Q&A

Can you provide an overview of your background and your current role?

"I am a Chilean lawyer specialising in construction law, dispute resolution, and international arbitration. I obtained my law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and an LLM in international law from Heidelberg University. My practice focuses on complex infrastructure and energy projects, advising both private companies and public entities, and I also act as an arbitrator on national and international rosters. Alongside this, I am involved in international leadership and access-to-justice work - I founded Justa Chile, and have been selected as a Community Solutions Program Fellow (US Department of State, 2025) and for Santander Open Academy's Women Leadership Programme with the London School of Economics (2026)."

What made you want to work within international arbitration or global disputes?

"I always had an interest in working internationally, and arbitration felt like a natural path. Construction and infrastructure disputes involve multiple jurisdictions, international contractors and highly technical issues, which makes the work complex and interesting. During my LLM at Heidelberg, I deepened my interest in dispute resolution - particularly dispute boards - which helped shape my focus on arbitration."

What do you enjoy the most about working in international arbitration?

"The intellectual challenge. You are constantly learning - not just legal issues, but technical subjects such as engineering - and language skills are essential. I value being able to work primarily in English while continuing to learn other languages, which opens doors beyond Spanish-speaking jurisdictions. In Chile, construction arbitration remains a highly specialised field with still limited female representation, so for me this work is about professional development but also about opening doors for others and showing what is possible."

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in arbitration today?

"Build an international perspective early - through study, language skills, and cross-border networks. Reaching out to people you admire, thoughtfully and respectfully, has helped me a lot; people usually respond well if you have done your research and are mindful of their time. Be patient and consistent: arbitration rewards long-term commitment, and you will receive many "no's" before a "yes," particularly if you aim to act as an arbitrator."

Which GAR Academy course did you take, and why did you choose it?

"I completed the GAR Academy Construction Arbitration course - a natural choice given my professional focus. It combines practical insight from leading practitioners with a structured analysis of construction arbitration, including procedural strategy, dispute boards and complex evidentiary issues, which was a useful complement to my day-to-day work. The blended format also mattered - being able to access content online while engaging with faculty and wider Academy activity made it possible to fit the programme into a busy international practice."

What was the most valuable insight or skill you gained from the Academy?

"Access to the faculty - practitioners who dedicate their work exclusively to construction arbitration and contribute through both practice and publications. After the sessions, I researched their backgrounds, articles and books, which has been useful for both professional development and my own research. The course also broadened my perspective by introducing approaches from jurisdictions that were not previously at the forefront of my thinking."

Was there any advice or perspective from the faculty that particularly stayed with you?

"What stayed with me was seeing how developed and specialised the field has become globally. I do not often encounter so many professionals working exclusively at this level in construction arbitration, and being able to identify them, follow their work and understand their thinking has been extremely valuable."

What was the most surprising or unexpected benefit of the GAR Academy experience?

"The sense of continuity beyond the course itself. Being invited to GAR Academy events, receiving follow-up communications and engaging with the wider Academy community made the experience feel ongoing, rather than limited to completing the modules."

Did you build any professional connections during the course?

"Yes - I connected with several members of the faculty, including professors, and with others via LinkedIn. Even when those conversations do not immediately develop further, it is very valuable to know who is active in the field and to be able to follow their work and connect in the future."

Which formats or topics did you find most engaging?

"The structured online modules worked very well, particularly given timezone differences. I also see real value in the Academy's broader engagement — live sessions and in-person events that complement the digital content and support meaningful networking. The invitations to Academy events are especially valuable for staying connected and developing relationships beyond the course."

Connect with Catalina:

Professionals interested in construction arbitration, dispute boards, Latin America, or cross-border dispute resolution are welcome to connect with Catalina on LinkedIn.

Connect with Catalina on LinkedIn

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