Santiago Soto García is a Senior Associate at Armesto Dispute Resolution, a boutique arbitration firm specialized in resolving complex disputes across various sectors, jurisdictions, and languages. Santiago holds Colombian and Spanish nationality and is admitted to practice in Colombia.
Santiago has over 6 years of experience in arbitration, having participated as counsel and as secretary or assistant to arbitral tribunals in approximately 20 commercial and investment arbitration proceedings before leading institutions (ICSID, PCA, ICC, Lima Chamber of Commerce, and Bogotá Chamber of Commerce). These cases, conducted in Spanish, English, or French, under multiple applicable laws and seats, have involved sectors such as Construction, Energy, Oil & Gas, Mining, Telecommunications, IT Systems, and Ports, with a particular focus on Latin America. His clients include States, State entities, and multinationals. Attached is a list of arbitrations in which Santiago has participated.
Professional Experience
Before joining Armesto Dispute Resolution, Santiago worked for six years in Paris in the international arbitration teams of Dechert (Paris) LLP and Wordstone Dispute Resolution AARPI. Previously, Santiago interned at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris and at top-tier law firms in Colombia.
Professional Associations
– Member of CEIA (Spanish and Ibero-American Arbitration Club).
– Member of the Society of Construction Law (Paris).
– Member of the Colombian Arbitration Committee.
Education
Santiago earned his Law degree, with an option in Economics, at Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia). He later completed an LL.M in International Construction Contracts at Panthéon-Assas University (Paris, France).
Languages
• Spanish
• English
• French
- Co-author, “Presumption of Competence and Duty of Diligence of International Investors” (Law Review of the Arbitration Center of Mexico, 2024) (with E. Silva Romero).
- Co-author, “Antagonistic Perspectives on the Benefits of Consolidating International Investment Law as a Subsystem of International Economic Law” (Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia, 2020) (with E. Prieto).
- Author, “La paix ou la bipolarisation en Colombie” (Boulevard Extérieur, Paris, France, 2018).
- Training for officials of the Office of the Attorney General of Ecuador on the enforcement and annulment of international arbitral awards (2022).
As Counsel
Santiago has been a member of the team representing:
The Republic of Ecuador in the arbitration Ecuador TLC S.A. v. Republic of Ecuador, PCA, oil exploration and production contract, Ecuadorian law, Spanish language (2024).
A consortium of French, Spanish, and Algerian companies against a Lebanese company, ICC, contract for the construction of facilities adjacent to a gas field, Algerian law, French language (2024).
The Republic of Guatemala in the arbitration Grupo Energía Bogotá S.A. E.S.P. and Transportadora de Energía de Centro América v. Republic of Guatemala, ICSID, construction and operation of a power transmission line, investment arbitration, Spanish language (2023).
The Ministry of Economy of a South American State against a consortium of companies in a commercial arbitration, CAM Santiago, contract for the implementation of SAP software for the public entities of that State, Ecuadorian law, Spanish language (2023).
A Colombian company and its Chilean subsidiaries in the arbitration Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. E.S.P. v. Republic of Chile, ICSID, electricity transmission, investment arbitration, Spanish language (2021).
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications of the Republic of Paraguay in the arbitration Mota Engil Ingeniería y Construcción S.A. v. Ministry of Public Works and Communications, PCA, contract for the construction of a bus rapid transit line in Asunción, Paraguay, Paraguayan law, Spanish language (2021).
The Dominican Republic and a Dominican State-owned company against a Panamanian company, ICC, contract for the sale of energy for the construction of a power plant, Dominican law, Spanish language (2021).
The Dominican Republic against a Spanish company, PCA, contracts for the rehabilitation of an electricity network, Dominican law, Spanish language (2021).
The Dominican Republic against a Spanish company, ICC, concession contract for the construction and operation of a wind farm, Dominican law, Spanish language (2020).
The Republic of Guatemala in the arbitration IC Power Asia Development Ltd. v. Republic of Guatemala, PCA, imposition of tax penalties, investment arbitration, English and Spanish languages (2020).
The Republic of Colombia in the arbitration América Móvil v. Republic of Colombia, ICSID, reversion of telecom assets, investment arbitration, Spanish language (2020).
The Republic of Colombia in the arbitration Telefónica S.A. v. Republic of Colombia, ICSID, reversion of telecom assets, investment arbitration, Spanish language (2020)..
Santiago has also advised European multinationals on the initiation of potential international commercial and investment arbitrations related to their projects in Latin America in the construction and port sectors.
As Secretary or Assistant to the Arbitral Tribunal
Mexican companies v. Mexican companies, President: E. Silva Romero, ICC, telecommunications lease contract, Mexican law, Spanish language (2024).
A Peruvian company v. a Peruvian company, President: J.M. García Represa, Lima Chamber of Commerce, contract for the construction of flood prevention infrastructure, Peruvian law, Spanish language (2024).
A Peruvian company v. a Peruvian company (parallel arbitration to the above), President: J.M. García Represa, Lima Chamber of Commerce, contract for the construction of flood prevention infrastructure, Peruvian law, Spanish language (2024).
A Peruvian national v. seven Peruvian nationals, President: E. Silva Romero, Lima Chamber of Commerce, power of attorney for the administration of an inheritance, Peruvian law, Spanish language (2024).
A Mexican company v. a Colombian company, President: E. Silva Romero, Medellín Chamber of Commerce, contract for the construction of a bus rapid transit line in Medellín, Colombia, Colombian law, Spanish language (2021).
A Colombian company v. a Colombian company, President: M.T. Palacio, Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, gas distribution contract, Colombian law, Spanish language (2018).
September 2025