Francisco Javier Utrera

Professional Experience

Francisco Javier Utrera is a Partner at Romen with more than 42 years of professional experience. His current practice focuses on corporate law, international business transactions, commercial contracts, EPC contracts, financing transactions, and legal advisory services for petrochemical, thermoelectric, and infrastructure projects in Venezuela. He also advises clients on antitrust matters, mergers and acquisitions, asset protection structures for corporations and individuals, represents international banks in oil industry projects, and represents private contractors in petrochemical projects involving the construction of industrial plants in Venezuela.

He has served as a consultant to Venezuelan engineering companies on EPC projects and financed projects. He has advised various pharmaceutical laboratories, television companies, and insurance companies. He has also provided legal counsel to multilateral organizations such as CAF and IFC, and has participated as both arbitrator and counsel in national and international arbitration proceedings governed by the International Chamber of Commerce.

Education

• Law Degree, Andrés Bello Catholic University, Summa Cum Laude (1980).
• Master of Laws (LL.M.), University of Illinois, USA (1983).

Activities

• Professor of Commercial Law, Civil Law, and Commercial Contracts in the Graduate Program at Andrés Bello Catholic University (Caracas).
• Arbitrator, International Chamber of Commerce.
• Member of the Bar Association of the Capital District (1980).

Publications

Book: Constitutional Injunctions Against Court Judgments. Caracas, 1997. Torino Publishing House. Articles: (1) “The Principle of Legality of Evidence in Administrative Proceedings” (1985), Public Law Review, No. 23; (2) “Service of Process on the Central Bank of Venezuela in Asset Liability Claims,” Administrative Law Review, No. 3.