OVER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
MEMBER OF THE BAR SINCE 1999, RODOLFO BRENES HAS MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE,
COMBINING THE EXERCISE OF HIS PROFESSION WITH CONSTANT
ACADEMIC UPDATES.
Bio
Renowed education
Professional experience
Research papers and publications
Renowed education
He studied law at the University of Costa Rica and in the most prestigious law schools of France, standing out with excellent academic results.
Ph.D. in Law from the University of Paris 1 – Panthéon-Sorbonne. His doctoral thesis received congratulations from the jury, honorable mention, authorization for publication and to compete for a research prize. These are the highest distinctions awarded by the University.
Doctoral research fellow, by the Doctoral School of Comparative Law at the same university.
Master in Communication Law from the University of Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas. Best average graduation.
Master in Criminal Law and Criminal Policy from the University of Paris 1-Panthéon-Sorbonne. Best average graduation.
Juris Doctor in Law (Licenciatura) and Notary Public, University of Costa Rica.
He has published legal articles and opinion articles in France and Costa Rica.
He worked two years for the “Revue de science criminelle et droit pénal comparé” in Paris, France.
He has been invited as a lecturer at the University of Paris 10 – Nanterre and Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
Professional experience
Joined the Bar Association of Costa Rica in 1999, Rodolfo Brenes Vargas has accumulated great experience in the field of litigation, primarily in the criminal law field.
He was a partner in “Vargas Gené and Associates Law Firm” until 2004. In that office, where he began his professional practice, he participated in many high profile and very complex cases. He was co- defense counsel of the members of the Board of a public entity accused of a multimillion dollar embezzlement; assistant attorney in extradition proceedings, representing the Embassy of the requesting country; civil defense counsel to a government minister accused of defamation by a deputy; civil defense counsel of a national newspaper in a libel case, among others.
After 2004, he combined his practice as an independent private lawyer with the various academic studies he conducted in recent years.
Since then he has continued to litigate, mainly in cases of economic and financial criminality, honor crimes, frauds and scams, cybercrime, non intentional crimes (homicide and negligent injury), crimes against the duties of public office.
He participates in these processes not only as a defense lawyer, but also representing individuals and businesses victims of crime, as plaintiff lawyer and civil actor.
He serves as “off counsel” to various colleagues and law firms, usually preparing legal opinions and providing advice to foreign and multinational companies, evaluating criminal risks and liabilities in complex business transactions, or in the context of trade or contractual disputes.
As a litigator has also participated in arbitration proceedings related to breach of contract. Likewise, he has been in charge civil, agricultural and mortgage cases, generally when they are related to the object of a criminal case and require a coordinated strategy.
Finally, Rodolfo Brenes Vargas devotes part of his time, pro bono, preparing legal opinions or litigating criminal cases, to help people (usually victims of crime) who do not have the means to afford a private lawyer.
Research papers and publications
Rodolfo Brenes Vargas has done several legal research papers, has published articles in specialized magazines and books, and has been invited as a speaker at academic conferences:
- 2016: “Contribution à l’étude des abus de la liberté d’expression dans le domaine judiciaire. Étude de politique criminelle. L’exemple de la France et du Costa Rica”, doctoral thesis.
- 2015: “L’étendue protection des droits de la défense au Costa Rica ”, Archives de Politique Criminelle, 2015. View
- 2013 : “Crónica de jurisprudencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos”, International review of Penal Law, 2013-1. View
- 2012: “Crónica de jurisprudencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos”, International review of Penal Law, 2012-1. View
- 2009: “Crónica de jurisprudencia de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos”, International review of Penal Law, 2009-1. View
- 2008: Speaker at the colloquium of presentation of the book “La victime sur la scène pénale en Europe”, organized by the Doctoral School of Comparative Law, University of Paris I and “Presses Universitaires Françaises” (PUF).
- 2008: “La victime en Espagne: acteur privilégié du procès pénal”, co-author Alberto Poletti Adorno. Chapter of the book La victime sur la scène pénale en Europe, under the direction of Professors Christine Lazerges y Geneviève Giudicelli-Delage París, 2008, PUF. View
- 2007: « Revue de Science Criminelle et de Droit Pénal Comparé », # 2-2007. Publication of the 2006 dissertation. View
- 2006: Speaker at the colloquium “Vues sur le droit pénal depuis la Cour interaméricaine des droits de l´homme”, organized by the Criminology and Criminal Law Center of the University of Paris X – Nanterre.
- 2006: “Justice et médias. Aspects de droit pénal” (Justicia y medios. Aspectos de derecho penal), final graduation research; University of Paris 2, Panthéon- Assas. With jury’s honorable mention.
- 2005: “Délits de presse et jurisprudence de la Cour Européenne des Droits de l´Homme”, final graduation research; University of Paris 1, Panthéon- Sorbonne.
- 1999: «El principio de oralidad en el nuevo Código Procesal Penal », final graduation research; University of Costa Rica.