whoswholegal - Analysis - Central America 2020 – Corporate

BLP performs well with six listings here.
Luis Castro is a “vastly experienced lawyer” who provides stellar advice on multi-jurisdictional transactions and has particular expertise in the real estate sector.
Eduardo Calderón is an “extremely talented practitioner” with a strong understanding of business law, which he applies to complex mergers and acquisitions.
David Gutiérrez is highly esteemed for his 20-plus years of experience advising domestic and international financial institutions on challenging corporate transactions.
Ronald Lachner is highlighted for his detailed knowledge regarding transactions and investments under the Free Trade Zone Regime.

EY Law sees three lawyers highlighted.
The “excellent” Hernán Pacheco O receives plaudits for his three decades of experience handling mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures for clients in Costa Rica and abroad.
Arturo Apéstegui Barzuna is “tremendously proficient at corporate law” with more than 25 years of experience advising on cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
Fernando Vargas stands out for his “exceptional work in the free trade zones space” where he is a go-to name for corporate transactions.

Consortium Legal sees five lawyers nominated.
Rolando Laclé Zúñiga excels at securing large-scale real estate transactions and acquisitions of domestic companies for multinational clients.
Rolando Laclé Castro is a seasoned practitioner whose corporate governance, dispute resolution and transactional advice benefits clients across a broad range of sectors.
Juan Manuel Godoy Pérez is singled out by market commentators as “spectacular on antitrust and M&A matters”.
Mario Quesada Bianchini receives commendation for his extensive experience navigating banking and financial institutions through complex mergers, acquisitions and integration processes.
David Arturo Campos enjoys a stellar reputation for his impressive regulatory knowledge, and for his work on acquisitions in the financial sector across Central America.

Sfera Legal achieves three listings.
Eric Scharf Taitelbaum is highlighted for the breadth of his experience advising multinational corporations in multimillion-dollar acquisitions.
José María Pacheco is “an amazing lawyer” who is “particularly skilled at negotiating transactions".
Robert van der Putten is renowned for his incredible expertise on complex real estate transactions.

Arias also sees three practitioners highlighted.
Vicente Lines is a “phenomenal practitioner” with more than two decades of experience representing multinational clients in joint ventures, hostile takeovers and M&A transactions.
Víctor Garita stands out as a “first-class litigator” who is frequently called upon by multinational corporations for contentious proceedings.
Carolina Flores applies an encyclopaedic understanding of tax law to her compliance advice for international companies investing in Central America.

Zurcher Odio & Raven sees three lawyers noted for their work in the field.
Alberto Raven-Ramírez is a seasoned practitioner, revered for his corporate governance work for clients in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.
The “excellent” Ignacio Gallegos earns praise for his expertise in public procurement and administrative law.
Harry Zurcher is a long-standing figure in the Costa Rican market who is “brilliant for commercial real estate transactions”.

John Aguilar-Quesada of Aguilar Castillo Love is a “top-notch practitioner” who provides stellar advice on M&A transactions and related antitrust issues.
Marco Solano Gómez applies two decades of experience to complex cross-border transactions across the region.

Dominican Republic

Leonel Melo Guerrero at OMG is a foremost authority on financial law, with more than 25 years of experience providing business planning and tax advice as well as corporate governance to multinationals.

At Pellerano Nadal, Luis Pellerano ranks highly among peers thanks to his remarkable ability on corporate transactions relating to real estate and major projects.

El Salvador

Arias stands out with three lawyers highlighted.
Armando Arias earns praise for his long-standing practice, which covers complex M&A transactions and joint ventures across Central America.
Lilian Arias is highlighted for the depth of her experience advising international companies and financial institutions on regulatory issues, corporate governance and transactions.
Roberta Gallardo is revered for her 20-plus years of experience handling mergers, acquisitions and contractual issues for domestic and international entities.

Freddy Zometa at LatinAlliance is a “terrific lawyer for finance issues” and is regularly involved in M&A transactions and foreign investment.

At Consortium Legal, Oscar Samour is “excellent in corporate and financing matters” and stands out for his work on high-value acquisitions and corporate disputes.

Independent practitioner Zygmunt Brett is a “superb corporate lawyer” who is “truly exceptional at negotiating transactional deals” for local clients seeking to expand abroad, as well as international companies entering the market.

Mario Enrique Sáenz at Sáenz & Asociados is a top-notch lawyer for contentious corporate matters with an encyclopaedic understanding of business law.

Guatemala

Consortium Legal achieves three nominations.
Alvaro Rodrigo Castellanos Howell stands out for his magnificent expertise across a broad range of corporate matters including disputes, M&A transactions, foreign investment and corporate governance.
Alfredo Rodriguez Mahuad is a distinguished practitioner with profound knowledge of the complexities involved in large-scale real estate transactions and corporate financings across a broad range of industries.
Rafael Alvarado Riedel receives widespread praise for his stellar work on mergers, acquisitions and foreign investment into and out of the region.

QIL+4 Abogados sees four stand out corporate lawyers listed.
Marcos Ibargüen Segovia applies a strong understanding of banking and finance law to domestic and international mergers and acquisitions.
Alejandro Cofiño comes highly esteemed for his adept capability in cross-border negotiations and transactions for clients in the financial industry and energy sector.
María Isabel Luján Zilbermann is revered for her “extensive knowledge of all aspects of corporate law” and regularly advises on sales agreements and commercial contracts.
José Quiñones is a “standout practitioner” who advises clients across a broad range of industries, including food and beverages, mining, and retail, on joint ventures and acquisitions.

Carrillo y Asociados is home to three standout practitioners.
Emanuel Callejas A is highlighted for his “outstanding corporate offering” and provides top-tier compliance and structuring advice to domestic and international companies.
Rodolfo Alegria T receives plaudits for his detailed understanding of complex transactions and regulations in the energy sector.
Alfonso Carrillo M enjoys a strong reputation for providing first-class day-to-day governance and transactional advice, built on 30 years’ experience.

Lorena Barrios of Bonilla, Montano, Toriello & Barrios earns praise for her superb M&A work in the mining and energy sector.

Jorge Luis Arenales de la Roca at Arias is “tremendously experienced at providing thorough due diligence in complex international transactions”.

Honduras

Consortium Legal demonstrates its strong presence in the market with three leading lawyers listed.
José Ramón Paz receives nominations for his extensive experience handling high-value cross-border financial transactions for international clients in the financial industry.
José Rafael Rivera Ferrari is commended for “always providing incredible service and advice” when it comes to foreign investment, commercial disputes and antitrust law.
Gustavo León-Gómez earns high praise for his “wealth of knowledge of corporate matters” including free trade agreements, transactions and commercial contracts.

Dennis Matamoros Batson of Matamoros Batson & Asociados is acclaimed for his consistently stellar transactional and regulatory advice for local and multinational financial entities.

Oscar Armando Melara Facussé at Melara & Asociados is a “highly practical and commercially minded lawyer who always takes a professional and pragmatic approach to corporate transactions”.

Evangelina Lardizabal at Arias is “without a doubt a market-leading corporate attorney”, able to apply more than 30 years of experience to her top-notch M&A advice.
Mario Agüero provides TMT clients with first-rate advice in administrative procedures and multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Nicaragua

With more than 50 years of experience, José Evenor Taboada at Consortium Legal is widely considered a foremost authority on corporate and finance law.
Panama

Morgan & Morgan sees four notable lawyers nominated.
Francisco Arias maintains a strong track record when it comes to large-scale real estate mergers and acquisitions.
Inocencio Galindo is a go-to practitioner for complex transactions in the mining industry, thanks to his 20-plus years of experience in the sector.

Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega displays a wealth of talent with four listings.
Andrés Rubinoff is renowned for his expertise in international M&A and joint ventures.
Ricardo Arango regularly advises financial institutions on complex M&A deals across Central America.

Galindo Arias y López continues to perform well with three lawyers highlighted.
Diego Herrera Dutari is highlighted for his “organisational excellence” and “immaculate understanding of local and international financial legislation”.
Jose Luis Sosa is a prominent corporate lawyer who several companies rely on for restructurings and acquisitions.
Ramón Ricardo Arias Porras is a “phenomenal lawyer with a strong corporate and transactional focus”.

David Mizrachi Fidanque of MDU Legal is an “extremely well-rounded practitioner” who “communicates excellently”, making him a go-to for day-to-day corporate governance as well as large-scale sales and purchases.