About Josefina

Josefina Silva Lavín, a Chilean-qualified lawyer, is a foreign associate in our Litigation Practice, based in our New York office. She has a decade of experience in dispute resolution, with a particular focus on international arbitration and cross-border disputes involving Latin America.

She advises and represents clients in international arbitration, domestic arbitration and complex commercial litigation matters in the construction, infrastructure, energy, mining and telecommunications sectors, among others. She has experience in disputes involving state-owned entities, public authorities and private companies, as well as matters involving international investment law issues.

Josefina has participated in proceedings under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and Centro de Arbitraje y Mediación de Santiago (CAM Santiago) Rules. She has experience in drafting memorials and procedural submissions, document production, examination of fact and expert witnesses and the development of dispute resolution and dispute avoidance strategies. She has also served as tribunal secretary in domestic and international arbitration proceedings.

Josefina is a lecturer, speaker and coach in international arbitration competitions. She has served as vice president of Arbitraje Alumni and as a member of the executive committee of Santiago Very Young Arbitration Practitioners (SVYAP).

Experience

Represented a Chilean state-owned oil and gas company in an ICC arbitration against a Spanish contractor and its Chilean affiliate arising out of the construction of a cogeneration plant in Chile involving claims exceeding US$166 million.
Represented a geothermal energy company in parallel dispute resolution proceedings arising out of the construction of a geothermal power plant in Chile, including an ICC Dispute Adjudication Board proceeding against a multinational energy company and a CAM Santiago international arbitration against a Chilean subcontractor.
Represented a geothermal energy company in preliminary injunction proceedings before Chilean courts relating to the enforcement of a warranty bond in connection with the construction of a geothermal power plant.
Represented an Argentine client in proceedings under the Hague Convention before the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, resulting in a favorable judgment.
Represented a multinational telecommunications company in a CAM Santiago arbitration against a Chilean contractor arising out of the construction of 5G infrastructure in Chile.
Represented a Chilean contractor in the oil and gas sector in a CAM Santiago arbitration concerning a joint venture dispute.
Represented a cemetery management company in multiple shareholder arbitrations administered by CAM Santiago and related civil litigation proceedings before Chilean courts.
Represented a specialized mining equipment and services provider in an ad hoc shareholder arbitration and related enforcement proceedings before Chilean courts.
Advised a multinational telecommunications company on investment treaty protections and dispute resolution strategies in connection with a telecommunications concession in Latin America.

Credentials

Education

University of Miami School of Law, LL.M., International Arbitration, 2024
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Diploma in Strategic Negotiation and Mediationj, 2019
Arbitration Academy Paris, Certificate in International Commercial Arbitration, 2014
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Bachelor of Laws (J.D.), 2014

Admissions

Chile, 2016
New York (admission pending)

Memberships & Affiliations

Former Member of the Board of Directors and Vice President, Arbitraje Alumni (2019-2025; Vice President, 2021-2025).
Former Executive Committee Member, Santiago Very Young Arbitration Practitioners (SVYAP) (2022-2024).
Member, Young Miami International Arbitration Society (MIAS) (2024-Present)

Expertise

Services

Litigation
International Dispute Resolution

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Co-author, “El Consentimiento en el Arbitraje de Inversiones (CIADI),” Derecho y Arbitraje de Inversión Extranjera: Un Estudio Latinoamericano, digital publication of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Santiago Chamber of Commerce (CAM Santiago) and Santiago Very Young Arbitration Practitioners (SVYAP), July 2026.
Speaker, Young ICSID “De mootie a abogado practicante: el camino hacia el arbitraje internacional”, Santiago, August 2026.
Speaker, Panama Arbitration Week, “Mock Arbitration Hearing: aspectos Adaptados a la Realidad Latinoamericana,” Panama City, March 2026.
Moderator, Conferencia Latinoamericana de Arbitraje 40 (CLA-40), “Anulación del Laudo Arbitral,” Rio de Janeiro, June 2024.
Speaker, Mexico Arbitration Week, “Arbitraje en Tiempos de Crisis: Cambio climático, Conflictos Geopolíticos, Sanciones y Conflictos Armados,” Mexico City, May 2024.
Speaker, “Conferencia Internacional de Arbitraje: Un Análisis Teórico y Práctico,” Ius et Veritas Civil Association, Lima, June 2021.
Speaker, “Introducción al Arbitraje de Inversiones,” International Arbitration Program, Be Lawyer, March 2021.

About our firm

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