine, noting that the appellant had failed to raise this issue before the district court and had therefore forfeited the argument.

Decision

The Court granted the motion for summary affirmance, concluding that the merits of the parties' positions were sufficiently clear to warrant summary action. The Clerk was directed to withhold the issuance of the mandate pending the resolution of any timely petition for rehearing or rehearing en banc.
30 Jun 2026
Order of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Granting Stay
Document Details:
PARTICIPANTS
Order of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Granting Stay
Participants listed are for this document only and may not include all participants involved in the entire case. Always consult the original documents.
Claimant appointee
Respondent appointee
Tribunal/Panel chair
Arbitrator(s)
Sole Arbitrator
ICSID Annulment Committee president
ICSID Annulment Committee members
WTO Appellate Body members
WTO Appellate Body chair
Judges
Royce C. Lamberth
Claimant's counsel
Respondent's counsel
Other counsel
Claimant's expert
Respondent's expert
Claimant's witness
Respondent's witness
Other witnesses
Tribunal secretary
Tribunal assistant
Country
Country in which this occurs:
United States
Print reporter
Entities
Venezuela Holdings B.V., Venezuela
Document Summary
Order of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Granting Stay
This summary note is machine-generated. Always consult the original materials.

This document is an Order Granting Stay issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in the proceedings between Mobil Cerro Negro and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The principal procedural issue before the Court was the Respondent State's unopposed motion requesting an additional 30-day stay of the case. The stated purpose of the requested stay was to provide Venezuela with sufficient time to formally designate permanent counsel to represent its interests in the litigation.

Upon consideration of the unopposed nature of the motion, the Court granted the request without further substantive legal analysis. As operative relief, the Court ordered that all proceedings in the matter be stayed for an additional period of 30 days.