Alberto Madero concludes his deanship and strengthens Madero Law with the experience of his academic leadership

Alberto Madero has completed his tenure as Dean of the School of Law, Political Science, and International Relations at Universidad del Norte, where he led a process that modernized programs, strengthened research, and expanded international and social partnerships. Building on this experience, he is now positioning Madero Law as a firm with global reach, specializing in international trade, negotiation, dispute resolution, arbitration, infrastructure, and energy — with a strong commitment to social responsibility and pro bono work.

Over four years of academic leadership, Madero drove a comprehensive transformation plan that updated curricula, enhanced research capacity, and consolidated high-impact partnerships.

Now, he is channeling this experience into strengthening Madero Law, the firm he founded, with the aim of making it a reference in dispute resolution, corporate law, energy, and infrastructure. “My academic experience allowed me to integrate innovation, international vision, and social commitment; those lessons are now brought into legal practice with our clients,” he said.

The Law curriculum was redesigned with a bilingual, flexible, and practice-oriented approach, introducing courses on plain language, international contracts, and legal technology. The Political Science and International Relations programs were also renewed, fostering interdisciplinarity and global perspectives, and 15 of the 29 graduate programs were updated.

Three active-learning classrooms were created and upgraded, enabling simulated hearings, real case studies, and the use of advanced software. The responsible use of AI was incorporated both in teaching and in the Legal Clinic’s client services.

Historic reaccreditations were achieved, including a 10-year accreditation for International Relations and an 8-year accreditation for the Master of Laws. Three new strategic directorships were also created, raising quality standards, boosting research, and expanding the School’s services to the community.

Student participation in competitions grew from 5 to 20 national and international competitions, achieving notable results in arbitration, mediation, and negotiation contests, the prestigious Jessup Moot Court Competition, and Cornell University’s Debate Tournament (USA). Leadership and mentoring programs were also launched to enhance students’ professional development.

International agreements increased by 71% (20 new partnerships), with milestone collaborations in the United States, Italy, and Latin America. The School co-organized the WTO Chair in the Caribbean with the WTO and Universidad de los Andes, and hosted Colombia’s first WIPO Summer School on Intellectual Property.

A comprehensive continuing education portfolio was consolidated, offering 47 diplomas and courses, many developed with law firms, companies, publishers, and international organizations. Additionally, three new master’s programs and six practical executive education programs (micro-credentials) were designed for upcoming launch.

Faculty produced 162 articles in journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, while seven new research groups were established. Three research groups attained Colombia’s highest A1 classification from Minciencias, and more than 2 billion pesos in external funding was secured.

A total of 43 practice agreements were signed, benefiting over 900 students with internships and professional placements. The “Explora Scholarship: Caribbean Leadership” was also created, offering financial support for students to complete internships and judicial clerkships at leading national institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Supreme Court of Justice.

All undergraduate programs ranked in the national TOP 10 of the Saber Pro tests. The Legal Clinic received awards and recognitions from the Attorney General’s Office, the Excellence in Justice Corporation, and the MIT–Harvard Colombia alumni network for its social impact.

Between 2021 and 2025, the Legal Clinic handled more than 22,900 cases for vulnerable populations, opened a new service center in Villas de San Pablo with support from Fundación Santo Domingo, and extended its legal clinics to 15 of the 23 municipalities in the Atlántico department. It also offered public leadership and violence-prevention diplomas in partnership with the Barranquilla Mayor’s Office, USAID, and Fundación Corona.

This video offers a portrait of Alberto Madero that highlights a more personal side: his leadership rooted in service, his ability to listen, and his deep academic expertise. It provides a complementary perspective on the achievements and transformations reached between 2021 and 2025 at the School of Law, Political Science, and International Relations of Universidad del Norte.

With this background, Alberto Madero now focuses on his role as Founding Partner of Madero Law, a firm that combines academic experience, international vision, and innovation applied to legal practice. The firm advises companies and state entities on negotiation and dispute resolution, international trade, arbitration, infrastructure, energy, crisis management, and corporate and public risk management. 

To continue driving development in the Caribbean region, one of its priorities will be the strengthening of its pro bono practice, extending into the professional sphere the social commitment that defined Madero’s academic leadership. “We aim to be a firm that combines technical excellence with social sensitivity,” Madero emphasized.

With this new chapter, Madero Law integrates academic knowledge, international experience, and social responsibility to position itself as a key player in both national and international legal practice.