Professional Affiliation

Former Panamanian Ambassador to the United States

Expert Bio

Jaime Eduardo Alemán was born in Panama City, Republic of Panama on November 14, 1953. He graduated from Georgetown Preparatory School in Rockville, Maryland in June of 1971, and attended college at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, from which he graduated in May of 1975 with a BA in Economics, Magna Cum Laude. He continued his academic studies at Duke University School of Law, from which he obtained a Juris Doctorate degree in May of 1978.

Mr. Alemán worked at the Legal Department of the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C. from June of 1978 until December of 1981, when he returned to Panama and joined the law firm Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán. He left the firm in September of 1984 to work as legal counsel to Dr. Nicolás Ardito Barletta, President of Panama.

In May of 1985, Mr. Alemán resigned from his position with President Barletta in order to set up the law firm Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee. He took a temporary leave of absence from his law firm in 1988, when he was appointed Minister of Government and Justice of Panama by then-President Eric Arturo Delvalle. In his capacity as Minister, Mr. Alemán signed the decree dismissing General Manuel Antonio Noriega as Head of the Panama Armed Forces, and went into exile after President Delvalle was impeached by the National Assembly.

Upon his return to Panama in December of 1988, Mr. Alemán rejoined Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee, which has since grown to become one of Panama's leading and most prestigious law firms. It was selected as the 2017 Panama Law Firm of the year by Chambers & Partners, and is ranked in the top tier of law firms in Panama by all leading publications, including IFLR1000; Chambers Global; Legal 500; PLC Which Lawyer?; and Latin Lawyer 250.

Mr. Alemán was appointed Ambassador of Panama to the United States on August 11th, 2009 by the 52nd President of the Republic of Panama H.E. Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal. He presented credentials to President Obama on November 4th, 2009, and served as Ambassador until January of 2011.

Mr. Alemán has served as a member of the board of directors of Banco del Istmo, S.A. from the time of its foundation in September of 1984 until today. He is a member of the board of directors of PKB Bank (Panama), S.A., and Chairman of the board of Travelex (Panama), S.A. Mr. Alemán has also served on the board of directors of the Panama Chapter of Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and is a former Chairman of the International Lawyers Association of Panama, and of Special Olympics of Panama. He is a lifetime member of the Board of Visitors of Duke Law School, and received the International Alumni Achievement Award from the school on April 12, 2003. He was a member of the Council of Foreign Affairs of Panama in 2004 during the administration of President Mireya Moscoso.

Mr. Alemán is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association; the Panama Bar Association; the American Bar Association; the International Bar Association; and the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP).