Abril Villegas is a Senior Associate at BLP in San José, Costa Rica. Her practice focuses on Dispute Resolution, where she advises companies and financial institutions on the prevention, conciliation, and negotiation of complex disputes, prioritizing early and efficient solutions before resorting to arbitration or litigation. She designs contractual risk management strategies, analyzes potential disputes, and leads conciliation and negotiation processes during pre-contractual and execution stages, as well as domestic and international arbitration proceedings.

From the Dispute Resolution practice, and in coordination with the Energy & Infrastructure and Banking & Finance areas, she handles disputes arising from concession contracts, project financing, and cross-border operations. She has developed expertise in reviewing compliance, liability, and dispute resolution clauses, promoting collaborative approaches for the negotiation and closing of agreements that ensure operational continuity while mitigating regulatory and financial impacts.

Additionally, in collaboration with the corporate practice, she participates in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex contracts, ensuring consistency between commercial obligations and the mechanisms for dispute prevention and resolution. Her approach emphasizes compliance, transparency, and preventive contractual sustainability to reduce exposure to future disputes.

Education
Columbia University, New York, United States, LL.M. (2024); Universidad De La Salle, Costa Rica, Specialization in Registry and Notarial Law (2022); American University, Washington D.C., United States, Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration (2021); Universidad De La Salle, Costa Rica, Bachelor of Laws (J.D.) (2020); Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) & Leiden University, Practical Course in International Arbitration (2022)
- Hague Academy of International Law, Private International Law (2019)

Significant Accomplishments
First issuance of a Social Bond in Costa Rica. BLP has advised IDB Invest as lead arranger/investor and FinDev Canada as an investor in the first social bond issuance in Costa Rica. This private dematerialized subordinated bond series totals up to $75 million, issued by Banco Nacional de Costa Rica (BNCR).
Global life science ingredients distributor Acquires DIVSA in Central America. BLP advised Barentz International on the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Distribuciones Industriales Variadas, S.A. (DIVSA) in a significant transaction involving eight jurisdictions.
Cementos Progreso is expanding its presence in Central America. BLP has advised Cementos Progreso Holdings, S.L. on the $335 million acquisition of assets from Cemex, S.A.B of C.V. in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The acquisition includes a cement plant, a cement mill, various ready-mix concrete plants, an aggregates quarry, and distribution centers in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The transaction bolsters Cementos Progreso's expansion in Central America, consolidating operations in seven countries.
BLP advised the world's second-largest salmon farmer. BLP has advised Chilean company Agrosuper and its subsidiary, Empresas Aquachile S.A., on the sale of Grupo ACI S.A. to Industrias Martec (one of the largest marine fish processing and mariculture companies in Central America). The sale of Grupo ACI involves the indirect transfer of three Costa Rican operating subsidiaries and one U.S. entity.

Professional Associations

• Costa Rica Bar Association