Lawyers
Ximena Herrera-Bernal is a founding partner of Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes, where she focuses on disputes involving Latin American and Iberian parties. Prior to founding Gaillard Banifatemi Shelbaya Disputes she was a partner at Shearman & Sterling LLP where she practiced for more than fifteen years and was part of the firm’s Mining & Metals practice.
She advises and represents corporate and sovereign clients in international arbitrations under a variety of rules, including the ICC, ICSID, ICDR, LCIA, CRCICA, UNCITRAL, and IACAC Rules. Her experience comprises investment treaty arbitrations under bilateral and multilateral treaties as well as commercial arbitrations in the oil & gas, power, infrastructure, telecommunication, and retail sectors. She also acts as arbitrator. She is a member of the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators, designated by the Republic of Colombia.
Ximena Herrera is listed as a “Next Generation Partner” in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 UK and is featured in the 2019 edition of The Legal 500 International Arbitration Powerlist UK. She was part of the Commission set up by the Colombian Ministry of Justice for the Reform of the Colombian Arbitration Law and a member of the Commission for the Revision of the IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence.
In addition to her practice as counsel, Ximena teaches, writes and speaks about international arbitration topics. Among other topics, Ximena has authored articles and spoke on mining disputes in Latin America and mining projects in Africa.
Ximena’s previous experience includes work in the Latin American team of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, practicing as an associate in the capital markets and project finance teams of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy in New York, and clerking for two justices of Colombia’s Constitutional Court.
