Milagros Betancourt Catalá holds a law degree from the the Catholic University Andres Bello in 1972 specialized in Administrative Law (Alcala de Henares, Spain) and Public International Law (Academy of The Hague). From 1973 -2002 was in the Foreign Service of Venezuela, holding various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in two stages, until her retirement as Ambassador in 2002. From 1974-1981, was legal adviser in the Legal Office; from 1981-1982 was Deputy Legal Adviser in the Foreign Trade Institute; from1982-1985 First Secretary at the Mission of Venezuela to the Organization of American States responsible for the legal and political issues; from1994-1999Director of International Treaties; from 1999-2001 Director of Multilateral Affairs. In the last two positions participated as negotiator from Venezuela of various relevant international agreements as the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, 1996, the Rome Statute creating the International Criminal Court 1994-2001 and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, 2000-2001.
From 1992-93 was Executive Secretary of the Privatization Commission of the Congress of the Republic from 1992.
In the private sector he worked in the Bank of Commerce (process of intervention), from 1985-1987 as an attorney in the Legal Department of the Bank. In 1988, as Corporate Lawyer at the law firm Bentata, Hoet & Asociados.
From 2008 – 2015 was Executive Director of the Business Center for Conciliation and Arbitration -CEDCA-. Is Currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre and member of the panel of conciliators and arbitrators of CEDCA and of the Cámara de Caracas Arbitration Center – CACC.
In the academic area, from 2003 to date is Professor of Public International Law at Universidad Católica Andrés Bello; and from 2002-2008 at Universidad Metropolitana de Caracas; Visiting professor at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid and the Universidad Internacional de Andalucia, Spain.
Is currently an Associate Member of the Hispano-Luso-American Institute of Public International Law -IHLADI-.
Is currently Member of the Venezuelan Arbitration Association.
She has participated as a lecturer and speaker at conferences, seminars, workshops and forums on various topics of Public International Law and Arbitration.
She has several publications among others Introduction to the Study of the Law of Treaties, 2004 and 2011 (Academy of Political and Social Sciences) with Ambassador Victor Rodriguez Cedeño and Dictionary of International Law, 2010 and 2013 (Books El Nacional) also with the latter and Professor Maria Isabel Torres Cazorla. She has also published papers and articles on arbitration, including Venezuela’s accession to the New York Convention of 1958 (2013).
She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Venezuelan-American Center and member of the International Editorial Board of the newspaper El Nacional de Venezuela.
Milagros Betancourt
OF COUNSEL
Milagros.Betancourt@WDAlegal.comEducation:
Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, España, Derecho Internacional Publico (Academia de La Haya), 1975 Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. Estudios de Postgrado en Derecho Administrativo, 1973 Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. Abogado, 1972Admission:
Venezuela, 1972Languages:
Spanish EnglishMilagros Betancourt Catalá holds a law degree from the the Catholic University Andres Bello in 1972 specialized in Administrative Law (Alcala de Henares, Spain) and Public International Law (Academy of The Hague). From 1973 -2002 was in the Foreign Service of Venezuela, holding various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in two stages, until her retirement as Ambassador in 2002. From 1974-1981, was legal adviser in the Legal Office; from 1981-1982 was Deputy Legal Adviser in the Foreign Trade Institute; from1982-1985 First Secretary at the Mission of Venezuela to the Organization of American States responsible for the legal and political issues; from1994-1999Director of International Treaties; from 1999-2001 Director of Multilateral Affairs. In the last two positions participated as negotiator from Venezuela of various relevant international agreements as the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, 1996, the Rome Statute creating the International Criminal Court 1994-2001 and the Inter-American Democratic Charter, 2000-2001.
From 1992-93 was Executive Secretary of the Privatization Commission of the Congress of the Republic from 1992.
In the private sector he worked in the Bank of Commerce (process of intervention), from 1985-1987 as an attorney in the Legal Department of the Bank. In 1988, as Corporate Lawyer at the law firm Bentata, Hoet & Asociados.
From 2008 – 2015 was Executive Director of the Business Center for Conciliation and Arbitration -CEDCA-. Is Currently a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre and member of the panel of conciliators and arbitrators of CEDCA and of the Cámara de Caracas Arbitration Center – CACC.
In the academic area, from 2003 to date is Professor of Public International Law at Universidad Católica Andrés Bello; and from 2002-2008 at Universidad Metropolitana de Caracas; Visiting professor at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid and the Universidad Internacional de Andalucia, Spain.
Is currently an Associate Member of the Hispano-Luso-American Institute of Public International Law -IHLADI-.
Is currently Member of the Venezuelan Arbitration Association.
She has participated as a lecturer and speaker at conferences, seminars, workshops and forums on various topics of Public International Law and Arbitration.
She has several publications among others Introduction to the Study of the Law of Treaties, 2004 and 2011 (Academy of Political and Social Sciences) with Ambassador Victor Rodriguez Cedeño and Dictionary of International Law, 2010 and 2013 (Books El Nacional) also with the latter and Professor Maria Isabel Torres Cazorla. She has also published papers and articles on arbitration, including Venezuela’s accession to the New York Convention of 1958 (2013).
She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Venezuelan-American Center and member of the International Editorial Board of the newspaper El Nacional de Venezuela.