Experts, Claim Consultants and Dispute Boards

Specialized consultancy in alternative dispute resolution for construction projects

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About Us

CEI is a consulting firm that provides services as independent experts, focusing on high-quality integrated expert opinions. We have extensive experience in:

Technical expert reports on delays, unproductivity and damage quantification in construction.
Accounting Expert Reports and Witness Testimony
Financial Expert Reports and Witness Testimony
Forensic Expert Reports and Witness Testimony

The company also specializes in providing other alternative resolution services through mediation, claims preparation and calculation, and member of Dispute Boards.

With more than 20 years of experience, the team of CEI has established itself as one of the leading expert teams in Latin America for National and International Arbitrations in Construction projects, and has been ranked by Lexology (previously Who's Who Legal) continuously between 2019 and 2025.

Our approach is based on the highest rigor of analysis and focus in arbitration hearings and cross-examinations.

Management Team

The following is our management team, with extensive experience in testimony and cross-examination in national and international arbitrations.

Managing Director

Carlos Ortega

Carlos Ortega is Managing Director of CEI. Mr. Ortega has over 20 years of construction and surveying experience, specializing in project management best practices and policies, and has led management teams for a number of large-scale infrastructure construction projects in Latin America and Australia.

Mr. Ortega was continuously recognized between 2019 and 2024 as part of the annual list of Global Leaders recommended by Who's Who Legal in the Construction Experts industry, specifically in the categories of:

Experts in Arbitration
Construction Experts
Experts in Quantifying Delays and Damages

Mr. Ortega is the only construction expert in Latin America to be included in the above categories for the years named.

Director General

Manuel Cano

Manuel Cano is a Director at CEI. For more than 15 years his career in the infrastructure sector has focused on management and consulting activities with proven experience in strategic planning, contract management and contract risk management, project auditing and control, litigation prevention and resolution in Colombia, Mexico, USA and the Caribbean.

In the area of disputes and claims in construction projects, Mr. Cano has worked extensively on activities including CPM analysis, earned value management, time impact assessments, direct and indirect cost quantification, productivity loss quantifications, analysis and evaluation of contractual changes and justification of time extensions and additional remuneration among others.

Services

Expert Reports

Technical, accounting and financial Expert Reports

Specialized Consulting

Claims avoidance and management

Dispute Boards

Permanent members of Dispute Boards

Customers

Experience

Customer Testimonials

"I have had the pleasure of working for more than five years with Carlos Ortega and Manuel Cano, as experts in arbitrations that Dragados has had in Colombia, and I only have words of gratitude for them, for their professionalism and dedication, not only in the preparation of their work, but also when testifying in the Arbitration, before the Arbitrators.
They started their work so well that we soon realized that we didn't care what company they were in, because it was the people who responded.
Forever grateful for the great work"

International Contractor

"During my time working at the National Infrastructure Agency - ANI, I was fortunate to have experts of excellent human quality and professionalism such as Carlos Ortega and Manuel Cano in the arbitration processes. Dedication, knowledge and experience would be the adjectives to describe their work. Their extensive experience as experts in large international firms is notable when it comes to presenting and supporting their work. Without a doubt, I only predict success in this new path to independence."

Government Agency

"The office that I represent has worked for almost six (6) years with engineers Carlos Ortega and Manuel Cano in several highly complex arbitration processes that have been processed before the Arbitration and Conciliation Center of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, in which said professionals have been hired by the clients whom I have represented as a lawyer.
From a professional point of view, I must say that in the conception, elaboration and support of the expert reports by said experts, their work has been impartial,
creative and highly rigorous. From a personal point of view, I highlight his independence, compliance and responsibility."

Client Attorney

Domestic Arbitration

"We have had the opportunity to work with Carlos and Manuel on two international commercial arbitration cases, and they are truly an exceptional team. Working with them is to be assured that all technical details will be thoroughly considered. Their reports are thorough, detailed, and very well presented. Their presentations at hearing and during cross-examination were also excellent. Their clarity in presenting complex technical concepts was of great assistance to the tribunal, and their defense of their positions and analysis was very well supported. It is a pleasure to work with this team of professionals."

Client Attorney

International Arbitration