María José Menéndez started her independent practice as an arbitrator on 1 November 2023, after 35 years of professional experience as a lawyer, including 14 years of experience in arbitration. She started her practice as an associate of Uria Menendez and subsequently became a partner of Clifford Chance and Ashurst. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, vice-president of the Spanish and Ibero-American Arbitration Club (CEIA), a member of the plenary board of CIAM-CIAR and a member of the steering committee of the International Law Association for Spain.