Santos Michelena de La Cova

Professional Experience

Santos Michelena is a Partner at Romen with more than 35 years of professional experience. His practice focuses on litigation and dispute resolution, advising domestic and foreign companies across various economic sectors in commercial litigation, including insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings, as well as civil litigation matters. He has served as legal counsel to several international airlines and has acted as an arbitrator for the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce, a member of its Arbitration Committee, an arbitrator for the Caracas Chamber of Commerce, and an arbitrator before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). He has also been appointed as arbitrator in precautionary and interim relief matters by various chambers of commerce in commercial disputes.

Education

• Law Degree, Andrés Bello Catholic University (1987).
• Specialization in Civil Procedural Law, Andrés Bello Catholic University (2004), Cum Laude.

Activities

• Former graduate-level professor at Santa María University and regular guest lecturer at the Central University of Venezuela.
• Former member of the Board of Directors of the Venezuelan Institute of Procedural Law Studies (INVEDEPRO).
• Speaker at international conferences on Civil Procedural Law.
• Member of the Bar Association of the Capital District (1987).
• President of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Industry and Commerce (2009–2011).
• President of the Commercial Arbitration Committee of the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Industry and Commerce (2003–2005).

Publications

Author of various articles on civil procedural law, including: “The Constitution and Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods”; “Evidentiary Value of Electronic Data Messages and Electronic Signatures”; and “Proof of Risk in Delay and the Right Being Asserted,” published in the Venezuelan Journal of Procedural Law Studies.