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Nurturing Arbitration Excellence in Spanish

One of the most prestigious moot court competitions among Spanish-speaking countries, held completely in Spanish. Our International Commercial Arbitration team competes in Madrid every spring, engaging in simulated international arbitration proceedings.

Our Moot Madrid Program is dedicated to developing your expertise in international commercial arbitration. Through this international competition that takes place every Spring in Madrid, Spain, student participants engage in simulated arbitration proceedings, honing their skills in written advocacy, oral arguments, and dispute resolution. Moot Madrid provides a platform for FIU Law students to showcase their talent and thrive in the field of international arbitration.

FIU Law's International Focus

Unlike most U.S. law schools that focus solely on domestic law, FIU Law embraces an international and comparative perspective. Our students thrive in an increasingly globalized legal landscape, equipped to practice law across borders and participating in the Moot Madrid helps toward that end.

Why Get Involved?

Global Exposure
Moot Madrid takes you beyond the classroom and into the world of international arbitration. Connect with legal experts, practitioners, and fellow students from diverse backgrounds and from all over the world.

Skills Development
Sharpen your legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills specific to arbitration. Learn how to construct compelling legal arguments and present them effectively in an arbitration context.

Networking Opportunities
Build lasting relationships with professionals, arbitrators, and potential employers. Your network matters in the legal world!

Awards and Recognition
FIU Law students have consistently excelled in Moot Madrid competitions, bringing home important awards. Join our legacy of success!

Honing Spanish professional language skills
As a future legal practitioner, proficiency in Spanish is an invaluable asset. Here’s why:

  • Global Relevance: Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages, with millions of speakers across the globe. As a legal professional, you’ll encounter clients, colleagues, and legal documents in Spanish-speaking countries. Being able to communicate effectively in Spanish opens doors to international legal practice.
  • Legal Markets: Spanish-speaking countries have vibrant legal markets. Whether you’re interested in civil law, common law, or specialized areas like international arbitration (which Moot Madrid focuses on), understanding Spanish legal terminology and procedures allows you to navigate legal systems, negotiate contracts, and represent clients more effectively.
  • Cultural Sensitivity: Language proficiency goes beyond mere communication. It reflects cultural awareness and respect. Understanding the nuances of legal language in Spanish helps you build trust with clients, understand local customs, and appreciate diverse legal traditions.
  • Legal Documents: Legal documents, treaties, court decisions, and contracts are often available in both English and Spanish. Being bilingual allows you to analyze legal texts directly, ensuring accuracy and avoiding misinterpretations.
  • Advocacy and Networking: Imagine participating in an international arbitration hearing in Madrid or representing a client in a Latin American court. Fluency in Spanish enhances your ability to advocate, negotiate, and collaborate with legal professionals worldwide.

Recognitions and Honors

2024

Eduardo Rodriguez S. (JD '25) was awarded Best Oralist.
Our team—Andres Eskenazi JD ’24, Lorenzo Laurita JD ’25, Eduardo Rodriguez JD ’25—advanced to the final rounds.

2019

Mention of Honor: Best Memorial on behalf of the Claimants
Mention of Honor: Best Sealed-Offer

2018

Mention of Honor: Best Memorial on behalf of the Claimants
Runner-up: Best Memorial on behalf of the Respondents

Meet our Coach

At the helm of the Moot Madrid team at FIU Law is a dedicated team lead by a head coach who alongside a group of alumni volunteers bring practical insights and enthusiasm to our program. Their commitment to fostering excellence in arbitration advocacy has helped our students succeed in the Moot Madrid competition and professionally.

  • Read Professor Guerrero-Rocca's Biography

    Professor Gilberto Guerrero-Rocca is currently our LLM Program Director and Adjunct Professor, Board of Advisors of World Arbitration & Mediation Review, co-coach of the team for the Willem C. Vis Moot and Moot Madrid at FIU Law, Faculty Affiliate at the FIU Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center and Faculty Affiliate at FIU Collaborative Online International Learning.

    He earned a JSM degree from Stanford Law School where he conducted extensive research on investment arbitration (Honors); JD equivalent degree (Summa Cum Laude) and a LLM degree in Administrative Law both from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB, Venezuela). He also completed a LL.M. degree in Business Law from Universidad Francisco de Vitoria & Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Madrid (ICAM, Spain). Fundación Carolina full- scholarship based on academic merit.

    He focuses his practice on commercial and investment arbitration, international litigation, investment protection and Latin America (ReedSmith LLP, Miami). Professor Guerrero-Rocca has many years practicing international commercial & investment arbitration and foreign investment protection. He has acted in international arbitration disputes under the Rules of ICC, ICSID, PCA, UNCITRAL, ICSID Additional Facility, Danish Institute of Arbitration, the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Dominican Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CRC) and the Center for Conciliation & Arbitration of the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica (CCA). He also clerked for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice and its Constitutional Chamber of Venezuela and advised the General Solicitor and other public entities. He is a Florida Bar Certified Foreign Legal Consultant (ReedSmith LLP, Miami). He has represented claimants in investment arbitration proceedings against European, Central & South American Sovereign States before ICSID and the PCA in the Mining Sector, Coffee Industry, Infrastructure, Poultry Industry, Hospitality, Real Estate, Telecommunications and Pharma Sector.

    He successfully represented two Sovereign States before the ICSID facing multi-million treaty-based arbitration claims in the Oil, Gas & Mining sectors. Recently he successfully represented a South American company in an international commercial arbitration dispute settled by the CISG. He represented a Barbadian company who settled a treaty-based arbitration claim against a South American State. Arbitrator to settle commercial disputes related to franchise contracts, construction, leasing, and aviation according to the Rules of CACC (ICC affiliated), CEDCA & CICA. His books and articles have been frequently quoted by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela and some of his arbitral awards (as sole arbitrator) confirmed by its Constitutional Chamber. Since 2003 he has been teaching arbitration in UCAB and has published several books and articles on Arbitration, Constitutional, Business and Administrative Law in Europe, LATAM and in the US.

    He is a frequent speaker in universities and chambers of commerce (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Spain, UK and Venezuela), and frequent interviewee by major media outlets regarding investment and treaty-based arbitration claims in LATAM and Europe.

Meet Some of our Moot Madrid Alumni

  • Alina M. Fernández Portela

    Alina M. Fernández Portela is an associate in the Miami office of the global law firm Hogan Lovells LLP. She focuses her practice on complex arbitration disputes in both English and Spanish, in diverse industries like construction and telecommunications, among other sectors.

    In law school, Alina received the Outstanding Advocate Award for her active role as a member of the Florida International University (FIU) Law Moot Court Board of Appellate Advocates and the International Arbitration Team. She also served as president for the law student division of the Hispanic National Bar Association. She also was the Oral Advocacy Champion in the 15th Annual FIU Law Intramural Moot Court Competition. She also competed in the 59th and 60th editions of the annual Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, where she was awarded Top 10 Orator both times. Additionally, Alina earned the Dean's List recognition every semester and received Book Awards for the highest overall grade in two classes, U.S. Constitutional Law Seminar and legal research and writing.

    Prior to joining Hogan Lovells, Alina served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Maria M. Korvick of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida and worked for various law firms in Miami in litigation. Alina was awarded the Transfer Academic Achievement Scholarship and completed her bachelor of arts in English, with summa cum laude distinction, from Florida International University, with a minor in political science.

  • Ariana Arguello

    Ariana Arguello is the Associate Director of Recruitment at FIU College of Law. She oversees the recruitment efforts for the Law School in the Paralegal Program, Juris Master Program, and Juris Doctorate Program.

    Prior to joining the Law School, Ms. Arguello worked in Study Abroad for various years where she oversaw the study abroad programs and students traveling internationally. Ms. Arguello earned her B.A. in Business Administration from FIU before returning to FIU Law to receive her Juris Doctorate. At the College of Law, Ms. Arguello was a member of the International Commercial Arbitration Team, Coach of the Spanish Arbitration Team, and Staff Editor of the WAMR (World Arbitration and Mediation Review). She is currently a member of the Florida Bar.

  • Glenda M. Almela

    Glenda M. Almela is an associate at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP where she represents clients, including corporations and insurance companies, in litigation focusing on first-party property and liability coverage disputes. Glenda has extensive experience in coverage dispute litigation, defending insurance companies and homeowners alike, including experience arguing dispositive motions, taking, and defending expert depositions, and representing clients in jury trials. Glenda also represents corporations and employees in matters involving the Fair Labor Standard Act, the Florida Minimum Wage Act, and Title VII.

    While in law school, Glenda served as a teaching assistant for first-year legal writing students and clerked for the Honorable Judge Jose Rodriguez of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Glenda was also a member of her law school’s international arbitration team, where she participated in international arbitration competitions dealing with complex anti-trust business litigation, maritime law, and international trade in front of the Chamber of Commerce in Madrid, Spain.

  • Iliana Hernandez

    Iliana Hernandez is an associate at Andreu & Palma. She earned her undergraduate degree in Communication Arts from Florida International University Cum Laude in 2017. She then attended Florida International University College of Law and graduated with her Juris Doctor in May 2020.

    While attending the College of Law, Ms. Hernandez was a member of the FIU College of Law Negotiation Team and the FIU College of Law Moot Court team and participated in several competitions including an international arbitration competition conducted in Spanish in Madrid.

    During her law school career, she worked as a legal intern in the fields of family law and immigration law. Ms. Hernandez was admitted to the Florida Bar in November 2020 and is a member of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Florida Bar. She joined Andreu, Palma, Lavin & Solis, PPLC as an associate in January 2021.

  • Joaquín Bracho Dos Santos

    Joaquín Bracho Dos Santos is a Global Mobility Specialist, a Florida Bar Certified Foreign Legal Consultant, and an Immigration Paralegal at Akerman LLP. He obtained his Master of Laws (LLM) at Florida International University College of Law in 2020. Joaquin also has an MBA in International Business, and is a seasoned manager, business consultant, and former attorney with multicultural background, fluency in Spanish and Portuguese, and experience in global commerce.

  • Pablo Balana-Vicente

    Pablo Balana-Vicente is Senior Corporate Counsel at Boats Group, where he oversees the US and EU markets. Pablo obtained his Juris Doctor at Florida International University College of Law in 2020.

  • Eduardo Rodriguez Siblesz

    Eduardo Rodriguez Siblesz is an Associate Attorney at Saltiel Law Group, an international member of EJASO, one of Spain’s leading law firms. He is dual-qualified in the United States and Venezuela, and obtained his Juris Doctor at Florida International University College of Law in 2025, his Master of Laws in IP at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, and holds an LL.B from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas.

    During the 2024 Moot Madrid Edition, Eduardo was named Best Speaker of the competition. Prior to joining Saltiel Law Group, Eduardo worked for a prominent and leading arbitrator– Juan Fernández-Armesto–where supported ICSID and commercial arbitration tribunals. FIU Law’s International Commercial Arbitration team.

  • Andres Eskenazi Bone

    Andres Eskenazi Bone is an Attorney in Reed Smith’s Global Commercial Disputes Group. His practice focuses on international dispute resolution in international commercial and investment arbitrations as well as domestic commercial and real estate litigations.

    Andres graduated as a Dean’s Scholar from Florida International University’s College of Law where he served as a Staff Editor of the World Arbitration & Mediation Review and member of the International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court and Negotiation and Mediation Teams.

    During law school, Andres represented FIU Law in the 2024 Moot Madrid competition, achieving the final rounds for the first time in the program’s history.

  • Rafael J. Centeno

    Rafael J. Centeno is an Associate Attorney at Cole Scott & Kissane, one of Florida’s biggest law firms, where he works on complex cases defending individuals and corporations in civil liability, contracts, and insurance disputes.

    Rafael earned both his Master of Laws (LLM) and Juris Doctor from Florida International University College of Law, where he served as President of the International Dispute Resolution Club and as a Teaching Assistant for the International Arbitration course.

    He is a published author in the areas of international arbitration and intellectual property and has contributed to the field through both academic research and practical engagement. He also served on the editorial board of the World Arbitration and Mediation Review (WAMR). Today, Rafael serves as a Coach for FIU Law’s International Commercial Arbitration team.