Julio Rivera Ríos is an associate in the firm’s Litigation Department.
Mr. Rivera Ríos has extensive experience representing clients in complex commercial and investor-state disputes across various industries, including energy, mining, finance, construction, shareholder relationships, and sports. He has acted as counsel in arbitrations spanning multiple jurisdictions under the major arbitral rules such as ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, and LCIA. Who’s Who Legal (2022, 2023, and 2024) recognized him as a Future Leader in international arbitration and included him in its list of Most Highly Regarded, where he earns praise as a “talented and excellent advocate.” Mr. Rivera Ríos is also ranked as a key lawyer by The Legal 500 (2024), which notes that he is a “very talented lawyer, intelligent, extremely hard-working, charming, and with amazing communication skills.” Clients have also said that he “stands out a lot for his intelligence, hard work, great personality, and the excellent preparation he has for interrogations.” In addition to his work as counsel, Mr. Rivera Ríos is active in various leadership positions and committees, including as a member of the IBA Arb40 Subcommittee, Co Director of the Young ICCA Mentoring Programme, and ICC YAAF Representative for North America. He is also a member of ITA Americas Initiative, coordinating the Task Force on Mexican Judicial Decisions in Arbitration. Mr. Rivera Ríos speaks and writes regularly on arbitration related issues. Mr. Rivera Ríos maintains an active pro bono practice, most recently involving immigration and asylum matters. He was recognized by Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) as an Attorney of the Year in 2020 for his work providing pro bono legal services to refugee and immigrant children who were separated from a parent at the U.S.-Mexico border. Before joining Debevoise, Mr. Rivera Ríos practiced at a leading litigation firm in Mexico City and worked as a visiting attorney at a prominent Japanese law firm in Tokyo. Mr. Rivera Ríos holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, where he was awarded a full scholarship by the Mexican Government in recognition of his professional and academic merits. He graduated summa cum laude from the Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico City. Admitted to practice law in both New York and Mexico, Mr. Rivera Ríos is fluent in English and Spanish.