Maria Angelica Burgos

Biography

María Angélica Burgos is a Senior Associate at Baker McKenzie where she focuses her practice in international arbitration, domestic arbitration and international investment law. María Angélica has more than ten years of experience in these areas. Prior to joining the firm, she worked as a attorney in the Dispute Resolution teams of two other lawfirms, as advisor to the Government of Colombia and as trainee at the International Court of Justice. Maria Angélica was recently recognized as Future Leader in Arbitration by Who's Who Legal, 2019

Practice Focus

María Angélica has experience in international institutional and ad hoc arbitrations under ICSID, UNCITRAL and ICC rules, as well as in national arbitration proceedings administered by the Arbitration Center of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá. She has advised and represented clients in disputes related to construction projects, distribution and commercial agency relationships, corporate disputes and claims arising from share purchase agreements. She has also advised clients in proceedings of recognition and enforcement and annulment of awards before the Colombian Supreme Court of Justice. Additionally, María Angélica has advised Colombian companies on the content and application of International Investment Agreements (IIAs), as well as in potential claims against foreign governments. She has also provided legal counsel to International Organizations and States concerning matters of public international law related to jurisdictional immunities.

Representative Legal Matters

Advised an American company in recognition and enforcement proceedings of a foreign award before the Colombian Supreme Court of Justice.
Advised the branch of a multinational corporation in the automobile sector in a domestic arbitration involving claims of commercial agency, distribution and termination of a long-standing commercial relationship.
Represented a Spanish multinational and a Colombian company, as members of a joint venture, in an ICC arbitration seated in Bogota in a dispute regarding the construction of a port in Colombia.
Represented a Latin American financial group in an ICC arbitration seated in Bogotá, in a dispute concerning the exercise post-closing rights of a share-purchase agreement.
Represented a company in the renewable energy sector and a group of its shareholders in a domestic arbitration concerning abuse of rights and decision-making within the company.
Advised companies in the negotiation of settlement agreements involving commercial disputes.
Acted as Arbitral Secretary in an ad hoc international investment arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules.
Advise clients on implementation of obligations on business and human rights and due diligence standards.

Professional Honors

Recognized as Future Leader in Arbitration by Who's Who Legal, 2019

Professional Associations and Memberships

Member of the Colombian Academy of International Law (ACCOLDI)
International Bar Association, Member of the Steering Committee of the Arb40 Subcommittee.
Ambassador for the Alliance for Equality in Dispute Resolution.

Admissions

Colombia (2009)

Education

New York University (LL.M. International Business Regulation, Litigation and Arbitration) (2011)
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Lawyer) (2008)

Languages

English
French
Spanish

Co-Author, “Diplomatic Protection in the Context of International Investment Disputes”, 15 International Law Journal, Revista Colombiana de Derecho Internacional, 243-278, 2009.
Author, "Double-Hatting in International Commercial Arbitration", 40 under 40 International Arbitration, 2018.
Speaker, “Congreso Internacional de Arbitraje en Materia de Construcción: Prevención de Riesgos, y Resolución de Conflictos en Proyectos de Infraestructura” and at the ICC Young Arbitrators Forum: “El Nuevo Reglamento de Dispute Boards de la ICC del 2015”, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, January 2016.
Speaker, “International Arbitration in Latin America: Are We Innovating or Catching Up?”, International Law 5.0, New York City, October 2016.
Speaker, “Constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal and attitudes of the Arbitrators”, XIV International Arbitration Conference Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 2018.
Speaker, “Connecting Human Rights Due Diligence and Business Lawyers: Overcoming practical challenges”, United Nations Business and Human Rights Forum, Geneva, Switzerland, November 2018
Speaker, "Technology and Arbitration:option or demand?", X International Arbitration Congress: Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, February 2019