María Belén Espiñeira is a lawyer, graduated from the Universidad Católica Argentina, and obtained a master’s degree in International Maritime Law with distinction from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. She also holds a postgraduate diploma in Maritime and Aviation Law from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a postgraduate diploma in Argentine Maritime Interests from the Mechanical School of the Argentine Navy. Furthermore, she was awarded with a scholarship by the English law firm Ince & Co. to pursue postgraduate studies in Public and Private Maritime Law at the International Foundation of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, in Hamburg, Germany.

María Belén has over 20 years of experience as a lawyer in the maritime sector. Before founding IT&L Legal Consultants, she worked as an in-house lawyer for a major shipping company in Argentina, as well as in a leading maritime law firm. She represents and provides legal advice to domestic and foreign companies related to the various sectors of maritime transport, shipping and the maritime insurance industry. Her areas of practice are: charterparties disputes, cargo claims, major maritime incidents, regulatory issues related to the protection of the aquatic environment, customs issues, insurance-related matters and international trade operations.

Dr. Espiñeira is a lecturer at national and international levels and had an outstanding participation as a speaker in the World Maritime Day Parallel Event organised by the International Maritime Organization, as well as in the World Maritime University Regional Conference and in numerous conferences organised by the International Bar Association, the Ibero-American Institute of Maritime Law, WISTA International and various Argentine and foreign associations and universities.

She is the author of articles in books and publications related to water transport and maritime incidents in Argentina and abroad. In addition, she conducts academic activities: she is a Professor of Maritime Law at the Manuel Belgrano National Nautical School, as well as at the ECLAC´s Maritime and Port Affairs Diploma course. She is also a Guest Professor of Maritime Law at the Training Institutes and the University Institute of Maritime Safety of the Prefectura Naval Argentina, and she is the former Director of the Specialization in Management of the Protection of the Aquatic Environment of the same University Institute.

Furthermore, she was the founding president of WISTA in Argentina in 2012, and currently, she is the Vice President. In 2019, she was appointed the Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the Maritime and Transport Law Committee of the International Bar Association, and she is a member of the Ibero-American Institute of Maritime Law and the Argentine Association of Maritime Law.
In 2014, she was recognized by the International Bar Association as that year's Outstanding Young Lawyer in Tokyo, Japan.

Alejandro D. Schmilinsky E. is a lawyer from Venezuela, graduated from the Universidad Rafael Belloso Chacín (URBE), and after having completed the relevant equivalency program at the Universidad John F. Kennedy, he also obtained the lawyer degree in Argentina. He holds a Master’s degree in Labour Law from the Universidad de Santa María of Caracas and has postgraduate studies in Civil Procedural Law at the Universidad Experimental de los Llanos "Rómulo Gallegos" and a Diploma in Hydrocarbons Law at the Universidad Nacional de Hidrocarburos. Besides, he was a lecturer of Procedural Law at Universidad Experimental de los Llanos "Rómulo Gallegos".

He possesses fluent command both in spoken and written English, including technical legal language.

He has an extensive experience, having practiced law for over fifteen (15) years. He excelled in the administration of justice after a remarkable career within the Judiciary, were he was appointed in various positions, including the positions of Judge of First Instance and Judge of The Court of Appeals. Subsequently, he moved forward with his career as a litigator in diverse fields and particularly, in the area of Oil and Gas and the Maritime Law, being appointed as Head of Litigation of an important Group in the area of exploration, production, and trade of hydrocarbons, with over 100 subsidiaries worldwide, where he was in charge of international litigation, both in court, as well as in commercial and maritime arbitration regulated under ICC; LMAA; LCIA CABC, and UNCITRAL rules, and also large investment arbitrations under ICSID.

He has also been part of legal teams in domestic litigation in different jurisdictions, such as Courts in the USA , including the Supreme Court of Justice; Courts of England, including the Supreme Court of Justice; Courts in the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles; Portugal, and Ecuador. He experienced in international contractual matters, from the simplest MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) and Charterparties, to the most complex EPC (Engineering; Procurement and Construction Contracts). He joined IT&L Legal Consultants in 2019.

Sworn and Literary Translator in English language, with more than 15 years of experience in providing translation, editing and proofreading services in English and Spanish. Specialist in legal and technical texts related to the industry of the maritime and port sector.