About
A consulting practice inspired in the article of the UN Charter that contains the toolbox of dispute settlement mechanisms available.
Pax33 Consulting International advises ministries of foreign affairs, attorneys general, presidential offices, state-owned entities, multilateral institutions, and — where relevant — corporate clients on questions of international affairs, diplomacy, and international dispute settlement. The practice is led by Andrés Villegas and operates in English, Spanish, and French, with focus on the Global South.
01 The practice
Pax33 Consulting International is an advisory practice serving sovereign and institutional clients on questions of international affairs, diplomacy, and international dispute settlement. Its name refers to Article 33 of the United Nations Charter — the provision that enumerates the seven mechanisms by which states are obliged to resolve their disputes peacefully. Pax33 is named for the article that names the work.
Article 33 is not a historical curiosity. The international order it presupposes is contested today in ways it has rarely been before, and the discipline of resolving disputes between states by lawful, peaceful means is under more pressure than at any point in the post-1945 order. Pax33 exists in part because that pressure has made the practice more necessary, not less. Understanding current world affairs is fundamental to any state, organization, or corporation.
Pax33 advises ministries of foreign affairs, attorneys general, presidential offices, state-owned entities, multilateral institutions, and — where relevant — corporates whose operations are exposed to the legal and political conditions of a contested international order. The practice brings a Global South lens to the conversations where dispute settlement, strategy, and outcomes are shaped, with current and prospective mandates concentrated in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Pax33 operates in English, Spanish, and French.
Pax33 has access to an ample list of international practitioners and is thus able to assemble working teams tailor-made for the client's matter. No heavy overhead, no inflated fees — rather, a focused approach to optimizing resources for the client.
We believe that clarity and pragmatism in international affairs open the pathways to lasting peace and amity.
Pax33 was founded on the conviction that the most consequential decisions in international affairs are made by people carrying enormous responsibility under conditions of imperfect information, and that the work begins with giving those people the clarity they need to choose well.
That commitment shapes how Pax33 engages with each mandate. It begins by being empathic with our clients and understanding where they are heading. We assess which of the seven mechanisms the matter actually needs, and we answer honestly — even when the answer is not the most adversarial route.
Andrés Villegas
Managing Director · Colombian-qualified lawyer · Public international law and inter-state dispute settlement
Pax33 is led by Andrés Villegas, a Colombian-qualified lawyer with over fifteen years of experience advising governments on questions of public international law and international dispute settlement. He served for a decade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia as senior adviser to five consecutive Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and as coordinator of the country's litigation before the International Court of Justice in two groundbreaking cases and numerous post-adjudicative matters.
Earlier in his career he clerked at the International Court of Justice and, more recently, served as Of Counsel at Sygna Partners in Paris, advising sovereign states across Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Having experienced international affairs and international law from every angle — as student, lecturer, client, and counsel — is a key differentiator in the marketplace of consulting services. Mr. Villegas brings a Global South lens to the conversations where dispute settlement, strategy, and practical outcomes are shaped.
- LL.M. in Public International Law, University College London
- Law degree, Universidad de los Andes
- Former clerk, International Court of Justice
- Former Of Counsel, Sygna Partners (Paris)
- Decade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia
- Working languages: English, Spanish, French