Excellence with integrity
Constitutional law, international law, and arbitration
Over 20 years of experience with international
prestige and proven results
ACCREDITATIONS
01 _____ ABOUT ME
Alexander Aizenstatd
Attorney and Public Notary with over 20 years of professional practice. I hold a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Yale Law School and have furthered my education at prestigious institutions such as the International Chamber of Commerce, Max Planck Institute, Xiamen Academy of International Law, among others.
02 _____ EXPERIENCE
High level Legal Experience
Founder and Director of Aizenstatd Legal:
My practice has been built upon a combination of academic excellence, professional experience across multiple jurisdictions, and direct involvement in complex legal proceedings.
I lead Aizenstatd Legal as a boutique law firm dedicated to providing high-level legal counsel in complex disputes, with personalized attention and an unwavering commitment to professional integrity. A significant part of my experience is devoted to offering specialized advice in constitutional law, international law, arbitration and strategic litigation.
Areas of Expertise
- Arbitration (as arbitrator and party counsel).
- Constitutional law and litigation.
- International law.
- Strategic litigation.
Jurisdictions
- Guatemala – Attorney and Public Notary since 2005
- State of New York (U.S.A.) – Since 2010
- Supreme Court of Justice of the United States - Since 2018
- Eastern District of Texas – Federal Court (U.S.A.)
Lists of Arbitrators
- Appointed member for Guatemala before the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris (2018-2021)
- Arbitration and Conciliation Center of the Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala (CENAC)
- Conflict Resolution Commission of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala (CRECIG)
- Reserve Panel of Arbitrators, Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC)
- Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA)
- IBT Institution for the Resolution of Blockchain and Technology Disputes.
- Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC).
- Included in the Roster of Experts in International Law of the List of Eligible Experts of the Regional Commission for Electrical Interconnection (CRIE)
Professional affiliations
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) – Fellow
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
- Bar Association and Notaries of Guatemala.
- Bar of the State of New York, Supreme Court of Justice of the United States and Eastern District of Texas - Federal Court.
- Guatemalan Arbitration Association
- Registered arbitrator at CENAC, CRECIG, SIAC, SHAC, JCAA, IBT and other arbitration centers
Expert
I've been retained as an Expert in Guatemalan law in proceedings conducted in the United States and Canada, including the following:
- U.S. v. Jorge Sosa. United States District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division. Case No. ED CR 10-49-VAP. Expert witness in Guatemalan law upon request of the US Attorney's Office.
- U.S. v. Valiente Alonzo. United States District Court for the Central District of California. Case No. CR 18-59 DMG. Expert witness in Guatemalan Law upon request of the US Attorney's Office.
- Minister of Citizenship and Immigration v. Jorge Vinicio Sosa. Federal Court of Canada. File No T503-17. Expert witness in Guatemalan law upon request of the Department of Justice of Canada.
03 _____ Academy
Academic
Experience
Experience
Faculty Work, Research, and International
Moot Court competitions.
Education
- YALE LAW SCHOOL, New Haven, CT, U.S.A. Master of Laws (LL.M.) June, 2009.
- UNIVERSIDAD FRANCISCO MARROQUÍN, Guatemala, Guatemala. Bachelor of Legal and Social Sciences, Attorney and Notary, Cum Laude honors (2005)
- INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY FOR ARBITRATION LAW, Paris, France Diploma in Arbitration Law (2012)
- MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR COMPARATIVE PUBLIC LAW AND INTERNATIONAL LAW, Heidelberg, Germany. Research fellowship (2009-2010).
- AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration
- XIAMEN ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, Xiamen, People's Republic of China Diploma in International Law (July 4 – July 24, 2010)
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY, John F. Kennedy School of Government , Cambridge MA, U.S.A., Diploma in Leadership: “Leadership, Organizing and Action: Leading Change” (June 2011)
- INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Advanced Arbitration Course for Latin America (2023–2024)
- CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS, Fellow (2021)
Teaching and Publications
- Professor of International Law, Constitutional Law, and Arbitration.
- Author of over 20 legal publications in academic journals and international publishers, View articles
- Contributions to the Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (Oxford University Press)
- Publications cited in rulings of the Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala and the Constitutional Court.
- Editor of the Yale Journal of International Law.
International Legal Competencies
- Inter-University Arbitration Moot CRECIG (2014–). Founder and Academic Director of the Moot.
- Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition (2013) Coach of the Yale Law School team. The team advanced to the elimination round and received honorable mentions for Best Memorandum and Best Team Oral Presentation.
- Paris International Arbitration Competition, Paris, France (2013) Coach of the team that advanced to the final round and won the award for Best Memorandum.
- IV International Arbitration Moot, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2011) Coach of the team that won an award in the Best Memorandum category.
- Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, Washington, D.C. (2003) Achieved Guatemala’s best results to date in the international rounds. Appointed as Judge in Washington, D.C. (2008) and for the final round of the national competition in Guatemala (2014).
- Eduardo Jiménez de Aréchaga International Human Rights Moot Court Competition, San José, Costa Rica (2001) Semifinalist. Best Memorandum (Format). Oralist in all rounds.
- among others
04 _____ SUCCESSFUL CASES
Proven results
in complex disputes of international relevance
Over $300M in disputes successfully resolved,
constitutional precedents established, and international recognition
as an expert across multiple jurisdictions.
Enforcement of Arbitration Awards $60M+ before U.S. Federal Courts.
Successful representation under the New York Convention before United States District Court.
Infrastructure and Construction Arbitrations $150M+
Complex litigation in large-scale projects with favorable outcomes.
Specialized Consultant for Departments of Justice
Technical advisory for the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Canadian Department of Justice.
Successfully litigated constitutional challenges before the Constitutional Court of Guatemala.
Reforms of the Civil, Criminal, Diplomatic Service, and Civil Procedure Codes.
Arbitrator Appointed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Appointments under UNCITRAL rules in international ad hoc proceedings.
05 _____ PRO BONO
Landmark cases of social impact
Constitutional Human Rights
Landmark case in Guatemalan constitutional history. Defining ruling in which the hierarchy of international human rights law with regards to the Constitution is established.
Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
Constitutional action that challenges discrimination against indigenous peoples in land property regulation, seeking equality, protection of indigenous rights, and compliance with ILO Convention 169. First court ruling translated into the Kaqchikel Mayan language.
Prohibition on revoking donations as retaliation for crime reporting
Constitutional action that challenges Article 1822(2) of the Civil Code, which allowed donors to revoke gifts if accused of crimes, ensuring impunity and violating anti-corruption conventions.
Legal Protection for Women
Amicus Curiae seeking to protect women from discrimination and ensure state action against gender-based violence.
Non-Discrimination in Politics
Constitutional action that challenges the Foreign Service Law defending non-discrimination, freedom of thought, and merit-based public service.
Gender Equality and Rights
Constitutional action that challenges Article 926 of the Civil Code, which prohibits foreign entities from inheriting property, creating inequality and discrimination
Right to Access Medicines
Recognition of the fundamental right to access medicines for social security affiliates.
Defense of the Democratic Process
Protection against the suspension of political parties through judicial proceedings in cases declared under reservation.
Defense of the Rule of Law
Constitutional action that challenges Article 50 of the Organic Law of Congress, seeking to ban party-switching by legislators to protect democracy and electoral integrity.
06 _____ CONTACT
