Headrick Rizik Álvarez & Fernández

Management Committee: Roberto Rizik, Sarah De León and Jaime Senior

Partners: Roberto Rizik, Francisco Alvarez, Mary Fernández, Marisol Vicens, Tomás Hernández, Sarah De León, Jaime Senior, Julio Camejo, Annalisa Jáquez, Eileen Jiménez, Juan Jose Espaillat, Fernando Marranzini and Carolina Silie.

Total number of lawyers: 43

Firm Overview: 

Headrick Rizik Alvarez & Fernández is a leading law firm in the Dominican Republic. Headrick stands out as one of the largest firms in the country, and is one of the most diverse law firms in the market. The firm emphasises practical experience, responsiveness and commitment, providing high quality legal services at cost-effective rates in all matters to its clients.

Main Areas of Practice:  

M&A/Corporate: 

The firm has a broad transactional practice, both in domestic and in cross-border transactions. Headrick served as counsel to Vinci Airports SAS, one of the largest airport operators in the world, in the acquisition of Aerodom, the operator of six airports in the Dominican Republic, including the airport for the capital city of Santo Domingo.

Banking & Finance:  

The firm frequently participates in transactions related to bank and commercial lending securities offerings, securitisations, public and project finance. The firm served as counsel to Aerodom in a complex multi-jurisdictional refinancing, highlighted by a US$317 million bond issuance and US$216 loan facility. The firm recently represented The firm represents The Bank of Nova Scotia in ongoing project finance matters related to a US$485 million term loan facility.

Litigation/Alternative Dispute Resolution: 

The firm offers clients extensive litigation experience and participates in local and international arbitration processes. The firm has an active portfolio of over 700 litigation cases. Recently, the firm successfully represented CLARO, in several actions related to the auction of frequencies on the wireless spectrum.

Transportation:  

The firm has advised on the acquisition, leasing and mortgaging of aircraft and maritime vessels, and securing operating licenses. Local counsel to airports operator Vinci Aiports (Dominican airports operator Aerodom), Corpoación Aeroportuaria del Este (Punta Cana airport), and several airlines.

Tax:  

The firm advises local and foreign clients in tax matters related to local activities and operations. The firm assists clients in review and diligence of their operations in order to ensure compliance with applicable tax norms, as well as tax planning and advice with respect to investments and corporate planning. The firm also represents clients in disputes before the tax authorities and courts having jurisdiction in the matter.

Sports:  

The firm assists sports teams, such as the NY Yankees, LA Dodgers, Phillies and over ten other Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, as well as sports leagues, such as MLB, in labour matters, litigation, arbitration, corporate law, real estate and other practice areas. Headrick also serves as counsel to the Dominican national baseball and basketball teams.

Intellectual Property:  

The firm is known for its significant IP practice, considered to be among the most innovative in the country. Headrick currently represents a major tourism developer in a landmark trademark case regarding recognition of a “notorious” brand on an international level. This department has played a leading role in protecting the copyrights, patents and trademarks of many international firms, particularly in the pharmaceutical area (i.e. Merck, Pfizer, Wyeth, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, GSK). The firm also represents Cubatabaco, Mars Inc., Clorox, Mercasid, Induveca, Menarini, Grupo Puntacana and other foreign and local clients.

Foreign Investment:  

The firm offers advice on all matters related to foreign investment laws, including structuring investments to best capitalise on benefits and incentives under Dominican law. The firm has ample experience in representing clients in establishment of free trade zone operations and with investment structures and opportunities in the country. Further, the firm represents clients dealing with agency/distributor issues under specialised Dominican laws on the matter.

Telecommunications: 

The firm has ample experience in matters concerning administrative and regulatory issues, interconnection agreements and telecommunications fraud. The firm acts as principal outside counsel to CLARO.

Real Estate & Tourism: 

The firm acts as counsel to Tropicalia, part of the Cisneros Group, in its ongoing development in the Miches region of the Dominican Republic. The firm served as counsel to Third Point LLC and Discovery Land Co. in their acquisition of the Playa Grande Golf & Resort project in the Dominican Republic, with a total cost of €140 million, and continues to serve as counsel in the development of the resort and project. The firm provides ongoing assistance to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with real estate ownership and related issues across the country. Ongoing legal assistance to GRUPO PUNTACANA, one of the largest tourism groups in the Dominican Republic.

Energy:  

The firm has counselled several companies in the negotiation of power supply contracts, power purchase agreements, regulatory matters and permits. The firm is currently engaged in several transactions involving investments in the energy sector, finance transactions and the regulatory effects thereof.

Pro Bono:  

The firm actively contributes with non-profit organisations such as CONEP, ANJE, AIRD and AMCHAM, with the participation of partners and associates in the legal committees of the same, for the revision and drafting of bills to be submitted for approval by Congress. The firm actively collaborates with the Fundación Pro Bono República Dominicana, a clearinghouse for pro bono in the country. The firm served as pro bono counsel to the Alliance for Financial Inclusion in a local regulatory project. Counsel to CEDIMAT, an important medical centre in the country, in various labour cases. Assistance to The Nature Conservancy in environmental as well as organizational matters. Assistance to One World Surgery in the legal matters that relate to the construction of a hospital in San Pedro de Macoris for surgical and primary care.