Hunter T. Carter

Partner and International Practice Co-Leader

An international arbitrator, litigator, and human rights advocate, Hunter has been consistently recognized as one of the top Latin American lawyers by Latinvex and is a multiple award-winning LGBTI+ advocate.

Hunter Carter Portrait

Co-Chair of AFS International, Hunter has his finger on the pulse of international business with a focus on Latin America, where he is also renowned for his pro bono human rights work.

A vigorous advocate and sophisticated strategist with widely varied experience, Hunter has served as a trial lawyer in federal and state trial and appellate courts in the United States and has also led cases in international and domestic arbitration, including serving as an arbitrator appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

He also leads domestic and international internal corporate investigations with a specialty in handling anti-corruption-related investigations for multinational corporations. A recognized leader in the field, he often instructs corporate clients on global compliance and gives guest lectures at law schools in Chile and Peru.

Hunter has represented organizations and individuals throughout South and Central America, as well as in Europe and the US. He is fully fluent in Spanish with clients spanning a diverse range of industries, including agriculture, aircraft leasing, equipment manufacturing, financial and legal services, food and beverage, health care, intellectual property development and licensing, media and entertainment, oilfield services, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and telecommunications, among others.

Client Work

International

  • Co-arbitrator in an ICC case involving a share purchase agreement dispute between parties from Panama and Colombia. Award confirmed: Superior Energy Services Colombia SAS v Premium Petroleum Services, et al., 2019 WL 2717692 (S.D.N.Y.).
  • Co-arbitrator in ICC arbitration no. 24637/MK, Avions De Transport Regional G.I.E v. Avian Lineas Aereas S.A., concerning a French-Italian aircraft manufacturing consortium in its claim to recover two commercial airliner aircraft from an Argentine airline, which is in an Argentine restructuring process (concurso), and for damages. The Tribunal’s award, as disclosed in the concurso, issued partial final awards on jurisdiction, interim relief measures, liability and possession, and finally on damages, awarding US$40,288,506.24.
  • Claimant’s counsel in an ICC arbitration resulting in an award for a US-based crop-protection products distributor against a European manufacturer.
    • Accordion Toggle

Commercial, Corporate, and Bankruptcy

  • Defense counsel in New York federal court for a public company CFO. Won dismissal of complaint alleging Rule 10b-5 violations. Rudani v Ideanomics, Inc., 2020 WL 5770356 (SDNY 2020).
  • Defense counsel in a precedent-setting 7-0 ruling by the New York Court of Appeals holding that a restraining notice was not effective as to a third-party garnishee telecommunications purchaser that prepaid judgment debtor for its telecommunications service, such that there was no ‘‘debt’’ past-due or yet to become due. Verizon New England, Inc. v Transcom Enhanced Services, Inc., 211 NY 3d 66, 990 N.E. 2d 121 (NY 2013).
  • Defense counsel in New York bankruptcy court for the family members of Ruth Madoff in the investigation into Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities (BLMIS) by the BLMIS and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) Trustee resulting in a restitution settlement and release of claims.
    • Accordion Toggle

Intellectual Property and Entertainment

  • Represented a patent holder in its successful appeal to the Federal Circuit. Reversed dismissal of royalties suit: Alexsam, Inc. v. Mastercard International Incorporated, No. 2021-1785 (Fed. Cir. Mar. 3, 2022).
  • Represented a broadcast TV station group purchaser in AAA arbitration of claims against a portfolio seller for misrepresentation and breach of contract in the acquisition of several stations.
  • Represented a consumer products advertiser in New York and Connecticut federal court jury trials for trademark infringement.
    • Accordion Toggle

Real Estate

  • Claimant counsel in an American Automobile Association (AAA) arbitration for a national women’s health and reproductive services provider as the commercial tenant against its owner exercising a purchase option on the $40 million national headquarters building in New York. Defense counsel in a related New York Commercial Division trial and First Department appellate litigation to enforce arbitration, resulting in a litigation stay and an arbitration award enforcing option.
  • Defense counsel to funds of a worldwide investment bank in various real estate portfolio litigation matters in numerous states concerning purchase and sale, leasing, operations, and partnership dispute issues involving commercial, hospitality, multifamily, and marina property portfolios. 
  • Plaintiff and defense counsel to a major national REIT in all aspects of the commercial operations of Class A New York City office buildings.
  • Defense counsel in District of Columbia federal court for the purchaser of a mortgage portfolio. Defended claims to recoup or offset damages from an alleged breach of refinancing agreement, resulting in a DC Circuit decision affirming that the thrift’s assets were sold free and clear of all liabilities, including recoupment defenses.

Professional Activities

Hunter dedicates himself to pro bono public service, primarily on human rights. Hunter has tried a case involving torture against Chile in the Inter-American Court on Human Rights, has represented the people of Easter Island on international cultural property rights, and has had significant accomplishments advocating for marriage equality. Hunter was a key figure in securing marriage equality in Chile, having negotiated an agreement with the government of Chile to settle a human rights case. He served as co-counsel with famed Chilean lawyer, Ciro Colombara, for the LGBT advocacy group Movimiento para la Liberación Homosexual (MOVILH) in denouncing the Chilean government for denying three same-sex couples civil marriage rights. MOVILH filed a complaint at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, part of the Organization of American States in Washington, DC.

Along the way, Hunter and Ciro created AMAmericas, the Alliance for Marriage in the Americas. AMAmericas is an informal group of pro bono lawyers who have partnered with local leaders to support cases against Mexico in the Inter-American Commission, against Panama in its Supreme Court, and against Colombia and Peru, among others. In 2013, Hunter addressed the full Colombian Senate when it debated marriage equality. Hunter and his husband were ultimately the first foreign-married same-sex couple to register a civil marriage under Colombian law. He has argued at the Inter-American Commission repeatedly on the subject.

Hunter is a respected leader in the global legal and political community. He serves as a founding board and executive member of Global Americans, an innovative Latin America-focused think tank. He was also elected to serve on the New York City Bar’s Council on International Affairs and is a longtime member of its Committee for the Vance Center for International Justice, which promotes pro bono throughout Latin America and Africa. Previously, Hunter chaired the New York City Bar Committee on Inter-American Affairs.

Hunter also served two terms as a member of the New York State Bar Ethics Committee, as chair of the Ethics Committee of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association, and as the partner in charge of ethics and loss prevention for the firm’s New York office.

Hunter periodically teaches at Latin American law schools and at conferences on anti-corruption compliance, international arbitration, human rights litigation, and lawyer ethics.

Publications & Presentations 

Hunter frequently lectures on current corporate, litigation, and Latin America-related issues. He has also contributed to various publications, blogs, and seminar materials. His recent speaking engagements, publications, and interviews include:

Recognitions

Hunter has been consistently recognized as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in Latin America” by Latinvex and is a multiple award-winning advocate for the LGBTI+ community.

Life Beyond The Law

Hunter and his husband, Cesar Augusto Zapata, enjoy “re-wilding” woodlands in the Hudson Valley with their English Pointer, Duke.

Insights

Awards

Latin America's Top 100 2022 - Hunter Carter