David Gutiérrez Swanson

David Gutiérrez is a founding partner of BLP, one of the largest, most recommended, and innovative law firms in Central America.

He is currently based in Madrid, Spain, where he heads BLP's operations in Europe. He connects people and companies on both sides of the Atlantic, enabling business and serving as a translator of cultures.

BLP is the only law firm in the region certified as carbon-neutral, the first signatory of the Pro Bono Declaration for the Americas, with an internationally recognized sustainability program. Through the BLP Foundation, the law firm is a leader on the field of Pro Bono, human rights, and environmental work.

David has participated in the largest M&A and project finance transactions in Central America and has been consistently ranked as one of the best attorneys in the region. In 2011 he was recognized as the Law Firm Leader of the Year by the prestigious publication Latin Lawyer.

He is currently a member of the board of WSG - World Services Group, one of the largest and most recognized professional associations in the world. He served as Latin American Chair of the International Bar Association (IBA) the largest organization of lawyers in the world, as well as President of Fundación CRUSA, the most influential NGO in Costa Rica.

He is also a member of YPO, the world’s largest leadership community of chief executives, as well as a member of the board of directors of YPO in Madrid.

David is a fellow of the ninth class of the Central America Leadership Initiative and a member of the Aspen Institute.

David loves football, and was a member of the board of Deportivo Saprissa, the most popular and successful team in Central America. He was also a member of the board of the Costa Rica Football Federation.

He graduated from the University of Costa Rica’s Law School and Georgetown University Law Center with honors, with both a Fulbright and an Organization of American States scholarships.

He is married to Carolina and the proud father of Alberto and Felipe. 

Corporate Experience

• Founding Partner, BLP, San José, Costa Rica, 2003 - Present

• Senior Associate and Partner, KPMG, San José, Costa Rica, 1998 - 2003

• Associate, Wilmer, Hale & Door, Washington, D.C., 1997 - 1998 

• Adviser, Presidency of Costa Rica, 1994 - 1996

Academic Background

• Georgetown University Law Center, Master of Laws (with distinction)      1996 - 1997

- J. William Fulbright Scholar

- Organization of American States (OAS) Scholar 

• University of Costa Rica, Licenciatura en Derecho (honors), 1990 - 1994