Catalina Echeverri Gallego is a partner at Wordstone Dispute Resolution, specializing in international arbitration and working on both investment treaty and commercial arbitration matters.  With over a decade of experience, Catalina has advised numerous clients in high-profile disputes, actively participating in negotiations, arbitration proceedings, and post-arbitration matters across a broad range of industries.

With an academic background in public policy from the University of Oxford, Catalina has dedicated her practice to cases involving sovereign states, state-owned entities, and state-owned companies. Her experience extends to navigating complex disputes spanning multiple jurisdictions, involving the application of public and private international law, and domestic legislation.

Catalina has acted in cases administered by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), and other institutions, as well as ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Rules. She has not only provided legal representation, but has also acted as sole arbitrator and president of the arbitral tribunal in international commercial arbitration.

Recognized for her expertise, Catalina has earned accolades in prestigious publications such as Chambers Global and Latin America guides, where she is praised for her “extensive knowledge of the law”, “high professional level” and “great analytical skills”. A commentator also notes she “is always read to tend to our needs.” In The Legal 500, she is described as “an exceptional person and great professional”, commended for her “100% analytical and methodical” approach.

In 2024, she was appointed as a delegate to the Global ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR for the 2024-2027 mandate.

Catalina currently teaches International Contract Law at Sciences Po in Paris, and has lectured at universities in the United States, France, Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina, and Bolivia.

“Catalina Echeverri Gallego is a great professional to work with. The way that she tackles an issue is great and she has extensive knowledge of the law.” – Chambers Latin America 2025

“Catalina Echeverri is an exceptional person and great professional, always ready to attend to our concerns no matter what time it is; 100% analytical and methodical.” – The Legal 500 2024

“Catalina Echeverri Gallego performs at a high professional level. She has great analytical skills, and is always ready to tend to our needs.” – Chambers Latin America and Global 2024

“She is an excellent professional. It is a pleasure to work with highly skilled and committed people like her.” – Chambers Latin America 2023

• Representing a South American State in an UNCITRAL investment arbitration commenced by a British company, concerning the exploitation of a silver mine that interfered with the rights of indigenous communities living in the project area.
• Representing a South American State-owned enterprise in an ICSID arbitration against a South American State concerning the construction of a power transmission line.
• Representing a Central American State in an ICSID arbitration commence by a Colombian company concerning the construction of a power transmission line.
• Representing South American State in ICSID annulment proceedings concerning an award that solved a dispute regarding a participation contract for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Amazon region.
• Representing Caribbean State in an ICC commercial arbitration commenced by a Spanish company, concerning a concession contract for the construction and operation of a wind farm, as well as the negotiation of a power purchase agreement with a state-owned entity.
• Representing a Caribbean state entity in an UNCITRAL commercial arbitration commenced by a Spanish company concerning the rehabilitation of the country’s electricity transmission networks and force majeure allegations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Representing a Central American State in an UNCITRAL investment arbitration commenced by an Israeli company operating in the electricity distribution sector concerning criminal tax fraud claims brought by the country’s tax administration.
• Representing a South American State in an ICSID arbitration commenced by a Swiss company concerning a concession for the operation of a maritime port and the application of the country’s antitrust regulations.
• Representing a South American State in two ICSID arbitrations commenced by a Mexican and a Spanish Company, concerning a concession contract in the telecommunications industry, a decision of the Constitutional Court of the State and a decision of a domestic arbitral tribunal.
• Representing the port authority of a South American State in a commercial arbitration against a Chinese company in a dispute related to a concession contract for the renovation and operation of a maritime port.
• Representing a South American State in an UNCITRAL investment arbitration commenced by a Spanish company, concerning the concession for the operation of the country’s three international airports.
• Representing a South American State in ICSID annulment proceedings concerning an award that solved a dispute regarding 11 mining concessions.
• Representing a family of prominent investors in a post-M&A dispute concerning the acquisition of a pharmaceutical laboratory.

University of Oxford, Master of Public Policy, 2017, Chevening Scholar 2016

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Law, 2010

Colombia

Admitted to practice as a foreign legal consultant in Paris

Spanish, English and French

• Latin American Panorama, in Journal of International Arbitration / Les Cahiers de l’Arbitrage (2024)
• Relationship between domestic and international law, in Handbook of International Law (Universidad de los Andes de Colombia) (2023)
• Telecoms Arbitration in Latin America, in Global Arbitration Review Guide to Telecoms Arbitration (Global Arbitration Review) (2022)
• International Investment Arbitration in the Latin-American Electricity Sector, in Latin America: Energy & Natural Resources Disputes (Kluwer) (2021)
• Group Arbitration in International E-Commerce Contracts, in 40 Under 40 in International Arbitration (Dykinson) (2021)

Chambers Latin America 2025

Up and Coming: International Arbitration (International Counsel)

Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators 2024

Global Litigators

Chambers Global 2024

Up and Coming: Arbitration (International)

Chambers Latin America 2024

Up and Coming: International Arbitration (International Counsel)

The Legal 500 Latin America 2024

Rising Star – Latin America: International Firms (International Arbitration)

Recommended – Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (France)

Delegate of the Global ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR (2024-2027 mandate)

Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR)

Asociación Latinomericana de Arbitraje (ALARB)

Club Español del Arbitraje (CEA)

Comité Colombiano de Arbitraje

Commission ICC Colombia