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María José Monroy

Associate

Office
Bogota, Colombia
Carrera 9 #80-45, Office 802
+57 60 1 691 5616
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María José’s practice focuses on international commercial and investment arbitration, as well as public international law.  She has served as counsel and tribunal secretary in numerous complex international arbitrations conducted under various arbitral rules and institutions.

 

Before joining the firm, she worked as a legal extern at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and at Colombia’s National Agency for the Legal Defense of the State (ANDJE).  During her work in both institutions, she acquired significant knowledge of investor-State dispute settlement proceedings. 

 

In addition to her arbitration experience, María José has a background in human rights.  She acted as a member of the Latin American and Caribbean legal clinic of the High-Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, advocated for the rights of inmates, and contributed to the submission of petitions, amicus curiae briefs, and lawsuits before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

 

María José also provides pro bono legal services in debt-enforcement cases, assisting low-income families and small business owners.

 

Academically, María José has held research positions in projects spanning over 30 countries, including contributions to the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), besides publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals on investment arbitration practices in Latin America.  Currently, she is an adjunct professor of Investment Arbitration at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at Universidad de los Andes and Universidad del Rosario, in addition to coach of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Colombia

Education

  • Universidad de los Andes, Master’s Degree in International Law

  • Universidad de los Andes, Law Degree with a Minor in Social Psychology

  • Universidad Ponificia Comillas (ICADE), Academic Exchange Program in International Law and European Legal Studies

  • Harvard Business School, Financial Analysis and Valuation for Lawyers Course

  • The Hague Academy of International Law, Winter Courses on International Law

  • Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, Executive Training on Investment Treaties and Arbitration for Government Officials

  • Arbanza, Specialized Course on Investment Arbitration 

Languages

  • Spanish

  • English

  • French

  • Portuguese (intermediate)

Relevant Matters

  • 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.

  • Represents a Colombian distribution company in an ICC arbitration between an American supplier of medical technologies company concerning the termination of a distribution agreement.  The language of the arbitration is English.

  • 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.

  • Represented the Republic of Colombia in an ICSID arbitration initiated by a European investor concerning the building and maintenance of a public port.

  • Represented the Republic of Guatemala in the negotiation of an ICSID award with an investor from the US in a case worth over US$ 240 million concerning measures in the energy sector.

  • Part of the team that represented the Republic of Colombia in an ICSID case initiated by a Spanish investor arising from regulatory measures for the reversion of telecommunications assets. Over US$ 600 million in dispute.

  • Part of the team that represented the Republic of Colombia in an ICSID case against a Swiss investor concerning penalties imposed by domestic regulators during the execution of a coal concession contract.  Over US$ 593 million in dispute.

  • Part of the team that represented the Republic of Colombia in an ICSID arbitration initiated by a European investor concerning the forceful liquidation of a financial services company.

  • Represented a South American company in an international arbitration against a contractor from the region concerning an investment in an agroindustry business. 

  • Secretary of the Arbitral Tribunal in an international arbitration administered by the CIAM between a Spanish company and a Chilean company regarding a PVC materials distribution contract for window construction.

  • Tribunal assistant in an ICC international arbitration between a European energy company and a European state-owned gas company.

  • Tribunal assistant in an international arbitration administered by the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) in a dispute related to a concession contract for the development of a hydroelectric power plant.

  • Tribunal assistant in a PCA international arbitration between claimant and an international organization.

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