Criminal Law Department
Alfredo Chirino Sánchez is a highly respected legal scholar and practitioner in Latin America, with a distinguished career in criminal law, judicial reform, and data protection legislation. With a strong foundation in public law and decades of experience in legal academia and the judiciary, Mr. Chirino brings unique insight to AG Legal’s criminal law and regulatory compliance practice.
Academic Background and Specializations
- Law Degree in Public Law, Costa Rica
- Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Law, University of Frankfurt – Germany
- Advanced Studies in Criminal Law, Complutense University of Madrid – Spain
- Postgraduate Studies in Criminal Justice Administration, UNAFEI (United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders) – Tokyo, Japan
Professional Experience
Academic and Judicial Roles:
- Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Costa Rica
- Professor of Criminal Law and Coordinator of the Master’s Program in Criminal Sciences, University of Costa Rica
- Former Judge at both Appellate and Cassation Courts, II Judicial Circuit of San José
- Former Substitute Justice of the Criminal Chamber (Sala Tercera) of the Supreme Court of Costa Rica
- Former Director of the Judicial School, Costa Rican Judiciary
Consultancy and International Involvement:
- International Speaker and Consultant on Criminal Law, Criminal Policy, and Data Protection Law
- Member of the Ibero-American Data Protection Network
- Participated in the drafting of:
- Nicaragua’s Criminal Code (2007)
- Ecuador’s Criminal Code (2010)
- Multiple reform commissions of Costa Rica’s Criminal Code
- Lead drafter of:
- The Model Law on Access to Public Information, commissioned by the Organization of American States (OAS)
- Costa Rica’s Data Protection Law, serving as the foundation for its current national legislation
- Contributor to legislative discussions on:
- Nicaragua’s Data Protection Law
- Public Information Access Laws in Honduras and El Salvador
Publications
Mr. Chirino is the author of numerous books, essays, and academic articles on topics such as:
- Criminal and procedural law
- Constitutional law
- Criminal policy
- Cyberlaw and data protection
His work has been published throughout Latin America and Europe, and is widely referenced in legal and academic circles.
Areas of Practice
Mr. Chirino currently specializes in economic criminal law, representing high-profile cases before the criminal courts of Costa Rica. His deep expertise in the intersection of criminal liability, public policy, and digital privacy makes him a strategic legal advisor for complex, high-impact matters.