Attorney Spotlight – Get to Know Giovanni Angles

1. What inspired you to pursue a law career? When I was a kid, my dad used a memorable analogy to explain the law—he compared it to the rules of a game. Just as understanding a game’s rules helps you play it more effectively, learning the rules that govern the real world equips you to navigate it. A legal career, then, allows you to master the framework that shapes society itself. Now that I’m older, it does sound a bit Machiavellian, but I think he meant well.

2. Why did you choose the areas of law that you practice? I chose litigation early on and never looked back. I knew I wanted to be a disputes lawyer, and every early experience in trial advocacy and summer clerkships reinforced that belief. But international arbitration chose me, almost by accident. Before I knew it, I was representing investors in ICSID proceedings and commercial parties in ICC and ICDR business disputes. Over the years, I’ve come to relish the unique nuances that make cross-border disputes so interesting.

3. What skills do you draw upon when it comes to your specific practice areas? The main skills that are part of every good litigator’s toolkit: The ability to read and absorb information for long stretches, ruthlessly efficient writing, and simplifying complex topics to fine tune a message for a certain audience. In international arbitration, that audience can vary by cultural background and legal tradition.

4. What is the most rewarding part about your job? Two things come to mind. For everyday moments, the most rewarding part of my job is working alongside my colleagues, particularly during the “crunch times” before a substantive filing or a final hearing. The other rewarding part is more elusive—that electrifying moment when we uncover a “black swan.” That is, a hidden fact, piece of evidence, or arcane procedural move during trial prep that can reshape our strategy. It happens with relentless digging and expansive thinking, and often helps us forge a path to victory in our client’s favor.

5. Tell us about a mentor who made an impact on your career. I’ve been blessed with quite a few mentors who have helped my career in innumerable ways. One of the earliest ones was Richard Signore, my high school English teacher and theater program director who got me hooked on acting in front of a live audience and channeling the crowd’s energy into my performance—skills I tap into when addressing a jury or arbitral tribunal. Another was John Campbell, my adjunct undergraduate constitutional law professor. He encouraged me to aim high, and gave me a taste of what law school would be like, years before the real thing. He only taught for a couple of semesters, and he insisted I didn’t cause him to quit teaching.

6. If you weren’t practicing law, what would you be doing? Hard to settle on one thing. Probably teaching American history.

7. What might people be surprised to learn about you? I play on two different ice hockey teams in my spare time. It’s a great workout, and it sure beats golf. Sorry to my friends who golf, but you know I’m right.

8. What is a good book or article you read recently? My most recent read is Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, an eye-opening look at our problematic “attention crisis” caused by smartphones, societal pressures, and lots of other hidden environmental factors. These forces are ever-present, and the harm (individual and collective) is worse than you think. The book has helped me reclaim my lost time and re-hone my ability to deep focus. I highly recommend it.