Mélissa Sanchez

Mélissa is Managing Senior Associate in the Construction Advisory and Disputes (CAD) department of Pinsent Masons Madrid. She specialises in international commercial and investment arbitration. She also has experience in pre-arbitration negotiations, commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution methods and court proceedings in support of arbitration.

Mélissa has particular experience advising clients in the infrastructure, construction, energy and banking sectors, and has represented private companies, state-owned entities and states in numerous international arbitrations under the rules of ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, LCIA, SCAI, SIAC, CAM, CIMA and CIAM-CIAR. In addition, she has acted as Secretary to arbitral tribunals in construction disputes.

Furthermore, she has teaching experience, having taught negotiation and mediation classes at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid (Spain). She also is regular speaker at events on international commercial and investment arbitration, aimed at professionals practicing in the field or students. In 2024, Mélissa have co-published an article on “The treatment of ‘Denial of Benefits’ clauses in investment arbitrations: the never-ending debate” in Iurgium, the CEIA arbitration review.

Mélissa is qualified to practice law in France and Spain. Legal 500 has included her as Leading associates in its Disputes Resolution ranking and Best Lawyers has recognized her in Arbitration and Mediation in its ranking Ones to Watch since 2023.