International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development, and Investment

IGNACIO J. RANDLE is a partner at the law firm Estudio Randle in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mr. Randle received his law degree from the Catholic University of Argentina in Buenos Aires in 1986 and holds a Master in Laws from the University of Chicago Law School. He practiced as a foreign attorney with Baker Botts in Houston, Texas, with Baker Botts Washington, D.C., and with McDermott, Will & Emery in Chicago, Illinois. In 1989 he was awarded the Perez Companc Foundation Scholarship for Law and Economics. Mr. Randle's practice focuses on international business transactions and M&A, with emphasis in natural resources, energy, and infrastructure projects. He represents domestic and foreign companies doing business in Latin America, as well as local companies pursuing business opportunities abroad. Mr. Randle has published in different countries and lectured in the Law School and the School of Economics in Buenos Aires, as well as in other fora in Argentina and abroad. Mr. Randle is current Council member of the Legal Practice Division, current Council member of the Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law, former Chair of the Environment, Health & Safety Law Committee, former Chair of the Mining Law Committee, and former Officer of the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the International Bar Association. Mr. Randle is former President of the University of Chicago Alumni Club of Argentina, Trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Chair of the American Bar Association’s International Environmental Law Committee, Chair of the American Bar Association’s International Energy and Resources Committee, and Council Member of the Section of International Law & Practice of the American Bar Association.

KHALED (KHAL) ABDEL-BARR is a partner in the Vancouver office of Lawson Lundell LLP, who practices mining law, providing legal support for mineral exploration activities and mine development and operations. He advises on acquisitions and dispositions of mines and mining projects both domestically and around the world, mine financing and on a broad range of mining-related matters, including the negotiation of earn-in, joint venture, strategic alliance, royalty and streaming agreements and mineral title review. Khal is a director and former-at-large trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF). He is also Co-Chair of the Mining committee for the 2018 RMMLF Annual Institute. Khal is a member of the Association for Mineral Exploration in British Columbia as well as the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada. Khal is called to the Bars of British Columbia (1996), Nunavut (2012), Yukon (2016) and Northwest Territories (2016) and is recognized by Chambers Global, Who's Who Legal, Lexpert® Special Edition — Leading Canadian Lawyers in Global Mining, Legal 500 Canada, and The Best Lawyers in Canada for mining law.

FERNANDO AGUIRRE B. is a Senior Partner at Bufete Aguirre Soc. Civ. in Bolivia. He is a graduate of the State University of La Paz and holds a Diploma in Law from Oxford University (Public International Law). Mr. Aguirre leads the mining and arbitration practices of the firm, which has as clients three of the most important private foreign investment in mining in Bolivia, and regularly advises the National Association of Medium Miners, which gathers the main mining private investments. As such he participated in the negotiations with the government and other mining stakeholders for a new Mining Law enacted in 2014. He is an internationally renowned arbitrator and advisor on arbitration, having participated in numerous publications and panels, both national and international in this and other related areas of the law. He has been Minister of the Presidency of Bolivia and director of the Bolivian Central Bank, as well as President and Director of the American Chamber of Commerce of Bolivia. At present he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Coca Cola bottlers of Bolivia, EMBOL S.A. He is registered in the lists of arbitrators of the Bolivian National Chamber of Commerce’s Arbitration Center, the Center of Arbitration of the National Chamber of Hydrocarbons and of the Kuala Lumpur Regional Arbitration Center. He has advised and represented the National Confederation of Private Entrepreneurs in the negotiation with the government of a new Arbitration and Conciliation Law in effect since 2015.

SCOT W. ANDERSON is a partner in Hogan Lovells US LLP’s Denver office and Global Head of the Energy & Natural Resources Group. Scot’s practice focuses on commercial transactions, regulatory advice, and project development involving the mining, oil and gas, and energy industries. He has represented a number of clients with projects on Indian lands and internationally. Scot advises on the full sweep of issues affecting the oil and gas, hardrock mining, and coal industries. He has worked on complex transactions for natural resources clients, including the formation of new joint ventures, the divestiture of natural resources projects, and the acquisition of leases and reserves for mining and oil and gas clients. He has represented clients in administrative proceedings and in federal and state courts. He has extensive experience addressing issues related to mineral development of federal public lands and Indian lands. Scot’s practice includes international project development and transactions. He has worked on matters throughout North and South America, and in Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia.

JOEL BENSON is a partner with Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, in Denver. Mr. Benson focuses on domestic and international debt financings, acquisitions and divestitures, commercial transactions, and project development, with specialized expertise working with mining and natural resources companies and private equity investors. He has been selected to The International Who’s Who of Mining Lawyers each year since 2011 and has earned an AV Preeminent® Peer Review RatingTM from Martindale-Hubbell® since 2006. In 2016, Who’s Who Legal named Mr. Benson as one of the ten “most highly regarded individuals” in the Northern Hemisphere for mining law and as one of the ten “thought leaders” in North American for mining law in 2017 and 2018. He also has been named in The Best Lawyers in America© for Oil & Gas Law. Mr. Benson is also an adjunct professor of mining law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law (since 2012). He frequently advises private equity funds and mining company clients on their acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, project development, and other business activities. He has extensive experience with structuring and documenting complex credit arrangements and associated multi-jurisdictional collateral security arrangements involving a variety of industries, in the United States and around the world. Mr. Benson’s debt financing practice involves representing both borrowers and lenders (including banks, private equity funds, merchant banks, and other financial institutions) in international project finance, mezzanine debt, corporate credit facilities, senior secured facilities, royalty financings, streaming transactions, gold loans, senior and subordinated note offerings, and other financing arrangements. His international transactional practice has involved projects and companies in over twenty-five countries, including the U.S., Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Spain, Thailand, and Turkey, and has covered numerous minerals, including gold, silver, rare earths, platinum/palladium, uranium, cobalt, nickel, iron ore, zinc, copper, and other metals, industrial minerals, thermal and metallurgical coal, and oil and gas. His work with international projects has led to counseling clients with respect to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

CATHERINE (“CASSIE”) BOGGS is the recently retired Vice President and General Counsel of Resource Capital Funds (RCF), a private equity group based in Denver that invests only in the mining sector. Prior to joining RCF in January 2011, Cassie served as Senior Vice President-Corporate Development for Barrick Gold Corporation, the world’s largest gold mining company. During her time at Barrick, she also served in Pakistan as President and CEO of Tethyan Copper Company Pakistan (Pvt) Limited, a joint venture of Barrick and Antofagasta plc, and acted as the interim President of Barrick’s African Business Unit, and as the acting General Counsel and Company Secretary of African Barrick Gold plc, a subsidiary of Barrick listed on the London Stock Exchange. Cassie was appointed to Hecla Mining Company’s Board of Directors in January 2017. Cassie graduated from the University of Denver with a BA in Economics, a MA in Resource Economics from Michigan State University, and a J.D. in Law from the University of Denver. Prior to joining Barrick, she was an International Partner with the law firm of Baker & McKenzie, serving as the head of its Global Mining Practice and working in the Chicago, San Francisco, Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Jakarta, Indonesia offices of the firm. Prior to joining Baker & McKenzie, she was Of Counsel at Stoel Rives in Portland, Oregon, and a partner in the Denver law firm of Sherman & Howard. Cassie has served as President and Trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (2012-2013) and previously served on its Board of Directors. She was recently named by UK Women in Mining as one of the “100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining.”

MICHAEL J. BOURASSA is a member of the global mining group at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, and acted as the group’s coordinator from 2004–2012. Michael has accumulated extensive experience on both Canadian and international mining projects.  Michael was co-chair of the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Mining Law Committee until 31 December 2018, and is now a council member of the IBA’s Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law. He has also served as a director of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada. Michael has been ranked in several leading legal publications including Chambers Global, Chambers Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. He has also been named by Who’s Who Legal as ‘Mining Lawyer of the Year’ in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2017, and recognised in Who’s Who Legal (compendium edition) for 13 consecutive years (which also recognised Fasken as the ‘Global Mining Law Firm of the Year’ in 2018 for the 10th time – the firm’s fourth consecutive win).  In 2018, Michael also edited the first edition of Practice Guide – Mining published by Getting the Deal Through, a division of Law Business Research.

XENNIA FORNO is a Partner and head of Natural Resources Area in the Peruvian law firm Rubio Leguía Normand. Her more than 30 years’ experience allows her to provide comprehensive advice regarding mining and environmental matters. Prior to joining Rubio Leguía Normand, Xennia worked in the public sector as register and legal counsel of the Public Registry of Mining, and as a Member of the Mining Board, the highest instance in mining administrative matters related to the awarding of land titles, mine safety and health, environment, and fulfillment of obligations. Her professional career has been featured by several prestigious international publications, such as Chambers and Partners and Legal500, which have recognized her as a leading lawyer in Mining Law. Finally, Xennia is a professor at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, also for the Diploma Course in Mining and Environment and Master in Mining Law and Mining Management at Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas. In addition, she regularly participates as lecturer of Mining and Environmental Law in national and international events, and has published several papers and articles in specialized journals and publications.

PABLO MIR is a Partner at Bofill Mir & Alvarez Jana Law Firm in Chile, where he specializes in Mining, Energy and Natural Resources, and Public Projects. Mr. Mir advises mining companies and investment banks in projects principally in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. He has also participated as a consultant to several working groups and commissions of the Chilean Government to improve mining and energy regulations. He led the team that obtained the approval for the first exploration project under the Chile-Argentina Mining Treaty, and the legal team that constructed the Gas Pacífico pipeline that transports natural gas from Argentina to Chile. Mr. Mir is also a frequent speaker at international mining law conferences and seminars. He is a Member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, the International Mining Professionals Society (IMPS), the International Bar Association’s Section on Energy, the Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure (SEERIL) and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC). In Chile, he is a member of the Chilean Bar Association, the legal affairs commission of the National Mining Association (SONAMI) and of the Board of Directors of the Chilean Mining Council. Pablo Mir has been highlighted on numerous occasions by specialized publications as one of the best mining lawyers in Latin America. In 2018 he was included in Who’s Who Thought Leaders ranking, and was also voted Best Lawyer’s Lawyer of the Year in Natural Resources. Additionally, Chambers & Partners Latin America 2019 recognized Mr. Mir as a top tier (Band 1) lawyer in Mining. Pablo Mir graduated from the Universidad de Chile Law School cum laude in 1987. Before joining Bofill Mir & Alvarez Jana he was a partner at Grasty Quintana Majlis & Cía in Chile.

PATRICIA NÚÑEZ: University of Chile School of Law (J.D.), 1991. “Pedro N. Montenegro” award as the best student of her generation at Law School. Fulbright Scholarship, 1996. “Master in Laws” (LL.M.) granted by Yale University Law School, Connecticut, USA, 1997. Member of the Council of the Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law of the International Bar Association (IBA-SEERIL), (2017-2018); President of IBA-SEERIL, (2015-2016), Vice-President of  IBA-SEERIL (2013-2014), Secretary of IBA-SEERIL (2011-2012), Member of the Council of  IBA-SEERIL (2009-2010), Chair of the Mining Committee of IBA-SEERIL (2004-2008). Former Chair of the Mining Committee of the International Bar Association (2004-2008). Former Trustee at Large of the RMMLF (2004-2007). Honorary Professor of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy of the University of Dundee. Member of the Chilean Bar Association, International Mining Professionals Society Congress of Fellows of the Center for International Legal Studies.  Board Member of the Chilean Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Board Member of Transelec. With Claro y Cía (1990-2000), Debevoise &Plimpton, NY, USA (1997-1998). Founding partner of Núñez, Muñoz & Cía. Abogados.

EDEN OLIVER, Bennett Jones LLP, Toronto

WILLIAM B. PRINCE is a partner in Dorsey & Whitney LLP’s Salt Lake City office where he co-chairs the firm’s Mining & Natural Resources Industry Group. His practice includes domestic and international mining transactions, natural resources-related environmental and compliance matters, and energy development projects. Bill is currently a member-at-large on the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Board of Directors, is the former chairman of the Special Institutes Committee and has served as a trustee of the Foundation and twice as the Annual Institute Mining Section chair. He was a founding member of the International Mining Professionals Society and served for two years as chairman of the Hard Minerals Committee of the ABA Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law. He authored “Joint Development of Coal and Coalbed Methane” presented at the 48th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and at the Foundation’s Special Institute on Regulation and Development of Coalbed Methane, and co-authored “Developing an Environmental Model: The Growing Diversity of International Environmental Standards and Agendas Affecting Mining Companies” published in the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy. Bill is a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He earned his J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law. In a prior life, he was a river guide in Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

DARRELL PODOWSKI, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Vancouver

LUIS CARLOS RODRIGO PRADO, Rodrigo, Elias & Medrano Abogados, Lima

DON C. SMITH, Professor, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Denver

JAN STEIERT, Eurasian Minerals Inc., Littleton, Colorado

CYNTHIA URDA KASSIS is co-Head of Shearman & Sterling’s Mining & Metals practice and a partner in the Project Development & Finance Practice. She has decades of experience representing sponsors/borrowers as well as providers of finance in project, finance and joint-venture transactions worldwide, with extensive experience in the mining, infrastructure, energy and general manufacturing industries, as well as in mining, infrastructure and power restructurings. Cynthia’s notable work in the mining space includes the representation of Orion and Blackstone in the financing of Lundin Gold’s $1B+ Fruta Del Norte Project in Ecuador. This transaction, the first large-scale mine financing in Ecuador, was named “Latin America Mining & Metals Deal of the Year” by IJGlobal. She has also recently represented Nevada Copper in the financing package for their Pumpkin Hollow underground copper mining project, and Société Générale and ING on the structured acquisition financing for Pala’s take private acquisition of Cobalt 27, among others. For her impact in the space, she has been recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers and Partners, Legal500 and IFLR, and has been a three-time recipient of the “Project Finance Lawyer of the Year” award by Who’s Who Legal. She is a seasoned speaker, having presented on mining finance and other topics at numerous mining conferences and events over the years, including various RMMLF Special Institutes and Annual Institutes.

JAMES F. CRESS practices natural resources law in the Denver office of Bryan Cave LLP, emphasizing international and U.S. mining and oil and gas law transactions and financing, including negotiation of derivatives agreements and implementation and workouts of derivatives trading programs. His international mining experience includes negotiation of substantial investments in developing and developed countries and of mineral agreements on behalf of indigenous peoples. He has advised mining companies and governments on the development, implementation, and interpretation of mining law and regulation in North America, Asia, Africa, the former Soviet Union, and Latin America. He has expertise in private and U.S. federal royalties and has testified as a royalty expert before U.S. House and Senate committees considering mining royalty legislation. He has taught International Oil and Gas Law, Mining Law, and the Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Series in the University of Denver’s Graduate Studies Program in Natural Resources and Environmental Law and at Western State University. He is a director of Sustainable Development Strategies Group (SDSG), a non-profit research organization and a practical source of policy, institutional, and capacity building advice for sustainable development issues. He is also a director of RTC Impact Fund, a philanthropic grant maker and social impact investor that seeks to establish an investment-based funding stream to support communities seeking assistance in negotiating, managing and benefiting from natural resource development. He has been listed as a mining or energy and natural resources law expert in “Who’s Who of International Mining Lawyers,” “Best Lawyers in America” and “Super Lawyers.”

PEDRO FREITAS is a partner with Veirano Advogados in Rio de Janeiro. He has extensive expertise advising clients on corporate governance and integrity, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and infrastructure issues with exceptional industry knowledge in mining, construction, project finance, energy and natural resources gained from his years as in-house counsel. Mr. Freitas began his legal career at Veirano Advogados in the Corporate Law practice group. He enhanced his experience working on debt moratoriums and corporate reorganizations in several Latin American countries while working for two years in Chicago at one of the largest global law firms. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited to work in 1985 at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington, D.C. where he advised on project finance, corporate restructuring, and negotiating equity investments around the globe for countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, South Korea and Hungary. During his tenure at the IFC, Mr. Freitas developed a unique insight into international project finance from the financier’s perspective – a perspective that is highly valued by his clients today. Enticed to return to Brazil, Mr. Freitas brought his significant global experience in project finance and restructuring to the Brazilian market. He served as general counsel at some of Latin America’s most recognized companies in the fields of Mining, Logistics, Telecommunications, Construction and Projects Development on Energy, Transportation, Airports and Ports. He is a founding member, Vice-President of Instituto Innovare, a non-political organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Brazilian judicial system and was elected for the Board of Renova Foundation, responsible for the recovery of areas impacted by the Samarco Dam accident in Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo states. Pedro is Trustee at large at Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.

PABLO ALLIANI, Alliani & Bruzzon, Buenos Aires

DIANA SANCLEMENTE is a partner at Sancelemente Fernandez Abogados So.A. in Bogota, Columbia. For 29 years, her practice has focused on the energy sector, mining, and major oil and gas projects in Colombia. In the last year, she has been involved in the conversion of TEA’s to E&P’s offshore contracts between IOC’s and the Colombian Agency of Hydrocarbons (ANH), offshore studies proposals with services companies, asset acquisition for oil and service companies, unconventional reservoirs studies, and helping service companies in performing all type of hydrocarbon onshore and offshore services. Diana is currently ranked in Chambers and Partners Leading Lawyers for Business (The Client’s Guide), as well as in Who’s Who Legal: Energy, which in 2015 listed her as one of 10 Colombian lawyers ranked within the best 208 energy lawyers globally. She co-wrote the Colombian chapter of Latin American Upstream Oil and Gas, published by the UK’s Globe Law and Business. After being Latin American regional director for the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) for the past three years, she was appointed in 2018 VP of Regions in the same organisation. In addition, Georgetown University has selected her as a member of the Latin American law alumni advisory board at Georgetown Law.

RACHEL PERKS is a Senior Mining Specialist with the Extractive Industries practice of the World Bank, Washington, DC. Prior to joining the World Bank, Ms. Perks worked and lived for 12 years in the Horn and Central Africa. She has worked on managing the transition from conflict to peace in countries where natural resources have played a role in conflict, and may equally play a catalytic role in state building. She has spent considerable time in particular in the Great Lakes region, working directly on mining development and reform programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Her PhD was on the formalization of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector in Rwanda, and the impacts that the regional mineral initiatives have brought to bear on Rwanda's domestic mineral economic agenda.

EUGENE E. SMARY is a partner with Warner Norcross & Judd LLP in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is engaged exclusively in the practice of environmental and resources law. He counsels clients on environmental compliance, due diligence, contaminated site remediation and redevelopment, metallic mineral mining and permitting, power plant sighting and permitting, as well as cross-border environmental impacts and infrastructure. He currently serves as Chair of the International Bar Association’s Section on Energy, Environment, Resources and Infrastructure Law, having previously served as Chair of its Environmental Health and Safety Committee. Previously Gene served as Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, as well as Chair of the Environmental Law Sections of the State Bar of Michigan and the Grand Rapids Bar Association. He has been listed under the category of environmental law and resources law in the Best Lawyers of America since 1992, as well as Chambers Global (Canada—Environmental Law “Based Abroad”), The International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers, The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, and Euromoney’s Leading Environmental Lawyers in the World. He has had substantial experience in advising clients in the legislative process on environmental and resource policies. Gene received his Bachelor’s Degree from Aquinas College, a Master’s Degree in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he was an editor of the Notre Dame Law Review. Following graduation from law school, he was a law clerk for The Honorable John A. Danaher of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Gene is a member of the inaugural class of Fellows of the American College of Environmental Lawyers. He served as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame Law School from 1997 until 2002 where he taught a course on environmental law.

SANTIAGO BUSTAMANTE, LEXIM Abogados

SEBASTIÁN PÉREZ-ARTETA is the Managing Partner with the firm of Pérez Bustamante & Ponce, in Quito, and combines his managerial duties with his legal practice focused on energy, infrastructure and commercial matters. Sebastián has thorough experience in advising foreign investors and concessionaires with businesses in Ecuador and also in accompanying our clients in complex negotiations and business transactions. His recent transactions include providing advisory services to Codelco in the establishment of mining operations in Ecuador and execution of an agreement for the Exploration and Exploitation of more than 300 million tons of copper in the region of Llumiragua, north of Ecuador. His professional experience includes serving as Private Secretary and Advisor of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Integration (June 1982-April 1983); Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Ecuador in Washington (1984-June 1987); Deputy Minister of Finance (August 1992-July 1993); Member of Board of Directors of the Pichincha Chamber of Industries (1992-1993); Member of the Board of the Quito Chamber of Commerce (1998-2000; 2002-2006); Arbitrator of the Quito Chamber of Commerce (1998-present); and Member of Board of Directors of the Internal Revenue Service.

MARISELA SALINAS, Repsol Ecuador S.A.

JUAN M. ALLENDE is a partner in the Allende & Brea law firm in Buenos Aires. He leads the Natural Resources practice group and runs the Firm’s Asian Practice Group. His legal practice involves advising foreign and local companies in different areas of law such as Mining Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions and Finance. Most currently, he has been advising local mining companies in their day-to-day operation and associated legal matters, debt and equity financing, infrastructure projects (including gas and water pipelines, plant constructions and expansions, etc.) and corporate social responsibility and transparency programs. He also actively advises foreign mining companies and investment funds in the acquisition and sale of local mining projects. Juan Martin is an active member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and the Inter Pacific Bar Association. He has been cited as leading practitioner in Natural Resources law by, among others, Chambers & Partners Global, Chambers Latin America, The Legal 500 Latin America and International Financial Law Review (IFLR1000).

ROBERT A. BASSETT is a Partner and the Mining Team Leader at Holland & Hart, LLP the largest law firm in the Rocky Mountain region. He represents clients in a myriad of complex transactions involving coal, copper, gold, industrial minerals, and uranium mines and companies in the U.S., Latin America, and Africa, and he acts as mining counsel for numerous financings of mining companies and in complex mining company mergers and acquisitions. He is chair of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation’s international committee, a former member of its Board of Directors, and has been co-chairman of many of its international special institutes. He is a long-time adjunct professor of International Mining Law at the University of Denver, and has lectured at the University of Dundee, Scotland. He is a graduate of the University of Denver College of Law, California Institute of the Arts, and the University of Colorado.

ANA BASTIDA, University of Dundee CEPMLP, Dundee

OSCAR BENAVIDES is a partner at Rodrigo, Elias & Medrano Abogados and focuses his practice on transactional and regulatory work for mining projects. He has over 20 years of experience advising clients on project finance and M&A, as well as structuring, negotiating, and executing exploration, joint venture, and mining project investment contracts. He has been consistently recognized as a leading mining lawyer by international and local publications such as Legal500, Chambers & Partners, Latin Lawyer, among others; and is included in the “Global Elite Thought Leader 2020” list by Who’s Who Legal among the 24 most renowned mining practitioners in the world. Oscar is member of the board of the Canada-Peru Chamber of Commerce, holds an LLM from the University of Denver, USA – Master in Natural Resources and Environmental Law and was grantee of the Jan M. and Marjorie G. Laitos Scholarship in Natural Resources.

IGNACIO H. CELORRIO is a Partner with Quevedo Abogados in Buenos Aires. Prior to joining Ejercicio profesional: Quevedo Abogados (2007-);Prior to joining Quevedo Abogados, he worked with Brons & Salas, Associate (1997-2007); Greenberg Traurig LLP, Miami, Estados Unidos, Consultor/Asociado Extranjero (2002-2003);Greenberg Traurig LLP, Miami, United States, Foreign Consultant / Associate (2002-2003); Smith Lyons, Toronto, Canadá, Consultor Legal Extranjero (agosto 1998-mayo 1999).and Smith Lyons, Toronto, Canada, Foreign Legal Consultant (August 1998-May 1999). He received his law degree from the Universidad Católica Argentina; a Master en Derecho Administrativo, Universidad Austral (1997-1998);Master in Administrative Law from the Universidad Austral; a degree inDerecho Comparativo, Samford University, Cumberland Law School, Birmingham, Alabama, Estados Unidos; Comparative Law from Samford University, Cumberland Law School, Birmingham, Alabama; and a degree from Durham University, Reino Unido (junio-julio 1998, junio-julio 1999).Durham University, UK. Distinciones: Distinguido como Leading Individual en el área de Energía y Recursos Naturales: Minería, por Chambers Latin America Edición 2010.He has been distinguished as a Leading Individual in the area of Energy and Natural Resources: Mining, by Chambers Latin America Edition 2010. He served in theFunción Pública: Cámara Nacional de Apelaciones en lo Contencioso Administrativo Federal, Relator de Cámara del Juez Federal, Dr. Gallegos Fedriani (1996-1997). National Chamber of Appeals in Federal Administrative Litigation, Chamber Judge of Federal Judge, Dr. Gallegos Fedriani (1996-1997).

ERIK GOLDSILVER is a Partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Toronto, Ontario, and practises corporate and securities law with an emphasis on mining and natural resources. He acts for Canadian and international mining companies on acquisitions and dispositions of mines, mining projects and mining companies, project development, and mine operations in Canada and throughout the world. Erik advises on the structuring and negotiation of option and joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements, royalty arrangements, streaming transactions, and off-take agreements. He has extensive experience with all legal aspects of the development, construction and operation of mining projects including advising on Aboriginal issues and claims, environmental and regulatory compliance matters, permitting issues and mine closure, decommissioning and reclamation issues. Erik also advises mining clients on energy-related issues such as power procurement, interconnection, and transmission services. Erik is actively involved in the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. He has been recognized in Chambers Global, Chambers Canada, The Best Lawyers in Canada, among others.

CECILIA GONZALES, Estudio Grau Abogados, Lima

FLORENCIA HEREDIA is senior partner of Allende & Brea, Natural Resources and Energy practice where she joined in August 2017. She is an expert in mining law with 27 years extensive experience advising financing institutions and companies in complex mining and energy transactions in Argentina, having repeatedly represented lenders in all mining project finance taken place in the country. She obtained her law degree with honors (summa cum laude) from Universidad Católica Argentina in 1991 and obtained also with honors (summa cum laude) a Masters degree on Business Law from Universidad Austral in 1995. She has a degree also with honors (summa cum laude) on corporate sustainability from IESC (Instituto de Estudios para la Sustentabilidad Corporativa). She has been researcher in the Doctorate program of Universidad Austral on the areas of natural resources and environmental law. She was founder of HOLT Abogados (2008-2017) natural resources boutique law firm and prior to that member of Estudio Beccar Varela (1992-2008) for 16 years, where she was during 9 years the head of the natural resources and environmental law department. During 1997 she worked for Beiten Burkhardt Mittl & Wegener (today Beiten Burkhardt) one of the leading German law firms.  She is an active member of the International Bar Association, where she held the position of Chair of the Mining Law Committee (2014-2015), she is currently council member of Seeril (Section of energy, environment, natural resources and infrastructure law). She has been Trustee at Large of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, for which she also served as Secretary to the Board (2014-2015), member of the International Women Forum (Argentinean Chapter) among other relevant entities. She is member of the Academic Board of RADHEM in Argentina, publication specialized in Energy and Natural Resources. She has recently joined the Women Corporate Directors foundation, since as of January 2018 she holds the position of Non Executive Independent director of Galaxy Lithium, Australian public company leader in the lithium sector.  She has been constantly nominated as a leading mining lawyer and star individual by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, etc and has been included in the lists of main mining lawyers of the world by Who’s Who Editions in the last fifteen years, being recipient of the Mining Lawyer of the Year award for 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and one of the highlighted women in the Women in Law reviews.

KEENAN HOHOL, Pan American Silver Corporation, Vancouver

KUNO KAFKA PRADO is currently Senior Counsel with Antofagasta Minerals based in Toronto, Canada. He advises the company in its international mining activities with particular focus on deals for mergers & acquisitions, divestments and exploration. Over the past years he has worked in cross-border mining transactions in the Americas, Australia, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Previously, he worked with Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York, McMillan LLP in Vancouver and Rubio, Leguia, Normand in Lima. He is a graduate of Universidad de Lima School of Law and earned his Master’s degree in Corporate Law (LL.M.) from New York University.

JOSÉ AUGUSTO PALMA, Hochschild Mining Corporation, Lima

MARÍA PAZ PULGAR is a Chile-based mining and natural resources attorney. She is Senior Associate and Coordinator of the Natural Resources Department of the law firm Philippi, PrietoCarrizosa, Ferrero, DU & Uria. Prior to this, she worked for over 10 years at the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie. She has been professor of Mining Law in the Master of Law LL.M Program and in the Administrative Law Diploma of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, and professor of Mining Law in undergraduate and postgraduate programme of Universidad Los Andes, among other academic activities. She has also been a speaker at various seminars on Environmental Law at the Universidad de Chile and co-author of publications on environmental law. She is a member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), and Women in Mining (WIM).

FRANCE M. TENAILLE is a partner in Gowling WLG’s Toronto office and a member of the firm’s Business Law and Energy, Infrastructure and Mining Groups. She is also leader of the firm’s Latin America and Cuba teams. France is an experienced business lawyer who has practised in Canada for more than 20 years, advising and leading on Canadian and international commercial and M&A, capital markets, and project finance transactions, with an emphasis on Latin America, energy and natural resources. Before moving to Canada, France practised for more than five years at a major law firm in Caracas, Venezuela. Her civil law background and fluency in Spanish, coupled with her common law training and Canadian experience, allow her to advise Canadian and international clients on a full range of Latin American matters. Similarly, she is also well-positioned to advise Latin American clients on Canadian business and transactions. In addition to The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, France has been recognized for her service and expertise in several prominent publications, including Chambers Global, Chambers Latin America, Who’s Who Legal, IFLR1000 and Latinvex. France is a founder and former vice-chair and secretary of the New York State Bar Association’s Latin American Council.

RAFAEL VERGARA is a Partner with Carey y Cia Ltda., in Santiago. Mr. Vergara is co-head of the firm’s Natural Resources and Environment Group. His practice focuses on natural resources, mining, water rights, energy, environment, surface lands, project financing, and corporate and commercial law. He has received numerous national and international awards and recognition in the fields of mining, metals, energy, environmental, natural resources, and project finance and development. He has been a Professor of Mining Law at the Universidad de Chile since 1996, and at the Universidad de los Andes since 2003. Mr. Vergara is the author of several legal publications, including the Chilean chapter on Mining, Getting the Deal Through (2010-2013), and has presented special courses on mining law for judges and members of the Courts of Appeals, organized by the Judiciary Academy of Chile, as well as papers on Chilean mining, energy, natural resources regulations and environment at numerous seminars, both in Chile and abroad. He was a Trustee at Large of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (2012-2015); a Member of the Chilean Bar Association, Member of its board (2006-2011); Visiting Professor in several graduate studies and Master Degree Programs on Natural Resources Law at several Chilean Universities; Member of the panel of arbitrators, Arbitration Center of the Chamber of Commerce of Santiago; Member of the Legal Committee of the National Mining Association (SONAMI); and Member of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA). Mr. Vergara received his law degree from the Universidad de Chile.

CARLOS VILHENA is a partner at the law firm of Pinheiro Neto Advogados, in Brasilia, Brazil, where he heads the firm's mining and government relations practices. For many years Mr. Vilhena has been appointed as one of the top practitioners in Brazil for mining legal expertise by a number of publications, including the International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers published by Who's Who Legal, the Latin Lawyer, Chambers Global, and Legal 500. In 2015, 2016, and 2017, the Who´s Who Legal identified 407 mining law practitioners around the World. Mr. Vilhena was listed as thought leader. He is the only Brazilian in the list. Chambers and Global 2017 listed Mr. Vilhena as the only Star Individual in the mining legal market in Brazil. Mr. Vilhena acts as Senior Vice-Chair of the Mining Committee of the International Bar Association. He is a director of TriStar Gold Inc. Mr. Vilhena holds an LLM degree in Natural Resources Law from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee, Scotland and an LLB from the University of Brasilia Law School.

DAPO AKINOSUN, SimmonsCooper Partners, Lagos

ALEXANDRE CALMON is a partner of Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown in the Rio de Janeiro office. In 2017, Alexandre was named by Who’s Who Legal—a leading directory on the global legal market, which, like Latin Lawyer, is edited by Law Business Research—as one of the four “Most Highly Regarded” leading energy lawyers in Brazil. Alexandre focuses his practice on regulatory and transactional work involving high-end transactions for clients in the natural resources area. In addition to his regulatory, contracts and general business practice, he has significant M&A experience and over the past 19 years has been advising clients in O&G and natural resources on sophisticated, multimillion-dollar transactions. Alexandre has extensive experience in onshore and offshore oil and gas concession contracts, production sharing agreements, JOAs, farm-in and farm-out operations, JBAs, marketing agreements, as well as midstream O&G related projects, including gas transportation and gas sale agreements. He has handled acquisitions of oil and gas exploration and production assets, including some of the largest deals in Brazil: the cross-border swap of hydrocarbon assets in Brazil and Argentina, the regulatory framework of the largest ethanol pipeline in the world and innumerous acquisitions of mining projects of various sizes and types (i.e., gold, iron ore, manganese, rare earths, potash and diamonds). Alexandre is also actively committed to legal education and corporate training. For many years, he has been involved with the prestigious Houston-based AIPN. Currently Alexandre is a member of the AIPN model contract committee’s Farmout Agreement - Revision of 2004. He is also involved with the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF). In 2015, Alexandre co-chaired the O&G program of the RMMLF Special Institute on International Mining and Oil and Gas Law in Colombia and, in 2017, sat on the O&G program committee of the RMMLF Special Institute on International Mining and Oil and Gas Law in Ecuador. Alexandre is currently the vice chair of the legal committee of the Norwegian Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) and co-chair of the host committee of the RMMLF Special Institute on International Mining and Oil and Gas Law to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2019.

KENNETH CULOTTA, King & Spalding LLP, Houston

ELISABETH ELJURI is Chief Negotiator and Chief Legal Counsel for Sierra Oil and Gas, a private-equity backed company with assets in the Gulf of Mexico. She is based in Houston and Mexico City. Formerly, she was Head of Latin America for the global firm Norton Rose Fulbright, where she focused on corporate and transactional work involving high-end sophisticated transactions for major energy companies as well as international dispute work related to energy, projects, and infrastructure. Over the past two decades she has been regularly advising oil and gas producers and service companies engaged in transactions across the region. She has worked in the energy business in Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, Bolivia, Argentina, Guyana, and other Latin American countries. She has been particularly active in the Mexican energy sector over the past 15 years. Major deals she has handled include acquisitions of hydrocarbon companies and producing areas, upstream contract negotiations, a crude oil storage and ship loading project, and several of the world’s largest gas injection projects. She has extensive experience in profit/production sharing agreements, JOAs, JSBAs, farmouts, gas licenses, and upstream joint venture companies, as well as midstream and downstream related and major projects. On the dispute side, she frequently acts as counsel in international arbitrations, including ICC and ICSID procedures. She has also been retained as an independent expert in international arbitrations and court proceedings and has spoken and published extensively in the area of energy and resources investment disputes and investment treaty law as well as political risk management in such industries. Elisabeth is a Past President of the AIPN. She is actively committed to legal education, is a co-chair and instructor of the International Oil and Gas Short Courses held in Houston every year, and also presents courses on subjects of interest for the energy community upon her client’s request. Chambers ranks Elisabeth in Band 1 for the entire Latin America region, and Star Individual for Venezuela. For a number of years now, Who’s Who in Oil and Gas has selected Elisabeth as one of the top 10 energy practitioners worldwide. Elisabeth received her law degree from Universidad Católica and an LLM from Harvard Law School. She is both a civil law and a common law lawyer (admitted in New York and Venezuela).

MÓNICA JIMÉNEZ GONZÁLEZ, is Secretary General of Ecopetrol S.A., in Bogotá. As Secretary General, Ms. Jiménez is involved in the process of governance, legal counsel and coordination with the President and Ecopetrol’s Board of Directors, as well as the coordination of relations with the different controlling and monitoring entities and the channeling of corporate communications. Ms. Jiménez is an attorney with a degree from Universidad de los Andes. She is a specialist in Liability and Recoverable Damage from Universidad Externado, and she has a Master’s Degree in Science in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), with a scholarship granted by the British Council for academic and professional excellence. She most recently worked as a legal advisor at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, a Canadian firm where she specialized in international arbitration and corporate social responsibility issues as applied to mining and oil and gas. Previously, she worked at Thomas & Partners Barristers and Solicitors, a Canadian law firm specialized in investment arbitration. Her experience in Colombia was as an attorney advising the Minister and the Vice Minister of Defense in matters of international law, and for the law firm Gómez-Pinzón Zuleta Abogados. 

ALVARO RODRIGUEZ, Posse, Herrera & Ruiz S.A., Bogotá

PETER J. SCHAUMBERG is a principal with Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. in Washington, D.C.  His practice focuses on issues related to development of energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf and on federally managed lands onshore, including oil & gas, solar, wind, and geothermal resources, as well as development of coal and hard-rock mineral resources on public lands. He also advises clients with respect to royalty reporting and payment issues for federal mineral leases offshore and onshore, and for Indian leases. Mr. Schaumberg joined Beveridge & Diamond in 2006 after 25 years with the Office of the Solicitor, Department of the Interior. He was the Deputy Associate Solicitor for Mineral Resources, the senior career attorney responsible for providing legal advice to the energy, minerals, and royalty programs of the Minerals Management Service (now the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue), and the Bureau of Land Management. Mr. Schaumberg has written and lectured on a wide range of legal topics relating to federal mineral royalties and development of oil & gas, coal, hard-rock minerals, and alternative energy on federally-managed lands. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, and is the Chair of the Oceans Committee of the DC Bar’s Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Section. He earned his J.D., with Honors, in 1975 from George Washington University National Law Center, and his B.A., cum laude, in 1972 from Tulane University. He is admitted to the bars of the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court.

JUAN CARLOS SERRA has been with Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C. since 1996. He is the Head of the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure Practice Groups. Juan Carlos worked in the private sector lending arm of the Interamerican Development Bank, called the Interamerican Investment Corporation. Juan Carlos is a Graduate from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and has a Master´s Degree from Georgetown University (Fullbright Scholarship). Other formal education includes a Postgraduate Degree in Corporate and Economic Law from the Panamerican University (Universidad Panamericana) and a Diploma Degree in Energy Law from the Iberoamerican University (Universidad Iberoamericana). Juan Carlos has been recognized by Latin American Energy and Infrastructure Guide as a Leading Lawyer; ranked by Chambers Latin America as a leading lawyer in Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions and Energy & Natural Resources practices; recognized as Latin America´s Leading lawyer in IFLR 1000 Energy and Infrastructure; and named World´s Leading Lawyer by Who´s Who of Mining Lawyers and Who´s Who of Energy Lawyers. His specific experience includes joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, investments, acquisitions, and solid experience participating in national and international public bidding, as well as extensive advice in energy and mining issues. He is an active member of the Mexican Legal Bar (Barra Mexicana del Colegio de Abogados), Institute of Energy Law, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), and the International Bar Association (IBA).

PEDRO SERRANO ESPELTA is a partner of Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal and has been a member of the firm since 1997. He regularly advises clients on Argentine anti-corruption regulations and their complex interaction with foreign extraterritorial laws applicable to actions taking place in Argentina. Pedro also advises clients in developing, implementing and auditing compliance programs, as well as in white collar crime, compliance trainings, risk analysis, due diligence and internal investigations. Pedro is involved in corporate, oil & gas, M&A and complex contracts work. He is a regular speaker at international anti-corruption conferences both locally and abroad. Pedro received his law degree from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral in 1992. He was a Visiting Scholar at the University of California at Berkeley from 1993 to 1995 and earned a Master in Laws (LL.M.) degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1997. He was a foreign associate at The Americas Law Group in San Francisco, California, from 1993 to 1996. He is a member of the Bar of the City of Buenos Aires. 

GERMÁN VILLAMIL-PARDO is a partner at Gómez Pinzón Zuleta Abogados, in Bogotá, where he leads the Oil & Gas practice and is a member of the Corporate law practice, leading the Foreign Exchange and Regulatory International Investments practice. Germán is also a member of the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets practice. Germán has more than 30 years of professional experience. In the Oil & Gas industry, he renders advice to exploration and production companies and also to service companies, oil transportation companies, and trading companies. He also participates actively in mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions in the Oil & Gas sector. In the foreign exchange and international investments practice, he has rendered legal advice to, among others, companies related to the energy, gas, financial, communication and written press, real estate, public services, telecommunications, technology, beverages, and transportation sectors, in legal matters that include legal counsel in foreign exchange regulations, financings in foreign currency, structuring of international investments and counsel, and representation in administrative foreign exchange proceedings. Germán received his law school degree from Universidad de los Andes and has a post-graduate degree in Taxation from the same university. He worked for around ten years with Banco de la República (Colombia’s Central Bank) where among other positions he served as General Counsel. He is member of the Mines and Oil Bar (Colegio de Abogados de Minas y Petróleos), board member of Grupo Aval and also of the Free Country Foundation (Fundación País Libre) and arbitrator of the arbitration and conciliation center of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá.

PIERRE BOIVIN, McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Montreal

DAVID L. DEISLEY is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES Inc., a well-financed precious metals company engaged in the development of mineral properties in North America. At NOVAGOLD, Dave is responsible for all aspects of the Company’s legal governance and corporate affairs. With over 25 years of experience in the mining industry in the Americas, Dave has an extensive track record in project permitting, corporate social responsibility, mergers and acquisitions and corporate development. Prior to joining NOVAGOLD, Dave served in positions of increasing responsibility with Goldcorp Inc. from September 2007 to October 2012. At the time he resigned from Goldcorp Inc., he held the position of Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and General Counsel for Goldcorp Inc. During his tenure with Goldcorp, Dave led Goldcorp’s participation in an industry leading human rights assessment of Goldcorp’s operations in Guatemala and the development of corporate human rights policy and practices for that company. Prior to his tenure at Goldcorp Inc., Dave served in progressively responsible capacities with Barrick Gold Corporation, including Regional General Counsel for Barrick Gold North America, and General Counsel in Chile. Dave joined Barrick after 12 years of private practice in the natural resources area with Parsons Behle & Latimer, a Salt Lake City based law firm. Dave obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Utah, College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University.

SEBASTIAN DONOSO, Sebastian Donoso & Asociados, Santiago

ANDREW A. IRVINE is the Legal and Corporate Engagement Manager at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Oslo, Norway.  The EITI is the global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources.  Prior to joining the EITI this year, Andy was an attorney at Andrew A. Irvine, P.C., in Jackson, Wyoming, where he specialized in environmental and natural resources law.  Andy serves on the Board for Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities (YTCC), the sole regional designee of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program.  YTCC focuses on petroleum displacement activities in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Idaho, Montana and Wyoming), especially promotion of alternative fuels and vehicles through programs such as green fleet consulting, electric vehicle rebates and development of alternative fuels/electric infrastructure.  Andy was awarded the 2016-2017 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grant to Ecuador to investigate and develop regulatory solutions to problems resulting from artisanal and small-scale mining in the country.  He received his B.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame, his M.S. in Mineral Economics from the Colorado School of Mines, and his J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School, with a Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law.  Prior to opening his own law firm in 2014, he was an attorney with the environmental and natural resources group at the law firm of Holland & Hart, LLP in Denver, Colorado and Jackson, Wyoming from 2006 – 2013.  He is the Wyoming Mining Reporter for the RMMLF Mineral Law Newsletter, has served on the Mining and Environmental & CSR/Sustainability Committees for the RMMLF’s Special Institutes on International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development and Investment, and he frequently writes about and presents on environmental and natural resources topics.

CHARLES KAZAZ is a partner at Blake, Cassels and Graydon LLP and is based in both Montréal, Quebec and Toronto, Ontario. Charles specializes in mining law and practices in all aspects of environmental law. Charles advises mining companies on a wide range of commercial, land, and regulatory mining issues, including mine acquisitions and divestitures, mine reclamation and closure issues, earn-ins, joint ventures, regulatory compliance, mineral rights concerns, and indigenous rights issues and agreements. He has extensive expertise in environmental aspects of corporate, commercial, and property transactions, project development, regulatory compliance, and liability issues. He also advises businesses with regard to contaminated property, permitting, investigations and enforcement, environmental assessments, waste management issues, regulatory compliance, and defending environmental prosecutions. He is recognized as a leading lawyer in all major legal directories and ranking publications, including The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada 2020 (Mining) and Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business 2019 (Environment).

PATRICIO LEYTON is a Partner with Ferrada Nehme Ltda., in Santiago. Mr. Leyton is the main partner in charge of environmental and natural resources matters. His natural ability for managing complex projects has led him to advise several national and foreign firms, consolidating the firm as one of the leading environmental practices of the country. Mr. Leyton leads a consolidated and robust team in the context of the new Chilean environmental institutional design and its challenges. His expertise allows him to tackle different aspects of environmental law, including environmental assessment, community relationships, environmental litigation, and more recently the implementation of extended producer liability legislation. His clients highlight his genuine commitment, his personal attention to every detail, and his impressive knowledge of the law and practice of environmental matters. His team works side by side and in cooperation with the litigation and public law practices. Mr. Leyton received a Law degree from the Universidad de Chile and an LLM from Georgetown University.

ANGELES MURGIER is in charge of the Environmental Law Practice at Beccar Varela in Buenos Aires. She works in general environmental counseling. Angeles has engaged in a wide-ranging regulatory, transactional, judicial and legislative practice involving environmental issues in Argentina. She mainly acts as environmental counsel helping major international clients doing business in Argentina to comply with local environmental laws and regulations. She advises on environmental compliance audits and due diligences. Angeles also has vast experience in the environmental law aspects of corporate transactions and in the practice of corporate law and general commercial matters. Angeles is Chair of the Environment, Health and Safety Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL). Angeles has been recognized by Chambers Latin America, Who’s Who Legal, The International Who’s Who of Environment Lawyers, and The Practical Law Company’s Environmental Handbook. She has chaired and participated in conferences in Argentina and abroad. In April 2018 Angeles co-chaired the Biennial Conference of the IBA SEERIL in Lisbon. In March 2017 Angeles co-chaired the First Environmental Summit of the Americas, a joint initiative of the ABA SEER and the IBA SEERIL. She is the author of several articles and publications on environmental issues.

KEVIN O’CALLAGHAN is the Leader of Fasken Martineau’s Aboriginal Law Practice Group and he is a founder of their Corporate Social Responsibility Law Practice Group. He is based in Fasken’s Vancouver office. Kevin provides strategic advice on Aboriginal, regulatory, environmental, and other corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues. While his extensive experience is focused throughout western and northern Canada, he also advises a number of clients around the world. Kevin provides ongoing advice to resource companies on obligations to First Nations and agreements with First Nations. Kevin was counsel for a coalition of businesses in two critical aboriginal cases at the Supreme Court of Canada: first on leading case on Aboriginal consultation and accommodation (Haida Nation v. B.C.); and second, on the leading case on Aboriginal title (Tsilhqot’in Nation v. B.C.). 

LINA PIMENTEL GARCIA, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados, Sao Paulo

SARAH POWELL, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Toronto

ROB RISLEY is in-house counsel at Freeport-McMoRan Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona, where his practice focuses on domestic and international transactions involving acquisitions of mineral rights and on domestic real estate and alternative energy transactions. Among numerous other transactions he has handled for Freeport worldwide, Rob negotiated the acquisition and restructuring of an interest in the Tenke-Fungurume copper-cobalt project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the sale of Ambatovy nickel project Madagascar. Prior to joining Freeport, Rob practiced in the Bangkok office of White & Case handling resource, energy, and power-related project-finance transactions located throughout Southeast Asia. He also handled financing transactions, land use planning issues, environmental issues, and government relations efforts in Tucson and Phoenix. Prior to studying law, he spent seven years exploring and developing a natural gas project in the Gulf of Thailand, and he has also provided geologic exploration support to projects in Alaska and the Netherlands. Rob holds degrees from the U.C.L.A. School of Law (J.D.), the University of Arizona (M.S., Geosciences) and the University of California at Davis (B.S., Geology, honors). 

CONNIE ROGERS is the founder and principal of Terra Law Group, LLC, in Golden, Colorado. Connie helps clients navigate complex regulatory regimes and environmental reviews, with an emphasis on compliance with U.S. federal land management statutes, the National Environmental Policy Act, species protection statutes, federal Indian law, cultural resource and religious freedom concerns, and international human rights and indigenous peoples issues. Connie previously served as Deputy Solicitor for Energy and Mineral Resources at the U.S. Department of the Interior, where she was the lead lawyer on issues relating to the development of renewable and conventional energy and mineral resources.  Connie is a former trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and a frequent speaker at the Annual Institute and Special Institutes. Connie is listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Native American Law (twice as Lawyer of the Year for Native American Law in Denver), in Who’s Who Legal: Mining, Denver Business Journal’s list of Top Women in Energy, and by Chambers USA for Natural Resources & Environment. Connie graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was an Olin Fellow in Law and Economics and a member of the Order of the Coif.

SOPHIE MARIA THOMASHAUSEN-WALMSLEY, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, New York

MARÍA AMPARO ALBÁN, ACD Consulting

JUAN BUSTAMANTE, Bustamante & Bustamante Law Firm

JERÓNIMO CARCELÉN PACHECO is a Partner at the Santiago based firm Carcelén, Desmadryl, Guzman & Tapia. He graduated from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (1998), with a degree in Economics and Finance from Universidad de Chile (1999), a Master in International Law from the Georgetown University Law Center (2005), and a Diploma on Mining Investment Projects in Indigenous Land and Territories from Universidad Central de Chile (2010). He served as a Fellow and Research Associate, Institute of International Economic Law, Washington, DC (2004-2005). He is currently an International Visiting Advisor at Dechert LLP in Washington, DC. Admitted to practice in Chile and Ecuador, Mr. Carcelén has developed his career in the international area, advising private companies, governments, cooperation agencies and international organizations on cross-border mining and natural resources legislation. Mr. Carcelén has served as an advisor and consultant to governments and international bodies such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank in developing public policies and legal frameworks for mining in several countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Liberia, Mongolia and Togo. Mr. Carcelén recently served as Senior Counselor for Public Policies in Mining to the President of Ecuador, where he worked as the direct advisor to the President on issues pertaining to the design and implementation of public policies and regulations applicable to mining. His previous experience also includes serving as the Senior Advisor of the former Minister of Mining of Chile, where he assisted with legal, international and mining business matters. Mr. Carcelén is a frequent lecturer on mining issues and currently serves as a Professor of Mining Law at the Universidad Diego Portales; a Professor of Mining Contracts, Master on Administrative Economic Law at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile; and a Professor of International Mining Contracts and Mining Property, Master on Mining and Water Law at the Universidad Finis Terrae.

JAVIER CÓRDOVA UNDA is the current Minister of Mines of Ecuador, Quito. Prior to this Mr. Córdova held the position of Vice Minister of Mining, and Vice Minister of Internal Security. Mr. Córdova has also held prominent positions as the Vice Minister of Justice, Human Rights, and Cults; Deputy Secretary of Mining; Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Mining; and Advisor/Private Secretary to the Minister of External Trade, Industrialization, Fisheries and Competition. Throughout his career, Mr. Córdova has played an integral role in advancing important institutional reforms in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Some of these achievements include the territorial restructuring of the police force into districts; implementing a new model of management of the police force to better serve the citizen; generating campaigns against violence towards women; and, in dismantling drug trafficking. Mr. Córdova holds a degree in Finance from the College of Government for Development, at Universidad San Francisco of Quito. Mr Córdova completed his baccalaureate at the Lincoln School, in San José, Costa Rica.

GONZALO GONZÁLES GALARZA, Gonzáles Peña Herrera & Associates

JUAN FRANCISCO GONZALEZ, Perez Bustamante & Ponce

FABIÁN JARAMILLO TERÁN, Jaramillo Dávila Abogados

JORGE PAZ DURINI is a Partner with Paz Horowitz, in Quito. Mr. Paz leads the Energy and Natural Resources Practice Area and is especially known for his in-depth knowledge of the mining sector. He has advised many clients in investments efficient structures. He was a leading member in the negotiation of the first three mining exploitation contracts; acted as advisor in the negotiation and closing of several important joint ventures and acquisitions; acted as lead counsel in the operations of a permanent tourism business in the Galápagos Islands with a ship from a Global Tourist Operator; and advised in establishment and operation of two global airlines in Ecuador. His experience includes: Professor of Mining Law and International Contracts, Universidad San Francisco de Quito; Director, Chaparral Gold Corp.; Former President of the Ecuador Chapter of Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); Former Advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), evaluated mining and environmental laws in Panama; Former Consultant to The World Bank, proposed and drafted mining laws in Argentina and Ecuador; Former Director of Ecuador Institute of Forestry, Natural Areas and Wildlife (INEFAN) and Undersecretary of Mines at Ecuador Energy and Mines Department; and Former Director of the National Bank. Mr. Paz received a PhD in Law from Catholic University of Quito, Ecuador, and an L.L.M. from Temple University.

JAVIER ROBALINO, Ferrere Abogados

MARÍA JOSÉ RODRÍGUEZ, Tesserae Bureau

LEONARDO SEMPERTEGUI, OPEC, Vienna

LEONARDO SEMPERTEGUI, Sempertegui Ontaneda Abogados

BERNARDO TOBAR, Tobar ZVS Spingarn

CESAR ZUMARRAGA, Tobar ZVS Spingarn

SYLVIA ZUMÁRRAGA, Oleoducto de Crudos Pesados de Ecuador S.A.

FERNANDO AGUIRRE B. is a Senior Partner at Bufete Aguirre Soc. Civ. in Bolivia. He is a graduate of the State University of La Paz and holds a Diploma in Law from Oxford University (Public International Law). Mr. Aguirre leads the mining and arbitration practices of the firm, which has as clients three of the most important private foreign investment in mining in Bolivia, and regularly advises the National Association of Medium Miners, which gathers the main mining private investments. As such he participated in the negotiations with the government and other mining stakeholders for a new Mining Law enacted in 2014. He is an internationally renowned arbitrator and advisor on arbitration, having participated in numerous publications and panels, both national and international in this and other related areas of the law. He has been Minister of the Presidency of Bolivia and director of the Bolivian Central Bank, as well as President and Director of the American Chamber of Commerce of Bolivia. At present he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Coca Cola bottlers of Bolivia, EMBOL S.A. He is registered in the lists of arbitrators of the Bolivian National Chamber of Commerce’s Arbitration Center, the Center of Arbitration of the National Chamber of Hydrocarbons and of the Kuala Lumpur Regional Arbitration Center. He has advised and represented the National Confederation of Private Entrepreneurs in the negotiation with the government of a new Arbitration and Conciliation Law in effect since 2015.

SCOT W. ANDERSON is a partner in Hogan Lovells US LLP’s Denver office and Global Head of the Energy & Natural Resources Group. Scot’s practice focuses on commercial transactions, regulatory advice, and project development involving the mining, oil and gas, and energy industries. He has represented a number of clients with projects on Indian lands and internationally. Scot advises on the full sweep of issues affecting the oil and gas, hardrock mining, and coal industries. He has worked on complex transactions for natural resources clients, including the formation of new joint ventures, the divestiture of natural resources projects, and the acquisition of leases and reserves for mining and oil and gas clients. He has represented clients in administrative proceedings and in federal and state courts. He has extensive experience addressing issues related to mineral development of federal public lands and Indian lands. Scot’s practice includes international project development and transactions. He has worked on matters throughout North and South America, and in Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia.

MARTÍN AÑEZ REA has been a partner, international consultant, and arbitrator at DRLAbogados, a Spanish law firm specializing in infrastructure, energy, and international litigation in Madrid, Spain, since August 2019. He is the former Director of Upstream Legal Services at REPSOL S.A., responsible for Latin America. He has more than 20 years of experience working as a legal advisor in international contracting, joint ventures, international arbitration, foreign investment, E&P acquisitions and divestments, negotiations with governments, integrated projects of liquefied natural gas, environment and corporate social responsibility, and know-how in continental law and common law. Martín received his law degree from the Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), Magister Scientiarum in Economic Law by the Universidad de Chile (Santiago, Chile), and ESADE Alumni, Diploma in Business Management (Madrid, Spain). He is a member of AIPN (Association of International Petroleum Negotiators) and the IBA (International Bar Association). He has been recognized for Latin Lawyer Deal of the Year Awards’ for 2008 – Project Finance Category: First LNG export project financing in Peru, and Latin Lawyer Deal of the Year Awards’ for 2005 - M&A Category: Peru LNG acquisition.

TIMOTHY M. BAGSHAW is an associate in the Salt Lake City office of Holland & Hart LLP. His practice focuses on environmental and natural-resources issues, with an emphasis on state and federal water, air, and waste compliance issues and litigation. He has graduated Vassar College (B.A.), the University of Wisconsin–Madison (M.A., Ph.D., ABD), and the University of Utah (J.D.), where he served as Executive Articles Editor of the Utah Law Review. Before joining Holland & Hart in 2015, he served one term as law clerk to the Honorable J. Frederic Voros Jr. of the Utah Court of Appeals.

JUAN PAULO BAMBACH is a Partner with Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uria, in Santiago. His practice area is Natural Resources. Mr. Bambach is Counsel of the Chilean Bar Association and Arbiter of Chilean Chamber of Commerce. He holds an undergraduate diploma in Taxation Planning of Universidad Católica de Chile (2002); a Postgraduate diploma in Mining Law, Universidad de Atacama (1997); a Master in Law, University of Wurzburg, Germany (1993); and a Law Degree, Universidad de Chile 1988. He is Professor of: Mining Law and Real Estate LL.M, Universidad de Los Andes; Post Graduate Program in Natural Resources and Energy Law, Universidad Católica de Chile; LL.M in Regulatory Law, Universidad Católica.

WARREN BEECH is a Partner with Hogan Lovells, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mr. Beech provides multi-disciplinary legal and related services, primarily to the mining, construction, and engineering industries. This includes health and safety, environmental, commercial, litigation, criminal and employment law advice, as well as training, auditing and consulting services. He consults locally and internationally, and has represented mining and non-mining companies in more than 1,800 fatal inquiries and inquests arising out of incidents and accidents. He has conducted inquiries in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act for many clients. Recognised for his contribution to the mining industry by several industry bodies, including associations affiliated to the Chamber of Mines, he has participated in various industry-specific bodies on developments, including legislative amendments, at the request of the regulators. Warren is a frequent speaker at local and international seminars and conferences.

CHRISTINA L. BEHARRY is a dual qualified (U.S./Canada) attorney in Foley Hoag’s International Litigation and Arbitration Department in Washington, D.C. Her practice is focused on public international law, investor-State and commercial arbitration, and trade and investment policy. Ms. Beharry has public and private sector experience in international arbitration proceedings conducted before panels administered by the ICSID, PCA, ICC and ad hoc tribunals under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. Her experience includes advising clients from North America, Europe, Central and South America, and Asia on complex financial matters related to the valuation of businesses in various industries including mining, oil and gas. Prior to joining Foley Hoag, she was Counsel in the Trade Law Bureau of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa. In this capacity, Ms. Beharry represented the Government of Canada in investor-State disputes brought under NAFTA Chapter 11 and assisted in the negotiation of bilateral investment treaties with countries in Latin America and the Middle East. Ms. Beharry also previously worked at Industry Canada where she contributed to the development and drafting of new legislation. She holds law degrees from the London School of Economics, Cambridge University, and Columbia University.

RODRIGO BORJA CALISTO is a Partner with Lexim Abogados, in Quito. Rodrigo obtained his Doctor Degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Tecnológico de Monterrey. He has been legal director of several foreign companies operating in Ecuador, mainly dealing with subjects such as mortgage portfolio securitization, hydrocarbons, and mining, among others. Rodrigo has a deep knowledge of the hydrocarbons and mining industry, both from the internal operations and State regulation and control perspectives. His wide experience with transnational companies has enabled him to advise local and foreign companies throughout their different stages, from the incorporation of the company to the exploration, assessment, negotiation of contracts with the State and vendors, design, construction, development and closing of operations. He has been a member of the executive and administrative committees of the companies where he served as legal director.

MICHAEL J. BOURASSA is a member of the global mining group at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, and acted as the group’s coordinator from 2004–2012. Michael has accumulated extensive experience on both Canadian and international mining projects.  Michael was co-chair of the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Mining Law Committee until 31 December 2018, and is now a council member of the IBA’s Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law. He has also served as a director of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada. Michael has been ranked in several leading legal publications including Chambers Global, Chambers Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. He has also been named by Who’s Who Legal as ‘Mining Lawyer of the Year’ in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2017, and recognised in Who’s Who Legal (compendium edition) for 13 consecutive years (which also recognised Fasken as the ‘Global Mining Law Firm of the Year’ in 2018 for the 10th time – the firm’s fourth consecutive win).  In 2018, Michael also edited the first edition of Practice Guide – Mining published by Getting the Deal Through, a division of Law Business Research.

STUART R. BUTZIER is a Shareholder with Modrall Sperling, in Santa Fe, NM. Stuart has assisted mining, energy and ranching clients throughout his 25-plus year legal career with Modrall Sperling. His advice and counsel has included helping clients strategically navigate the maze of environmental and mining regulatory and permitting regimes, the morass of litigation, and the unique challenges of complex deals and real property transactions. Recognized in the area of Environment, Natural Resources & Regulated Industries by Chambers USA, Stuart is considered a “tenacious litigator who gains excellent results,” and is held in high regard by market sources, who say that “on the mining side of things, he’s really one of the top-tier folks in New Mexico,” and that “he is wonderful; he’s immediately responsive and makes incredibly helpful presentations on complicated issues.” He has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as “Lawyer of the Year” five times, most recently as 2016 Natural Resources “Lawyer of the Year” in Santa Fe. He has achieved the AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected among those included in Southwest Super Lawyers®. In addition, New Mexico Business Weekly chose Stuart as Best of the Bar in Natural Resources in 2011. He is also listed in the International Who’s Who of Mining Lawyers, 2003 to present. Currently Managing Director of the Santa Fe office, he has previously served as Chair of the firm’s Natural Resources Department and was a recent four-year member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Stuart is actively involved in community and professional non-profit organizations. As a long-time Trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and past member and Chair of the Section of Natural Resources of the State Bar of New Mexico, he has contributed countless hours as program chair, author and speaker in connection with legal education programs in New Mexico and throughout the West. He is past President of the University of New Mexico School of Law Alumni Association. His professional practice and interests extend beyond New Mexico to other parts of the West and, to a limited extent, other countries. Education: University of New Mexico School of Law, J.D., 1989, member, New Mexico Law Review; Frederick M. Hart Prize for Excellence in Commercial Law; Grinnell College, B.A. in English Literature, 1981.

JERÓNIMO CARCELÉN PACHECO is a Partner at the Santiago based firm Carcelén, Desmadryl, Guzman & Tapia. He graduated from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (1998), with a degree in Economics and Finance from Universidad de Chile (1999), a Master in International Law from the Georgetown University Law Center (2005), and a Diploma on Mining Investment Projects in Indigenous Land and Territories from Universidad Central de Chile (2010). He served as a Fellow and Research Associate, Institute of International Economic Law, Washington, DC (2004-2005). He is currently an International Visiting Advisor at Dechert LLP in Washington, DC. Admitted to practice in Chile and Ecuador, Mr. Carcelén has developed his career in the international area, advising private companies, governments, cooperation agencies and international organizations on cross-border mining and natural resources legislation. Mr. Carcelén has served as an advisor and consultant to governments and international bodies such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank in developing public policies and legal frameworks for mining in several countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Liberia, Mongolia and Togo. Mr. Carcelén recently served as Senior Counselor for Public Policies in Mining to the President of Ecuador, where he worked as the direct advisor to the President on issues pertaining to the design and implementation of public policies and regulations applicable to mining. His previous experience also includes serving as the Senior Advisor of the former Minister of Mining of Chile, where he assisted with legal, international and mining business matters. Mr. Carcelén is a frequent lecturer on mining issues and currently serves as a Professor of Mining Law at the Universidad Diego Portales; a Professor of Mining Contracts, Master on Administrative Economic Law at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile; and a Professor of International Mining Contracts and Mining Property, Master on Mining and Water Law at the Universidad Finis Terrae.

URSULA ZAVALA is counsel in the Natural Resources Practice Group who specializes in environmental law. She earned her law degree from the Universidad de Lima (2003) and holds an LL.M. from Yale Law School (2009). She advises natural resources companies and other companies in general on the analysis of and compliance with environmental obligations regarding the planning, development, operation and closure stages of their operations. She has experience in rendering advice to the promoters of large scale projects, to investment funds and to multilateral agencies with regards to the potential legal effects of the carbon market and climate change on their projects and deals. She participates in due diligence on projects aimed to qualify to the Clean Development Mechanism (Kyoto Protocol).

NICOLÁS CASTELLANO GARD is a Partner with Castellano Carlevaro Asociados, in Montevideo. He has over 14 years of experience in corporate law. He specializes in advising local and international companies in different aspects related to their businesses in Uruguay, including setting up corporations, drafting and negotiating contracts with clients and suppliers, and relationships with the Uruguayan regulatory bodies. In recent years, as Uruguay profited from the renewable energy policies in place, he has been directly involved advising developers, EPC contractors, and land owners, in both photovoltaic and wind energy projects for over 200 MW. In this capacity, he has participated in all stages of the projects, from securing bidding processes with Uruguay´s electric utility “UTE”, negotiating PPAs, structuring financing, EPC contracting, through civil works execution and installation of wind turbines and solar panels. His area of expertise further involves advising court-appointed administrators in company bankruptcy processes, working together with CPAs. He led the team of lawyers advising private companies in the negotiation and drafting of the first biodiesel 15-year contracts with the state-owned Uruguayan oil utility “ANCAP”, including project financing with public and private banks for over USD 60 million. Nicolas graduated from the University of Montevideo in Law (J.D.) in 2005. He was an associate at Guyer & Regules law firm from 2004 until 2008, working in the Corporate and Banking departments. In 2008 he travelled to China to complete the International Management Program from Boston University in Beijing and Shanghai. He later obtained a Master´s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Boston University in 2010. Since 2010 he has been a partner in Castellano, Carlevaro & Asociados, and acts as a member in the board of directors of cable TV, micro credit, edible oil, and flour mill industries in Uruguay. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian. 

IGNACIO H. CELORRIO is a Partner with Quevedo Abogados in Buenos Aires. Prior to joining Ejercicio profesional: Quevedo Abogados (2007-);Prior to joining Quevedo Abogados, he worked with Brons & Salas, Associate (1997-2007); Greenberg Traurig LLP, Miami, Estados Unidos, Consultor/Asociado Extranjero (2002-2003);Greenberg Traurig LLP, Miami, United States, Foreign Consultant / Associate (2002-2003); Smith Lyons, Toronto, Canadá, Consultor Legal Extranjero (agosto 1998-mayo 1999).and Smith Lyons, Toronto, Canada, Foreign Legal Consultant (August 1998-May 1999). He received his law degree from the Universidad Católica Argentina; a Master en Derecho Administrativo, Universidad Austral (1997-1998);Master in Administrative Law from the Universidad Austral; a degree inDerecho Comparativo, Samford University, Cumberland Law School, Birmingham, Alabama, Estados Unidos; Comparative Law from Samford University, Cumberland Law School, Birmingham, Alabama; and a degree from Durham University, Reino Unido (junio-julio 1998, junio-julio 1999).Durham University, UK. Distinciones: Distinguido como Leading Individual en el área de Energía y Recursos Naturales: Minería, por Chambers Latin America Edición 2010.He has been distinguished as a Leading Individual in the area of Energy and Natural Resources: Mining, by Chambers Latin America Edition 2010. He served in theFunción Pública: Cámara Nacional de Apelaciones en lo Contencioso Administrativo Federal, Relator de Cámara del Juez Federal, Dr. Gallegos Fedriani (1996-1997). National Chamber of Appeals in Federal Administrative Litigation, Chamber Judge of Federal Judge, Dr. Gallegos Fedriani (1996-1997).

CARLA CHAVICH is a Vice President in the New York office of Compass Lexecon. Ms. Chavich specializes in economic and financial analysis, and in the design of complex valuation models related to assets in developing countries. Her work is primarily focused on international arbitration matters, where she performs economic and financial analysis in the context of international treaty and contractual disputes. She has participated in more than 35 international arbitration cases, in courts such as ICSID, ICC, and UNCITRAL, and in several regulatory consultancy projects. Ms. Chavich has worked on projects related to various industries (oil and gas production, electricity generation and distribution, gas transportation and distribution, telecommunications, infrastructure, air transportation, water services) in diverse locations, including Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, United States, and Venezuela. Carla Chavich is a CFA® charterholder and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She obtained her degree in Economics from Universidad de San Andrés with summa cum laude honors and a specialization in Finance at the same university. Prior to joining Compass Lexecon, she worked in LECG’s International Arbitration group and Itaú BBA’s Debt Capital Markets group. She has also been an assistant professor of economics at a post-graduate program for engineers.

CARLA CHAVICH es Vice Presidente en Compass Lexecon. Carla Chavich es MBA de Harvard Business School y posee la designación CFA®. Obtuvo su título en Economía de la Universidad de San Andrés con honores summa cum laude y una especialización en Finanzas de la misma universidad. Antes de unirse a Compass Lexecon, trabajó en el grupo de Arbitraje Internacional de LECG y en el grupo de mercados de capitales de Itaú BBA. Carla Chavich se especializa en análisis económico y financiero, y en el diseño de modelos de valuación de activos en países en desarrollo. Ha participado en más de 35 casos de arbitraje internacional, en tribunales como el CIADI, la CCI y la CNUDMI, y en varios proyectos de consultoría de regulación. Carla Chavich ha valuado proyectos en varios sectores (producción de petróleo y gas, generación y distribución de energía eléctrica, transporte y distribución de gas, telecomunicaciones, infraestructura, transporte aéreo, entre otros) en diversos lugares, como Argentina, Brasil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Croacia, Ecuador, España, Estados Unidos de América, Perú y Venezuela.

MICHAEL CULLEN is General Manager of Control Risks, Bogotá, and responsible for the management of Control Risks Bogotá’s operations and the development, management and delivery of projects for Andean region clients and for global clients operating in the region. Additionally, as a Director of Control Risks’ Global Services department, Michael oversees the development of customized, high-end solutions and account management for Control Risks’ clients across South America. Michael’s experience has spanned the full range of Control Risks’ services. He joined the company in 2000, then becoming a Director of Investigations for Control Risks’ business in the Asia Pacific region. After that, he was the Vice President for Global Services in the New York office for over three years. Michael also acted as the Global Director of Control Risks’ Legal Technologies area. He has worked on numerous sensitive projects in both the corporate and government spheres which have involved issues of fraud, forensics, due diligence, terrorism, money laundering, corruption, counterfeiting, and general corporate governance. His experience has included delivering a variety of market entry and problem-solving assignments for multinational clients in geographies as diverse as Laos, Suriname, Abu Dhabi, Peru, Papua New Guinea and Somalia. Prior to joining Control Risks, Michael worked as a litigation attorney. At that time, he was authorized to practice as a solicitor and barrister in New South Wales and the High Court of Australia. Michael attained a Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws, and Bachelor of Economics through the University of Sydney. He holds Diplomas in Government (Fraud Investigations & Fraud Prevention) from Charles Sturt University. He also completed a Master’s degree in International Relations at Cambridge University—focusing on terrorism and transnational crime—where he received a High Performance under examination. Michael also has a Certificate IV qualification in Risk Management. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and has undertaken hostage negotiator training through the University of Technology in Sydney. He is a regular conference presenter and media commentator on political, security, and integrity risks, a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and attended Harvard University’s Leadership in Crises program.

VERA DE BRITO de GYARFAS is a Partner in the Global Transactions Practice Group at King & Spalding in Houston. Ms. De Gyarfas’ practice is focused on energy projects in Latin America and Africa representing companies in upstream E&P projects, LNG and other gas projects, power companies in the construction of generation, transmission and distribution facilities, and petrochemical companies in the development of specialized plants under joint ventures, profit sharing agreements, operating services agreements, EPC contracts, and oilfield service contracts. Ms. De Gyarfas’ expertise in LNG involves the negotiation and drafting of host government and other investment agreements, analysis of existing regulation and Government negotiations, LNG sales and purchase agreements, gas supply agreements and terminal usage agreements, among others. Ms. De Gyarfas is a Member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) and part of its Latin America Regional Executive Committee. Ms. De Gyarfas is ranked by Chambers Global as a Leading Individual in the (i) Energy and Natural Resource Foreign Expert category, and (ii) Venezuela.

ROBERT J.C. DEANE, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver. Mr. Deane is National Leader of the Firm’s International Trade and Arbitration Group, and a member of the Partnership Board, the Firm’s governing body. He also serves as the Co-National Leader of the Privacy and Data Protection Group and as the Vancouver Regional Leader of the Advertising, Marketing and Sponsorship Law Group. Robert practices international and domestic commercial arbitration, commercial litigation, privacy law, intellectual property litigation and advertising/competition law. He is ranked nationally and internationally as a leading lawyer in these areas. Robert has experience in all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and in numerous significant international commercial arbitration proceedings in North America, Asia and Europe under the LCIA Rules, the ICC Rules, the ICSID (Additional Facility) Rules, the American Arbitration Association’s International Arbitration Rules, the Arbitration Rules of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, the Domestic and International Arbitration Rules of the British Columbia International Commercial Arbitration Centre, and the National Arbitration Rules of the ADR Institute of Canada, among others. Prior to joining BLG, Robert was a law clerk to the Honorable Madam Justice Beverley McLachlin, Supreme Court of Canada (now Chief Justice of Canada). Mr. Deane received his LLB from the University of Victoria; is a Member of the Executive Committee, ICC Canada; Past Regional Representative for North America (Canada), Young International Arbitration Group—London Court of International Arbitration; Member of Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners; Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society; Western Canada Commercial Arbitration Society; Former Chair, Editorial Board, Working Group on Best Practices for Electronic Document Discovery and Production in Canada (Sedona Canada); and Member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration.

DAVID L. DEISLEY is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES Inc., a well-financed precious metals company engaged in the development of mineral properties in North America. At NOVAGOLD, Dave is responsible for all aspects of the Company’s legal governance and corporate affairs. With over 25 years of experience in the mining industry in the Americas, Dave has an extensive track record in project permitting, corporate social responsibility, mergers and acquisitions and corporate development. Prior to joining NOVAGOLD, Dave served in positions of increasing responsibility with Goldcorp Inc. from September 2007 to October 2012. At the time he resigned from Goldcorp Inc., he held the position of Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and General Counsel for Goldcorp Inc. During his tenure with Goldcorp, Dave led Goldcorp’s participation in an industry leading human rights assessment of Goldcorp’s operations in Guatemala and the development of corporate human rights policy and practices for that company. Prior to his tenure at Goldcorp Inc., Dave served in progressively responsible capacities with Barrick Gold Corporation, including Regional General Counsel for Barrick Gold North America, and General Counsel in Chile. Dave joined Barrick after 12 years of private practice in the natural resources area with Parsons Behle & Latimer, a Salt Lake City based law firm. Dave obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Utah, College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University.

ANDREW B. DERMAN is a Partner in Thompson & Knight’s Dallas office and serves as the Firm’s International Energy Practice Leader as well as Chairman of Thompson & Knight Global Energy Services, LLC, a wholly owned affiliate of the Firm that provides technical, economic, and commercial advisory services to the energy sector. With a concentration on oil and gas investment projects and cross-border transactions, he focuses on providing legal and commercial support in connection with acquisitions, divestments, trades, and mergers; strategic commercial and business advice; large infrastructure projects; nationalization/expropriation; anti-corruption  and sanction advice; unitizations; boundary disputes; exploration, development, and production operations; production sharing contracts; negotiations; and dispute resolution. Mr. Derman has assisted clients in more than 50 countries on six continents and offers clients a comprehensive understanding of oil and gas activities through experience in a broad spectrum of countries and companies. Prior to joining Thompson & Knight, he served as in-house counsel and later an executive for a large international oil and gas company for nearly 20 years. His practice is equally divided between providing clients with traditional legal representation (contract negotiation and drafting) and business development/commercial counseling (the identification and capture of oil and gas opportunities). Mr. Derman is admitted to practice in Texas and New York, and he is Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He received a J.D. from Temple University Law School in 1978, a B.A. from New York University in 1974, and he attended the Insead Advanced Management Program in Fontainebleau, France in 1991. Mr. Derman’s accolades include being named among the “Leaders in Their Field” by Chambers Global and Chambers USA by Chambers & Partners as well as to The Best Lawyers in America® by Woodward/White Inc. and Texas Super Lawyers® by Thomson Reuters. 

MICHAEL DIXON, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Calgary. Mr. Dixon’s practice involves all aspects of corporate/commercial litigation and arbitration, with a focus on oil and gas law, contract disputes, royalty disputes, fraud claims and insurance matters. He regularly advises Canadian and multinational corporate clients on compliance with domestic and international anti-bribery and corruption legislation. He has conducted internal investigations in response to corruption allegations. He also assists clients with implementing and improving anti-corruption compliance programs and with anti-corruption diligence during mergers, financings and other commercial transactions. Mr. Dixon also advises on compliance with a variety of other criminal and regulatory legislation and has defended clients charged under a variety of criminal and regulatory statutes. He also advises clients on search and seizure issues. In 2014 he was recognized as a leading investigations specialist by Global Investigations Review’s 40 Under 40. Mr. Dixon received his LL.B. from the University of Victoria and is a member of the Calgary and Canadian Bar Associations.

LUIS A. ERIZE is a Partner with Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, in Buenos Aires. Mr. Erize has participated as legal counsel in numerous international arbitrations, under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Rules; has served as Legal Counsel on international claims under ICSID’s Arbitration by virtue of Bilateral Investment Treaties in relation with disputes regarding production and transport of natural gas, generation of thermoelectric and hydroelectric energy, as well as in investments made in infrastructure (concessions of public systems of water supply; and as coo arbitrator, selected by the ICC International Court because of his expertise in the energy and in arbitration fields in a multiparty international arbitration regarding a large gas transmission pipeline in a Latin-American country. He has experience in advising oil and gas companies, with continuing assistance in both upstream and downstream, including several acquisitions and negotiations regarding joint operating agreements, drafting of contracts,  etc. Mr. Erize was Council Officer of the SEERIL (2003-2004 and 2013-2014); Vice Chair of the Oil & Gas Committee of the SEERIL (2006-2008), and Chair (2009-2011); and Member of the Task Force for the issuance of the Report Trade and Investment Rules for Energy del World Energy Council, 2009. Luis Erize is on the list of energy specialized arbitrators of the International Centre for Dispute Resolutions. He speaks Spanish, English, French, and Italian. He is the author of articles on international investment arbitration, oil, gas & power, environmental, insurance, banking law and corporate structures; author of: “Argentina’s Exploration Plan - The Return of Exploration Permits and Exploitation Concessions,” Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, 1992; and a lecturer on Argentina Oil & Gas exploration Plan Seminars on the legal aspects of the exploration permits and exploitation concessions, past and present, in conferences held by the Secretariat of Energy, Argentine Republic,on May, 1992 in Houston, Texas and London. He is a co-author of “Proposed Supplement to the regulatory framework of the Argentine Electric Energy Industry,” presented at the first Gas and Electricity Congress for Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by the Argentine Oil & Gas Institute, the American Gas Association and the Society of Petroleum Engineers, in Bariloche, Argentina, April, 1997. He is also an author of several presentations on Natural gas in Argentina and in the Southern Cone (IBA 2002 Durban), 2004, San Francisco; Rome, 2006; and Madrid, 2009. He was a lecturer at the Forum Seminar “The Protection of the Foreign Investor”, conference “The consequences and doctrine resulting from the annulment of the ICSID award in “Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija / Vivendi vs. República Argentina” (Buenos Aires, August, 2002). He is the author of “The Protection of the Foreign Investments in the Argentine Republic”, published in La Ley, September 4, 2002; “The protection of investments in energy and international arbitration”, August 2003, presentation made for the Master degree program on the Electric Energy Market, Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires -I.T.B.A; “La protección de inversiones y el arbitraje internacional” (the protection of investments and the international arbitration), published in Revista Internacional de Arbitraje No. 11, June-December 2009, Bogotá, Colombia; the chapter on Eminent Domain and Regulatory Changes, of the book Property and the Law in Energy and Natural Resources, edited by Aileen McHarg, Barry Barton, Adrian Bradbrook and Lee Godden, published by Oxford University Press, 2010; and “Energía eléctrica en la Argentina: diagnóstico de distorsión regulatoria con déficit de inversiones y una propuesta de crecimiento sostenible” (Electric Energy in Argentina: a diagnosis of regulatory distortion, investment deficit and a sustainable development proposal), published in RADEHM , November –December 2015 - January 2016.

DANIEL FLORES is an economist and Managing Director at the Washington, DC office of Econ One.  He has spent the past two decades teaching, conducting research, and consulting in the field of economics. His research and consulting activities have included valuation and analysis of the economic effects of regulation and anti-competitive conduct in a variety of industries, including agriculture, chemicals, construction materials, electricity, finance and banking, minerals and mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, real estate, semiconductors, telecommunications, and transportation. Dr. Flores has extensive experience in the economic analysis of damages arising from contract and investment disputes. He has participated as an expert economist in civil litigation in the United States as well as in over 40 arbitration proceedings under ICC, ICSID, IACAC and UNCITRAL rules. As an active contributor to the economics profession, Dr. Flores has published in peer-reviewed academic journals, presented at professional meetings, refereed journal submissions, and reviewed economic textbooks prior to publication. He has masters and doctoral degrees in economics from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Barcelona. Dr. Flores has been recognized by independent research conducted by Who’s Who Legal/Global Arbitration Review as being among the world’s leading arbitration expert witnesses.

PAUL FORNAZZARI is a Partner with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, in Toronto. Mr. Fornazzari has a broad range of corporate, commercial and securities law experience. Clients draw on his expertise in corporate and governance matters, corporate finance, M&A, divestitures, shareholder disputes, regulatory and stock exchange compliance and a wide variety of commercial arrangements. Mr. Fornazzari advises boards, executive teams, entrepreneurs and investment dealers and acts for domestic and foreign clients in various industries including mining, petroleum, technology, life sciences and financial services. As a fluent Spanish speaker from Latin America, he has transactional experience and a strong network in almost all of the jurisdictions in that region. He also speaks and writes on a variety of related topics such as Canadian M&A activity, corporate finance regulation, mining agreements, corporate governance, and CEO/CFO certification. He previously practiced corporate finance and M&A as well as business law at a large national law firm. Mr. Fornazzari holds a Masters of Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in Securities Law and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Windsor. He has recently been recognized in Who’s Who Legal 100, Who’s Who Legal: Mining, The Best Lawyers in Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. He is a member of the TSX Venture Exchange’s Ontario Advisory Panel and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.

XENNIA FORNO is a Partner and head of Natural Resources Area in the Peruvian law firm Rubio Leguía Normand. Her more than 30 years’ experience allows her to provide comprehensive advice regarding mining and environmental matters. Prior to joining Rubio Leguía Normand, Xennia worked in the public sector as register and legal counsel of the Public Registry of Mining, and as a Member of the Mining Board, the highest instance in mining administrative matters related to the awarding of land titles, mine safety and health, environment, and fulfillment of obligations. Her professional career has been featured by several prestigious international publications, such as Chambers and Partners and Legal500, which have recognized her as a leading lawyer in Mining Law. Finally, Xennia is a professor at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, also for the Diploma Course in Mining and Environment and Master in Mining Law and Mining Management at Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas. In addition, she regularly participates as lecturer of Mining and Environmental Law in national and international events, and has published several papers and articles in specialized journals and publications.

PEDRO FREITAS is a partner with Veirano Advogados in Rio de Janeiro. He has extensive expertise advising clients on corporate governance and integrity, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and infrastructure issues with exceptional industry knowledge in mining, construction, project finance, energy and natural resources gained from his years as in-house counsel. Mr. Freitas began his legal career at Veirano Advogados in the Corporate Law practice group. He enhanced his experience working on debt moratoriums and corporate reorganizations in several Latin American countries while working for two years in Chicago at one of the largest global law firms. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited to work in 1985 at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington, D.C. where he advised on project finance, corporate restructuring, and negotiating equity investments around the globe for countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, South Korea and Hungary. During his tenure at the IFC, Mr. Freitas developed a unique insight into international project finance from the financier’s perspective – a perspective that is highly valued by his clients today. Enticed to return to Brazil, Mr. Freitas brought his significant global experience in project finance and restructuring to the Brazilian market. He served as general counsel at some of Latin America’s most recognized companies in the fields of Mining, Logistics, Telecommunications, Construction and Projects Development on Energy, Transportation, Airports and Ports. He is a founding member, Vice-President of Instituto Innovare, a non-political organization dedicated to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Brazilian judicial system and was elected for the Board of Renova Foundation, responsible for the recovery of areas impacted by the Samarco Dam accident in Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo states. Pedro is Trustee at large at Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.

MARK W. FRIEDMAN is a litigation partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. He has broad experience in civil and criminal matters, with a concentration on international arbitration and litigation. Mr. Friedman has represented clients in a wide variety of disputes, including those concerning energy, mining, construction, shareholder relationships, joint ventures, telecommunications, and investments. Many of his cases have involved complex technical matters, including manufacturing processes, infrastructure design and engineering, environmental issues, real options and other topics. He has acted as counsel or arbitrator in disputes under the rules of the LCIA, ICC, AAA, ICDR, CPR, UNCITRAL and ICSID. Mr. Friedman was named 2016 International Arbitration Attorney of the Year by Benchmark Litigation and has been ranked as a leading individual by Chambers Global, Chambers UK, Chambers USA, The International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration, The International Who’s Who of Commercial Litigation, PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook and Legal Experts, and as one of the inaugural 45 stars under 45 by Global Arbitration Review. Among other positions, he is a Vice President of the ICC Court of Arbitration, a member of the editorial board of Dispute Resolution International, and was previously Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Arbitration Committee, member of the Court of the London Court of International Arbitration, Vice-Chair of the International Dispute Resolution Committee of the International Section of the American Bar Association, and co-rapporteur of the International Law Association’s Commercial Arbitration Committee. Mr. Friedman regularly speaks and publishes on international arbitration and compliance topics. Mr. Friedman’s recent articles include “Forum Non Conveniens as Bar to Enforcement” (The Arbitration Review of the Americas 2017, forthcoming), “Damages Principles in Investment Arbitration” (GAR Guide to Damages in International Arbitration, forthcoming), “Expropriation and Nationalisation” (GAR Guide to Energy Arbitrations, 2016), and “Perenco v. Ecuador Deters 2nd-Guessing Arbitration Tribunal,” Law360 (May 2015). Mr. Friedman received his B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts in 1988 and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1991.

GONZALO GREZ is one of the partners that head the Natural Resources and Mining Group of Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos, in Santiago, and handles matters involving Mining, Corporate and Commercial Law, M&A, Project Development, Communities and Indigenous Rights, Water Rights, Foreign Investment and Contracts. He serves as legal counsel to a number of local and foreign companies, assisting in different processes of acquisition and divestment of companies or assets, private and public bids, cross-border transactions, project finance, due diligence, preliminary agreements and negotiation and drafting of contracts, including development of strategy and corporate structures, community strategy and regulatory issues. He has been the Director of the Post Graduate Program named “Natural Resources and Environmental” at the Universidad de los Andes since 2015; Professor of Corporate and Commercial Law at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile since 2001; and Vice Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the IPBA. Gonzalo has participated in several international congresses as speaker or moderator and one of his recent articles was included in the book named “Indigenous Rights in South America” sponsored by Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. Gonzalo studied law at the School of Law of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, where he graduated in 1994 with honors and was admitted to the bar in 1995. In 1998 he earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Northwestern University, School of Law, Chicago, US. He is a member of the Chilean Bar Association; the Inter Pacific Bar Associations and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. He is mentioned as an expert in the mining field by Chambers & Partners and has been nominated as among top Mining Lawyers in other publications.

BERNARD (BARNEY) J. GUARNERA is a geologist and engineer with more than 50 years of experience in the international mining industry. He has worked on every continent where mining activity occurs and is considered an expert in determining the feasibility and value of mineral properties and mining companies. Barney’s experience covers most commodities including ferrous and base metals, platinum group metals, precious metals, coal, uranium, and industrial minerals. During his career, Barney has held positions ranging from field geologist to overseeing mineral and oil/gas development for a Fortune 100 company. He joined Behre Dolbear & Company in 1991 and built Behre Dolbear to a globally recognized mineral industry advisory firm with multiple international offices. While with Behre Dolbear he was responsible for having the SEC and the FASB recognize that mineral resources and exploration properties have value that is considered in transactions. He also acted as the principal advisor to the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in defining that exchange’s listing rules for mining companies as well as part of Behre Dolbear’s team advising on the acquisition of the London Metal Exchange by the SEHK. He continues as a director of Behre Dolbear, but has also established Broadlands Mineral Advisory Services where he specializes in valuations and expert witness testimony. He has acted as an expert in seven ICSID and similar arbitrations. Barney is a Certified International Mineral Appraiser, a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, a Registered Professional Geologist in Idaho and Oregon, a Chartered Professional with the Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy, and a Qualified Professional with the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America. He is president of the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, and serves on the boards of Golden Queen Mining Company and the Colorado Mining Association.

TERRY HAMMONS is Albemarle Corporation’s Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Corporate and Chief Regional Counsel, responsible for the company’s worldwide Corporate legal activities, including all strategic transactions (M&A, joint ventures and venture capital), and supporting the Lithium GBU Resources team. In addition, Mr. Hammons manages the legal support for the company’s Corporate Governance, SEC, Treasury and Tax functions, as well as serving as the worldwide chief regional legal counsel with direct responsibility for the South America region. Mr. Hammons was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He received a B.A. in English from the College of William & Mary, and a J.D., cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1999. Prior to joining Albemarle, he spent twelve years with a Fortune 500 global industrial gases company in roles of increasing responsibility in both the legal department and on the business side. And before that, he practiced corporate and securities law at Hunton & Williams in Virginia and Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C. He specialized in venture capital and private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, and securities offerings.

FLORENCIA HEREDIA is senior partner of Allende & Brea, Natural Resources and Energy practice where she joined in August 2017. She is an expert in mining law with 27 years extensive experience advising financing institutions and companies in complex mining and energy transactions in Argentina, having repeatedly represented lenders in all mining project finance taken place in the country. She obtained her law degree with honors (summa cum laude) from Universidad Católica Argentina in 1991 and obtained also with honors (summa cum laude) a Masters degree on Business Law from Universidad Austral in 1995. She has a degree also with honors (summa cum laude) on corporate sustainability from IESC (Instituto de Estudios para la Sustentabilidad Corporativa). She has been researcher in the Doctorate program of Universidad Austral on the areas of natural resources and environmental law. She was founder of HOLT Abogados (2008-2017) natural resources boutique law firm and prior to that member of Estudio Beccar Varela (1992-2008) for 16 years, where she was during 9 years the head of the natural resources and environmental law department. During 1997 she worked for Beiten Burkhardt Mittl & Wegener (today Beiten Burkhardt) one of the leading German law firms.  She is an active member of the International Bar Association, where she held the position of Chair of the Mining Law Committee (2014-2015), she is currently council member of Seeril (Section of energy, environment, natural resources and infrastructure law). She has been Trustee at Large of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, for which she also served as Secretary to the Board (2014-2015), member of the International Women Forum (Argentinean Chapter) among other relevant entities. She is member of the Academic Board of RADHEM in Argentina, publication specialized in Energy and Natural Resources. She has recently joined the Women Corporate Directors foundation, since as of January 2018 she holds the position of Non Executive Independent director of Galaxy Lithium, Australian public company leader in the lithium sector.  She has been constantly nominated as a leading mining lawyer and star individual by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, etc and has been included in the lists of main mining lawyers of the world by Who’s Who Editions in the last fifteen years, being recipient of the Mining Lawyer of the Year award for 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and one of the highlighted women in the Women in Law reviews.

RON HOCHSTEIN is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lundin Gold Inc. Mr. Hochstein served as Executive Chairman of Denison Mines Corp. in 2015 and as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2009 to 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Hochstein served as President and Chief Operating Officer starting in 2006 when International Uranium Corporation (“IUC”) and Denison Mines Inc. (“DMI”) combined to form Denison Mines Corp. Before then, Mr. Hochstein served as President and Chief Executive Officer of IUC. Mr. Hochstein joined IUC in October 1999 as Vice-President, Corporate Development and later served as Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, prior to his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2000. Prior to joining IUC, Mr. Hochstein was a Project Manager with Simons Mining Group and was with Noranda Minerals as a metallurgical engineer. Mr. Hochstein is a Professional Engineer and holds an M.B.A. from the University of British Columbia and a B.Sc. from the University of Alberta. Mr. Hochstein is a director of Denison Mines Corp. (TSX, NYSE MKT), Energy Fuels Inc. (TSX, NYSE MKT), Lundin Gold Inc. (TSX, Nasdaq Stockholm), and Sprott Resource Corp. (TSX).

JAMES A. HOLTKAMP is an attorney in the Salt Lake City, Utah office of Holland & Hart LLP. His practice is focused on environmental issues, with an emphasis on air pollution control, energy project development, and climate change. He has written and spoken extensively on climate change issues and has worked on avoided deforestation issues in Central America, litigation concerning the development of climate change regulations under the U.S. Clean Air Act, and the development of renewable energy and fuels. He spent a year in South America, overseeing legal work in Chile and Argentina for a major multinational entity. Mr. Holtkamp is also a Senior Fellow at the Wallace Stegner Center for Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Utah College of Law, where he has served as an adjunct law professor. Early in his career he worked on the staff of the U.S. Senate Watergate Committee and as an attorney for the U.S. Department of the Interior before entering private practice. He was president of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation from 2005 to 2006. He received his B.A. in 1972 from Brigham Young University and his J.D. in 1975 from the George Washington University, where he was Articles Editor of the George Washington Law Review. He is fluent in both English and Spanish.

ANDREW A. IRVINE is the Legal and Corporate Engagement Manager at the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Oslo, Norway.  The EITI is the global standard for the good governance of oil, gas and mineral resources.  Prior to joining the EITI this year, Andy was an attorney at Andrew A. Irvine, P.C., in Jackson, Wyoming, where he specialized in environmental and natural resources law.  Andy serves on the Board for Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities (YTCC), the sole regional designee of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program.  YTCC focuses on petroleum displacement activities in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Idaho, Montana and Wyoming), especially promotion of alternative fuels and vehicles through programs such as green fleet consulting, electric vehicle rebates and development of alternative fuels/electric infrastructure.  Andy was awarded the 2016-2017 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grant to Ecuador to investigate and develop regulatory solutions to problems resulting from artisanal and small-scale mining in the country.  He received his B.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame, his M.S. in Mineral Economics from the Colorado School of Mines, and his J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School, with a Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law.  Prior to opening his own law firm in 2014, he was an attorney with the environmental and natural resources group at the law firm of Holland & Hart, LLP in Denver, Colorado and Jackson, Wyoming from 2006 – 2013.  He is the Wyoming Mining Reporter for the RMMLF Mineral Law Newsletter, has served on the Mining and Environmental & CSR/Sustainability Committees for the RMMLF’s Special Institutes on International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development and Investment, and he frequently writes about and presents on environmental and natural resources topics.

JOSHUA A. JANTZI is a Partner in Dentons' Energy Regulatory and Litigation practice groups with a focus on natural resource development across Canada. Based in Denton’s Calgary, Alberta office, Josh specializes in Aboriginal, environmental, constitutional and administrative law. Since having articled as judicial law clerk to the Hon. Mr. Justice M.A. Kelen (Federal Court, retired), Josh has practiced as litigation counsel for 10 years before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Courts, the Tax Court of Canada, and the courts of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. As regulatory counsel, Josh has acted before the National Energy Board, Alberta Utilities Commission, and Alberta Energy Regulator. Josh teaches the University of Calgary Faculty of Law annual full-credit Aboriginal law course, and has represented Dentons' energy clients in precedent-setting Crown-Aboriginal consultation cases, most recently before the Supreme Court of Canada in Chippewas of the Thames First Nation v. Enbridge Pipelines Inc., et al., SCC No. 36776, (judgment reserved). Josh presented novel Crown-Aboriginal duty to consult cases reported at 2016 BCSC 34, 2015 FCA 222, and 2012 FC 1336, and other Aboriginal and environmental law cases detailed in his web-profile. Josh has written and presented numerous papers on environmental, regulatory and Aboriginal law issues at legal and industry conferences. Josh sits on the executive of the CBA national energy, environmental and natural resources law section (NEERLS) and vice-chairs the CBA Administrative law section (Alberta, south).

MÓNICA JIMÉNEZ GONZÁLEZ, is Secretary General of Ecopetrol S.A., in Bogotá. As Secretary General, Ms. Jiménez is involved in the process of governance, legal counsel and coordination with the President and Ecopetrol’s Board of Directors, as well as the coordination of relations with the different controlling and monitoring entities and the channeling of corporate communications. Ms. Jiménez is an attorney with a degree from Universidad de los Andes. She is a specialist in Liability and Recoverable Damage from Universidad Externado, and she has a Master’s Degree in Science in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), with a scholarship granted by the British Council for academic and professional excellence. She most recently worked as a legal advisor at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, a Canadian firm where she specialized in international arbitration and corporate social responsibility issues as applied to mining and oil and gas. Previously, she worked at Thomas & Partners Barristers and Solicitors, a Canadian law firm specialized in investment arbitration. Her experience in Colombia was as an attorney advising the Minister and the Vice Minister of Defense in matters of international law, and for the law firm Gómez-Pinzón Zuleta Abogados. 

R. CRAIG JOHNSON is a Shareholder with Parsons Behle & Latimer in Salt Lake City. Mr. Johnson is a shareholder in the firm’s Corporate and Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources departments and concentrates his practice on mergers, acquisitions, mining law and related transactions. Before joining Parsons Behle & Latimer, Mr. Johnson served as general counsel for Rio Tinto in the United States and South America, where he was responsible for legal matters including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Prior to that he served in the capacities of legal head of Rio Tinto’s Copper & Diamonds Product Group and as V.P. of legal for Rio Tinto. Before working at Rio Tinto, Mr. Johnson handled legal affairs for Resolution Copper Company. From 1994 to 2007, he was a shareholder at Parsons Behle & Latimer where his practice emphasized international and domestic natural resources projects in North America and Latin America including mining, commercial and finance law.

PATRICIO LEYTON is a Partner with Ferrada Nehme Ltda., in Santiago. Mr. Leyton is the main partner in charge of environmental and natural resources matters. His natural ability for managing complex projects has led him to advise several national and foreign firms, consolidating the firm as one of the leading environmental practices of the country. Mr. Leyton leads a consolidated and robust team in the context of the new Chilean environmental institutional design and its challenges. His expertise allows him to tackle different aspects of environmental law, including environmental assessment, community relationships, environmental litigation, and more recently the implementation of extended producer liability legislation. His clients highlight his genuine commitment, his personal attention to every detail, and his impressive knowledge of the law and practice of environmental matters. His team works side by side and in cooperation with the litigation and public law practices. Mr. Leyton received a Law degree from the Universidad de Chile and an LLM from Georgetown University.

LES E. LO BAUGH, JR is the President of E Cubed Optimizers, LLC. He is a seasoned senior executive with four decades of experience in the energy, environmental, governmental, and corporate arenas. He has been a partner at major U.S. and international law firms. He began his career as a legislative aide at the U. S. Senate working with several senator offices drafting and analyzing proposed environmental, business, regulatory, tax, and other areas. This included such notable matters as the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air, Water, Offshore Drilling Act, Noise Abatement, and Tax Reform. Mr. Lo Baugh has served as advisor to corporate, governmental, and regulatory entities. Twice he served as an expert witness before Congress on energy and SEC matters. At Fulbright and Jaworski (Norton Rose Fulbright), Mr. Lo Baugh was the partner in charge of the firm’s Pacific Rim energy and environmental practice. He has been the chief environmental officer and chief compliance officer of two Fortune 500 companies, as well as general counsel of two public utilities and other companies, including alternative energy, real estate, oil & gas, pipelines, and retail. His work includes numerous corporate restructurings, acquisitions and sales. Mr. Lo Baugh has assisted many companies with their strategic planning, negotiated mergers and been lead counsel on various multi-billion dollar projects. He has written and extensively spoken around the world on energy, environmental and other issues, including climate change, energy and international trade. He was a founder of the Native American Service Agency and has served on several boards. He is president of the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge, a Native American foundation dedicated to environmental stewardship and the preservation of indigenous knowledge and culture.

SANDRA MANRIQUE is a Partner at Philippi, Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría in the Bogotá office. She joined the firm in 2005 and was made Partner in 2012. Her legal practice focuses on Energy, Mining and Natural Resources and Public Law. She advises on matters involving the laws governing energy products and public utilities, and on various corporate and labor issues. Sandra has a Law Degree from Universidad Libre de Colombia (1999). She also has a Post-graduate degree in Public Utilities from Universidad Externado de Colombia (2001), a Post-graduate degree in Labor law from Universidad Libre de Colombia (2002), and a Course in Portfolio Management and Financial Risk in the Natural Gas Industry from Alberta School of Business, Edmonton, Canada (2002). She also has a degree in International Management of the Oil and Gas Business from Universidad de Los Andes and a Master in Business Law from Universidad Francisco Victoria, Madrid, Spain (2004).

WILLIAM (“BILL”) MARQUARDT is a director in BRG's Global Investigations + Strategic Intelligence practice and is based in Miami, Florida. He has significant experience in the areas of forensic accounting, compliance consulting and audit, enterprise risk management, corporate investigations, investigative due diligence, operations, finance, credit analysis, and executive management. Mr. Marquardt provides clients pre and post-acquisition due diligence activities including post-acquisition integration assistance in the areas of operations, finance and accounting. Bill specializes in working with organizations that are evaluating and remediating their internal control environments to address anti-bribery and anti-corruption (“ABC”) risks, with significant experience working with corporate compliance teams, external counsel and government regulators. Mr. Marquardt has assisted organizations with managing compliance monitorships (non and deferred prosecution agreements), conducting ABC risk assessments, evaluating financial and operational data (books and records investigations), assessing allegations of bribery and corruption, and evaluating and remediating internal processes, procedures and controls to address ABC risks in multiple jurisdictions.  Bill also works with organizations and their counsel to conduct pre and post-acquisition reviews for compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act and Brazil’s Clean Company Act among other ABC regulations. Mr. Marquardt has also held various senior-level positions in large multinational corporations in the United States and Latin America. He served as the CFO of a multinational consulting firm and held management and executive management positions within AB Volvo, including serving as president and CFO of two Andean-region captive finance companies headquartered in Lima, Peru. Mr. Marquardt also served on the board of directors of Volvo’s Insurance Company. Earlier in his career, Mr. Marquardt served as a director in the Northeast Risk Advisory Practice of a Big Four accounting firm, where he advised large publicly held companies with internal audit operations, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and improvement efforts, financial re-statements, and SEC compliance projects. Mr. Marquardt began his professional career with one of the largest public accounting firms in the world. He holds a BBA (cum laude) in accounting and real estate from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA with a concentration in international business from the University of Miami. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds several other professional certifications.

MARTA GISELA MARTÍNEZ is with Vouga Abogados in Asunción, Paraguay. She received her law degree from the National University of Asunción (2008), Master in Public Administration from Political and Social Sciences School at the Complutense University of Madrid (2010) and Master in Public Law from the Law School of the University Complutense of Madrid. She has a pending thesis defense for the PhD in Administrative Law at the Complutense University of Madrid. As a teacher, she was hired as an honorary collaborator of the Department of Administrative Law at the Complutense University of Madrid for several years. She has participated in several research projects and has published several articles, of which the most distinguished are “El proceso contencioso administrativo en la República del Paraguay: Evolución histórica,marco legal vigente y Análisis comparado” in the collective work:” Por el Derecho y la Libertad,” a tribute book to Professor Juan Santamaria Pastor. Editorial Iustel, 2014. p. 443- 492 and “Reflecciones sobre la incidencia de la Ley de Economía sostenible en la Ley de Defensa de la Competencia”, published in the Gazeta Jurídica de la Unión Europea y Defensa de la Competencia. No. 22, 2011. Page 9-21. In the professional field she worked at the Judiciary, as well as in several institutions of the executive branch. On issues of indigenous law her work stands out as consultant from the World Bank’s for the regularization program of indigenous lands, providing functions as a lawyer in the “Instituto Paraguayo del Índigena” (2009). Matters of regulations, she has been an attorney for the “Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones” (2014-2016). She has also served as General Secretary of the Ministry of Justice in 2016.

ALEJANDRO MARÍA MASSOT is a Partner with Estudio Randle in Buenos Aires. Mr. Massot obtained his law degree from the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. In 2008 he graduated as an LL.M. from the University of Chicago Law School. In 2011 he obtained a Masters Degree in Law and Economics from the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, being awarded the Best Thesis Award. Mr. Massot advises clients on corporate matters (companies, mergers & acquisitions), energy and natural resources matters, agribusiness, and antitrust law. Mr. Massot has experience in data protection and IP matters. He has been Professor of Natural Resources Law at the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella Law School; he also collaborates with the Universidad Notarial Argentina. He has published extensively on several legal and business matters. He is a member of the Bar of the City of Buenos Aires and of the New York State Bar. He chairs the Argentine Chapter of the International Section of the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Massot is admitted to practice in the City of Buenos Aires and in the State of New York. He is an advisor to the President of the Mining Commission of the Federal Congress of Argentina.

DAWN G. MEIDINGER is a director with Fennemore Craig, P.C. in Phoenix, Arizona. She practices in the areas of natural resources, real estate, and environmental law, with a focus on mining, public land utilization (state and federal) and permitting. In the natural resources sector, she has extensive experience permitting mining, renewable energy, and linear projects addressing all aspects of NEPA, NHPA, and ESA compliance. With respect to public lands, she has represented clients seeking a variety of use authorizations (exploration and mine plans of operation, special use permits, rights-of-way, grazing leases, etc.) from federal and state agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, and Arizona State Land Department. Prior to joining the firm, Dawn worked as in-house counsel for Phelps Dodge Corporation (today Freeport-McMoRan Inc.) and in the private sector serving as the operational lead on the entitlement and development of large residential and industrial real estate projects in metro-Phoenix. Dawn received her J.D. from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (ASU) in 1996 and her B.S. in Justice Studies from ASU in 1990 and grew up in Wyoming.

PABLO MIR is a Partner at Bofill Mir & Alvarez Jana Law Firm in Chile, where he specializes in Mining, Energy and Natural Resources, and Public Projects. Mr. Mir advises mining companies and investment banks in projects principally in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. He has also participated as a consultant to several working groups and commissions of the Chilean Government to improve mining and energy regulations. He led the team that obtained the approval for the first exploration project under the Chile-Argentina Mining Treaty, and the legal team that constructed the Gas Pacífico pipeline that transports natural gas from Argentina to Chile. Mr. Mir is also a frequent speaker at international mining law conferences and seminars. He is a Member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, the International Mining Professionals Society (IMPS), the International Bar Association’s Section on Energy, the Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure (SEERIL) and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC). In Chile, he is a member of the Chilean Bar Association, the legal affairs commission of the National Mining Association (SONAMI) and of the Board of Directors of the Chilean Mining Council. Pablo Mir has been highlighted on numerous occasions by specialized publications as one of the best mining lawyers in Latin America. In 2018 he was included in Who’s Who Thought Leaders ranking, and was also voted Best Lawyer’s Lawyer of the Year in Natural Resources. Additionally, Chambers & Partners Latin America 2019 recognized Mr. Mir as a top tier (Band 1) lawyer in Mining. Pablo Mir graduated from the Universidad de Chile Law School cum laude in 1987. Before joining Bofill Mir & Alvarez Jana he was a partner at Grasty Quintana Majlis & Cía in Chile.

DANFORTH NEWCOMB is Of Counsel with Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York. Mr. Newcomb’s practice concentrates on complex investigations, regulatory proceedings and disputes, often with an international element. He was approved by the United Nations as an expert on ethics and compliance. He has served as a Department of Justice and SEC sanctioned compliance monitor. He advises on investigations and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.S. International Economic Sanctions, Money Laundering laws and the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act. Mr. Newcomb has handled major matters for clients located in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Latin America in addition to North American-based clients. In 2016, Global Investigations Review awarded him its Outstanding Career Award. Mr. Newcomb founded the anti-corruption practice at Shearman & Sterling. Every year since 2011, Chambers USA has named him a Senior Statesman among the Leading FCPA Experts. Main Justice, a leading news publication on criminal defense matters, recognized him as an FCPA Master. His foreign anticorruption experience began in 1976 with an SEC mandated investigation that was a precursor for the FCPA. He also obtained an early (81-1) FCPA Review Procedure Release from the DOJ that is a foundation for present day third-party due diligence practices. Mr. Newcomb is a member of the Board of Advisers to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Reporter and founding editor of the FCPA Digest. He received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

PATRICIA NÚÑEZ: University of Chile School of Law (J.D.), 1991. “Pedro N. Montenegro” award as the best student of her generation at Law School. Fulbright Scholarship, 1996. “Master in Laws” (LL.M.) granted by Yale University Law School, Connecticut, USA, 1997. Member of the Council of the Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law of the International Bar Association (IBA-SEERIL), (2017-2018); President of IBA-SEERIL, (2015-2016), Vice-President of  IBA-SEERIL (2013-2014), Secretary of IBA-SEERIL (2011-2012), Member of the Council of  IBA-SEERIL (2009-2010), Chair of the Mining Committee of IBA-SEERIL (2004-2008). Former Chair of the Mining Committee of the International Bar Association (2004-2008). Former Trustee at Large of the RMMLF (2004-2007). Honorary Professor of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy of the University of Dundee. Member of the Chilean Bar Association, International Mining Professionals Society Congress of Fellows of the Center for International Legal Studies.  Board Member of the Chilean Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Board Member of Transelec. With Claro y Cía (1990-2000), Debevoise &Plimpton, NY, USA (1997-1998). Founding partner of Núñez, Muñoz & Cía. Abogados.

KEVIN O’CALLAGHAN is the Leader of Fasken Martineau’s Aboriginal Law Practice Group and he is a founder of their Corporate Social Responsibility Law Practice Group. He is based in Fasken’s Vancouver office. Kevin provides strategic advice on Aboriginal, regulatory, environmental, and other corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues. While his extensive experience is focused throughout western and northern Canada, he also advises a number of clients around the world. Kevin provides ongoing advice to resource companies on obligations to First Nations and agreements with First Nations. Kevin was counsel for a coalition of businesses in two critical aboriginal cases at the Supreme Court of Canada: first on leading case on Aboriginal consultation and accommodation (Haida Nation v. B.C.); and second, on the leading case on Aboriginal title (Tsilhqot’in Nation v. B.C.). 

STUART M. OLLEY is a senior partner in Gowling WLG’s Capital Markets and M&A group in Calgary, Head of Calgary’s Business Law Group and the National Natural Resources Group and Co-Chair of the firm’s Latin America Practice Group. Stuart has worked for a variety of issuers and underwriters in transactions in industries including oil & gas, mining, real estate and technology. He has extensive experience in international financing and merger transactions, including work in investments and acquisitions in Africa, Central and South America, and Asia. Domestically, Stuart has assisted clients in the extractive sector with financings, listings, business combinations, (including contested proxy fights, hostile and friendly take-over bids, and restructuring transactions under the CCAA and the ABCA), corporate governance matters and regulatory compliance. Stuart is a past member of the Securities Advisory Council of the Alberta Securities Commission. He holds a master’s degree in law from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University (securities speciality), a law degree and MBA from the University of Alberta, and a bachelor’s degree in arts from the University of Toronto. Stuart has served on the board of directors of various public companies and is BV Peer Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell as well as being recognized by Lexpert for expertise in Mining andCorporate Commercial work.

ALVARO ORDÓÑEZ, is a Partner, with Ferrere, in Quito. Mr. Ordóñez graduated as attorney from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Quito (Ecuador) and holds a master’s degree in Law and Environmental and Natural Resource Policy (LL.M.) from the University of Denver (USA), with specialization in energy and mining law. He was National Under Secretary for Mining Contracting, and as such was part of the team that negotiated Ecuador’s first large-scale mining contract. He co-authored Ecuador’s Mining Code Reform, which provides incentives for the mining industry. He also advises countries, such as Surinam, on mining policy. He currently is devoted to providing legal advice to companies and institutions, particularly in the extractive industry, on oil, mining, financial and environmental issues. He is a frequent speaker on mining industry subjects in Ecuador. Among his most outstanding presentations he has participated as speaker on sustainable development policies at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), held at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland in November 2012, on mining policy in Ecuador, and at the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, held in Cartagena, Colombia, in April 2015, on incremental oil production contracts. He is a founding member of the Petroleum Energy Law Forum (FODEP), an annual event that brings together a significant number of participants.

MANUEL A. ORILLAC is a Partner in the Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups of Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York. Mr. Orillac joined the firm in 1985, and has practiced in the firm’s New York, Paris and Abu Dhabi offices. He has extensive experience in transactions in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, including advising on complicated cross-border mergers and acquisition transactions, joint ventures, debt and equity offerings, and equipment and project financings. Mr. Orillac received his J.D.·from Columbia University School of Law, and a B.A. from·Georgetown University. He is a native speaker of Spanish and is fluent in English and French.

NICHOLAS L. OWENS is a Senior HSE Representative with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in Houston, Texas where he focuses on biodiversity, endangered species, and wildlife issues affecting Anadarko’s North America onshore assets, Gulf of Mexico holdings, and Mozambique Africa liquid natural gas (LNG) Project. In his time at Anadarko he has engaged widely in the development of policy affecting endangered species and wildlife, providing advice and guidance to mitigate and minimize impacts from regulatory changes affecting natural resource extraction. Additionally, he leads the company’s biodiversity program to meet performance standards from the International Finance Corporation associated with project finance for the Mozambique LNG Project, one of the world’s largest LNG projects. Prior to joining Anadarko Mr. Owens worked as a private consultant managing the permitting and siting of a wide variety of major energy related projects.  Mr. Owens earned his B.S. in Biology from Eastern Illinois University. 

MARIA PAZ CERDA, Vice President of Legal Affairs, AES Gener S.A., Santiago

JORGE PAZ DURINI is a Partner with Paz Horowitz, in Quito. Mr. Paz leads the Energy and Natural Resources Practice Area and is especially known for his in-depth knowledge of the mining sector. He has advised many clients in investments efficient structures. He was a leading member in the negotiation of the first three mining exploitation contracts; acted as advisor in the negotiation and closing of several important joint ventures and acquisitions; acted as lead counsel in the operations of a permanent tourism business in the Galápagos Islands with a ship from a Global Tourist Operator; and advised in establishment and operation of two global airlines in Ecuador. His experience includes: Professor of Mining Law and International Contracts, Universidad San Francisco de Quito; Director, Chaparral Gold Corp.; Former President of the Ecuador Chapter of Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); Former Advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), evaluated mining and environmental laws in Panama; Former Consultant to The World Bank, proposed and drafted mining laws in Argentina and Ecuador; Former Director of Ecuador Institute of Forestry, Natural Areas and Wildlife (INEFAN) and Undersecretary of Mines at Ecuador Energy and Mines Department; and Former Director of the National Bank. Mr. Paz received a PhD in Law from Catholic University of Quito, Ecuador, and an L.L.M. from Temple University.

MARÍA PAZ PULGAR is a Chile-based mining and natural resources attorney. She is Senior Associate and Coordinator of the Natural Resources Department of the law firm Philippi, PrietoCarrizosa, Ferrero, DU & Uria. Prior to this, she worked for over 10 years at the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie. She has been professor of Mining Law in the Master of Law LL.M Program and in the Administrative Law Diploma of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, and professor of Mining Law in undergraduate and postgraduate programme of Universidad Los Andes, among other academic activities. She has also been a speaker at various seminars on Environmental Law at the Universidad de Chile and co-author of publications on environmental law. She is a member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), and Women in Mining (WIM).

ALEJANDRO PEMINTEL ECHENIQUE is a partner in Ferrere’s La Paz, Bolivia offices. His practice is focused on dispute resolution related to corporate matters, civil, constitutional and administrative procedures, as well as arbitration and labour. He graduated as an attorney from Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontificia San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca and completed a Master’s program in Civil Law at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolivar. He is a member of the Bar Association of La Paz, of the National Bar Association of Bolivia and of the International Bar Association (IBA). He is the author of several articles discussing labor issues and has been a speaker at various workshops on labor reforms to be implemented in Bolivia. He specialises in labour and employment, advising on all issues resulting from labour relations, including the design and implementation of hiring policies, the implications of corporate restructurings and liquidations, and representing clients in conciliations and arbitrations with unions. He also has extensive experience in planning, designing, and implementing activities aimed at the efficient resolution of labour disputes, including complex labour negotiations. He has particularly strong experience representing clients in the mining, hydrocarbons, telecoms, construction, and services industries. For example, he has advised major telecoms company AXS Bolivia, Parmalat, Repsol Bolivia Y&P, Petrex, Fopeca, Nestle, Colgate Palmolive, Bureau Veritas, Maersk, Uber, Ericsson, Quimiza, PilAndina, ECLA, Banco Fortaleza and the cooperative COTAS and leading mining companies, EmpresaMineraPaitití (Orvana Minerals subsidiary) and EmpresaMinera San Cristobal (Sumitomo subsidiary). 

EDUARDO G. PEREIRA has been active in the oil and gas industry for over 10 years and is an international expert on joint operating agreements. He has oil and gas practical experience in over 40 jurisdictions covering America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Dr. Pereira concluded his doctoral thesis on oil and gas joint ventures at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland). He conducted postdoctoral research at Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (University of Oxford, UK) and another postdoctoral research at the Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law (University of Oslo, Norway). He is a professor of natural resources and energy law as a full-time, part-time, adjunct and/or visiting scholar in a number of leading academic institutions around the world. He is also a managing editor for the African Journal on Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law and an associate editor of OGEL. He is also the author and editor of several leading oil and gas textbooks. Further information about his profile and publications can be found at www.eduardogpereira.com 

RACHEL PERKS is a Senior Mining Specialist with the Extractive Industries practice of the World Bank, Washington, DC. Prior to joining the World Bank, Ms. Perks worked and lived for 12 years in the Horn and Central Africa. She has worked on managing the transition from conflict to peace in countries where natural resources have played a role in conflict, and may equally play a catalytic role in state building. She has spent considerable time in particular in the Great Lakes region, working directly on mining development and reform programs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Her PhD was on the formalization of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector in Rwanda, and the impacts that the regional mineral initiatives have brought to bear on Rwanda's domestic mineral economic agenda.

WILLIAM B. PRINCE is a partner in Dorsey & Whitney LLP’s Salt Lake City office where he co-chairs the firm’s Mining & Natural Resources Industry Group. His practice includes domestic and international mining transactions, natural resources-related environmental and compliance matters, and energy development projects. Bill is currently a member-at-large on the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Board of Directors, is the former chairman of the Special Institutes Committee and has served as a trustee of the Foundation and twice as the Annual Institute Mining Section chair. He was a founding member of the International Mining Professionals Society and served for two years as chairman of the Hard Minerals Committee of the ABA Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law. He authored “Joint Development of Coal and Coalbed Methane” presented at the 48th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and at the Foundation’s Special Institute on Regulation and Development of Coalbed Methane, and co-authored “Developing an Environmental Model: The Growing Diversity of International Environmental Standards and Agendas Affecting Mining Companies” published in the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy. Bill is a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He earned his J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law. In a prior life, he was a river guide in Colorado, Utah and Arizona.

JESSICA RICHARDS is a Lecturer in Energy Management at Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado. Prior to her role at Western, she spent 10 years working in various land positions for oil and gas exploration and production companies in Denver, Colorado. Jessica’s course load includes a wide array of subjects with a focus on oil and gas land management, such as strategic negotiations, oil and gas law, property and contracts, federal land management, energy regulation and policy, oil and gas agreements, title, and business law. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law where she developed and taught Oil & Gas Agreements and Contemporary Issues in Oil & Gas. Jessica co-authored “Social License to Operate: Hydraulic Fracturing Related Challenges Facing the Oil & Gas Industry” presented at the RMMLF Institute in Cartagena, Colombia, in April 2015 and published in the University of Oklahoma Oil & Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal. She earned her J.D. from the University of Denver and is a native of Homer Glen, Illinois.

KATIE SCHRODER is a partner at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP in Denver, where her practice focuses on all aspects of energy development on federal lands. Ms. Schroder counsels clients on oil and gas leasing and development on federal lands and agency compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. She has extensive experience with the Endangered Species Act and advises on federal royalty issues.  Ms. Schroder regularly represents oil and gas operators in administrative appeals before the Bureau of Land Management, Office of Natural Resources Revenue, and Interior Board of Land Appeals.  She has defended and challenged agency decisions and rulemakings in federal courts across the country. Ms. Schroder is active with the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and recently chaired its 65th Annual Institute.  Previously, she has served as a trustee to this organization, chaired its Publications Committee, and authored several papers. She sits on the board of directors of Western Energy Alliance and is a former chair of the Public Land and Resources Committee within the ABA’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources. Ms. Schroder began her career as an attorney-advisor in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of the Solicitor as part of the Solicitor’s Honors Program. She then spent 10 years with a boutique law firm in Denver. She holds a B.A. from Rice University and a J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law. After law school, she clerked for Justice Alex J. Martinez of the Colorado Supreme Court.

JUAN CARLOS SERRA has been with Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C. since 1996. He is the Head of the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure Practice Groups. Juan Carlos worked in the private sector lending arm of the Interamerican Development Bank, called the Interamerican Investment Corporation. Juan Carlos is a Graduate from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and has a Master´s Degree from Georgetown University (Fullbright Scholarship). Other formal education includes a Postgraduate Degree in Corporate and Economic Law from the Panamerican University (Universidad Panamericana) and a Diploma Degree in Energy Law from the Iberoamerican University (Universidad Iberoamericana). Juan Carlos has been recognized by Latin American Energy and Infrastructure Guide as a Leading Lawyer; ranked by Chambers Latin America as a leading lawyer in Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions and Energy & Natural Resources practices; recognized as Latin America´s Leading lawyer in IFLR 1000 Energy and Infrastructure; and named World´s Leading Lawyer by Who´s Who of Mining Lawyers and Who´s Who of Energy Lawyers. His specific experience includes joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, investments, acquisitions, and solid experience participating in national and international public bidding, as well as extensive advice in energy and mining issues. He is an active member of the Mexican Legal Bar (Barra Mexicana del Colegio de Abogados), Institute of Energy Law, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), and the International Bar Association (IBA).

PEDRO SERRANO ESPELTA is a partner of Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal and has been a member of the firm since 1997. He regularly advises clients on Argentine anti-corruption regulations and their complex interaction with foreign extraterritorial laws applicable to actions taking place in Argentina. Pedro also advises clients in developing, implementing and auditing compliance programs, as well as in white collar crime, compliance trainings, risk analysis, due diligence and internal investigations. Pedro is involved in corporate, oil & gas, M&A and complex contracts work. He is a regular speaker at international anti-corruption conferences both locally and abroad. Pedro received his law degree from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral in 1992. He was a Visiting Scholar at the University of California at Berkeley from 1993 to 1995 and earned a Master in Laws (LL.M.) degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1997. He was a foreign associate at The Americas Law Group in San Francisco, California, from 1993 to 1996. He is a member of the Bar of the City of Buenos Aires. 

JUAN SONODA is a partner of the Buenos Aires law firm Beretta Godoy, where he chairs the Energy and Natural Resources departments. His practice focuses on the areas of energy and natural resources, foreign investment, international business transactions, and dispute resolution. He has represented extractive companies in arbitrations conducted under the rules of the ICSID and he has assisted several companies in important and complex commercial litigations. He has published several articles on natural resources, BITs, bankruptcy, conflicts of laws and foreign investment. He directed and co-authored a book on indigenous rights in South America from the perspective of the natural resources industry, published by the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. He graduated cum laude at the University of Buenos Aires School of Law and holds a Masters in Corporate Law from the New York University School of Law. Juan is admitted to the Buenos Aires and New York Bars. He has been singled out by Chambers & Partners, Who’s Who Legal and Legal 500, among other publications.

MIGUEL O. STRAUSS is Chief Counsel Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestments, Legal, Global Strategy and Business Development, for Statoil, in Houston. Miguel has accumulated more than twenty years of legal experience, fourteen of them in the oil & gas industry. He focuses on negotiating and advising on complex, cross-border, upstream joint ventures, acquisitions, divestments and production contracts in the oil and gas sector worldwide. He has been involved in negotiations covering diverse types of assets and projects, including oil sands, shale gas, shale oil, deep offshore and extra heavy oil. For the last 10 years he has held several positions in Statoil’s legal department in places like Venezuela, Norway, the United States, and the United Kingdom, providing legal support to Statoil’s internationalization efforts. He is a regular speaker at many international conferences and seminars. He is currently based in Houston after concluding a stint in London, where he acted as interim Head of Legal’s Global Strategy and Business Development team. He was appointed as Statoil’s Chief Counsel for Mergers and Acquisitions in 2012. In addition to advising on matters concerning Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestments, he is currently leading the legal team advising Statoil in Mexico. Prior to joining Statoil, Miguel worked with Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York and London as member of the Latin America and Spain Group, focusing on Project Finance, Securities and M&A. Previously, he worked with the Venezuelan National Oil Company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) in the upstream area. He is admitted to practice in New York and Venezuela.

HERNÁN TORRES is a partner at Philippi, Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uría in the Perú office. He joined the firm in 2016. He has 14 years of experience in legal practice focusing on mining. He advises on matters involving mining projects in all stages, as well as matters related to land access and social license. He also provides advice on various corporate, real, and civil law issues. Hernan has a law degree from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (2001), and a post-graduate degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Law and Policy from the University of Denver (2008). Hernan is a professor of mining law and contract law at the University of Lima, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas – UPC, and Universidad de Piura, and has authored several publications on mining and civil law. He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF), the Instituto Nacional de Derecho de Minería, Petróleo y Energía (INDEMIPE), and the Sociedad de Minería, Petróleo y Energía (SNMPE).

ADRIANO DRUMMOND CANÇADO TRINDADE is of counsel at Pinheiro Neto Advogados in Brasília, Brazil. He has been providing legal advice for years to clients in connection with the mining sector, including regulatory matters, mining policy, M&A, contracts and communities, among other mining-related subjects. Mr. Trindade is also a Lecturer at the Law School of the University of Brasília (UnB) and a researcher of the Natural Resources Law Group (GERN) of that same University, where he coordinates the mining law research area. Mr. Trindade graduated from the University of Brasília and obtained his Masters degree (Distinction) in Natural Resources Law and Policy from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee, United Kingdom. He has published articles and delivered conferences and training courses in Mining Law issues in Brazil and abroad.

CARLOS UMAÑA TRUJILLO has been managing partner of Brigard & Urrutia, in Bogotá, since 2012 and partner since 1990, with more than 25 years of experience. He splits his time between several practice areas and is particularly commended for his knowledge in infrastructure, public procurement and competition work. Moreover, he had advised national and international clients in connection with public services law, administrative law, energy projects, commercial law and insurance such as Siemens, Johnson & Johnson, 3M, Iberia, Votorantim, LAN Chile, Monsanto, among others. According to Chambers and Partners, Mr. Umaña is highly renowned for his expertise as a “skilled negotiator” and “praised for his experience and sharp technical knowledge.” Mr. Umaña graduated from the Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora Del Rosario and holds a Master’s degree in Comparative Jurisprudence from New York University School of Law, which he obtained in 1985.

JOSÉ CARLOS UGAZ is Chairman of Transparency International. Based in Lima, Mr. Ugaz is a lawyer who was special state attorney in one of the biggest corruption cases in Latin American history. He was ad-hoc state attorney of Peru for several corruption cases against the criminal network of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori. Fujimori fled the country in 2000 after allegations of systematic and widespread abuse of power. From 2000-2002, Mr. Ugaz’s office opened more than 200 cases against 1,500 government officials and other associates of Fujimori. Under his mandate, US$205 million in assets were frozen abroad and US$75 million were recovered. In 2002, Mr. Ugaz became President of Proetica, Transparency International’s national chapter in Peru. He was an official at the World Bank’s anti-corruption unit from 2004-2006. He became an individual member of Transparency International in 2008 and has served on Transparency International’s Board of Directors since 2011. He is a teacher of criminal law at the Universidad Católica del Perú since 1986. 

RAFAEL VERGARA is a Partner with Carey y Cia Ltda., in Santiago. Mr. Vergara is co-head of the firm’s Natural Resources and Environment Group. His practice focuses on natural resources, mining, water rights, energy, environment, surface lands, project financing, and corporate and commercial law. He has received numerous national and international awards and recognition in the fields of mining, metals, energy, environmental, natural resources, and project finance and development. He has been a Professor of Mining Law at the Universidad de Chile since 1996, and at the Universidad de los Andes since 2003. Mr. Vergara is the author of several legal publications, including the Chilean chapter on Mining, Getting the Deal Through (2010-2013), and has presented special courses on mining law for judges and members of the Courts of Appeals, organized by the Judiciary Academy of Chile, as well as papers on Chilean mining, energy, natural resources regulations and environment at numerous seminars, both in Chile and abroad. He was a Trustee at Large of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (2012-2015); a Member of the Chilean Bar Association, Member of its board (2006-2011); Visiting Professor in several graduate studies and Master Degree Programs on Natural Resources Law at several Chilean Universities; Member of the panel of arbitrators, Arbitration Center of the Chamber of Commerce of Santiago; Member of the Legal Committee of the National Mining Association (SONAMI); and Member of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA). Mr. Vergara received his law degree from the Universidad de Chile.

CYNTHIA URDA KASSIS is co-Head of Shearman & Sterling’s Mining & Metals practice and a partner in the Project Development & Finance Practice. She has decades of experience representing sponsors/borrowers as well as providers of finance in project, finance and joint-venture transactions worldwide, with extensive experience in the mining, infrastructure, energy and general manufacturing industries, as well as in mining, infrastructure and power restructurings. Cynthia’s notable work in the mining space includes the representation of Orion and Blackstone in the financing of Lundin Gold’s $1B+ Fruta Del Norte Project in Ecuador. This transaction, the first large-scale mine financing in Ecuador, was named “Latin America Mining & Metals Deal of the Year” by IJGlobal. She has also recently represented Nevada Copper in the financing package for their Pumpkin Hollow underground copper mining project, and Société Générale and ING on the structured acquisition financing for Pala’s take private acquisition of Cobalt 27, among others. For her impact in the space, she has been recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers and Partners, Legal500 and IFLR, and has been a three-time recipient of the “Project Finance Lawyer of the Year” award by Who’s Who Legal. She is a seasoned speaker, having presented on mining finance and other topics at numerous mining conferences and events over the years, including various RMMLF Special Institutes and Annual Institutes.

FRANCISCO J. VALDIVIESO, Partner, Valdivieso, Gutiérrez & Manríquez, Santiago. Between 2009 and 2014, he was an Associate of the firm Cariola, Díez and Pérez-Cotapos, where he worked in the areas of Mining Law, Natural Resources, and Corporate and Foreign Investment. His professional practice has focused on assisting local companies and foreign investors in the analysis, preparation of legal aspects and the development of investment projects, mainly mining-related. He has extensive experience in the preparation and negotiation of different types of contracts, such as trading, mining purchase option contracts, exploration, drilling and exploration agreements, and other contracts related to mining activity. He has also participated in the acquisition and sale of mining companies and projects, water rights, public bidding processes and in the processing, constitution and judicial defense of mining concessions throughout the national territory. For the development of mining, energy and other projects, Mr. Valdivieso has been in charge of advising his clients to gain access to the estates where these projects are located, actively participating in the negotiation of contractual easements and in various easement trials. He has also been in charge of processing various administrative permits related to investment projects. Mr. Valdivieso received his law degree from the University of Los Andes in 2009. During 2013 he enrolled in the Diploma Program in Natural Resources and Energy, from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica, where he finished with a mention in Water Law. He is a member of the Bar Association.

MARCELLO M. VEIGA has worked since December 1997 as a professor of the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Since 2012 Dr. Veiga has been a full-professor teaching and researching environmental and social issues in mining. He has more than 300 publications. He has worked for the past 35 years as a metallurgical engineer and environmental geochemist for Governments, Universities, International agencies, NGOS and companies in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, China, Ecuador, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Laos, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Peru, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe on these issues. From 1977 to 1997, he was employed by the Brazilian Center of Mineral Technology (CETEM), Vale do Rio Doce company, Paulo Abib Engineering and Techmat Consulting. From 2002 to 2008, he worked as an expert and Chief Technical Advisor of the Global Mercury Project for UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in Vienna. This included the environmental and health assessment of mercury pollution in artisanal gold mining in Asia, Africa and South America as well as the implementation of national policies and procedures to reduce mercury emissions and increase gold recovery. Since 2008 he has been key consultant for a large number of mining companies and international agencies dealing with artisanal mining and socio-environmental issues in mining.

CARLOS VILHENA is a partner at the law firm of Pinheiro Neto Advogados, in Brasilia, Brazil, where he heads the firm's mining and government relations practices. For many years Mr. Vilhena has been appointed as one of the top practitioners in Brazil for mining legal expertise by a number of publications, including the International Who's Who of Mining Lawyers published by Who's Who Legal, the Latin Lawyer, Chambers Global, and Legal 500. In 2015, 2016, and 2017, the Who´s Who Legal identified 407 mining law practitioners around the World. Mr. Vilhena was listed as thought leader. He is the only Brazilian in the list. Chambers and Global 2017 listed Mr. Vilhena as the only Star Individual in the mining legal market in Brazil. Mr. Vilhena acts as Senior Vice-Chair of the Mining Committee of the International Bar Association. He is a director of TriStar Gold Inc. Mr. Vilhena holds an LLM degree in Natural Resources Law from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee, Scotland and an LLB from the University of Brasilia Law School.

GERMÁN VILLAMIL-PARDO is a partner at Gómez Pinzón Zuleta Abogados, in Bogotá, where he leads the Oil & Gas practice and is a member of the Corporate law practice, leading the Foreign Exchange and Regulatory International Investments practice. Germán is also a member of the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets practice. Germán has more than 30 years of professional experience. In the Oil & Gas industry, he renders advice to exploration and production companies and also to service companies, oil transportation companies, and trading companies. He also participates actively in mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions in the Oil & Gas sector. In the foreign exchange and international investments practice, he has rendered legal advice to, among others, companies related to the energy, gas, financial, communication and written press, real estate, public services, telecommunications, technology, beverages, and transportation sectors, in legal matters that include legal counsel in foreign exchange regulations, financings in foreign currency, structuring of international investments and counsel, and representation in administrative foreign exchange proceedings. Germán received his law school degree from Universidad de los Andes and has a post-graduate degree in Taxation from the same university. He worked for around ten years with Banco de la República (Colombia’s Central Bank) where among other positions he served as General Counsel. He is member of the Mines and Oil Bar (Colegio de Abogados de Minas y Petróleos), board member of Grupo Aval and also of the Free Country Foundation (Fundación País Libre) and arbitrator of the arbitration and conciliation center of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá.

PETER L. WEBSTER is General Counsel U.S. with Barrick Gold. Prior to joining Barrick Gold in 2013, he was a member of Rio Tinto Legal Department for 20 years, specializing in mining exploration transactions and compliance issues in North and South America. He is a graduate of the University of Utah College of Law, and holds a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pitzer College in the Claremont Colleges. 

JAIME P. ZALDUMBIDE has been a partner of Perez Bustamante & Ponce, the largest and oldest law firm in Ecuador, since 1987. He is an experienced attorney in energy, exploration, and exploitation of natural resources and environmental law. He has spent decades advising oil and mining companies on their operations and negotiations in Ecuador. From 2012 to 2016, Jaime practiced in Chile as Senior at Carey Abogados. Jaime has a Juris Doctorate degree in law from the Catholic University of Quito, a Masters Degree in Environmental Law from the University of the Vasque Country, Spain, and has attended post graduate studies at Harvard University, Columbia University, and the Southern Methodist University. During his professional career he was the Private Secretary to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Arbitrator at the Construction Chamber of Quito Arbitration Center, and a manager of the Legal Department of Kerr McGee Ecuador Energy Company (currently part of Anadarko). In 2016 he contributed with the Ecuadorian Chapter of The Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, “Indigenous Rights Q&A Book.” Admitted to the bar in Chile and Ecuador, Jaime is one of the few Ecuadorian attorneys to be distinguished as a foreign expert by Chambers Global.