Gabriela Santana
Associate
Office
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Calle Rafael Augusto Sánchez # 86
+ 1 809 792 5200
Roble Corporate Center, 7th floor
Gabriela Santana is a Dominican lawyer who focuses her practice on international commercial and investment arbitration.
Prior to joining Adell & Merizalde, Gabriela worked as an associate in 2 top-tier law firms in Santo Domingo, where she gained considerable experience in litigation, regulatory compliance, and corporate and business law. She also participated in criminal law investigation projects for the Organization of American States (OAS) and the São Paulo Pro-Bono Institute.
Gabriela holds a Law Degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), Summa Cum Laude, where she was Vice president of the Law Students Association and a published author for the law review. She was recognized with the highest academic honors and excelled as a winner and best speaker in various international competitions, including the International Commercial Arbitration Competition in Quito, Ecuador. She also received a scholarship to represent the Dominican Republic at the 53rd World Conference for the International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC).
Gabriela was part of the team that represented the Dominican Republic in one of the most significant cases of tax fraud and money laundering in local history, involving a disputed amount exceeding US$4 billion. She has also assisted in preparing amicus curiae briefs before the Dominican Constitutional Court.
Gabriela has served as the administrative secretary of the arbitral tribunal on several occasions. Furthermore, she contributes to the preparation of conferences and training sessions in international arbitration. Currently, Gabriela is a mentee for the 2024-2025 Young ICCA Mentoring Programme.
Credentials
Bar Admissions
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Dominican Republic
Education
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Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), Law Degree, Summa Cum Laude
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New England Law (Boston), Course on Public International Law
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Arbanza, Workshop: Your First International Arbitration Experience
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Corte de Arbitraje y Resolución Alternativa de Conflictos de Santo Domingo, Training on the Arbitrator's Role in the Face of Mandatory Standards
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Asociación de Puestos de Bolsa, Inc., Training on the Corporate Governance Regulations applicable to Stock Market Participants
Languages
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Spanish
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English
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French
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Portuguese
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Italian (intermediate)
Relevant Matters
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Represents Costa Rica in an ICSID arbitration filed by German investors arising from expropriation proceedings relating to the construction of a hydroelectric dam. The language of the arbitration is Spanish.
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Represents a European intergovernmental organization in an ICC arbitration based in Munich, Germany, regarding alleged delays and cost overruns in the construction of a highly complex scientific project in a South American country. Over US$30 million in dispute. The language of the arbitration is English.
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Represents a Central American Company in an ICC arbitration seated in Houston, Texas, against several respondents in relation to a large photovoltaic energy project in the Dominican Republic. The language of the arbitration is English.
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Secretary of the Arbitral Tribunal in a DIAC arbitration related to a professional services contract for the installation of aluminum works in a construction site in the Middle East. The language of the arbitration was English.
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Secretary of the Arbitral Tribunal in an ICC international arbitration between a North American company and two South American companies. The language of the arbitration was Spanish.
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Tribunal assistant in an ICC international arbitration between a North American Company and its South American subsidiary, as well as several Asian and UK entities related to the oil and gas industry. The language of the arbitration is English.
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Tribunal assistant in a CAM-CCBC arbitration between two South American companies related to a supply contract for an oil tanker. The language of the arbitration is English.