Flavio Dario Espinal’s practice focuses on government and regulatory affairs, public and trade law as well as alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. In his former position as ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United States, he was instrumental in the ratification and implementation of DR-CAFTA, the Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic, which gives him a unique perspective on the structure of the agreement and the business opportunities it creates for companies in the DR-CAFTA region. His previous work as permanent representative of the Dominican Republic to the Organization of American States (OAS) has allowed him to develop a valuable perspective on regional processes and the increasingly challenging international environment. His broad knowledge of the political system and government institutions of the Dominican Republic enables him to deal with issues involving state institutions and customize efficient solutions by leveraging existing relationships with those institutions.

Flavio was appointed by Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández to a commission of jurists to draft a major reform of the Dominican Republic constitution, which was submitted for debate and approval to the National Assembly and came into effect on January 26, 2011. He is a former dean of the law school and director of the Center for Conflict Resolution at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra. Flavio is a former legal adviser to the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Dominican Republic and is a member of the list of arbitrators of the Council of Conciliation and Arbitration of the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo.

Flavio has written widely about constitutional law issues. His book Constitutionalism and Political Processes is indicative of his authority in public and constitutional law.

Representative Experience

• Assisting companies, both national and foreign, in regulatory processes before state institutions, such as the Dominican Telecommunication Institute (INDOTEL), the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Tourism and the National Customs Directorate, among others.
• Assisting a group of Dominican companies in a major case resulting from a set of safeguard measures adopted by the Safeguard and Unfair Trade Commission.
• Representing a major cruise line in a case before the Ministry of the Environment and the Superior Administrative Court.
• Assisting financial institutions in regulatory and negotiations processes before the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic and the Superintendence of Banks.
• Providing legal advice and assistance on a number of issues affecting Major League Baseball (MLB) and some of its Clubs in the Dominican Republic.
• Providing legal opinions on various issues to energy and mining companies in the Dominican Republic.
• Assisting a major intelligence and equipment company in the due diligence, corporate organization and negotiation for bidding and contracting with the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic on a US$35 million project.