Raful Sicard Polanco & Fernández

Managing Partners: Ernesto Raful, Sara V. Sicard, Hilda Patricia Polanco and María Esther Fernández A. de Pou

Senior Partners: Ernesto Raful, Sara V. Sicard, Hilda Patricia Polanco and María Esther Fernández A. de Pou

Number of partners: 4

Number of other lawyers: 9

Languages: Spanish, English, French, German, Portuguese 

Firm Overview: 

RAFUL SICARD POLANCO & FERNANDEZ ‘RSPF’ was founded in 2003 with the primary goal of providing its clients with a legal service of the highest quality with a personalised touch. The firm is made up of four partners and ten associate attorneys. It is a vanguard firm, able to manage basic as well as complex legal transactions, litigations and legal counsel in general, with the same ease, effectiveness and professionalism. This is a full service law firm with a ‘boutique’ perspective where members of staff are able to work in five languages (Spanish, English, French, German and Portuguese). RSPF stands out in the local market for the quality of its work as well as its continuous striving for the highest ethical standards. In addition to the usual work done by law firms in the Dominican Republic, RSPF has throughout its 15 years of incorporation been able to develop a niche and special recognition in specific industry sectors such as transportation (with special emphasis in aviation and maritime matters), telecommunications, energy, labour, tax, business, finance and securities. RSPF is also proud to have strategic alliances with lawyers from Central America and the United States.

Main Areas Of Practice:  

Corporate:
RSPF has significant experience within the full scope of corporate work, advising a diverse base of public and private clients on transactional works including M&A, joint ventures and spinoffs.

Finance & Securities:
RSPF is of counsel to the Dominican Republic Stock Exchange as well as companies engaged in the same. RSPF handles on their behalf all regulatory issues regarding the issuance of authorisations, interaction with the regulatory institutions, administrative appeals and help in structuring bond issuances, among other matters.

Labour:
RSPF has vast experience in the labor matters, including the provision of labor consultations, advice on labor processes and litigation related to labor matters.

Shipping & Maritime:
RSPF is of counsel to one of the biggest local shipping agencies. RSPF also handles cargo claims, environmental claims and other claims in general, on behalf of maritime claims adjusters, shipping lines and their P&I Clubs, either directly or through the local agent of the major P&I Clubs.

Civil Aviation:
RSPF has the highest level of aviation expertise, providing creative and efficient solutions on the full range of aviation related matters and needs. The firm has successfully represented airlines, financiers, lessors, insurers and airports, among others.

Business:
RSPF clients include important and representative corporations, state/local agencies and foreign governments. The firm aims to achieve solutions for clients that often exceed their expectations by providing lawyers and professionals with an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in addition to the experience in all areas of Dominican business law.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution:
The RSPF litigation team focuses its practice in resolving disputes through strategic avoidance, negotiation and trial. The firm also provides consultation and advises clients on transactional matters. RSPF has played a central role in significant disputes and complex litigation; several of these represent key industry precedent. The firm handles any litigation challenge, but the majority of its work is for corporate clients in different areas, with domestic and international scope. The firm has extensive experience in arbitration and mediation processes, acting in different roles, as lawyers, arbitrators and mediators.

Government:
RSPF offers advice to domestic and international government contractors on all stages of the process for the acquisition of goods and services. The firm also provides legal assistance on government regulatory issues and defends clients in a wide range of civil and administrative matters.

Tax:
RSPF helps businesses to familiarise themselves with tax rules and, where necessary, to adapt their business model accordingly, with special focus in special tax regimes. The firm is playing an increasing role in tax related legal disputes with the tax and judicial authorities.

Industrial Free Zone:
RSPF is of counsel to important industry leaders as well as important Industrial Free Zone Companies regarding incorporation and permit process, labour matters, commercial and contractual matters, restructuring and expansion of business, closing procedure and free zone matters in general.

Customs:
RSPF assists their clients in their needs in terms of customs operations, including licenses, support, evaluation and review of authority actions in both practical and regulatory matters, as well as assistance in the facilitation of customs operations and international trade, logistics and cargo transportation.

Telecommunications:
RSPF handles telecom user claims as well as litigation stemming from the same. The firm also specialises in telecommunications regulation matters with varied clients of this sector such as regional cable companies and other telecommunications companies.

Agency & Distribution:
RSPF has substantial experience in supporting businesses with their agency and distribution relationships and agreements, both internationally and domestically.

Mercantile Restructuring:
RSPF handles mercantile restructuring procedures that guarantee the operational continuity of the companies while complying with their payment obligations assumed towards third parties.

Real Estate:
RSPF has handled and/or is of counsel to important local real estate transactions on behalf of clients in the health sector, industrial free zone sector, institutional sector, among others. Energy: RSPF has significant experience participating in the development of renewable energy projects in the Dominican Republic, with the participation of local and international investors.

Intellectual Property:
RSPF provides specialised assistance in all procedures related to the protection of copyright, industrial property and related rights regarding its registration and its defense at all levels, including the judicial stage of such protection and defense. The team’s experience includes all types of intellectual property.

Clients:
Codetel, Dominican Republic Stock Exchange, ECOLAB, Convatec, Edwards Lifesciences, Johnson & Johnson, Wartsila Dominicana,Grupo TDN, BBA Atlántico Va PNC Bank, Ageport, Frederic Schad, North of England P&I Club, Cementos Cibao, Bienes Raices Antillanos, Centro de Medicina Avanzada Dr. Abel Gonzalez, Marsh-Franco Acra, Dre Repair Services, Ambev, Industrias Nacionales, Xerox Business Services D.R., Zona Franca Las Americas, UPS, Copa Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Condor Airlines, Aeroméxico, Longport Aviation, Asociación Dominicana de Empresas Courier (ASODEC), Visa International, Novo Nordisk.