Claire A. DeLelle, Counsel

Claire DeLelle focuses on commercial litigation and pre-litigation counseling and resolution, representing domestic, foreign, and foreign-sovereign clients in complex commercial litigations at all levels in federal and state courts.  She has argued before federal and state courts, at both the trial and appellate levels, and has also second-chaired federal trials, including obtaining a multi-million dollar award in favor of a plaintiff-client.  She has also defended a former CEO of a UK-headquartered company in a U.S. criminal jury trial.

Ms. DeLelle previously practiced at the Washington, D.C. office of a global law firm where she represented foreign-sovereign and diplomatic clients in civil litigations involving the act-of-state doctrine, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.  Ms. DeLelle also litigated civil actions on behalf of commercial clients and advised them on strategy to minimize U.S. litigation risks associated with complex project-finance deals and financial restructurings.

Publications, Presentations and Events

• “Ancillary U.S. Proceedings: Chapter 15 and 28 U.S.C. § 1782” ― Kleyr Grasso Associes, Luxembourg
• “How to Avoid an All-Expenses-Paid Holiday to the Western District of Texas” ― Jersey Law Institute, Channel Islands.
• The long arm of US import-export laws

Representative Matters

• Representing liquidators of hedge fund in U.S. action within a complex, cross-border litigation centered in the Channel Islands.
• Representing the Algosaibi Group of Saudi Arabia in civil litigation in the Central District of California seeking to recover the proceeds of a $10 billion fraud.
• Representing a foreign sovereign in numerous terrorism civil actions, resulting in the execution of an historic claims-settlement agreement with the United States.
• Obtaining the dismissal of multi-million-dollar counterclaims against client in International Finance Corporation v. Carrera Holdings, Inc. in the New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division; affirmed by the First Department, Appellate Division.
• Obtaining the dismissal of contract and tort claims against foreign sovereign in Anglo-Iberia Underwriting Insurance Company v. PT Jamsostek in the Southern District of New York; affirmed by the Second Circuit.
• Successfully representing a Swiss company operating in Uzbekistan and certain of its affiliates in federal actions in the District of Columbia involving claims arising from an alleged expropriation.
• Obtaining summary judgment in favor of foreign sovereign in 4 Third Avenue Leasehold, LLC v. Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates in the Southern District of New York; affirmed in part by the Second Circuit (argued).
• Obtaining dismissal of complaint in Carrasco v. United Arab Emirates in the District of Arizona (argued); affirmed by the Ninth Circuit.
• Successfully first-chairing defense of commercial dispute arising from asset-purchase agreement in the Southern District of New York (argued motions).
• Second-chairing bench trial of Pantheon Software, Inc. v. Dawes, in the Eastern District of Virginia, and obtaining a multi-million-dollar award in favor of plaintiff-client.

Professional Affiliations

• District of Columbia Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• British American Business Association
• Middle East Institute