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Overview
Manuel represents clients in complex business litigation and international arbitration.
Manuel represents clients in complex commercial disputes involving foreign investments, commercial contracts, employment matters, and construction projects. His practice spans state and federal courts, as well as local and international arbitrations under leading institutions such as the LCIA, ICDR, ICC, ICSID, and AAA. He is fluent in English and Spanish and has successfully tried cases in both languages.
Education & Admissions
Drake University Law School (J.D., 2018), With Honors
Simpson College (B.A., Marketing / International Management, 2011), cum laude
Admissions
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
Languages
- English and Spanish
Experience
Representative Work
- Obtained successful summary judgment ruling before Iowa federal court fully dismissing case against Nissan North America relating to alleged violations of Iowa’s Motor Vehicle Franchise law in Dave Wright Nissan Subaru, Inc. v. Nissan North America, Inc.
- Represented Central American State in ICSID investment treaty arbitration against bank relating to forceful liquidation and asset forfeiture of financial institution (2025).
- Represented African State in ICSID investment treaty arbitration against mining company relating to a mining concession, including requests for provisional measures and a temporary restraining order (2024).
- Argued and obtained successful opinion from the Iowa Supreme Court relating to the application of a statute of limitations to an easement in Rivera v. Clear Channel Outdoor, LLC, No. 23-0679, 2024 WL 2868932 (Iowa June 7, 2024).
- Represented Central American State in LCIA arbitration against airport operator arising out of the breach of a concession agreement involving the country’s four international airports (2023).
- Represented State in successful motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, both in Middle District of Florida and 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Agurcia v. Republica de Honduras, No. 21-13276, 2022 WL 2526591 (11th Cir. July 7, 2022).
- Represented City of Marion in successful bench trial (co-chair) in contract dispute relating to construction project; affirmed by the Iowa Court of Appeals (argued) in City of Marion, Iowa v. Capital Commercial Division, LLC, No. 21-0065, 2022 WL 244858 (Iowa Ct. App. Jan. 27, 2022).
- Represented City of Johnston in successful summary judgment motions regarding water district’s rights to provide water services in Iowa in Xenia Rural Water District v. City of Johnston, Iowa, 467 F. Supp. 3d 696 (S.D. Iowa 2020); successful opinion from the Iowa Supreme Court on certified questions of law regarding the same issues in Xenia Rural Water District v. City of Johnston, Iowa, 959 N.W.2d 113 (Iowa 2021).
- Obtained over $10M damages award in AAA ICDR arbitration relating to breach of distributor agreement between UK distributor and US manufacturer (2020).
News & Resources
Articles
December, 2025
Iowa Passes New Law Related to COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates by Employers and Unemployment Insurance
November 1, 2021
August 11, 2020
News & Press Mentions
November 11, 2025
August 21, 2025
October 8, 2024
Industries & Practices
International Arbitration & Litigation
Explore This Practice View resources related to this practice- Appellate
- Class Action Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Electronic Discovery
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Healthcare Litigation
- International Arbitration & Litigation
- Labor & Employment
- Products Liability
- Public-Private Partnerships
Accolades
- Up & Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer, 2025
- Named "Des Moines Ones to Watch" in Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers®, 2021-2025
- Contributed more than 50 Challenge pro bono hours, 2022
- Contributed more than 100 Challenge pro bono hours, 2020-2021
- Contributed more than 50 Diversity & Inclusion hours, 2021, 2023, 2024
- Dorsey & Whitney – Scales of Justice Team Award (Dr. Conaway Disability Rights Team), 2021
