Joaquín De Obarrio
Partner
RANKINGS
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Benchmark Litigation
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Chambers Latin America
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Legal 500
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MEMBER
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Panama Bar Association
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International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Panama Chapter, Arbitration Committee
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Shiparrested Network
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Panama Maritime Law Association (APADEMAR) – Member of the Board of Directors (2019-2020 / 2020-2021 / 2021-2022); Vice President (2022-2023/2023-2024; President 2024/2025)
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Panama International Maritime University, Board of Trustees.
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Young Arbitrators Group (YAG) from the Center of Alternate Dispute Resolution (CESCON)
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Young ALDEC a division of the Latin America Association of Construction Law (ALDEC)
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LANGUAGES
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Spanish and English.
Joaquín has more than a decade of experience within the legal sector, specializing in Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution across industries such as Shipping, Public Contracting, Retail, Real Estate, Labor, Distribution, Infrastructure and Construction, Energy and Natural Resources, Finance, and Health Services. He has advised the Republic of Panama in international disputes and negotiations, and has represented State entities in international arbitrations, as well as private clients and corporations before the Supreme Court of Panama in constitutional pleadings, civil and administrative proceedings, arbitration, and ordinary judicial proceedings.
He also advices corporations, multinationals, and international companies on their daily operations in Panama as well as regulatory matters.
His practice has been recognized by top leading legal rankings such as Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, and Benchmark Litigation, as a leader in complex disputes.
He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Political Science from Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua; and an L.L.M. from Tulane University, New Orleans, where he served as President of the Graduate Lawyers Association, Spanish Language Instructor at the Freeman School of Business, and founded the specialized legal magazine GLAT Review.
Joaquin also holds a Diploma in Maritime Litigation and Arbitration from the International Maritime University of Panama, and a Diploma in Administrative Law in a Joint Program between the Solicitor General’s Office and the University of Panama.
He is member of the Panama Bar Association, which awarded his practice in 2023, actively participates in Panama’s ICC Chapter Arbitration Committee and regularly contributes to specialized legal publications.
Joaquin has been a Board Member of Panama’s Maritime Law Association since 2019, representing the association before the General Assembly of the Comité Maritime International and sits in the High Council of the International Maritime University of Panama, where he also teaches.
He has been speaker and moderator of multiple local and international conferences, with special interest in arbitration and shipping litigation.