Tomás Manuel Ávila Manzanares is a graduate of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences of the University of Panama. He has postgraduate studies in Public Law and a Masters Degree in Commercial law.

Tomás was admitted in 1991 and has extensive experience in shipping law and his practice of more than 20 years involves a broad range of ship finance and ship registration work, all cases being cross-border transactions. His work has been praised by his clients and peers, as commentated in Chambers’ Global Guide to Leading Lawyers and The Legal 500.

Tomás served as president of the Panama Maritime Law Association from 2004 to 2008. He is currently on temporary leave from the firm due to his appointment at the Panama Maritime Authority.