Gustavo Prieto is a Senior Fellow of the Flanders Research Foundation (FWO) at the Department of European, Public and International Law of Ghent University, Belgium. He has also been appointed Lecturer Coordinator of the Ghent University LLM Advanced Human Rights Course (2023-ongoing).
Driven by an intense curiosity to understand the dynamics of the global economy, Gustavo’s research is fundamentally driven by a desire to unravel the intricate role of courts and tribunals in transnational governance. This focus not only defines his academic contributions, but also underscores his commitment to exploring the legal frameworks that shape economic interactions on a global scale.
With a Ph.D. in Law and a ‘Doctoris Europaei’ from the University of Verona, Italy, Gustavo brings a wealth of international experience to his current roles. His academic career has spanned several countries, including Ecuador, the United States, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Ukraine, and Russia, where he has taught and researched international economic law and investment law, reflecting his global perspective and diverse expertise.
Prior to his appointment at Ghent University, Gustavo was a postdoctoral fellow at the Law Department of the University of Turin, Italy, and a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute for International Law in Heidelberg, Germany. His scholarly journey underscores an ongoing engagement with legal academia and research institutions worldwide.
Gustavo is also actively involved in the broader legal community. He serves on the committee of the European Society of International Law (ESIL) Interest Group on International Economic Law and the Academic Advisory Board of the International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA). Through these roles, he contributes to the development and dissemination of knowledge in international economic law and its interaction with technology, further solidifying his position as a leading figure in the field.
At Ghent University, he also collaborates with several prestigious research centers, including the Human Rights Centre, Programme on Human Rights in Context, the Ghent Rolin-Jaequemyns International Law Institute (GRILI), and the Ghent European Law Institute (GELI).
• Doctor in Law, University of Verona, Italy, 2017
• LLM in International Economic Law, Simon Bolivar Andean Community University, Ecuador, 2011
• Attorney at Law, Universidad de las Americas, Ecuador, 2004
– FWO postdoctoral fellowship (2022-2025) at Ghent University, Flanders Research Council
– BOF postdoctoral fellowship (2020-2022) at Ghent University, Ghent University Resources
– Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Law – University of Turin, Italy (Project Dipartimento di Eccellenza MIUR).
– Fellowship – Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law.
– PhD Grant- University of Verona – PhD. project ‘The concept of Legitimacy in International Investment Disputes in South America’.
– Grant – United States Department of State, Institute for American Politics and Political Thought, hosted by University of Massachusetts
• Member Coordinating Committee – International Economic Law IG – European Society of International Law (ESIL).
• Member of the Academic Advisory Body (AAB) of the International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA).
• International Society of Public Law – ICONs.
• Club Español del Arbitraje – CEA
