Maritime Lawyer | Marine Expert

Jorge Abel Ibarra’s professional career spans more than four decades at the intersection of maritime operations, technical expertise, and Maritime Law.

His career began at sea. Following his education at the Nautical School of Panama, he gained experience aboard internationally trading vessels, progressing from cadet through various deck officer ranks and ultimately serving as Chief Officer. His operational background also includes experience as a tugboat captain at the Port of Cristóbal.

Panama Canal & Pilotage Experience

In 1989, he joined the Panama Canal as a pilot trainee. Since then, he has built an extensive career as a Panama Canal Pilot, reaching the highest operational levels and qualifying to pilot Neopanamax vessels through the Canal. His pilotage experience also includes operations in Chiriquí Grande and Taboguilla.

Throughout his career as a pilot, he has accumulated extensive experience in navigation, shiphandling, and the transit of vessels of different types and sizes, participating in operations that require risk assessment, real-time decision-making, and professional judgment. This experience provides the operational foundation from which he approaches maritime matters involving both technical and legal considerations.

Maritime Law & Marine Expert Practice

Alongside his career as a pilot, he has developed his professional practice as a maritime lawyer, participating in matters involving marine accidents and casualties, maritime claims, and maritime liability. His experience also includes serving as a marine expert and conducting casualty investigations, integrating legal, technical, and operational knowledge into his analysis.

Education, Academic Experience & Professional Development

He holds a degree in Nautical Engineering with a specialization in Navigation and Maritime Transportation from the Nautical School of Panama; a Degree in Law and Political Science from Universidad Latina de Panamá; and a Master’s Degree in Maritime Law from Universidad Santa María La Antigua.

He has also taught Maritime Law at the university level at the International Maritime University of Panama and Columbus University.

Throughout his career, he has complemented his professional experience with specialized training in navigation, shiphandling, maritime leadership, decision-making, emergency response, simulation, and radar. His professional development also includes studies and seminars in arbitration, including maritime arbitration, as well as an international training placement in this field.

The Foundation of Deep Legal Group

This combination of operational experience, legal education, and technical expertise forms the professional foundation of Deep Legal Group.

The firm was born from a conviction developed over decades of professional practice: complex maritime matters require an understanding of both the applicable legal framework and the operational realities in which events occur.

Deep Legal Group was founded to bring these dimensions together and apply them to the analysis and resolution of complex maritime matters.

Operational Insight • Legal Strategy

Education

Master’s Degree in Maritime Law
Universidad Santa María La Antigua

Degree in Law and Political Science
Universidad Latina de Panamá

Nautical Engineering — Navigation and Maritime Transportation
Nautical School of Panama

Professional Background

  • Panama Canal Pilot — Since 1989
  • International seagoing experience
  • Maritime legal practice
  • Marine expert services
  • Marine casualty investigation
  • University teaching experience

Selected Specialized Training

  • Shiphandling and simulation
  • Pilot decision-making
  • Maritime leadership
  • Emergency response
  • Radar and navigation
  • Maritime arbitration training