Claudia Benavides, based in Bogota, Colombia, as Global Chair for the firm’s Dispute Resolution group, has been appointed as the first woman to lead this practice at Baker McKenzie.

Key figure

Ms Benavides currently heads the Latin America Dispute Resolution group at Baker McKenzie. For nearly two decades, she has been at the forefront of dispute resolution and is an acclaimed expert in transnational litigation, and domestic arbitration in Colombia, and a highly praised international arbitration practitioner in Latin America. Jaime Trujillo, acting global chair comments, “Claudia has been a key figure in growing the Dispute Resolution practice at Baker McKenzie over the past decade. With her support and leadership, the Firm will continue to serve our clients located throughout the world providing cutting-edge and holistic legal advice.” Ms Benavides has counselled clients in multi-million dollar cross-border arbitration disputes involving the energy, construction, infrastructure and public sectors, amongst others.

Accolades

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Benavides said “As the business world becomes more connected, the need for Dispute Resolution continues to grow. It’s an honour to now lead Baker McKenzie’s global Dispute Resolution practice and continue to be a trusted partner for our clients as they navigate the complexities behind their cross-border deals.” Ms Benavides  has earned several accolades for her work, including recognition as a leading lawyer by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, and Who's Who Legal. She is the President of the Arbitration and ADR Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Colombia and a founding and board member of the Colombian Chapter of the Club Español del Arbitraje. Claudia is also a member of the Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC) Users Council and listed in the Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC) Panel of Arbitrators.