Lorena Avendaño, 2024-2025 Bredin Prat Excellence Grant Recipient

In 2016, I graduated from Pontificia Universidad Católica’s Law School. Studying there was an inspiring experience for me—it offered a vibrant academic environment, and it was also an exciting time to be in Santiago. The faculty is excellent, and my interests ranged from commercial and criminal law to constitutional law.

This broad interest in legal disciplines ultimately led me to pursue a career in dispute resolution. In July 2016, I joined Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos, a law firm based in Santiago de Chile. There, I was able to actively engage in arbitration and litigation, handling complex, multi-layered disputes that continuously challenged me. Also, I was fortunate to work alongside and learn from top-tier practitioners.

Coming to Paris to study in the TADS LLM felt like the natural next step in my career to deepen my expertise in international commercial arbitration. Now that the program is coming to an end, I can confidently say that it has provided me with a front-row seat to observe and learn from key players in the field.

It is a great honor, especially considering the prestige of the firm that awarded it. Receiving this recognition has given me an extra boost of motivation and confidence to pursue my professional goals and continue my research on artificial intelligence, exploring the opportunities and risks it presents for arbitration.

One of the standout aspects of the TADS LLM degree is its strong network of committed strategic partners, like Bredin Prat. Not only did they make it possible to welcome Professor Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar this year, but they are also actively engaged in the studies—delivering workshops that delve into the latest arbitration debates and fostering the development of practical skills. From my perspective, this kind of partnership makes the TADS LLM a truly unique experience.

Right now, my main focus is completing my thesis on artificial intelligence in arbitration. I hope to continue researching this topic, as I firmly believe AI will significantly impact the way dispute resolution is conducted—not to mention its broader effects on society.

I am also looking forward to returning to Chile and contributing to the arbitration community there, all while maintaining the connections I have built with the exceptional practitioners and friends I’ve met in Paris. I am confident that my experience in the TADS LLM will allow me to bring fresh perspectives to the field and give back to the institutions that have played a crucial role in my professional development.