Ana Sofía Vargas Hernández

International Arbitration, Mediation

Sofía Vargas focuses her practice on international arbitration, domestic arbitration, cross-border dispute resolution, and sports arbitration. She has participated in more than 90 arbitration cases, acting as arbitrator, counsel, case manager, and tribunal secretary, providing her with a rare 360-degree perspective of the arbitral process. This multidisciplinary experience enables her to anticipate procedural and strategic challenges from every angle and deliver practical, commercially focused solutions.

She represents clients in complex commercial disputes across a broad range of sectors, including energy, construction, infrastructure, corporate and M&A, natural resources, real estate, and manufacturing. Her experience spans every stage of arbitral proceedings, from jurisdictional and procedural issues to merits, interim measures, hearings, and post-award matters. She has acted in arbitrations conducted under the ICC, ICDR, LCIA, CAM, CANACO, IBT, CCL, CRCSD, and CRECIG Rules, as well as ad hoc proceedings, involving disputes seated throughout Latin America, Europe, and North America.

Prior to joining González de Cossío Abogados, Sofía served as a case manager at the Centro de Arbitraje de México (CAM), where she administered more than 50 arbitration proceedings and contributed to the drafting of the 2022 CAM Arbitration Rules. She also regularly serves as arbitrator and tribunal secretary, complementing her experience as counsel in high-value domestic and international disputes

In addition to her practice, Sofía is a lecturer in Alternative Dispute Resolution at Universidad Panamericana, a frequent speaker at international arbitration conferences, and serves as Vice President of the ICC Young Arbitrators Committee in Mexico. She has also been recognized by Chambers & Partners as an Associate to Watch.

ICC Jóvenes Árbitros México; Barra Mexicana de Abogados, Capítulo Jalisco, Comisión Anticorrupción; Foro de Jóvenes en Arbitraje CAM/CANACO; Space Arbitration Association; Arbitration Lunch Match; Arbitraje Alumni; Young ICCA; Young ITA.

2026 “Moot México Hypothetical Case for the XIV Moot México Edition”

2026 “Maternity and Arbitration.”

2026 “Commentary on the Peruvian Arbitration Act, Article 26” co-author of the book “Commentary on the Peruvian Arbitration Law.” LP Editorial.

2026 “Dissenting and Concurring Opinions in International Arbitration,” co-author of the book ‘Arbitral Award’ (UPC Editorial).

2024 “Enforcement of Awards Annulled Pursuant to Article V, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph (e) of the New York Convention,” (published in the Legal Journal of the Mexican Centre for Arbitration. .

2024 Editor (and Coordinator), Revista Jurídica del Centro de Arbitraje de México (CAM), Núm. 2: Arbitraje Internacional desde la Perspectiva Iberoamericana (2024).

2023 “Simplified Arbitration in the New Rules of the Mexican Arbitration Center,” published in the Mexican Arbitration Center’s Legal Journal.

2023 “First Mexico Arbitration Week: Current State of Affairs of Investment Arbitration in Latin America”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog.

2023 “First Mexico Arbitration Week: Arbitration and the Judiciary (conversation with a Mexican Supreme Court Judge)”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog.

2023 Editor (and Coordinator), Revista Jurídica del Centro de Arbitraje de México (CAM), Núm. 1: Arbitraje Internacional desde la Perspectiva Iberoamericana (2023).

2023 “Newly revised CAM Arbitration Rules”, Kluwer Arbitration Blog.

2022 “The Arbitration Center Changes Its Rules: An Analysis,” published in CIAR Global.

2022 “Restitution as a Remedy for Non-Economic Damages in Investment Arbitration,” published in the Alumni Arbitration Journal.

2021 “International Arbitration in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Due Process and the Challenges Posed by Remote Hearings,” published in the Revista Arbitraje Alumni.

Client quotes:

"Sofia Vargas Hernández is wise beyond her years. She is a ferocious advocate: unflappable, calculated and devastatingly effective, and she stands out as one of the leading talents in the Mexican arbitration space."

"Sofia Vargas is one of the strongest emerging female arbitration talents in the contemporary Mexican arbitration community."

"Sofía Vargas's advocacy in hearings is controlled, calculated, and remarkably effective."

"Sofia Vargas is a nightmare for the opposing party."

- Sole Arbitrator in a dispute arising out of a lease agreement. CANACO Arbitration Rules. Seat: Mexico.

- Sole Arbitrator in a dispute arising out of a services agreement. IBT Arbitration Rules. Seat: Guatemala.

- Counsel in an ICC arbitration concerning a construction dispute in Mexico. Seat: Mexico. Amount in dispute: approximately USD 85,000,000.

- Counsel in an ICC arbitration concerning the construction of an energy plant in Mexico. Seat: Madrid, Spain. Amount in dispute: MXN 60,000,000.

- Tribunal Secretary in a corporate dispute administered under the ICC Arbitration Rules. Seat: Mexico.

- Tribunal Secretary in a corporate dispute administered under the CRCSD Arbitration Rules. Seat: Dominican Republic.

- Tribunal Secretary in an ad hoc construction arbitration. Seat: Colombia.

Sofía's arbitration experience spans every stage of the arbitral process. She has acted as an international arbitrator, represented clients as counsel, administered proceedings at one of Mexico's leading arbitral institutions, and served as tribunal secretary, assisting arbitral tribunals in complex domestic and international disputes. Her multifaceted experience enables her to approach each matter with a well-rounded understanding of both the procedural and strategic aspects of arbitration.

Universidad Panamericana

Licenciada en Derecho

Associate to Watch

Chambers and Parnters

English and Spanish