Andrea Merlano

My name is Andrea Merlano, and I am from Cartagena, Colombia. I completed all of my legal studies in my home country and have since then studied the areas where I gained experience; State Contracting and Administrative Litigation. After working in the Colombian Judicial Branch, I also worked as a legal counsel for private companies and a municipal mayor’s office in the department of Bolivar.

In 2016, I moved to Bogota, where I worked on high-profile domestic arbitration cases and Alternative Dispute Resolutions, gaining a solid knowledge of substantial arbitration and dispute resolution matters.

As someone passionate about the legal field, I wanted to broaden my knowledge in this area further. Therefore, I applied for a partial scholarship offered to the “Red Juvenil de Arbitraje” members of the Chamber of Commerce in Bogota at the University of Miami. Thankfully, I received this scholarship, which brought me to Miami in the spring of 2022. I am pursuing an LL.M. in International Arbitration at the University of Miami, with a graduation date expected in May 2023.

In summary, my legal career in Colombia has been rewarding and has provided me with invaluable experience. I am excited to pursue an LL.M. in International Arbitration at the University of Miami, which will help me further develop my expertise in this area. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from the esteemed faculty at the University of Miami.
I look forward to applying my new knowledge to continue growing my legal career.

Areas of Interest

Arbitration Domestic (Colombia)/ International
Dispute Resolutions
Negotiations

Education

LL.M. in International Arbitration Candidate University of Miami School of Law (May 2023)
Especialista en Contratación Estatal Universidad Externado de Colombia (2021)
Especialista en Derecho Contencioso Administrativo (2016)
Abogado (equivalent to J.D.) Universidad Libre de Colombia (2013)

Relevant Experiences

Served as a litigator for arbitration and mediation issues for road and airport projects. Handled cases from beginning to end as well as advising on best procedural strategy. Attended arbitration hearings as needed. Drafted dispute resolution clauses for several airport, port, and road projects in Colombia.

Admitted to practice law in Colombia.

Languages

Fluent in English and Spanish