Rebecca Vélez

Managing Director

Rebecca is a Managing Director at Credibility International with experience providing accounting and financial consulting services to clients involved in litigation, arbitration, and other complex business disputes. She has significant experience in international arbitrations involving both contract and treaty claims under ICSID, ICC, UNCITRAL, PCA and SCC rules. Her clients have included corporations and sovereign nations worldwide and her engagements have spanned over various industries including energy, oil & gas, mining, toll roads and real estate, among others.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University. Rebecca is a native Spanish speaker and has provided testimony in both English and Spanish.

Prior to joining Credibility International, Rebecca provided accounting and financial advisory services at Grant Thornton, Huron Consulting Group, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Testimonial Experience

Rebecca has testified or submitted expert testimony primarily relating to damages, valuation and financial issues in the following matters:

  • Espíritu Santo Holdings, LP v. United Mexican States (ICSID Case No. ARB/20/13): Dispute involving a concession for the installation and operation of taxi meters and a mobile taxi application in Mexico City. Ongoing proceeding. Filed an expert report on damages in May 2022. Engaged by Respondent; Parties from Canada & Mexico.
  • Legacy Vulcan LLP v. United Mexican States (ICSID Case No. ARB/19/1): Concession contract relating to a port terminal and authorizations for two lime extraction plants in Mexico. Ongoing proceeding with ancillary claim. Expert report on damages related to the ancillary claim filed in December 2022. Testified during a virtual hearing in July 2021. Filed expert reports on damages in November 2020 and May 2021. Engaged by Respondent; Parties from US & Mexico.
  • Panamericana Television S.A. and others v. Republic of Peru (UNCITRAL, PCA Case No. 2019-26): Dispute relating to the temporary management and alleged expropriation of a television broadcasting station in Peru. Testified during a virtual hearing in January 2022. Filed expert reports on damages in January 2020 and August 2021. Engaged by Respondent; Parties from Switzerland & Peru.
  • Hydrika 1 S.A.C. and others v. Republic of Peru (ICSID Case No. ARB/18/48): Breach of contract involving a cost claim relating to the construction and operation of six renewable energy plants. Testified during a virtual hearing in April 2021. Filed expert reports on damages in August 2020 and February 2021. Engaged by Respondent; Parties from Peru.
  • Rutas de Lima, S.A.C. v. Municipalidad Metropolitana de Lima (MML) (Ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules, 2010): Concession contract relating to toll roads and toll collections in Lima, Peru. Testified at the World Bank in DC in November 2019. Filed expert reports on damages in April, August, and December 2019. Engaged by Respondent; Parties from Peru.
  • Alten Renewable Energy Investments, B.V. and Alten Renewable Energy Developments v. Kingdom of Spain (SCC Case No. V 2015/036): Fair and equitable treatment matter under Energy Charter Treaty. Claims arising out of a series of energy reforms affecting the renewables sector. Filed expert report in August 2019. Engaged by Respondent; Parties from the Netherlands & Spain.
  • Valores Mundiales, S.L. and Consorcio Andino S.L. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB/13/11): Expropriation of two grain milling and distribution entities in Venezuela. Testified at the World Bank in DC in February 2016. Filed expert reports on damages in October and March 2015. Engaged by Respondent; Parties from Spain & Venezuela.
  • Quadrant Pacific Growth Fund L.P. and Canasco Holdings Inc. v. Republic of Costa Rica (ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/08/1): Real estate investment by Canadian investors in Costa Rica. Filed two expert reports in 2009 related to the quantification of damages. Proceeding discontinued in October 2010. Engaged by Respondent; Parties from Canada & Costa Rica.

Consulting Team Experience

Rebecca has been part of the consulting team for the following engagements:

International Arbitration

  • APG SGA SA and D.O.O za promet i usluge Alma Quattro Beograd v. Republic of Serbia (ICSID Case No. ARB/21/13) Expropriation and Fair and Equitable Treatment. Dispute involving a long-term contract for out-of-home advertising in Belgrade. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Switzerland and Serbia.
  • JSC Tashkent Mechanical Plant, JSC National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan, JSC Asakabank, and JSCB Uzbek Industrial and Construction Bank v. The Kyrgyz Republic(ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/16/4): Dispute involving the management and operations of four tourist resorts. On behalf of Claimants; Parties from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic.
  • Quanta Services Netherlands B.V. v. Republic of Peru (ICSID Case No. ARB/21/1): Expropriation and Fair and Equitable Treatment. Dispute involving the construction and operation of broadband networks in rural regions of Peru. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Netherlands and Peru.
  • ITOCHU Corporation v. Kingdom of Spain (ICSID Case No. ARB/18/25): Fair and equitable treatment matter under Energy Charter Treaty. Dispute involving energy reforms affecting renewable energy generation. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Japan & Spain.
  • Infinito Gold Ltd. v. Republic of Costa Rica (ICSID Case No. ARB/14/5): Expropriation relating to an exploration/development stage gold mining project in Costa Rica. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Canada & Costa Rica.
  • Eoltec Energy, S.L. and Corporación Montealto XXI, S.L. v. ContourGlobal Latam, S.A (ICC Case No. 21070/ASM): Breach of contract relating to the funding and operations of a wind farm in Peru. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Spain & Colombia.
  • Emergofin B.V. and Velbay Holdings Ltd. v. Ukraine (ICSID Case No. ARB/16/35): Expropriation involving an aluminum production plant which alleged inequitable treatment due to electricity prices regulated by the Government of Ukraine. On behalf of Claimant; Parties from Netherlands, Cyprus & Ukraine.
  • Michael Ballantine and Lisa Ballantine v. The Dominican Republic (UNCITRAL and DR-CAFTA): Expropriation involving real estate development (hotel/resort) in the Dominican Republic. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from US & Dominican Republic.
  • Ferrocarriles del Norte de Colombia S.A. (“FENOCO”) v. Drummond Coal Mining LLC, Drummond Ltd., et al. (ICC Case No. 19576/CA/ASM): Breach of contract involving a coal mining operation in Colombia with claims relating to the rail transport of the coal and issues at the port. On behalf of Claimant; Parties from Colombia & US.
  • Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A., Sacyr S.A., Salini-Impregilo S.p.A, Jan de Nul N.V., Constructora Urbana S.A., and Sofidra S.A. v. Autoridad del Canal de Panama(ICC Case No. 22588/ASM/JPA): Breach of contract involving cost overruns in the construction of the new portion of the Panama Canal. On behalf of Claimants; Parties from Belgium, Italy & Panama.
  • Güneş Tekstil Konfeksiyon Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi, Vahit Güneş, Reşat Güneş, Fikret Güneş, Ibrahim Eksilmez, and Yücel Yildiz v. Republic of Uzbekistan (ICSID Case No. ARB/13/19): Expropriation involving a real estate, retail and wholesale trade, and light manufacturing company in Uzbekistan. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Turkey & Uzbekistan.
  • Vladislav Kim and Others v. Republic of Uzbekistan (ICSID Case No. ARB/13/6): Expropriation involving two cement plants in Uzbekistan. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan.
  • David R. Aven, et al v. Republic of Costa Rica (PCA Case No. UNCT/15/3): Expropriation involving an investment in a planned real estate development (hotel/resort) in Costa Rica. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from US & Costa Rica.
  • Horthel Systems B.V., Tesa Beheer B.V and Poland Gaming Holding B.V. v. Republic of Poland (PCA Case No. 2014-31): Expropriation relating to an investment treaty dispute in the gambling industry in Poland. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Netherlands & Poland.
  • Cem Cengiz Uzan v. Republic of Turkey (SCC Case No. V 2014/023): Expropriation of two electricity generation, transmission, and distribution companies operating under concession contracts in Turkey. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from England & Turkey.
  • Tenaris S.A. and Talta – Trading e Marketing Sociedade Unipessoal Lda. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/23): Expropriation of a seamless pipe production plant and a hot briquette iron (HBI) plant in Venezuela. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Luxembourg, Portugal & Venezuela.
  • Crystallex International Corporation v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB/11/2): Expropriation of a gold mining concession in Venezuela. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Canada & Venezuela.
  • Oxus Gold plc v. Republic of Uzbekistan (UNCITRAL Arbitration): Expropriation of a gold mine in Uzbekistan. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from England & Uzbekistan.
  • Tenaris S.A. and Talta – Trading e Marketing Sociedade Unipessoal Lda. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB/11/26): Expropriation of a hot briquetted iron plant in Venezuela. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Luxembourg, Portugal & Venezuela.
  • Supervisión y Control S.A. v. Republic of Costa Rica (ICSID Case No. ARB/12/4): Breach of contract relating to a concession for vehicle inspection services in Costa Rica. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Spain & Costa Rica.
  • Highbury International AVV and Ramstein Trading Inc. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB/11/1): Expropriation of gold and diamond mining concessions in Venezuela. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Netherlands & Venezuela.
  • Vannessa Ventures Ltd. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/04/6): Expropriation of a gold mine in Venezuela. On behalf of Respondent; Parties from Canada & Venezuela.
  • MMX Corumbá Mineracáo LTDA and MMX Trade & Shipping LLC v. Eregli Demir Ve Çelik Fabrikalari (ICC Case No. 16056/VRO): Breach of contract involving an iron ore supply contract. On behalf of Claimant; Parties from Brazil & Turkey.

U.S. Domestic Arbitration & Litigation

  • Ad Astra Recovery Services, Inc. v. John Clifford Heath, Esq., Lexington Law Firm, et al (U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas – Wichita, Case No. 6:18-cv-01145-JWB-KGS): Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO). Refuted damages based on the management of claims in the bill collection industry. On behalf of Defendants.
  • Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania v. Beechwood Re Ltd., et al (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Case No. 1:18-cv-06658): Breach of Contract, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Fraud in the Inducement, Gross Negligence. Dispute regarding the management of an insurer’s assets involved with the collapse of hedge funds and related party reinsurers. Case settled before trial. On behalf of Plaintiff.
  • Profit Investment Management, LLC and Eugene R. Profit v. Michelle Profit, Dr. Joseph Quash, and Dr. Thomas Pinder (Montgomery County Circuit Court, Maryland, Case No. 430677-V): Negligence. Calculated damages for a dispute relating to an asset management business. On behalf of Plaintiff.
  • PSM Holding Corp v. National Farm Financial Corporation et. al. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. CV 05-8891 MMM (FMOx)): Breach of Contract and Fraud. Dispute involving claims for restitution relating to an insurance company that was improperly transferred and later returned to the original owner. Firm engaged as court appointed expert.
  • Calculated the balances in funds withheld accounts and reserve accounts for an insurance company involved in an arbitration regarding the reinsurance of certain blocks of business.
  • Prepared an expert report concerning issues regarding damages sustained by an automotive part manufacturer in connection with alleged mismanagement and disregard of a shareholders’ agreement related to one of their joint ventures.
  • Rebutted an expert’s calculation of damages for a services firm relating to the departure of key personnel and determined an alternate calculation of damages based on lost profits.
  • Presented a summary of opinions regarding an award of profits between insurance parties that had been subject to a quota share agreement.
  • Analyzed the solvency of an information services company involved in alleged anticompetitive conduct.
  • Analyzed various opposing expert reports and calculated alternative damages, including expectation and equitable indemnity damages, for an international breach of contract matter.
  • Analyzed and evaluated the accounting treatment of wholesale purchases and importation of gasoline and diesel fuel by a global energy and petrochemical company, and its subsequent sale to retailers.
  • Developed product line financial statements to determine a pharmaceutical company’s profitability by product and location for transactions involved in a multi-billion-dollar transfer pricing dispute with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
  • Calculated commercial damages for a manufacturing company based on lost profits and reasonable royalties resulting from a copyright infringement and a trade secret misappropriation.
  • Prepared restructured financial statements and forecasts using a detailed discounted cash flow model for a company involved in a litigation matter against its auditors.
  • Managed the claim reconciliation process for the real estate leasing business unit of a major telecom company in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Analyzed enrollment data for an insurance litigation dispute regarding a $20 million premium underpayment claim.
  • Developed methodology for interest rate computations in the reconstruction of a multi-billion-dollar trust fund involved in a class action lawsuit.

Consulting Engagements

Prepared and co-signed various valuation reports used for negotiation and settlement purposes for nationalized telecom, electric, and oil & gas and jet fuel entities in Bolivia. Presented results to company management, the Bolivian Ministry of Finance and the Bolivian Ministry of Legal Defense. Some of the cases settled and others proceeded to arbitration, including:

  • T.I. Euro Telecom International N.V. v. Plurinational State of Bolivia (ICSID Case No. ARB/07/28)
  • Pan American Energy LLC v. Plurinational State of Bolivia (ICSID Case No. ARB/10/8)
  • Guaracachi America, Inc. and Rurelec PLC v. Plurinational State of Bolivia (UNCITRAL, PCA Case No. 2011-17)

Financial Investigations, Fraud & Forensic Accounting

  • Conducted an internal investigation regarding an alleged kickback scheme between the purchasing department of an automotive supplier company and its suppliers.
  • Participated in an investigation regarding the misappropriation of personal and confidential information in relation to government contracts.
  • Prepared consolidated and restated financial statements for a Fortune 500 company’s foreign entity.
  • Conducted a risk assessment of internal controls and procedures for trade spending in a Fortune 100 snack and beverage company.
  • Reviewed and analyzed revenue recognition practices and internal control procedures for trade spending to provide guidance to the audit committee for a Fortune 100 company involved in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation.
  • Performed a computer forensic investigation of employees accused of stealing proprietary company information.
  • Investigated allegations of misconduct by the executive team of a consumer products company.
  • Master of Business Administration, Majors: Finance and Strategic Management Consulting, Minor: Strategic Analysis of Accounting Information; Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major: Finance, Minor: Economics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.
  • Rebecca is a native Spanish speaker. She has authored reports, delivered presentations, and testified in both English and Spanish.

Publications

  • Co-Author; “Study of Damages Awards in Investor-State Arbitrations, No Jurisdiction Supplement”, Transnational Dispute Management, November 2021. Supervised data collection, analyzed data and co-authored report.
  • Co-Author; “Study of Damages Awards in Investor-State Arbitrations” 2nd Edition, Transnational Dispute Management, January 2021. Supervised data collection, analyzed data and co-authored report.
  • Contributor; “Study of Damages in International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes Case”, Transnational Dispute Management, June 2014. Performed research and analyzed data.
  • Contributor; “Immigrant Use of Financial Services and Unmet Needs: An Updated Survey of Mexican Immigrants in Chicago”, Appleseed Foundation, April 2015. Analyzed data for follow-up report.
  • Co-Author; “Immigrant Use of Financial Services and Unmet Needs: A Survey of Mexican Immigrants in Chicago”, Appleseed Foundation, December 2008. Conducted surveys, analyzed data, and co-authored report.

Speaking Engagements

  • Guest speaker on “The Tea on International Arbitration”, podcast hosted by the DC Bar International Law Community, December 7, 2020 and December 14, 2020.