Mauricio Salas is a partner at BLP, boasting 30 years of experience. He serves as Director of BLP’s Conflict Resolution practice, and is the director of ZONE, BLP’s environmental consulting company. He is an active member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is included in the arbitrator lists of Costa Rica’s FTAs and the CIAR. He is also listed as an accredited mediator by the Singapore IMC. Mauricio is an active litigator in Costa Rican courts and is a member of the arbitration commission of the national chapter of the ICC and the ICC Institute of World Business Law. He is also an expert in environmental law, litigating sustainability cases. Mauricio is ranked as a leader in conflict resolution, international trade, and environmental law. He has been a distinguished professor of international commercial law and international dispute resolution at the University of Costa Rica and Lead University. In this field, he was awarded the Rodolfo Piza Prize in 2011 for his contribution to teaching international law.

Education
Master in Law, Georgetown University, 1999.
Law degree, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica, 1994.

Significant Accomplishments
BLP represents Pfizer, a world leader in the pharmaceutical industry,  in mass tort litigation within the Costa Rican jurisdiction. This issue has been widely addressed by the national and international press.
BLP advised ADIDAS in a multi-million dispute brought by its former distributor in Costa Rican courts. 
BLP represents GRUMA DEMASA in a Sanction before the national competition authority; this is a very high-profile case in the country. 
BLP advises Chiquita Brands International Sàrl on various claims against certain companies in which it participates as a partner. 
BLP advised the largest chemical producer in the world. BLP advised BASF in obtaining the necessary permits and concessions for the use of natural resources to establish plantations. 
BLP provides regular legal advice to PepsiCo in its operations in Costa Rica and on the environmental regulatory compliance of its operating plants in the country. 
BLP advised Guatemalan company Cementos Progreso on the acquisition of all of CEMEX’s operations in a due diligence that involved the analysis of the largest portfolio of mining operations in the country. BLP continued to advise Cementos Progreso on access to mining natural resources to ensure legal and environmentally-sound operations in the country. 

Professional Associations

• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators: Member.
• Madrid International Arbitration Center, Corporate Arbitration Work Group: Member.
• IberoAmerican Arbitration Center (CIAR): Expert Arbitrator
• International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (CICA-AMCHAM): Former President of the Administrative Council
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Chapter Costa Rica: Member of the International Arbitration Commission
• Spanish Arbitration Club: Member
• Costa Rican Association of International Law: Member
• Costa Rican Association of International Law Review: Board of Editors
• International Bar Association: Member