Diego Villarroel

Arbitration and Mediation; Litigation; Corporate; M&A; Banking and Finance; Antitrust.

Diego Villarroel is Managing Partner of FERRERE in Bolivia and leads the firm’s Litigation & Arbitration practice. His practice focuses primarily on complex commercial disputes, with particular emphasis on domestic and international arbitration, while also advising multinational companies and leading Bolivian business groups on strategic corporate and investment matters.

Diego regularly represents clients in high-stakes disputes involving strategically significant projects and industries in Bolivia. His arbitration experience includes complex matters in the construction and infrastructure, oil & gas, and financial sectors, including disputes arising from the challenges affecting Bolivia’s financial system and liquidity environment in recent years. He has experience in proceedings under ICC, CAINCO and CNC rules.

In parallel with his work as counsel, Diego has developed a growing practice as an arbitrator in complex commercial disputes across these and other industries. He has served both as co-arbitrator and as president of arbitral tribunals, bringing to these appointments his experience in complex disputes and regulated industries. He is included on the list of arbitrators of the Conciliation and Arbitration Center of CAINCO.

His broader disputes practice encompasses complex commercial litigation, regulatory and antitrust proceedings, and constitutional actions, particularly where disputes involve significant commercial, regulatory or institutional considerations. He combines litigation and arbitration experience with a strong understanding of regulated industries and the broader business context in which disputes arise.

Alongside his disputes practice, Diego acts as strategic counsel to multinational companies investing and operating in Bolivia and to leading local business groups, particularly in the agribusiness, energy and mining sectors. He also participates in selected M&A and financing transactions alongside FERRERE’s corporate and banking teams, bringing his sector knowledge and experience in complex regulatory and commercial matters to transactions involving these industries.

As Managing Partner, Diego leads FERRERE’s operations in Bolivia and has overseen the firm’s continued growth and development in recent years, including the expansion of its capabilities across key transactional, regulatory and disputes practices.

Diego is the author of Arbitraje, Control Judicial y Orden Público (2017) and has published specialized articles on arbitration, antitrust and the economic analysis of law.

Diego lectures on arbitration and alternative dispute resolution and regularly participates as a speaker in conferences and professional forums on arbitration, dispute resolution and law & economics.

Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia)

Attorney