María Antonieta Fiallos

María Antonieta has more than three decades of experience in legal practice in Nicaragua, specialising in advising transnational, regional and local companies on their day-to-day operations, regulatory matters and corporate governance. Throughout his career he has also worked with international financial institutions and national and foreign private banks, leading negotiations, financing processes and complex transactions.

He has led legal teams in comparative law studies, review of commercial law drafts and formulation of public policy proposals aimed at social and economic development. He has recognised leadership, strategic thinking and programme management skills, working in multicultural, interdisciplinary and transnational environments.

In the private sector, she has advised the DHL Group in Central America and the Caribbean for more than 20 years, accompanying its operations, investments and regulatory compliance. He has also provided legal advice to institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank and OFID, in high impact projects, especially in the field of social housing. He participated in the acquisition process of a bank in Nicaragua, advising one of the strongest financial groups in the region, and has worked on the development of microinsurance models with a regional focus.

She has acted as arbitrator in multiple commercial arbitration cases in Nicaragua, and is currently accredited as an international arbitrator by CICA-AMCHAM. In 2024, she held the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ECIJA for Latin America.

Academic background

• Law Degree, Universidad Centroamericana (UCA), Managua, Nicaragua (1991).
• Master in Political Science, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, United Kingdom (1993).
• Postgraduate Diploma in European Community Law, King's College, London, United Kingdom (1993).
• Postgraduate Degree in Private International Law: Legal Regulation of International Commercial Contracts in the face of Globalisation and Integration, University of Salamanca, Spain (2003).
• Postgraduate Diploma in Mediation and Arbitration, Universidad Americana (UAM), Managua, Nicaragua (2010)

Admissions

• Lawyer and Notary Public incorporated in the Supreme Court of Justice of Nicaragua since 1992.
• Accredited as national arbitrator by the Mediation and Arbitration Centre of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Commerce and Services (until its closure in 2023).
• Accredited as an international arbitrator by the International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (CICA-AMCHAM), Costa Rica.

Notable positions and affiliations

• Former COO of ECIJA Latin America (2024)
• Has served on boards of directors of several non-profit organisations in Nicaragua
• President of a think tank recognised among the top 5% in Central and South America