of initiatives from which ADR is permanently promoted – for example, the creation and operation of the Venezuelan Association of Arbitration (AVA) or the Venezuelan Association of Mediation (AVEME). What advice would you give to less experienced legal practitioners in your jurisdiction who may want to specialise in ADR? My advice to less experienced legal practitioners in Venezuela would be to try to understand the general dispute resolution framework and how it works. From there, having a clear picture, get involved and specialise if that is your intention. This allows having a sufficiently general and useful vision to identify which problems can be submitted to one ADR mechanism or another. Everything must go hand in hand with a constant review of what is happening in the world, which is not difficult today since ADRs tend to be more global and uniform every day. Do you have any expectations for how ADR will develop in Venezuela in the coming years? I think it would be interesting to further develop the interaction between the bodies of the Public Power, the ADR community and ADR institutions (academic and professional). These bodies should focus on ADR’s promotion and seek to maximise its practical utility and promote the incorporation and recognition of new ADRs and the promotion and consolidation of traditional ADR methods, turning Venezuela into a pro-ADR international hub. that there are legislative obstacles against ADRs. On the contrary, both the Constitution and the laws and jurisprudence have been in favor of ADRs. And this is not new, since Venezuela has an almost bicentennial tradition, uninterrupted since its independence as a sovereign country, in favouring non-judicial dispute resolution mechanisms (e.g. arbitration). I also don’t think there is a cultural obstacle. ADR, like any area of law, requires awareness of its existence, and of course, there is a particular ADR vision, which is often not in tune with the traditional culture of litigating in court. But as I have mentioned, more and more lawyers and individuals are incorporating ADRs as operating tools for their businesses. Furthermore, for some time there has been a permanent academic and professional movement in the promotion and study of ADR, through workshops, congresses, courses, publications, or the creation About Jorge Isaac González Carvajal Jorge Isaac González Carvajal is an independent arbitrator with more than 18 years of experience in litigation and dispute resolution. As founder of González Carvajal Abogados, he primarily advises on avoidance and resolution of conflicts in legal, tort and contractual matters, as well as arbitration and litigation. He brings a wealth of experience in national and transnational litigation, oil and gas, commercial, maritime, agriculture and consumer law matters. Contact Jorge Isaac González Carvajal Independent Arbitrator González Carvajal Abogados Tel : +58 414-100-5498 E: jorgeisaacgc@gmail.com THOUGHT LEADER 71
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