Hernández & Cía continues its growth spur, strengthening its Dispute Resolution practice area, with the incorporation of a team of 6 lawyers (4 partners and 2 senior associates) coming mainly from Estudio Echecopar - member of Baker & McKenzie, which maintained a leading litigation practice area.

Javier de Belaunde, Samuel Abad, Enrique Johanson and Sheilah Vargas join Hernández & Cía. as partners, while Federico de Cárdenas and Javier Alonso de Belaunde join as senior associates. Much of this team of lawyers brings years of collective experience leading high-profile cases in court litigation, arbitration litigation constitutional litigation and consulting.


  • Javier de Belaunde is recognized nationally and internationally as an eminent litigation lawyer, both in judicial and arbitral litigation, as well as in civil and constitutional law. He has sponsored numerous emblematic cases for both local and foreign investors of the most diverse economic sectors and has also conducted important advisory work for Peruvian State entities. The most prestigious international rankings consider him to be the most recognized dispute resolution lawyer in Peru and he is also among the most sought-after arbitrators in the field. He began his professional career at Javier de Belaunde Abogados Law Firm, having moved in 2006 to lead the Litigation practice area at Estudio Echecopar, where he formed a Dispute Resolution team that has been considered the most solid in the Peruvian market by specialized legal guides and publications.  
  • Samuel Abad has a long and wide prestige as one of the main specialists in Constitutional Law and Constitutional Procedural Law in Peru. During the last 15 years, he has sponsored numerous cases related to the defense of companies and individuals, designing sophisticated procedural strategies in which the constitutional component is crucial to achieve quick and effective results before either of both, the Peruvian Judiciary, and the Constitutional Court. He also provides specialized consultancy in constitutional and public law matters to various public and private entities, being recognized as an authority in the field by international legal guides and publications.
  • Sheilah Vargas has more than 20 years of professional experience in judicial and arbitration litigation. She has valuable practice in arbitral award enforcement and annulment proceedings, as well as in proceedings for the recognition of foreign awards. She also has extensive experience in administrative litigation. Ranked in the field by international legal guides and publications.
  • Enrique Johanson is a lawyer and holds and MBA. He is a recognized expert in arbitration, litigation and highly complex negotiations related to various industries, including construction, energy, public procurement, commercial and real estate disputes. He is an arbitrator and professor at the country's leading graduate schools. Like the rest of the team, he has been recognized in dispute resolution by several international rankings. 


Juan Luis Hernández, managing partner of Hernández & Cía. says “Our firm has been growing considerably in the last years, gaining important market share in the Peruvian legal market, and the incorporation of this highly qualified judicial, arbitration and constitutional litigation team will significantly bolster our Dispute Resolution practice area. With this move, we restate our strategy of building the best firm possible”.

Partner Javier de Belaunde comments “Hernández & Cía. is a vigorous and growing firm and we have always known of their excellent reputation as practitioners. In addition, the array of specialties that it features will allow a rounded development of the Dispute Resolution practice area”.

Samuel Abad adds that Hernández & Cía. “It is a firm of recognized prestige, in constant growth, whose principles and values I personally share. I join to contribute, as a team, in the defense of both constitutional rights and principles focusing on providing exceptional service to our clients”. 

Sheilah Vargas and Enrique Johanson said they are aligned with the expectations of the firm's clients, who seek for specialists in every matter as well as efficiency in every sense, adding that the current context demands experience and sophistication in the solution and prevention of highly complex controversies.

Juan Luis Hernández adds that “We are very pleased with these additions of the highest professional and personal quality; Javier de Belaunde is probably the most prominent Peruvian lawyer in litigation in the last 25 years in Peru; Samuel Abad is a reference in constitutional matters in Peru, both in consulting and constitutional litigation; and Sheilah Vargas and Enrique Johanson have extensive judicial and arbitration experience".

With this strategic move, Hernández & Cía. showcases once again its leverage to capture well-rounded talent following its strategical plan of reinforcing key practice areas to enable the firm to consolidate its position as top of the market.