José Rafael Fernández
José Rafael is an attorney, notary public, and arbitrator with more than forty years of private practice, focusing primarily on litigation and arbitration in the areas of civil liability, international trade law, and construction law. He has served as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator, and chair of arbitral tribunals in more than one hundred domestic and international arbitration proceedings, with particular expertise in disputes arising from construction contracts, trusts, property rights, and corporate law. He is registered as an arbitrator and conciliator with the leading arbitration centers in Costa Rica and abroad, and has served as a legal expert and consultant in international arbitrations.
✉ jfernandez@novislegal.com
Commercial and Construction Arbitration
Commercial and Civil Litigation
Transnational Commercial Law
Corporate Law
Trusts
Experience
He served as President of the Costa Rican Chapter of the International Chamber of Commerce (2011–2015) and of its Arbitration Commission, as well as Dean of the School of Law and professor of Public International Law and Arbitration at the Catholic University of Costa Rica. He is a member of the Spanish and Ibero-American Arbitration Club and has practiced independently for most of his career, advising companies and boards of directors on corporate, contractual, and public procurement matters.
Arbitrator and attorney with more than forty years of experience in commercial and construction arbitration, litigation, and corporate law. He has served as a sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator, and Chair of Arbitral Tribunals in more than one hundred domestic and international arbitration proceedings, and has advised companies and boards of directors on corporate and public procurement matters.
Training / Education
Admitted to the Costa Rican Bar Association
Graduate Program (Specialization) in International, Commercial, and Public Law, University of Costa Rica, in partnership with the University of Rome (1986–1987)
Bachelor of Laws, Autonomous University of Central America (1985)
Notary Public (1985)
Associations
Member of the Spanish and Ibero-American Arbitration Club
Member of the Costa Rican Chapter of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
