
PRACTICE AREAS
International Commercial Arbitration
Investor-State Dispute Settlement
International Investment Law
Complex Litigation
State contracts
Margie-Lys has 20 years of professional experience, providing legal advice to clients in Europe, the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean region. Her practice includes complex international litigation, commercial arbitration, and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS); in addition, she acts as consultant and expert in commercial, trade and investment matters.
Currently, Margie-Lys is legal adviser at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in treaty-based investment arbitrations filed by alleged foreign investor against the Republic of Panama. She is a former trade negotiator for the Republic of Panama, having served as Chief of the Trade in Services and Investments Department at the Ministry of Trade and Industries.
Margie-Lys is Professor of Law at the University of Panama, Private Law Department. She is the author of a wide range of publications in her areas of expertise, and has participated as speaker in a large number of forums internationally.
ADMISSIONS
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Republic of Panama (2001)
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The State of New of New York, U.S.A. (2016)
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Paris, France (2010 – Inactive), Certificate of Aptitude for the legal profession (CAPA)
LICENSES
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Real Estate Broker License (2004)
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Public translator French/Spanish (2011)
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Public translator English/Spanish (2019)
RECENT PUBLICATIONS (IN ENGLISH)
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“Could an Appellate Review Mechanism “Fix” the ISDS System?” Kluwer Arbitration Blog (11 February 2021).
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“Reshaping the Investor-State Dispute Settlement through an Appellate Review Mechanism”, in The Investor-State Dispute Settlement System: Reform, Replace or Status Quo? Alan M. Anderson & Ben Beaumont Eds., Kluwer Law International, Chapter 7 (2020).
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“Enforceability of arbitration clauses against third-party holders of bill of lading – A comparative Perspective”, Transnational Dispute Management (2020).
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“Counsel Conduct in International Arbitration: An Ethical “No-man’s Land”?” 85:3 The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management 211 (2019).
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“A new Legal Framework for Improving Investor-State Dispute Settlement” in Privatizing Dispute Resolution and its Limits, Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law 485 (2019).
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“The Law Governing Counsel’s Ethical Obligations in International Arbitration” 7:1 European International Arbitration Review 23 (2018).
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“Shifting sands: New trends on ethics regulation of Arbitrators in investor-state dispute settlement” 10:3 World Arbitration and Mediation Review 383 (2016).
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“An Appellate Body in Treaty-Based Investment Arbitration: Redefining the Investor-State Dispute Settlement Mechanism” 21 Spanish Arbitration Review 93 (2014).
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“Relying upon Parties’ Interpretation in Treaty-Based Investor-State Dispute Settlement for Filling the Gaps in International Investment Agreements” 46 Georgetown J. Int’l L. 261 (2014).
EDUCATION
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University of Panama, Bachelor in Law and Political Science (Magna Cum Laude)
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University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas), Ph.D. in Law (Summa Cum Laude)
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University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas), LL.M. in International Economic Affairs Law (Cum Laude)
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University of Versailles (France), LL.M. in Arbitration and International Business Law (Cum Laude)
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Georgetown University Law Center (Washington D.C.), LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law with a Certificate in World Trade Organization Studies
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Latin American University of Science and Technology (ULACIT), Master Degree in Higher Education (Magna Cum Laude)
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University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas), University Diploma on Private International Law
MEMBERSHIPS
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Panamanian Bar Association (since 2001), Member of the Board of Directors (2021-2023), Chair of the Arbitration and Mediation Committee (2019-2021)
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Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Fellow)
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American Society of International Law (ASIL)
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International Chamber of Commerce, Panamanian Chapter (ICC Panama)
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Spanish Arbitration Club, Panamanian Chapter
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Inter-American Bar Association (IABA)
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Panama Maritime Law Association (APADEMAR)
LANGUAGES
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Spanish
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English
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French