Valentina Botello León

Valentina is a Colombian qualified lawyer with experience in international dispute settlement, trade law and investment arbitration. She obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the Universidad Externado de Colombia. Valentina also holds a Master 1 Degree in International Law and Master 2 Degree in Public International Law (with honours) from Paris II Panthéon-Assas University

Prior to joining the MIDS, Valentina worked as an international legal affairs officer in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism of Colombia where she represented Colombia in the negotiation of free trade agreements and defended the interests of her country in international trade disputes before the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Andean Community (CAN). During her time in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Valentina was selected as a secondment lawyer at the Advisory Centre in WTO Law (ACWL) in Geneva. In the course of her tenure at the ACWL, Valentina participated in the representation of developing and least developed countries before the WTO, drafted legal opinions in international trade law and supported the coordination of trainings in WTO law.

Before joining the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Valentina worked as a counsel in Álvarez Zárate & Asociados, where she defended the interests of foreign investors in their ICSID claims against Colombia. 

Valentina has acted as a panelist in the European and All-American Regional Rounds of the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition held, respectively, in Brno (Czech Republic) and Bogotá (Colombia). She is also fluent in French (C2), English (C1) and Spanish (native) and has a good command of Portuguese (B1).

Nationality

Colombia

Working Languages

English

French

Spanish

Areas of Expertise

International dispute settlement

International trade law

International investment arbitration

Bar Information

Bogotá, Colombia, 2020