BKM - Berkemeyer

Managing Partner: Hugo T Berkemeyer
Senior Partners: Marta Berkemeyer, Hugo T Berkemeyer
Number of partners: 12
Number of other lawyers: 43

Firm Overview:
Established in 1951, BKM | Berkemeyer has since then provided expert legal services to local and foreign clients, gaining a global reputation for quality, expertise and professionalism. BKM | Berkemeyer offers legal advice in all areas of law, providing legal support for companies in multiple industries. The firm has a most notable record in international transactions and M&A, having counseled foreign clients in some of the largest deals in the country. Lawyers have experience in a broad range of business and industry sectors, including real estate, energy and natural resources, providing expert support in regulatory issues, as well as tax, environment, immigration, labour matters, among others. The recent addition of experienced and internationally recognised partners who specialise in infrastructure, banking and tax has given the firm new and impressive representation in those sectors.

BKM | Berkemeyer´s diverse expertise enables the firm to provide a one-stop practice for clients who need exceptional legal services in a broad range of areas.

The firm’s expertise embraces intellectual property and insurance and also securities, banking and international banking transactions, to name a few. BKM | Berkemeyer prides itself on its lawyers’ ability to meet clients’ needs, providing professional and practical advice through teamwork to offer high-quality service in a thorough yet timely manner.

All lawyers are multilingual, who efficient communication in the international standards of everyday business.

Main Areas Of Practice:
Corporate law, M&A, joint ventures, foreign investment, business transactions, international contracts, advertising, marketing and promotions, administrative law, banking and finance, project finance, infrastructure, trusts and securitisation, telecommunications, intellectual property, employment law, energy and natural resources, environment, immigration, insurance, real estate, taxation, litigation, mediation and arbitration, collections and outsourcing services.

International Work:
BKM | Berkemeyer provides seamless legal support to clients doing business with local companies or establishing branches in the country. The corporate department provides clients with a wide range of services from M&A, due diligence through negotiation, to legal support in corporate, tax, labor, environment and immigration issues to establish operations in the country.

BKM | Berkemeyer was the only advisor on Paraguay’s first ever public private partnership — a landmark project for the country and for the infrastructure sector. The firm also assisted in the structuring of the first livestock fund in Paraguay, a highly innovative deal which creates new opportunities for the local financial market.

The banking and corporate department regularly advises on international banking matters, contracts and trusts. BKM | Berkemeyer acted as counsel on the issuance of notes by a major national bank in a historic transaction for a Paraguayan bank and is expected to open doors for future issuances in the international market. The firm also acted as counsel on the issuance of treasury bonds in the local exchange market, and to several banking and financial entities on loan facilities to local companies and banks.

Other work in international financial transactions include secured transactions for the purchase of aircraft, barges and agricultural machinery. The firm also recently provided ongoing advise to an international Construction Consortium in the financing of a road procured by the government as a financed lump sum public works (German system) that includes the issuance of an international bond (long term) and the support from a multilateral for the working capital (short term).

The firm’s environment and natural resources department advises clients on mining and oil exploration projects, advising on concession issues and contractual matters. The firm also assists local and international clients in developing telecommunications and energy projects, and counsel clients on tender offers, PPP, concessions and joint ventures.

BKM | Berkemeyer’s undisputed strength in IP practice is critical in assisting clients who need to protect IP rights, from registration of trademarks and domain names and obtaining patents or copyrights through to licensing, franchising, technology and biotechnology agreements, to enforcement and litigation before administrative, civil and criminal courts, and coordinating steps.

Languages:
English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish.

Clients:
With over 60 years in the legal field, the firm has been working with key players from all industry sectors, which include not only the most important local companies, but also several Fortune 500 companies. Clients have always agreed that the firm’s services meet their standards both in their excellence and cost consciousness.