Viviana Méndez specialises in international commercial, construction and investment treaty arbitration, as well as public international law. She has represented clients in disputes under major arbitral rules including ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL and ICDR/AAA, across sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, natural resources, gas, mining and power. Her experience also includes advising sovereign states on the implementation of alternative dispute resolution frameworks.
Recent publications
The Recognition and Enforcement of Annulled Arbitral Awards: the U.S.’s Story Thus Far
VIVIANA MÉNDEZ, P. Friedland, J. Levine
In: E. Zuleta & G. Tawil (eds.), The New York Convention Guide 1958 (2020)
Latin America in Transition
VIVIANA MÉNDEZ, A. Santens, et al.
In: White & Case Latin America Focus, Fall 2021
Career history
- Senior Associate, LALIVE, Geneva, 2025-present
- Legal Counsel for Latin America, Gensler, Mexico City & San Jose, Costa Rica, 2024-2025
- International Arbitration Associate, White & Case LLP, New York, United States, 2018-2024
- Law Clerk, Center for international Conciliation and Arbitration, San Jose, Costa Rica, 2017
- Consultant (prior Intern) at the Supreme Court Chamber, United Nations Khmer Rouge tribunals, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2016
- Legal Intern for the Department on Foreign Direct Investment, Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Trade, San Jose, Costa Rica, 2016
- Legal Intern, Unidroit, Rome, Italy, 2015
- International Arbitration Intern, Three Crowns LLP, Washington DC, United States, 2015
Academic qualifications
- Certificate in Commercial Contracts, UC Berkeley School of Law, Berkeley, California, United States, 2025
- Master of Laws, Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 2018
- Certificate in Business Analytics, Financial Accounting, and Economics, Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 2017
- Bachelor and Licentiate in Laws (summa cum laude), University of Costa Rica, Law School, San Jose, Costa Rica, 2016
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