Season 1: Premiere: Jose Garcia Cueto

International Arbitration Partner at Clifford Chance

Jose Garcia Cueto: International Arbitration Partner at Clifford Chance

How did a lawyer from Spain make partner at BigLaw? 

Jose, a D.C.-based lawyer from Spain, is the partner running the Latin America international arbitration and dispute practice at Clifford Chance. He is regarded as “undoubtedly one of the most important lawyers in international arbitration.” When he first arrived in the U.S. to pursue his LL.M. degree, he thought he would stay for a year and headed home. That was ten years ago. How did he turn his love of cooking Spanish food into networking opportunities? How did he land his first job in the U.S.? What are the important skills and experience BigLaw is looking for from new lawyers with an international background? How did he get so good at what he does while thriving in BigLaw? Why does he say that his wife is his role model in the law? Jose met his wife in law school. In his words, “there’s still hope for everyone.”

Sign up to receive FREE insider tips from Jose.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Spain. I spent the first 28 years of my life there. That's where I went to college and received my first law degree and first Master’s Degree.

Why did you choose to study law?

Both of my parents are lawyers, as was my grandfather. I come from a family of five siblings, all of whom are also lawyers! I suppose there weren't many other options available to me.

What languages do you speak? And what do you do as a multilingual lawyer?

I'm fluent in Spanish and English, conversational in French and Italian. I speak and understand a little Portuguese. On a day-to-day basis, I mainly use Spanish and English because most of my clients are based in Latin America, or the matters I work on are related to Latin America. As a partner in the international arbitration group at Clifford Chance, I'm in charge of the Latin American disputes practice. My practice focuses on representing investors or sponsors in Latin America, specifically in infrastructure and energy projects. We specialize solely in arbitration, which makes us one of the few practices in the US fully dedicated to international arbitration in Latin America.

What is the most interesting part of your job?

Latin America is much larger than the US and has many different layers and cultures. When working there, you meet a diverse group of people. I learned different points of view, ways of doing things, and applicable laws. Everything is constantly evolving. Understanding these differences is challenging, but also enriching. One of the most intriguing aspects is the differences in legal systems. In the US, everything is based on case law, but in Latin America, it's not always easy to find case law.

I've had many interesting trips during my work, like following the path of a pipeline in the desert for one of my clients, when I defended them in the pipeline's construction. I've also learned how to build a thermoelectric power plant in the Dominican Republic. I've even been in hydroelectric power plants that are 4,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level in Peru and learned how and why it was possible to construct something so high.

Do you travel a lot for your job?

Before COVID, I was traveling maybe two weeks and a half every month. I travel less now, about one week a month, because COVID changes the way business is conducted. Like now we're doing this interview through your online studio. Before COVID, almost no one was doing this. There is a cultural component in Latin America, where people want to see each other. And I’m from the same culture, where I like to see people in person. So basically, you would need to go see your clients all the time. I think COVID has changed that. You do video calls, if the meetings are half an hour or an hour. Now if it's a three-to-four-hour meeting, then you still go down. It takes 10 hours to go down there. There's a cost that the client has to pay.

Why did you choose to study law in the United States?

I have always been fascinated by how things work in the US, as their system differs greatly from the civil law system in which I was raised. It is interesting to learn how their legal system operates, how people think, reason, and argue, and how they approach a legal issue. I completed a part-time certificate program at a law firm I used to work with, which offered a dual degree program with Harvard Law School. I felt that one could not truly understand the system without being present in the US. In 2013, I seized an opportunity and applied to Georgetown Law. I was accepted and flew to the US with the intention of staying for one year. It’s been 10 years already.

Before you came to the US for your LL.M., did you know that a creer in international arbitration is what you wanted to pursue?

I realized that my language skills could be an asset and enable me to pursue certain practices such as project finance and capital markets in New York and DC, specifically tailored for Spanish speakers. Initially, I thought of trying it out for a year and then returning home. However, I was unsure of what I really wanted to do. While practicing law in Spain, I primarily focused on litigation and arbitration. I did not envision myself as someone who exclusively practices arbitration, particularly in Latin America. Coming from Europe, Spain seemed like a more natural market for me, but things unfolded in unexpected ways.

How did you find your first job in the US?

This is my first and the only job that I’m still doing today. Prior to coming the U.S. I have worked for almost five years at a law firm in Spain. During my LLM studies, I was searching for a job and applying to various positions. That's when I met a wonderful individual who used to run the practice here at Clifford Chance. The partner and I had lunch. Then that eventually led to me participating in several rounds of exams and interviews. Eventually, we were three candidates competing for one position. One candidate withdrew and accepted an offer somewhere else. The partner opened a second position and hired us both. It was a stroke of luck, as the partner I worked with at the time was handling a case involving a Spanish investor and Bolivia, which aligned with my skillset and interests. I worked for him for eight years, and when he retired, I took over the practice.

How did you get connected with this guy who eventually offered you the job?

Students now have more resources available. It is something I've complained a lot. Back in the day, there was no one who took responsibility for helping LLM students connect with other alums in arbitration. You had to do it yourself. I love cooking Spanish food. I hosted dinner parties at my house where I cooked Spanish food for Spanish speaking lawyers who worked in the field. That's how I met people, and one of them connected me to the guy who eventually offered me a job.

Does BigLaw has more of an appetite for lawyers with international backgrounds nowadays?

I think BigLaw always has an appetite. If you think about M&A (mergers & acquisitions), capital markets, international arbitration, and project finance. These are very international practices. They all have an appetite to hire LLMs.

What are the skillset or experience of international lawyers that matters the most in the hiring decision?

Language skill is a useful tool, but it's not a must-have. Having language skills definitely adds value, especially if the practice involves international clients, but not having them doesn't mean you won't get hired. I've worked with people who are monolingual, and it's still possible to work with them effectively. So, it's more of a nice-to-have than a necessity.

What are firms looking for from new lawyers who want to practice international arbitration law?

The first piece of advice, if too late, is to avoid pursuing an LLM immediately after completing your first law degree. I've observed many individuals who finish their first law degree at 21 or 22, and then immediately pursue an LLM, only to wonder why they aren't being hired upon graduation. The reason is simple: other applicants with four or five years of experience are competing for the same position. Hiring managers are more likely to choose someone with more experience than a recent law graduate with no experience. My recommendation is to avoid this mistake.

Secondly, it's crucial to network with former LLM alums. In my experience, LLM alums are more likely to show solidarity and spend more time helping current LLM students because they understand the job search struggle. They know what it's like to send multiple emails with little or no response, and they understand the discomfort that comes with it. Regular JD graduates didn't have to go through this process, so they may not understand the challenges of searching for a job as a lawyer with an international background.

My approach to job searching was to determine my unique value propositions, such as language skills, technical and engineering skills, and country of origin. What I did is that I come from Spain. So I looked at the law firms that work with Spanish clients, for instance, Clifford Change was working for a Spanish investor against Bolivia. Then I looked at all the law firms that were servicing Spanish clients for IPO, M&A and capital markets. And then I looked at those firms that have hired LLMs. And I identified the heads of those practices and then I applied to all those positions. I got little response. The response ratio is terrible. I think I got one response to every 12 emails sent.

One in 12 firms responded to you? I’d say that's a pretty good ratio.

Haha. But the point is sending emails to every firm isn't an effective approach. It's essential to target your search to increase the likelihood of receiving responses.

When a job candidate with a LLM apply for a position at BigLaw, how is their previous work experience in their home country viewed?

I sometimes receive this question from candidates, but why is previous work experience in their home country relevant? Well, it's relevant because it means that they already have practical skills. When you just finish university, you may have a lot of theoretical knowledge, but you don't necessarily know how to apply it in practice. For instance, you may not know how to draft a letter or structure it properly. However, if you've spent three to four years working at a law firm, you have experience with deadlines, organization, and working with people who are more knowledgeable than you. Law firm can be a challenging environment, and as a junior associate, you need to learn how to survive and produce quality work. Having previous experience in your home country means that you at least have a foundation of skills and knowledge to survive in that environment. That's why, in my opinion, candidates with work experience have a competitive advantage over those without it. It's like having a seal of approval that shows that you know how to get things done. I’ve worked with many talented individuals who have little previous work experience. I don't discriminate against candidates based on their work experience, but previous work experience is seen as an added value when assessing candidates.

You made it in BigLaw. You are a Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who’s Who Legal ranked lawyer. Your client left excellent testimonials, such as “Jose Garcia Cueto has great knowledge and is an excellent strategist. Jose is always one step ahead of my needs and will always see the bigger picture of the decisions both legally and commercially. He is the guy you want in your corner.” “He will undoubtedly be one of the most important lawyers in international arbitration.” What does it take to get so good at what you do?

I don't know who wrote most of those, but it must be someone who likes me. I'm not sure if I'm that good. Let's say I'm good enough to be here. What made me good is that I enjoyed what I was doing. When you enjoy your work, it doesn't take a toll on you. It's not difficult to do it. When you work for a client and you think, "If the client loses, I lose", and you reach a level of commitment where you say, "This is my matter. I don't care about the money. I need to win." When you're interested in the subject matter and you really like to think about it, and it becomes something you can't stop thinking about, like when you're in the shower, in bed, walking your dog, or just doing daily chores, and you're constantly thinking about a better argument, how to get away from something, how to structure something.

It's not that it becomes an obsession, but it becomes something you like. And it's easier to do. But I think it reflects the passion I put into my work. And again, this is not for everyone. This is something I've told so many people, "Guys, this is not for everyone. Not everyone will love this." Some people prefer to go to the cinema, and I go to the cinema sometimes. But I find it more interesting to understand how a power plant is constructed than going to the cinema. I like to watch TV with my wife; that I like to do.

But this type of work requires a lot of sacrifice, commitment, and time, and many people don't want to devote the time. I respect that and I understand it. But part of why I got to where I am is because I love the people I work with, which is one key component. You need to like the people you work with, because if you don't like those people, your life can be very miserable. The second key component is knowing what you like and finding that sweet spot in which you can grow that practice. I was lucky enough to work for my mentor, who was the nicest guy ever. He taught me a ton, and I spent a ton of hours with him doing something I love. So it was very easy.

Before you come to the United States, is there any movies or TV shows about American lawyers that inform your impression of the legal profession in the US?

I remember watching Suits and thinking, "Oh my god, these New York lawyers are the smartest people in the world." Now, you look at New York lawyers, who are insanely smart, but there's no Harvey Specter. No one can do 66 different things at the same time and know them as well as one partner knows his stand-alone practice.

Another movie My Cousin Vinny is a classic. That was a movie that I really loved before coming to the US. After coming here, I understood how fantastic it was in terms of understanding how cross-examination works, how a courtroom works, and how a trial works. If someone wants to do litigation, it's probably one of the best movies I've ever seen.

Who is your role model in the law?

My wife. We met at law school. There’s still hope for everyone. We studied together. We both got jobs. We both got our H1B work visas approved. We worked our way up the ranks. We ended up married, we have a kid now. Despite that she is four years younger than me, she is way more mature, and she is smarter. She understands how things are structured. And she gives me that structure that I lack. I know many things, but I am very disorganized. She's the person who taught me how to go from 1 to 10 while going through 23456789. She is my role model. I don't think I would be where I am today without all the fundamentals she helped me establish back in the day.