ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Graduate in Law and Political Science from the University of Panama, practicing lawyer.
He holds an International Diploma in Data Protection Regulation in Panama from Universidad Latina de Panamá (2021). He has kept his legal knowledge up to date by participating in courses, seminars, workshops, congresses, and international forums focused particularly on administrative law and public procurement, international trade, tax reorganization and simplification, and intellectual property.
He earned a Master’s Degree in Public Policy Management from Aden School of Government, certified by George Washington University (2021). He has also participated in global forums for investment negotiators from developing countries, International Trade Outlook events, the WTO Induction Course (2009), the forum “Panama’s Integration into the Global and Regional Economy: Challenges and Opportunities of Trade Agreements,” and the WTO Advanced Workshop on Government Procurement for Latin American countries.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Rudy Cedeño has held roles in both the public and private sectors. He is Executive Director and Partner at Lawealth Advisors, where he provides government consulting, lobbying, and public policy management for the firm’s clients. He offers advice on matters related to investments, administrative law, and public procurement.
He currently serves as an external public policy consultant for Uber in Panama and an external consultant for Dentons Europe LLP, based in Paris, France, and Prague, Czech Republic. Alongside an interdisciplinary team, he advises on the restructuring of sovereign debt and assets of Latin American countries and state-owned enterprises in various nations.
Mr. Cedeño previously served as a Senior Associate Attorney at Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán (IGRA), a law firm established in 1925, from March 2015 to April 2017. His responsibilities included representing major companies in public and private investment and service contracts in Panama. He was involved in developing public policies for multinational companies and fostering government relations in matters related to administrative law for companies with state contracts. He also participated in negotiating contracts for major renewable energy and mineral resource projects.
In government service, from July 2012 to June 2014, he held the role of Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs to the President of the Republic of Panama, becoming the youngest lawyer in the nation’s history to hold this position. He also served as Advisor to the Minister of the Presidency with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for special missions. In the temporary absence of the officeholder, he acted as Deputy Minister of the Presidency.
By appointment of the Executive Branch, he was named Chairman of the Board of the Panama Pacifico Agency, Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Public Servants’ Savings and Pension Capitalization System (SIACAP), and Trustee Chairman of the SUME 911 Emergency System Foundation.
Earlier in his career, he held executive positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Chief of Staff to the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs with the rank of Ambassador. During the temporary absence of incumbents, he was appointed Acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretary General, Director General of Foreign Policy, Director General of International Economic Relations, Director General of the Diplomatic Academy, and Director of Public Relations for the Ministry.
Mr. Cedeño also worked at the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) from September 2009 to September 2011 as Advisor to the Vice Minister of International Trade Negotiations and Head Legal Negotiator for international trade agreements—bilateral, plurilateral, multilateral, and regional—concerning government procurement. He also served as Acting Chief Negotiator of the Republic of Panama and Acting Director General of International Trade Negotiations.
From May 2006 to August 2009, at the Panama Pacifico Agency, he worked as Advisor to the Administrator and, in the absence of incumbents, performed the duties of Secretary General, Legal Affairs Director, Investor Relations Director, and Director of the Howard International Airport.
From November 2004 to December 2005, he was part of the legal firm FL FRANCIS & Co. (formerly Sucre, Briceño & Anzola), where he handled corporate matters for the firm's clients, trademark registration, filings before the Gaming Control Board, and government consulting.
During his university studies, Ambassador Cedeño served as Legal Assistant and Board of Directors Coordination Assistant for the Interoceanic Region Authority (ARI), a former autonomous government entity, and as a legal assistant in the Executive Unit of the Howard Project, which created the Panama Pacifico Special Economic Area and the Panama Pacifico Agency. In the private sector, he worked as a legal assistant at BENEDETTI & BENEDETTI law firm, where he gained experience in judicial, civil, and criminal proceedings related to copyright and intellectual property, as well as trademark and patent registration.
Memberships: National Bar Association of Panama
PRACTICE AREAS
Administrative Law, Public Procurement, Energy Law, Contracts, Corporate Law, Lobbying for Public Policy Development, International Law with a focus on Free Trade Agreements and Economic Integration, administrative procedures before the Electoral Tribunal, investment advisory, legal consulting for government, private banking, wealth management, and proceedings before the Gaming Control Board.
LANGUAGES
Rudy Cedeño G. speaks Spanish and English.
