Daniel Caicedo, ’25, joins the Law School this fall from Ecuador, where he earned a law degree from Universidad Católica Santiago de Guayaquil and a master’s degree in procedural law from Universidad Espíritu Santo. Before coming to Chicago, he practiced dispute resolution law at a law firm in Ecuador. He plans to use his LLM to gain experience practicing law in the United States before eventually returning to his home country to continue building his career.
Please describe your background and professional path.
I am the son of Colombian parents who started a new life from scratch in Ecuador. They taught me that with hard work, dreams can come true. I have applied this principle throughout my life, and now I am just days away from starting my own dream with this LLM.
From the beginning of my studies at law school, I worked at law firms, first as a legal assistant and then as an associate. This was until last year when I had the opportunity to join the Constitutional Court of Ecuador as a lawyer. When this opportunity came to me, it was honestly a no-brainer (a bit of Ecuadorian context: in May 2023, the then-president dissolved the National Assembly, so the Constitutional Court assumed a historic and decisive role, acting as a check and balance on the executive power).
Since January of this year, I have been an associate at Pérez, Bustamante & Ponce, as part of the dispute resolution, arbitration, and corporate team.
What type of law do you practice in Ecuador?
My practice focuses on dispute resolution before local courts and in international arbitration. I have had the opportunity to participate in cases in the telecommunications and construction sectors, and sales of goods under the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Additionally, I specialize in corporate advisory for clients in highly regulated sectors such as ports, banking, and mining.
What is your motivation for getting an LLM?
Without placing one above the other, I believe lawyers from civil law and common law think very differently. This program is the ideal way to complement my view of the legal profession. Also, honestly, it’s about stepping out of my comfort zone, going to a new country with people from all over the world, to study and learn new things.
Why did you choose the University of Chicago Law School as the institution at which to get your LLM?
Beyond the prestige and recognition that UChicago has, there were other factors that contributed to my decision. I am a firm believer in freedoms, and UChicago’s stance on freedom of expression is something I truly value. I also value economic freedom, and what better place to study that than the birthplace of the Chicago school of economics. Additionally, the possibility of taking classes in other faculties and sharing classes with JDs were other important factors for me.
What do you plan to do with your LLM?
I plan to sit for the New York Bar after my studies, and then I intend to gain some experience at a US firm during my optional practice training. After that I plan to return to my home country and continue my career at my current law firm. Also, I expect to return to academia and share my experience and knowledge.
What are you most looking forward to in coming to the Law School, the US, or the city of Chicago?
It’s a mix of everything. The opportunity to study an LLM in the United States is not a train that passes twice. As I mentioned before, the professors at UChicago are top-notch. Having a small class size is very appealing to me because of the deep relationships I hope to build with my classmates (and future friends). Additionally, UChicago offers campus life while being in a big city.
Do you have any hobbies or interests?I love extreme sports. Rock climbing and freediving are two things I am passionate about. Lately, due to a lack of time, I haven't been able to practice them much, so I have started running. I can already see myself running along the lakefront trail.
What is a “fun fact” about you?
I love singing, but singing doesn't love me back (I don't have a good voice).
Anything else you’d like to share?
Just that I am extremely excited to start the program. Being able to share classes with eighty-six people (in the LLM) from diverse nationalities and the JDs will greatly contribute to cultural exchange and enrich my knowledge and experience.
Original source can be found here.