Biography
International Arbitration partner Estefanía San Juan is a trusted advocate for multinational companies and investors in high-stakes investment treaty and commercial disputes. She represents clients in disputes before ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, and other major arbitral institutions, with a focus on Latin America–related sovereign and cross-border disputes.
Fluent in English and Spanish, she has extensive experience handling matters in jurisdictions governed by both civil and common law systems, particularly in the energy, mining, infrastructure, telecoms, and ports sectors. Her strategies integrate legal rigor with forward-thinking risk management, enabling clients to safeguard investments while maintaining business continuity. For companies with high-value investments in the region, Estefanía delivers strategies that protect assets, operations, and reputation in the most challenging cross-border disputes.
She was listed in Jus Connect's Power List Most Active Female Arbitration Lawyers in 2023 and 2024 and has also been recognized by LatInvex among Latin America's 25 up-and-coming legal practitioners in their Rising Stars Legal awards.
Ms. San Juan is a frequent speaker at arbitration conferences both in the United States and in Latin America. Beyond her notable client work, Estefanía serves on the Board of the Miami International Arbitration Society (MIAS) and has participated in the Steering Committees for the Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR) Annual Meeting and Miami Arbitration Week (MAW).
Ms. San Juan has been at the forefront of the growth of White & Case's international arbitration team in Miami and is active in recruiting, training, and mentoring lawyers from across the firm. Ms. San Juan co-chairs the Firm's Alianza Affinity Network, which promotes cultural awareness of the Latinx American experience, builds community among the Firm's Latinx members and promotes the recruitment, retention and professional development of employees. She is also a board member of the Hispanic Bar Association of D.C. Foundation and an active member of the Firm's Women's Initiative and the Sustainability & Responsible Business Team.
Ms. San Juan has additional experience with the chambers of the Honorable Judge Paul L. Friedman of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) in Washington, DC and Legal Services of Southern Piedmont Immigrant Justice Program in Charlotte, NC.
A native of Colombia and Venezuela, Ms. San Juan is multilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. She has lived, studied, and worked in Colombia, Costa Rica and the United States.
Experience
Representative Experience:
Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of a leading Mexican infrastructure company to a potential US$300+ million investment treaty dispute against a Central American State related to State measures affecting the investor's ability to construct and operate a major road concession. The resolution facilitated the continuing advancement of the project.
Advised a leading Latin American energy company on the termination of a proposed acquisition in the oil and gas sector. Guided the client through regulatory, financial, and strategic considerations to mitigate risks and preserve growth opportunities. Resolved the dispute with the commercial counterparty without resorting to arbitration.
Representing an energy company in connection with a dispute with a host government over the status of a high-value offshore oil block. Counseling on legal and contractual rights following government actions, while preparing to pursue all available remedies. Guiding the client on strategies to protect its investment, manage stakeholder communications, and preserve operational flexibility during the dispute.
Representing various renewable solar energy investors in multiple ICSID arbitrations against the Republic of Honduras, including: Fernando Paiz Andrade (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/43) under CAFTA-DR; Inversiones y Desarrollos Energéticos, S.A. (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/40) under the Central America – Panama Free Trade Agreement; Norfund and KLP Norfund Investments AS (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/13) under the Investment Law of Honduras (2011); and Scatec ASA (ICSID Case No. ARB/23/12) under the Investment Law of Honduras (2011). These complex disputes relate to the State's adoption of legislation affecting the legal framework for investments, failure to comply with specific commitments, and coercion to reduce energy prices under threats of expropriation.
Representing investors in an investment arbitration against Chile relating to the State's disruption of a project in the telecommunications sector (ICSID Case No. ARB/24/30). The dispute centers on a 30-year concession granted to our clients for the installation and operation of an expansive, cutting-edge 5G wireless network across Chile, utilizing a significant portion of the national radio-electric spectrum.
Representing an investor in the mining sector in an investment treaty arbitration against the Republic of Colombia (ICSID Case No. ARB/24/25). The dispute relates to the US$ 1.5 billion investments made by Continental Gold in the Buriticá Mine in Antioquia, one of the largest gold mining operations in Latin America.
Representing several global port management companies in claims against the Republic of Honduras. The disputes involve concession agreements impacting the country's most important ports, including: Operadora Portuaria Centroamericana S.A. de C.V. v. Republic of Honduras (ICSID Case No. ARB/24/33) and International Container Terminal Services Inc. v. Republic of Honduras (ICSID Case No. ARB/24/34), both under the Investment Law of Honduras (2011).
Advising foreign investors conducting business in Colombia on strategies to preserve and leverage their international rights.
Advising various international investors with energy projects in Mexico to preserve their international arbitration rights in the context of Mexico's changes to the legal framework.
Represented a client in an ICC arbitration seated in Miami pursuant to an EPC Contract in connection with a hydroelectric plant in Guatemala.
Represented a major energy and construction company in its US$350 million claim under the US-Ecuador Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Represented a Spanish holding company in its US$600 million international arbitration case against a Latin American State involving the power generation sector.
Advised investors and project company related to the Quito international airport.
Represented a client in an investment dispute related to a metallurgical facility in Latin America.
Represented an Asian company in a dispute against a State-owned entity relating to port concession in Ecuador and advice in related proceedings in Panama and BVI.
Advised a client in connection with investment issues related to a hydroelectric plant in Panama.
Represented a client in a dispute relating to ports and sovereign wealth funds in Andean country.
Represented investors in a mass claim relating to Argentine Sovereign debt.
Listed among Most Active Female Arbitration Lawyers, Jus Connect Power List 2023, 2024
Latin America's 25 Rising Legal Stars Latinvex
Lawyers of Color's Hot List 2022
"Effective Tools and Strategies to Manage Corruption, ESG, and Dispute Risk in Mining Projects," Special Institute on International Mining and Energy Law, Development, and Investment, Lima, April 2025
Litigio y Renegociación De Tratados: Estado Actual y Futuro del Arbitraje de Inversión en Colombia," Bogotá Chamber of Commerce and Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogotá, February 2025
"What Does the Ideal Arbitration Award Look Like?" XVI International Arbitration Congress of Costa Rica, San Jose, February 2025
"Mitigating Risks and Navigating Potential Disputes," CPR Annual Meeting 2025, Miami, February 2025
Interpretation of Arbitration Clauses: Tiered and Pathological Clauses, ICC Peruvian Arbitration Day, Lima, 2024
GoArb "Landing on your First International Arbitrations "Training on Cross-Examination 2024", Lima, September 2024
Universidad Externado's Jornadas de Arbitraje 2024 "Damages in International Arbitration," Bogotá.
Faculty Member, DELOS Remote Oral Advocacy Program (ROAP) Latin America, 2024
Arbitraje Ambiental & Empresarial: Impulsando el Desarrollo Sostenible, Conferencia Internacional de Arbitraje de la ICC en Panamá, 2024
Consideraciones sobre los Contratos de Adquisición en LATAM y sus implicaciones en materia de conflictos, Canal Arbitraje, 2024
M&A Transactions, Investment Protections, and International Disputes, 2022
Globalized Americas: A roundtable on globalization, investment, and Arbitration, University of Miami 2021
Principios regulatorios y estándares mínimos de las inversiones en América Latina, Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje (IPA) 2021
To Arbitrate Or To Litigate, That Is The Question, Association of Corporate Counsel, Miami 2021
Arbitraje en Colombia: La intersección de lo local y lo global, Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá, 2020
Women in Arbitration Conference, Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje (IPA), Lima 2020
International Legal Reforms, ACS Houston/South Florida 2020
The Global Debt Crisis and the Rise of Investor-State Dispute Settlement, University of Miami 2020
Investment Arbitration Conference, Instituto Peruano de Arbitraje (IPA), Santiago 2019
Investment Protection in Latin America, The Inter-American Bar Association (IABA), DC Chapter, Washington 2017
Arbitration Procedure in International Commercial Arbitration, American University Washington College of Law, Washington 2016
