What is your academic and professional background?
I am a lawyer from Ecuador with a Master’s degree in International Commercial Law and Investment Arbitration from the University of Amsterdam. Professionally, I founded LEXALIA Abogados, a boutique law firm that serves multinational clients in corporate, customs, and dispute resolution matters.
Simultaneously, I am developing QUARTZ., a tech ecosystem that creates innovative solutions for global trade and access to justice, including dIAologa, an AI-driven mediation platform. My career combines legal expertise with a strong emphasis on technology and entrepreneurship.
Why did you choose to participate in the AI, Legal Tech and Operations summer program?
I wanted to strengthen the intersection between law and technology. Bucerius has a global reputation for pioneering legal innovation, and the summer program offered a unique opportunity to learn directly from world-class professors and practitioners in AI, Legal Ops, and Legal Tech strategy.
I chose it because it aligned perfectly with my vision of scaling technology ventures that improve access to justice and modernize legal practice in Latin America.
How did the Berlin Study Trip contribute to the learning experience in the program?
The Berlin Study Trip was a highlight. Visiting legal tech startups, innovation hubs, and law firms in one of Europe’s most vibrant ecosystems helped me understand how technology is reshaping legal services in practice.
It wasn’t only about observing tools — it was about experiencing the culture of innovation, networking with founders, and seeing how different stakeholders (law firms, startups, investors) collaborate.
You participated in the first summer program hackathon this year. Can you tell us about the experience?
The hackathon was an incredible challenge. My team developed a prototype for a technology solution that addressed a real-world legal operations challenge. In just a few days, we had to combine creativity, legal knowledge, and technical design thinking. It gave me hands-on experience in rapid prototyping, team collaboration under pressure, and pitching a tech-driven legal solution — all skills I now apply to my own ventures.
What new knowledge are you going to put into practice?
I am already applying the frameworks for AI governance, process optimization, and user-centric product design learned in the program to QUARTZ. and dIAloga. The summer program helped me see how to bridge legal expertise with product management and operations, ensuring that technology is not only legally compliant but also practical and scalable.
What is the most interesting thing you learned academically and personally during the summer program?
Academically, the most interesting part was exploring how AI regulation (like the EU AI Act) will shape legal innovation globally and understanding compliance as a strategic advantage rather than a barrier. Personally, I learned the power of building an international network of peers — sharing experiences with students from all over the world showed me how similar our challenges are, despite different jurisdictions.
A true highlight was also the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues in developing legal tech solutions through coding exercises. Working hands-on with technology, beyond theory, gave us a taste of how law and code come together in practice — and this added enormous value to the program.
Who would you recommend the program to?
I would recommend it to lawyers, entrepreneurs, and innovators who want to understand how technology is transforming legal systems worldwide. It is especially valuable for those who want to move beyond theory and see real applications of AI and Legal Ops in practice.
Is there anything else you would like to share with future international students at Bucerius?
Be ready to challenge your own perspective. The program is not just about learning tools, but about rethinking what the legal profession can become. Also, enjoy Hamburg and Berlin — the cultural exchange and friendships you build are as valuable as the academic content.
Daniel, thank you for the interview.
