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Ricardo Olivera García

Ricardo Olivera García

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Biography

Ricardo Olivera García is a Founding Partner and Managing Director of the Firm. With 50 years of professional experience, he is one of the most prominent lawyers in Uruguay and a leading regional reference in Commercial and Banking Law. A Chair Professor of Commercial and Banking Law, former university dean, international arbitrator, and co-author of the main commercial and financial statutes enacted over the last 40 years, he has served as consultant and adviser to the Government and to national and international companies, as well as an expert witness in high-impact judicial and arbitral disputes. 

Throughout his career he has represented numerous Uruguayan and foreign companies in commercial, corporate, and contractual disputes—both public and private—including collective representation of all private banks operating in the market and all domestic laboratories in actions against the State. He played a key role in the country’s main banking and financial restructurings, advising the Government in designing and implementing the legal framework to address the 2002 crisis (creation of bank-asset recovery funds, formation of Nuevo Banco Comercial, and subsequent privatization). He also participated in the creation and launch of the Uruguayan Electronic Stock Exchange (BEVSA), made up of all public and private banks, AFAPs, and the Central Bank of Uruguay, serving as its founding-period President. Frequently consulted by leading law firms, he is one of the first names sought when a matter requires experience, judgment, and handling of highly complex issues. 

Background

Doctor of Law and Social Sciences, Universidad de la República Oriental del Uruguay (1976). 

Former Chair Professor of Commercial Law, Universidad de la República (1978–2021); Universidad Católica del Uruguay (1990–1994); Universidad de Montevideo (formerly IEEM) (1987–2007). 

Former Chair Professor of Banking Law, Universidad de la República (1991–2005); Universidad Católica del Uruguay (1994–1997); Universidad de Montevideo (1987–2007). 

Founder and Director of IEEM (1986–1997). First Dean of the School of Law, Universidad de Montevideo (1997–2004). Dean Emeritus. 

Founding Full Member of the National Academy of Law of Uruguay. First President (2019–2022). Re-elected (2022–2024). 

Founder of the Arbitration & Conciliation Center of the Bolsa de Comercio del Uruguay; member of its Board and roster of arbitrators since 1996; ICC Latin American Arbitration Group; founder of the Río de la Plata Chapter of the Club Español del Arbitraje; President (2016–2018); current Honorary President. 

Appointed by the Uruguayan Government as arbitrator for Mercosur State-to-State disputes (Brasilia Protocol); Member of the Permanent Review Tribunal of Mercosur (2004–2010); Uruguay’s designated member on the ICSID arbitrators list; participation in 60+ arbitrations in Uruguay and abroad (ICC, Madrid Court of Arbitration, Lima Chamber of Commerce, CEMA Buenos Aires, etc.). 

Participated in drafting the most important business laws of the last 30 years (commercial companies, capital markets, trusts, warrants and warehouse receipts, insolvency and reorganization, simplified joint-stock companies, among others), as well as key regulatory decrees (off-shore banking and exchange houses). Co-author of the bill reforming the commercial companies regime, currently under Senate review. 

Languages

Spanish, English and Portuguese

Recognitions

With over 50 years of professional experience, he has been the managing partner of the firm since 1993. He has been recognized by leading international legal directories, including Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, IFLR 1000, Leaders League, and Latin Lawyer 250. 

  • Dean Emeritus of Universidad de Montevideo.
  • Honorary President of the Río de la Plata Chapter of the Club Español del Arbitraje.
  • President of the National Academy of Law of Uruguay.
  • Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Law and Social Sciences of Buenos Aires.
  • Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Law and Social Sciences of Córdoba.
  • Corresponding Member of the Argentine Association of Comparative Law.
  • Honorary Member of the Mexican Academy of Law.
  • President of the Centro de Estudios Financieros del Uruguay.

Selected publications

Author and editor of 70 books and 200+ articles published in Uruguay and abroad. These are a few of his books: 

  • Derecho del arbitraje (2023).
  • Ensayos sobre sociedades comerciales (2020)
  • Responsabilidad del Administrador Societario (2019)
  • Cuestiones de Derecho Bancario (2015)
  • Grupos de Sociedades (2014)
  • Principios y bases de la nueva Ley de Concursos y Reorganización Empresarial (2008)
  • Estudios de Derecho Societario (2005)
  • Las Sociedades Anónimas Deportivas en el Derecho Uruguayo (2001)
  • El nuevo régimen del Derecho de la Competencia (2001)
  • Ley de Mercado de Valores y Obligaciones Negociables (1996)
  • Banca Off-Shore en el Uruguay (1991)
  • Evolución y Panorama del Derecho Comercial Uruguayo (1990)
  • Manual de Derecho Bancario Uruguayo (1989)
  • El Leasing. Análisis de su régimen jurídico (1984)
  • Sistema de Intermediación Financiera en el Uruguay (1983)
  • Casas Bancarias y Apertura Financiera (1980)