Sofía Galindo
Associate
Office
Bogota, Colombia
Carrera 9 #80-45, Office 802
+57 60 1 691 5616
vCard
Sofía centers her practice on international arbitration disputes, working on both commercial and investment treaty matters. She focuses on disputes involving Latin American parties and has acted under major arbitration rules and institutions such as the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
Before joining the firm, Sofía worked at three top-tier law firms in international arbitration (Paris and London). She has also worked as a lawyer advising local and international clients on business and corporate law and M&A in two Guatemalan law firms. Sofía also held a clerkship at the Tribunal de lo Contencioso Administrativo in Guatemala City.
Sofía is a founding member of the Guatemalan Very Young Arbitration Practitioners (GTVYAP), part of the Global VYAP Network, and Co-Chair of the Latin American Committee of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations (Green Pledge).
Credentials
Bar Admissions
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Guatemala
Education
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Queen Mary University of London, L.L.M. in Comparative and International Dispute Resolution
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Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Law and Public Notary Degree
Languages
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Spanish
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English
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French (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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Represents a Central American fruit producer in an ICC arbitration based in Miami, Florida, against one of the world's largest fruit companies concerning the termination of a long-term distribution contract. The language of the arbitration is English and Spanish.
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Represented a South American State in two ICSID arbitrations commenced by two Canadian Companies in the mining sector.
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Represented a South American State in an ICSID arbitration commenced by a Swiss company concerning a concession for the operation of a maritime port and the application of the country’s antitrust regulation.
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Represented the Republic of Guatemala in an UNCITRAL investment arbitration commenced by an Israeli company operating in the electricity distribution sector concerning criminal tax fraud claims brought by the country’s tax administration.
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Represented the Republic of Colombia in one ICSID case initiated by investors from Spain arising from regulatory measures for the reversion of telecommunications assets.
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Represented a South American State against a U.S. citizen and the Company in which he owns a controlling interest in a PCA arbitration under the rules of UNCITRAL arising from a mining concession held by the company.
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Represented the Republic of Guatemala in an inter-state arbitration under the CAFTA-DR brought by the United States regarding the alleged failure of Guatemalan Government to effectively enforce its labor laws.
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Represented a pharmaceutical company in an ICC commercial arbitration commenced by a Colombian company involving a business transfer agreement.
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Represented a Central American solar generation company in an ICC arbitration against a State-owned power distribution company for breach of power purchase agreements.
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Represented a South American company in an ICC commercial arbitration started against a South American Country arising from a concession.
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Represented the Spanish subsidiary of a major American bank in an ICC arbitration involving a business transfer agreement.