Fernando Jiménez de Aréchaga – eng

Fernando Jiménez de Aréchaga

Fernando Jiménez de Aréchaga was a Senior Partner and Managing Partner at the law firm Jiménez de Aréchaga, Viana & Brause, which, under his leadership in 2020, merged with the international firm Dentons to become Dentons Jiménez de Aréchaga. He currently serves as the Strategic Advisor to the firm.

He specializes in Banking Law, Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Compliance, and International Arbitration. He possesses extensive experience advising national and multinational corporations on highly complex commercial and financial transactions.

In addition to his legal practice, he served as Director and Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Banco Santander in Uruguay for nearly 25 years, a position he held until March 2018.

Practice Areas

  • Banking Law

  • Capital Markets / Securities Law

  • Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)

  • International Arbitration

  • Compliance

Education

  • Master’s Degree in Corporate Compliance – Tech Universidad, 2026.

  • Master’s Degree in Economic and Corporate Criminal Law – Tech Universidad, 2025.

  • Master’s Degree in Compliance – University of Salamanca, 2024.

  • Master’s Degree in Compliance, Fraud & Anti-Money Laundering – EALDE, 2023.

  • Master’s Degree in Corporate Law – Instituto de Estudios Empresariales de Montevideo, 1990.

  • Doctorate in Law and Social Sciences – Universidad de la República Oriental del Uruguay, 1979.

  • LL.B. / Bachelor of Laws (Abogado) – University of Buenos Aires, 1978.

Admissions & Memberships

  • Admissions: Admitted to practice in Argentina and Uruguay.

  • World Compliance Association: Appointed President of the Uruguayan Chapter in 2025.

  • International Court of Arbitration (ICC, Paris): Appointed by the World Council of the International Chamber of Commerce to serve as the Alternate Member representing Uruguay (2015–2018), and subsequently re-elected for an additional 3-year term.

  • Uruguayan Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados del Uruguay): Member and part of its Ethics Committee (Tribunal de Honor).

  • Conciliation and Arbitration Center of the Chamber of Commerce: Panel Arbitrator.

  • ICSID (CIADI): Designated by the Uruguayan Government to the panel of arbitrators representing Uruguay.

Arbitration Experience

  • National Administration of Telecommunications (ANTEL): Appointed arbitrator in the dispute arising from the construction of the Telecommunications Tower.

  • Conciliation and Arbitration Center (CCAU):

    • Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal in a multi-million dollar real estate dispute.

    • Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal in a dispute between an Argentine company and a Brazilian company regarding the construction of energy production blades for a plant to be installed in Venezuela.

    • Arbitrator in a dispute regarding a biomass power generation plant.

    • Lead counsel for the defense team in the arbitration BAMA v. Myrin S.A., Joaquín Deambrosi, and Paola Gerpe (the claim was dismissed in its entirety).

  • ICC Arbitration: Chairman of the Arbitral Tribunal in a dispute between an Argentine company and its former Paraguayan agents.

  • Uruguayan Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Comercio del Uruguay): Sole Arbitrator appointed in the matter of Multiservices S.A. v. Marsur S.A. and A. Cervantes.

  • The Uruguayan State: Party-appointed counsel by the State (then-shareholder of Nuevo Banco Comercial) in an arbitration claim brought by its former General Manager.

  • Corporate Cases:

    • Sole Arbitrator in the matter of Breeders & Packers Uruguay S.A. v. Marel Food Systems hf..

    • Member of the Arbitral Tribunal in the matter of Yinka S.A. v. Bersabel S.A..

    • Party-appointed counsel in the arbitration brought by Varela Radio S.A. v. Johnson & Son.

Transactional & Advisory Experience

Led the management of professional teams in high-profile transactions, notably:

  • Banking Mergers: Acquisition of ABN AMRO Bank by Banco Santander, leading the merger by absorption of both banking institutions.

  • Financial Structuring: Advised Banco Santander as the lead arranger for the issuance of corporate bonds (obligaciones negociables) for UTE.

  • Corporate M&A:

    • Key member of the firm’s legal team handling the sale of Tienda Inglesa.

    • Acquisition of Cadbury by Kraft.

  • International Mediation: Led the claimant’s legal counsel in the mediation settlement of American Express Bank v. Bank of America Ltd. for an amount of USD 8,500,000.

  • Agricultural Development: Legal advisory for the national livestock intensification project known as Ganadería Tres Millones.

Academic Activities & Speaking Engagements

  • Teaching: Professor of Public International Law (1980–1990) at the School of Law of the Universidad de la República.

  • International Conferences: Featured speaker at the first symposium on “Foundations for the 21st Century Financial System: An Agenda for Latin America and the US,” organized by Harvard University (2008).

  • Local Speaker: Regular panelist on financial matters at the National Chamber of Commerce and Services of Uruguay, and at several major corporate compliance forums.

Languages

  • Spanish (Native)

  • English