Obtained his Licentiate in Law and Political Science from Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua, in Panama, in 1986; a year later, did postgraduate studies in International and Common Law at the Georgetown University Law Center, in Washington, D.C. From 1990 to 1993, Mr. de Obarrio served his country in the Organization of American States as Ambassador, Alternate Representative. In 1998, Mr. established his own practice, the law firm of de Obarrio Carles & Associates, reincorporating himself to the same after having been instrumental in the development of banking regulation, strengthening and transparency of Panama’s International Banking Center, as General Counsel to Panama’s Superintendency of Banks, from October 2000 to March 2004. He is the current President of the United States - Panama Business Council, President of the Alianza Social Integral, and Founding Vice-president to the Organization of the Private Sector of the Americas.  He was also President of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE), from 2004 to 2006, and Founding President of the National Centre for Competitiveness. Mr. de Obarrio was instrumental, among other accomplishments, in the elaboration and approval of the Law on Transparency, the elaboration and signing of the Panama Business Ethics Compact, the creation of the National Centre for Competitiveness; he was also key in the successful promotion of the “Yes” vote in the national referendum on the Panama Canal expansion project, and for prompting the social cohesion process towards a National Development Strategy for Panama. He is married, with three children.