People

Luis Miguel Velarde Saffer joined LALIVE in 2022 and specialises in international arbitration, including investor-State and commercial arbitration, with a particular focus on Latin America and Spain.

Mr. Velarde has experience in commercial and investment treaty arbitrations under the ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, Peruvian Chamber of Commerce and Quito Chamber of Commerce Rules. His experience spans several industries, including mining, construction & infrastructure, transport, and energy.

Before joining LALIVE, Mr. Velarde worked as a senior associate at Dechert LLP’s international arbitration department, in Paris (2014-2021).  Prior to that, he worked as an International Legal Analyst at Baker & Hostetler LLP’s international arbitration department, in Washington DC. (2013), and as an associate at the Private Law department of Benites, Forno & Ugaz Abogados, in Lima (2009-2012).

Mr. Velarde has been Professor of Contract Law at various universities in Peru, and has published a book titled “Contracts: Theory and Practice. A Comparative Perspective” (2015). He is a founding member of Latin American Arbitration Practitioners – EU (LATAP), and the Latin American Representative of the Asia Pacific Forum for International Arbitration (AFIA).

Mr. Velarde holds a Degree in Law from the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (2009), and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School (2013).