Gabriela Santana
Associate
Office
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Calle Ercilia Ozuna #5​
Mirador Sur
+ 1 809 524 4222
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 at two tier 1 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, Summa Cum Laude, from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), where she was Vice president of the Law Students Association and a published author for the law review.
Gabriela has advised financial entities on ESG compliance, helping to design the corporate structures for their ESG committees. She also played a key role in assisting a U.S. company through the public tender process for coal supply to a 752MW thermoelectrical plant in the Caribbean and in negotiations for the construction of a large-scale solar park in the Dominican Republic. She has also assisted in preparing amicus curiae briefs before the Dominican Constitutional Court.
Gabriela has served as counsel and administrative secretary of the arbitral tribunal in international disputes. Currently, Gabriela is a mentee for the 2024-2025 Young ICCA Mentoring Programme in international arbitration.
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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Young ICCA Mentoring Programme
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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. Approximately US$ 40 million in dispute. 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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Represented 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 was 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.