Riyaz Dattu*

Canada Legal Practice Leader

Riyaz assists clients with international trade and investment related matters.

Riyaz Dattu Portrait

During his more than 35 years of practice as a senior partner at two of Canada’s most prestigious national law firms, Riyaz has developed considerable, sophisticated, and wide-ranging experience in International Trade and Investment Law.

This includes international investment arbitrations, international trade disputes (including before NAFTA panels, the WTO, and domestic courts), trade remedies, international trade regulations (economic sanctions, export controls, customs), trade policy and market access, government procurement, national security, corporate investigations, and anti-corruption.

Since the beginning of his career in International Trade and Investment Law, prominent legal directories in Canada and internationally have recognized Riyaz as a leading practitioner in his field. His global standing is confirmed through his selection by the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers early in his practice as one of 30 lawyers worldwide “with proven expertise in international trade law.” Beginning with the inaugural issue, Chambers Global ranked him at the highest level, while also noting that he is “widely credited for having created one of the most active and international practices out there” and for the “impressive breadth” of his practice. For the past 15 years, the Canadian Who’s Who has recognized Riyaz for his achievements in the field of International Trade and Investment Law.

The Federal Government of Canada has appointed Riyaz for a ten-year term on the roster of panelists for the NAFTA Chapter 19 binational dispute resolution process now Chapter 10 of the USMCA.

*Admitted as Foreign Legal Consultant in New York. Admitted to practice law in Canada.

Client Work

Riyaz has been providing advice to clients on investment treaty provisions within NAFTA, the Energy Charter, the recently negotiated CETA and the CPTPP and other free trade agreements, investment contracts, and bilateral investment protection treaties. In addition to advising and counseling clients on implementing structures and negotiating contracts to obtain investment protection, he has appeared as counsel in international arbitrations.

Some examples of the breadth of his experience are as follow:

  • Acting for a Canadian mining company in relation to a claim in excess of $500 million against the Government of Mexico pursuant to NAFTA for collecting monies purportedly as taxes in violation of Mexican law and the federal Constitution and in violation of provisions of three avoidance of double-taxation treaties.
  • Acting for a Canadian bank in an international arbitration pursuant to a Canadian bilateral investment treaty involving a $600 million claim against the Republic of Argentina
  • Acting for a Canadian energy company in an international arbitration pursuant to a Canadian bilateral investment treaty involving an $80 million claim against the Republic of Ecuador
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Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Riyaz has authored the following publication:

Riyaz’s presentations include: 

Riyaz has been ranked at the highest level in the following legal and professional publications:

  • Canadian Who’s Who, for his reputation and achievements in his profession, and as one of only 700 lawyers and 10,000 prominent Canadians selected exclusively based on merit.
  • Chambers Global, WTO/International Trade, (Band 1), noting in one of its earliest publications that “Riyaz Dattu is regarded as a ‘highly talented lawyer.’ His growing involvement in NAFTA and Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) disputes, alongside appearances before the Federal Court of Canada, mark Dattu out as a force to be reckoned with.”
  • Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business, WTO/International Trade, (Band 1), recognized at the highest level of ranking beginning with the inaugural survey, stating that “Riyaz Dattu wins high praise for his ‘extensive background in international trade.’ Sources say he is ‘well known and well rounded,’ citing the impressive breadth of his practice in the field. He is widely regarded as a high-profile figure in the Canadian market.”
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