Donald Sáez Samaniego is an attorney and academic admitted to practice law in the Republic of Panama, with prior experience in the judicial public service.

In 2017, he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Law and Political Science from the University of Panama with high academic honors, and a Bachelor's Degree in Criminalistics and Forensic Sciences from the Metropolitan University of Science and Technology (UMECIT) in 2018.

Subsequently, he pursued Master's studies in International Law with an emphasis on Private International Law at the Complutense University of Madrid, Kingdom of Spain (2018-2019). Mr. Sáez also holds a Specialization in Higher Education from the University of the Isthmus (2020), a Diploma in Insurance Law from the Pontifical Javeriana University of Colombia (2023), a Diploma in Civil Procedural Law from the University of Panama (2025), and a License as an Insurance Broker issued by the Superintendency of Insurance and Reinsurance of Panama.

He joined the MDU Legal team in 2016 as a legal assistant, later becoming an associate attorney in 2019, and became a partner in 2026.

As an expert in Panamanian law, he advises domestic and foreign clients. He currently provides advisory and representation services to clients in the areas of civil law; commercial law; insurance law; corporate law; restructuring, domestic and cross-border insolvencies and bankruptcies; asset recovery; and complex litigation, regularly in an international law environment, in support of proceedings in foreign jurisdictions.

Mr. Sáez has served as a court-appointed expert witness in insurance matters for civil courts in the Republic of Panama. He is a university professor of public international law, private international law, and insurance law, as well as an instructor at the Judicial School of Panama. He has published academic articles in leading international legal journals and Panamanian newspapers. He is a national and international lecturer on private law topics and has received training in Spain, Mexico, and Colombia.

Memberships

• INSOL INTERNATIONAL
• International Association of Lions Clubs (Lions Club International)

Recognitions

• Lion of the Year (2021-2022) – Betania Lions Club
• Cum Laude Distinction – Bachelor's Degree in Law and Political Science – University of Panama (4th place in the 2017 graduating class)

Publications

• "UNIDROIT Principles and their importance for Panamanian Private International Law" (2026)
• "The insured's duty of disclosure in insurance contracts" – February 12, 2025, La Estrella de Panamá
• "Panamanian public order and its impact on the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments" (2025)
• "Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Panama" (2024)
• "Asset recovery in the Panamanian jurisdiction: considerations regarding the Paulian Action" (2023)
• "Commercial dispute between Costa Rica and Panama, in the context of the WTO" – February 10, 2021, La Estrella de Panamá
• "The regulation of international consumer contracts. Comparative analysis under Panamanian and Spanish Private International Law" – Master's thesis – Faculty of Law – Complutense University of Madrid
• "The corporate veil: benefits, impact, and its exceptional piercing in Panamanian commercial law" – 2017 – Undergraduate thesis – Faculty of Law and Political Science (University of Panama)

Lectures

• "Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments under the Private International Law Code and the new Procedural Civil Code" – 2025 – (Metropolitan University of Science, Education and Technology)
• "Regional Integration and Legal Challenges: Analysis of MERCOSUR from the perspective of international law, benefits, pros and cons" – 2025 – (Metropolitan University of Science, Education and Technology)
• "Professional ethics of the attorney" – 2024 – Judicial School of Panama
• "Forensic Practice in Civil Jurisdiction" – 2024 – Judicial School of Panama
• "The Future of Finance: Arbitration, Competition Law, and Asset Recovery Trends Unpacked" – 2024 – ICC FraudNet – Ecija, Madrid, Spain