.
Focus - International Arbitration - Anti-corruption - Latin America & CARICOM
Industries - Energy & Infrastructure - Oil and Gas - Telecommunications and AI - Banking and Finance
Bar Admissions - District of Columbia - US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - Republic of Colombia
Rankings and Distinctions - Who’s Who Legal Guide 2017-2020 - Shortlisted for the 2015 Chambers Women in Law
Awards in the category of “Lawyer of the Year”, Chamber & Partners 2015
- 25 Most Influential Lawyers in the United States”, Latino Leaders, 2016, 2017
- Top Female Lawyers for Latam, 2015-2019, Latinvex - Chambers Global 2013-2015 - Top Lawyer under 40 –HNBA, 2013 - TEDx Speaker- Colombia - 2016 - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Fellow 2014-2015
Previous Experience - Arnold & Porter LLP, Washington DC - Winston & Strawn LLP, Washington DC - Inter-American Development Bank, Office of
Institutional Integrity, Washington DC - Monómeros Colombo Venezolanos S.A., Colombia
Education - LLM, American University, U.S. - JD, Universidad del Norte, Colombia - Graduate Program on Political and Economic Studies,
Universidad del Norte, Colombia
Languages - English - Spanish
MARGARITA R. SÁNCHEZ [email protected] 202.380.3560 1101 30th St NW – Suite 500 Washington DC. 20007 disanlegal.com
Margarita R. Sánchez is civil and common law trained lawyer with more than twenty years of experience representing public and private sector clients worldwide in international law matters. She has served as counsel in numerous high-profile investigations and multi-million dollar disputes, including international arbitration under most major rules arising out of projects and transactions in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. She has particular experience in investment arbitration under bilateral investment treaties, as well as complex multi-jurisdictional disputes involving parties from Latin America and The Caribbean. As a native Spanish speaker, born and raised in Latin America, Ms. Sánchez has worked in nearly every country in the region. Previous to founding her own practice, Ms. Sanchez practice law at Arnold & Porter LLP, specializing in FCPA, White Collar and Latin American legal matters. Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, she worked for the Inter-American Development Bank’s Office of Institutional Integrity (IDB-OII) in investigations of allegations of fraud and corruption occurring in activities financed by the IDB Group. Ms. Sánchez was one of the first members of IDB-OII, participating in the drafting of the first sanctions proceedings, and assisted with the foundation of the Uniform Framework for Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption signed by the major Multilateral Development Banks and the International Monetary Fund in 2006, delving into the policies of the multilateral debarment from its inception. Prior to that, she led the anti-narcotics and anti-money laundering compliance program of Monómeros Colombo Venezolanos, S.A. afertilizer and chemicals company located in Barranquilla, Colombia. Since 2017 Ms. Sánchez has been listed in the Partner’s category of the Future Leaders List by Who’s Who and GAR Legal Guide. In 2015, she was shortlisted for the Chambers Women in Law Awards in the category of Lawyer of the Year and her practice received the Chambers & Partners award for Outstanding Firm for Furthering Women’s Advancement. She has also been recognized by HNBA’s Top Lawyers under 40 list. More recently, Entrepreneur Magazine included her practice in its annual list of America’s most successful entrepreneurial ventures (“Entrepreneur360”), with acknowledgments in innovation and management efficiency. Her track record and entrepreneurial drive have also been featured in leading Latin American business publications including Latino Leaders and Colombia’s Revista Dinero. Currently, she serves a Co-Chair of the Inter-American Legal Affairs Committee of the District of Columbia Bar. Ms. Sánchez combines her counsel work in international arbitrations with arbitral appointments. She is a member of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Panel of Conciliators and is listed on the Panel of International Arbitrators of the Bogota and El Salvador Chambers of Commerce. A former Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University, Ms. Sánchez is a frequent guest speaker and has published articles in topics related to international arbitration and global corruption in well-known publications including The Energy Advisor – Inter-American Dialogue, and is the author of the corruption chapter in a book of international arbitration published by Editorial Ibañez (Colombia) in 2019.
Margarita R. Sánchez | 2
EXPERIENCE International Disputes | Representative Matters Ms. Sánchez’ disputes experience is concentrated in international arbitration and litigation, in particular involving Latin America and Caribbean nations. She is admitted to the Bar in the District of Columbia and in the U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit. She is also admitted to practice law in the Republic of Colombia, where she can brief and argue cases before the Colombian courts. She has represented sovereign states and corporate clients in international arbitration disputes under the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in a wide range of industries, including mining, infrastructure, banking, energy, and road and railway concessions. Ms. Sánchez combines her experience of acting as counsel in international arbitrations with arbitral appointments. She is listed on the Panel of International Arbitrators of the Bogota and El Salvador Chambers of Commerce. She is also a member of the ICSID Panel of Conciliators.
INVESTOR- STATE ARBITRATION § Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim A.S. v. Islamic Republic of Pakistan. ICSID. Represented the
Claimant in a USD2 billion claim related to an electricity power generation project. § Nations Energy, Inc. et al v. Republic of Panama. ICSID. Represented Panama in a USD62
million claim related to an electricity power generation project. § RDC v. Republic of Guatemala. ICSID. Represented Guatemala in its first ICSID case under
CAFTA-DR, in a US$65 million claim by a US investor. § Vannessa Ventures Ltd. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. ICSID. Represented Venezuela in a
US$1 billion claim for an alleged expropriation of a gold and copper mine. § Victor Pey Casado et al v. Republic of Chile. ICSID. Represented Chile in a US$515 million claim
related to an alleged investment in the media sector. § I&I Beheer B.V. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. ICSID. Represented Venezuela in an
arbitration initiated by a Dutch company regarding a claim related to promissory notes. § Compañía General de Electricidad (CGE) v. Argentine Republic. ICSID. Successfully
represented a Chilean company in a US$125 million case against Argentina. § Advised the Dominican Republic on three investment arbitrations related to a highway
concession. § Advised a German company in the healthcare sector on potential investor-state arbitration against
Mexico.
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION § Advise a European entity and its Peruvian subsidiary in a potential ICC arbitration seated in
London. § Represented the Dominican Republic in a high-profile ICC arbitration involving a toll highway
concession contract. § Represented a Chilean sports company, lead by award-winning tennis stars and philanthropists in
an ICC arbitration brought by a US sports management company related to the Association of Tennis Professionals (“ATP”) tennis tournament in Latin America.
Margarita R. Sánchez | 3
International Disputes (cont’d) | Representative Matters
TRANSNATIONAL LITIGATION § Advising a CARICOM Conglomerate in an international litigation against a sovereign state. § Advising a Colombian businessman in a US litigation related to a failed arbitration clause. § Sea Search Armada v. Republic of Colombia; US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit. Represented the Republic of Colombia in a USD$17Billion federal court litigation involving the San José, a Spanish Galleon that sank off the coast in Colombia in1708. All claims were dismissed.
§ Republic of Panama v. Jaime Jurado; US District Court Middle District of Florida. Represented Panama in the enforcement of an ICSI D arbitration award.
§ Railroad Development Corporation v. Republic of Guatemala; US District Court for the District of Columbia. Represented Guatemala in a litigation related to the enforcement of an ICSID award.
§ Skye Ventures v. Republic of Venezuela; US Dsitrict Court for the Southern District of Ohio; Represented the Republic of Venezuela in a US$100M US federal litigation involving forged notes.
Arbitral Appointments & Arbitral Panels
Arbitral Appointments § A Colombian company v. an Asian conglomerate. Bogotá Chamber of Commerce (2019). § A Spanish company v. a Colombian Consortium. President of the Arbitral Tribunal. Bogotá
Chamber of Commerce (2018).
Panels and Institutions § International Centre For Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Panel of Conciliators. § Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, Panel of International Arbitrators. § El Salvador Chamber of Commerce, Panel of International Arbitrators.
Margarita R. Sánchez | 4
EXPERIENCE | Anticorruption & White Collar Ms. Sánchez’ Anticorruption & White Collar experience includes advising clients on compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), including conducting internal investigations. She also has extensive experience and particular knowledge on investigations of allegations of fraud and corruption under Multilateral Development Banks’ sanctions proceedings. Ms. Sánchez was one of the first members of the Inter-American Development Bank’s Office of Institutional Integrity, where she participated in the drafting of the first Sanction Procedures of the IDB Group. Ms. Sánchez has designed, created and implemented internal training protocols to optimize global anticorruption compliance for private sector clients in Latin America and Europe, and has advised clients on anti-money laundering and drug trafficking investigations and proceedings by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Representative Matters § Advised a US Artificial Intelligence company regarding the application of the FCPA and
multilateral debarment in connection with its operations in Latin America. § Represented a Fortune 500 consumer products company in an FCPA investigation in Latin
America and China. Ms. Sánchez directed a team of more than 20 lawyers engaged in the internal investigation, coordinated forensic professionals, and prepared presentations for SEC and DOJ meetings.
§ Represented a large European civil engineering firm in connection with a World Bank investigation related to allegations of corruption involving a road concession in Latin America.
§ Advised an international organization in connection with a corruption investigation involving a Spanish company executing a public health program in Latin America, financed by the IDB.
§ Advised an international organization in connection with a corruption investigation involving a Spanish consortium executing a water supply and sewerage project in an Andean country financed by the IDB.
§ Advised an international organization in connection with a corruption investigation involving a Central America company executing a water supply and rural project in Central America, financed by the IDB.
§ Advised an international organization in connection with a corruption investigation involving a Central America consortium executing a storm water drainage project in Central America, financed by the IDB.
§ Advised a sovereign Latin American country in connection with a World Bank corruption investigation involving a Spanish consortium executing a road concession project financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
§ Advised a large Latin American company regarding an FCPA investigation and the whistleblower provisions.
§ Counseled a multinational company in relation to the Colombian anti-drug trafficking and money laundry laws.
§ Represented a Multilatina company before the Colombian National Antinarcotics Department (Dirección Nacional de Estupefacientes).
§ Represented a Latin American businessman in a money laundering and drug trafficking investigation by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Margarita R. Sánchez | 5
EXPERIENCE | Latin America & The Caribbean A native Spanish speaker, born and raised in Colombia, Ms. Sánchez shares the history, the language, and the culture of Latin America and the Caribbean. She has worked in nearly every country in the Region, with unique experience in CARICOM Countries Thanks to the uniqueness of her regional expertise, in addition to arbitration and anticorruption matters, Ms. Sánchez is regularly called to assist clients in connection with project development, joint ventures, and transactions in Latin American countries.
Representative Matters § Advised a conglomerate of Trinidad & Tobago in relation to a potential M&A transaction § Advised a company of Trinidad & Tobago in a project finance operation in St. Lucia § Advised a Latin American company in connection with its operations in Trinidad and Tobago and
Suriname § Advised the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on its draft model investment chapter for free
trade agreements. § Advised a European consumer products company in structuring its investments and expansion in
Latin America § Advised a European engineering company in connection with the construction and supervision of
a Metro and two additional massive transportation projects in a major Latin American city. § Advised the Republic of South Korea in the negotiation of a free trade agreement. § Advised the Republic of South Korea’s Custom Agency (CUPIA) in the implementation of a Single
Window Project in Argentina, financed by the IADB and KEXIM. § Advised a US company in connection with a public bidding process in Colombia under Colombian
Constitutional and Administrative Law. § Assisted a US Energy company in structuring renewable projects in Colombia and Mexico.
Margarita R. Sánchez | 6
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Social Responsibility Throughout her entire education and now in her professional practice, Ms. Sánchez has always strived to go every extra mile to change peoples’ lives for the better. She maintains an active pro bono practice ranging from litigation related to the DREAM Act, conducting “know your rights” visits to immigrant detainees, preparing asylum applications and attending hearings, to filing U-Visa and WAVA petitions. Ms. Sánchez pro-bono commitment has been recognized by the DC Courts High Honor Roll. This is a recognition given to attorneys who have contributed meaningfully to those who cannot afford legal counsel.
§ Advised a US-Based Non-Profit Organization in connection with FCPA regulations and Venezuela after the US 2019 recognition of Mr. Juan Guaidó as Interim President of the Republic of Venezuela.
§ Successfully represented a Kurdish Iranian journalist seeking asylum in the United States after years of political persecution in Iran.
§ Represented numerous Central American and South American immigrants in U-Visa and VAWA Petitions, making a life and death difference for the clients as well as reuniting families.
§ John Doe, et al., v. Maryland State Board of Elections. Represented a Maryland “Dreamer” in a civil litigation case questioning the validity of a referendum to overturn the Maryland DREAM Act (2011). In 2002, Maryland voters approved the law in the general election.
Executive Committees, Teaching & Speaking Engagements
Boards & Executive Committees § Co-Chair of the Inter-American Legal Affairs Sub-Committee of the DC Bar
Teaching § Georgetown University, Adjunct Professor of Law (2014 - 2016) Washington DC § International Law Institute, Investment Arbitration Lecturer (2013 - 2015) Washington DC
Books § “Impacto de la lucha global contra la corrupción en el arbitraje internacional bajo el CIADI: el
estándar probatorio y las facultades de los árbitros” in Tratados Internacionales y el Arbitraje de Inversión: Experiencias de Colombia y del Derecho Comparado, Editorial IBAÑEZ, 2019.
§ “The Full Measure of Full Protection and Security” in Investment Treaty Arbitration and International Law – V. 8. Huntington N.Y. Juris Net. Contributing Author.
§ "The Andean Community of Nations and Latin American Integration: Balance and Perspectives for the New Century" Morelia, Mexico: Regional Integration Network, 2001.
Digital Publications § Honduran Efforts Toward Transparency in Renewable Energy Transactions, The Latin America
Energy Advisor - Inter-American Dialogue, October 2016. § Anticorrupción y financiamiento internacional en América Latina, Lex Latin, June 2016
Margarita R. Sánchez | 7
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Digital Publications (cont’d) § Schein c. Archer & White Sales: una supuesta conspiración antimonopolio que llegó a la corte
suprema de justicia de los estados unidos para debatir el umbral de la arbitrabilidad, Revista Arbitrio No. 2, Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá, July 2019
§ Respeto por los derechos humanos, sector privador: al banquillo, Revista Lex Latin, June 2017. § El vínculo entre la demanda reconvencional y el objeto de la diferencia en procesos arbitrales
Costa Rican YAR Review, 2014.
Speaking Engagements § Judicial Review and International Arbitration, Madrid International Arbitration Center (CIAM) and
IPA (virtual), July 29, 2020 § VIII Seminar on Investor-State Arbitration, Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje (virtual), July 2020 § Georgetown International Arbitration Month, Inaugural Conference. “Hot Issues in International
Commercial Arbitration”, February 4, 2020. § XI Congreso de Arbitraje Inversionista-Estado, Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje. Lima, April 2019 § I Summit Women in Arbitration, Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje. Lima, January 2019 § II Annual Arbitration Summit, Latin Lawyer – GAR. Miami, April 2018. § II Congreso de Arbitraje Internacional, Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá. Cartagena, April 2018 § II Central American Investment Arbitration Summit, San Salvador, January 2016 § Public Private Partnerships and the Post-2015 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Washington
DC, November 2015 § Mega-Regional Trade Agreements: The Impact of the TPP and TTIP on Latin America’s
Economic Competitiveness and Regional Integration Architecture, La Habana. September 2015 § 8th Annual Investment Arbitration Conference, Juris, Washington, D.C., March 2014 § International Investment Arbitration Simulation. International Law Institute in cooperation with
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., December 2013. § VI Seminar on International Investment Arbitration, CCB and Univ. Externado de Colombia,
Bogotá, September 2012 § Public Official's Workshop on Arbitration, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Bogota,
May 2010 § Seminar on International Arbitration, Bogota Chamber of Commerce, May 2010 § International Investment Treaties and Investor-State Arbitration, ILI, Washington, DC., October
2009 § IV Seminar on International Investment Arbitration, Bogota CCB and Universidad Externado,
Bogotá, September 2009
Top Related