Brian Vaca is Counsel in the Miami office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed and a prominent member of the firm’s International Arbitration practice group, which was recognized as “International Arbitration Group of the Year” in 2026 by Law360. He is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, where he earned both his J.D. and LL.M. in International Arbitration cum laude in 2016.
Over the past decade, Vaca’s practice has focused on advising sovereigns and corporate clients in some of the most consequential international investment and commercial disputes in Latin America. His experience spans disputes across the energy, mining, infrastructure, cultural patrimony, telecommunications, banking, and intellectual property sectors, and includes matters involving landmark legal issues, complex negotiations, crisis management, and investment protections.
Vaca has been widely recognized for his work in international arbitration. He has been named a “Top Lawyer Under 40” by the Hispanic National Bar Association and Miami-Dade Bar and a “Future Leader” by Who’s Who Legal, among other distinctions. His reputation has led him to be regularly invited to speak on panels at major conferences throughout the United States and Latin America on international dispute resolution.
His commitment to the legal community is extensive. Vaca serves as chair of Young MIAS, the young professional division of the Miami International Arbitration Society, and as a regional leader within the Hispanic National Bar Association, where he supports the development and representation of Hispanic legal professionals.
What aspects of the curriculum or faculty had the most significant impact on your legal education and career trajectory?
While there are many professors to whom I am grateful, four faculty members had a particularly significant impact on my education and career trajectory. Paula Arias, the director of the International Moot Court Program, through her teaching and mentorship, emphasized disciplined legal analysis and intellectual rigor. Jonathan Hamilton, who is the distinguished faculty chair of the International Arbitration Institute and serves as an adjunct professor, not only provided a practical, real-world perspective on international dispute resolution, but also believed in me and gave me the opportunity I needed to launch my career. Dean Marni Lennon offered guidance and support at key moments in my academic and professional development. Marike Paulsson also played an important role in my academic and professional development, encouraging intellectual curiosity and an appreciation for engaging deeply with the law while maintaining a genuine sense of enjoyment in the process.
How did your education at the University of Miami School of Law prepare you for your career?
My education was defined by the breadth of practical and specialized opportunities available to students willing to step beyond the traditional curriculum. Programs such as International Moot Court, Litigation Skills, the HOPE Fellows, International Arbitration practicums, and advanced courses in international law provided hands-on experience that closely mirrored real practice. Although the transition from law school to practice was demanding and required significant growth, by the time I started my career in Washington, D.C., I felt as prepared as I could be—not only on the substantive law, but also in terms of professional expectations. The foundation I developed at Miami Law allowed me to approach that transition with confidence and a clear understanding of the work.
What opportunities or connections did you gain at the law school, and how did they influence your career?
I owe a great deal of my career to the opportunities and connections I developed at Miami Law. The International Arbitration LL.M. program, in particular, played a defining role. Through that program, I had the opportunity to work with several of the premier international arbitration practitioners in Miami, which opened doors and provided invaluable early experience. Those opportunities led to launching my career at White & Case LLP in Washington, D.C., one of the leading international arbitration practices around the world. That experience provided not only a platform to begin my career, but also the training and exposure to high-level matters that shaped my development as a lawyer. The relationships built with faculty, practitioners, and peers created a network that continues to be relevant today and has had a lasting impact on my professional trajectory.
