Inspiring Women in Law: A Conversation with Fabiola Medina Garnes

In this interview, she reflects on her personal motivations, the challenges of being a woman in the legal world, and her vision for the present and future of arbitration in Latin America.

Santo Domingo. Fabiola Medina Garnes is one of the most influential jurists in the Dominican Republic. Her career combines a distinguished career in the public sector—where she served as Senior Assistant to the Legal Counsel to the President of the Republic between 1982 and 1985—with a solid private practice as a founding partner of Medina Garnes Abogados, a firm recognized for its commitment to legal excellence and inclusion.

Specializing in litigation, administrative law, telecommunications, tax law, and arbitration, Fabiola has also become a tireless advocate for female participation in decision-making. She is a member of the Latin American Subcommittee of the ERA Pledge, an international initiative promoting gender equality in arbitration tribunals.

Latin Counsel: What originally motivated you to study law?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: According to what my parents told me, I said I was going to be a lawyer when I was 5 years old. I liked to argue my positions and relate them to what I believed to be right. I passionately love what I do.

Latin Counsel: If you hadn’t studied law, what other career do you think you would have chosen?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: When I graduated from high school, I actually liked many things: psychology, theater, physics. But law was still my first choice.

Latin Counsel: Was there a specific moment when you felt you wanted to be a lawyer?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: From very early on, and although I spent time as an in-house lawyer (Legal Vice President of Verizon Dominicana) and enjoyed the experience of being a manager, the truth is I preferred more direct contact with the actual practice of private practice.

Latin Counsel: When you started your career, what was the hardest thing for you to face as a young woman in the legal field?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: I graduated very young, at 21. Since I liked to litigate, the biggest challenge was getting people to listen to me seriously. Being a woman and so young—and having to litigate in court—the other side (generally men) didn’t take me seriously. Over time, I gained the respect of both clients and the other side and the judges. During my in-house phase, I was the first female vice president in the company’s 74-year history. The executive team at the time was made up of eight men. Being the first woman represented many challenges.

Latin Counsel: What was it like for you to work at such a young age with the President’s Legal Counsel?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: That was an excellent experience, which taught me a lot about the public sector. My boss was an extraordinary mentor and placed a very honorable trust in me. He delegated complex tasks to me and guided me through solutions. I held several meetings with the President himself, and despite my nerves, I was still able to successfully complete the assigned tasks. I learned a lot from the ministers and legislators with whom I interacted. I value that experience greatly.

Latin Counsel: What lessons learned from the public sector have been most useful to you in your private practice?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: Above all, negotiation. Having to propose legal solutions to complex problems that had a political component forced me to consider factors that weren’t strictly legal. Having to explain what the law allowed or prohibited was a challenging exercise that required a lot of courage but also an understanding of the facts.

Latin Counsel: Is there any case or project that you consider a turning point in your career?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: My first master’s degree in a foreign country gave me a global perspective on law. I wrote my thesis on arbitration and discovered a new world, one that wasn’t taught in undergraduate programs at the time. My corporate phase was truly a turning point. I truly learned how to manage resources, both monetary budgets and people. I learned my knowledge of accounting, vision, work planning, and good team management during that time.

Latin Counsel: What advice would you give to a young lawyer just starting out?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: Never stop studying. Staying up-to-date is essential. Obviously, talent is important, but the analysis isn’t complete without proper knowledge of the different subjects. I’m not just referring to the technical aspect, but to all the environmental factors.

Latin Counsel: What do you think young women can do to make their way in an environment that can still be unequal?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: Defend your values and rights. Never be afraid to state your positions and to knowingly present what you believe is right. It’s not true that contradicting superiors leads to failure. If done with due respect and with knowledge of what is being discussed, it earns the respect of sensible supervisors. Nor should you be afraid to change course and get rid of those who don’t deserve to have a valuable collaborator.

Latin Counsel: Why is it so important to have more women on arbitration tribunals?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: I think a woman’s perspective always provides valuable insights. Of course, all generalizations are false, but women possess skills that generate different analyses and solutions, often more appropriate to the case at hand. My experience with female arbitrators has been excellent.

Latin Counsel: What steps has your firm taken to promote gender equality in arbitration proceedings?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: That’s an interesting question. We participate in organizations like the ERA Pledge to always be in touch with those who promote initiatives like this one. In particular, we have agreements with colleagues to always, always, always consider women when we are counsel for a party and we have to choose a co-arbitrator or when we make shortlists to submit the co-arbitrators to in the election of a panel president. In addition, we take care to train our collaborators in arbitration. Our firm has more female lawyers than male lawyers.

Latin Counsel: What motivated you personally to join the ERA Pledge Latin American Subcommittee?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: Its vision. The goal of making women visible in a world where men have a numerical advantage. Latin Counsel: Based on your experience, what real impact has the ERA Pledge had since its inception? Fabiola Medina Garnes: Above all, in the training and visibility of women who work in arbitration.

Latin Counsel: Do you feel that Latin America is making progress in appointing women as arbitrators? Which countries would you highlight?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: Little by little... Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Brazil.

Latin Counsel: How do you assess the development of international arbitration in the Dominican Republic in recent years?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: Excellent. We have very good laws (both the General Arbitration Law and the Chamber of Commerce Law) and excellent forums. Both the Chamber and the Judiciary have done a magnificent job educating our judges, and Dominican courts decide based on the law. The jurisdiction of arbitration panels is consistently respected, even in the absence of an arbitration clause or agreement. We have made significant progress in the last 20 years.

Latin Counsel: From your perspective, what are the main opportunities and challenges for foreign investment in the Dominican Republic today?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: Institutionalization and respect for legal certainty, mainly in agreements with the State. Changes in government are challenging, as sometimes it is not understood that the State is one and always the same, regardless of who administers it.

Latin Counsel: What would you like to see in the future of arbitration in the region?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: More cases submitted to alternative resolution methods: conciliation, mediation, arbitration. A better understanding of the advantages and, consequently, a relief from the workload of the courts, which would significantly reduce the delay in resolving cases.

Latin Counsel: What are the principles that define your firm’s diversity and inclusion policy?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: In our firm, there are many more women than men. We defend diversity and inclusion, without distinctions based on gender, sexual orientation, race, color, age, religion, etc. Discrimination in any of its forms is prohibited.

Latin Counsel: Finally, what legacy would you like to leave in the world of law and in the fight for more equitable justice?

Fabiola Medina Garnes: An ethical defense of the law and a fight to amend those that don’t align with the values we defend. More pro bono work (because pay-it-forward really pays off) and a total rejection of the recklessness of inducing clients to become involved for years in baseless cases.

mga.com.do