Arias

Managing Partners Team:

Chairman: Armando Arias

Regional Managing Partner: Vicente Lines

Arias Guatemala: Liz Gordillo

Arias El Salvador: Lilian Arias and Roberta Gallardo

Arias Honduras: Evangelina Lardizábal

Arias Nicaragua: Ana Teresa Rizo

Arias Costa Rica: Carolina Flores

Arias Panamá: Siaska SSS Lorenzo

Number of partners: 42

Number of lawyers regionwide: 130

Firm Overview:

Arias was established in 1942 by Francisco Armando Arias (1915-2013), and today it continues to be the most recommended firm in Central America, with 81 years of experience in providing accurate and timely solutions based on its clients’ goals and backed by a great team of professionals, highly focused on client service.

The firm’s heritage, passion for law and commitment to quality, allows Arias to grow along with the region and overcome new challenges in each country in which Arias operates: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

Main Areas of Practice:

Arbitration & Litigation:

Arias advises companies facing litigation of various types before administrative or judicial forums. This includes out-of-court settlements, alternative mechanisms for dispute resolutions and skillful litigation. The team also has vast experience in international and local arbitration.

Antitrust:

Advises in concentrations, competition-related litigation, clearance, cartel investigation and litigation, compliance, counselling and training programs, antitrust disputes, commercial disputes and judicial reviews, among others.

Banking & Finance:

Structuring finance projects with development and international commercial banks and counselling financial institutions and multinational companies in corporate and financial transactions.

Corporate & Commercial:

Start-up projects, establishment of operations, corporate governance, due diligence, contracts, corporate immigration and day-to-day legal needs.

Intellectual Property:

Trademark registration, patents, oppositions and all matters related to intellectual property protection.

Labour:

Drafting and execution of labour contracts, internal labour regulations, registrations with employment authorities, changes in employment terms and conditions, terminations, labour controversies and negotiations of out-of-court settlements, labour dispute mediation, litigation of employment-related matters and corporate immigration.

Mergers & Acquisitions:

Negotiations and closings in selling and acquiring companies, acquisition of minority and controlling interest, businesses due diligence process and identifying legal contingencies.

Tax Planning & Litigation:

Tax structuring, tax planning, tax litigation, transfer pricing, free trade zones and fiscal grounds, municipal taxes, customs, among others related.

Environmental Law:

Environmental due diligence, Filing for licenses and permits, Supervision and review of environmental impact studies, Forest laws, Zoning and development restrictions, Water Law, Land and maritime zone regulations, among others

Regulatory:

Through its extensive knowledge of local regulations, Arias provides regulatory advice in consumer protection, data protection and privacy, energy, environment, finance matters, telecommunications, media and technology, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, among others.

Energy:

Arias provides advice on the successful development of energy generation projects, from the initial investment phase to the beginning of operations, as well as in the distribution sector and electricity market. Arias has vast experience in public tenders, regulatory compliance issues before different public entities, power purchase agreements, supply and other agreements necessary to enable the participation in the energy market.

Other Practice Areas:

Administrative law, aviation, compliance, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption, franchising, government procurement, international trade, foreign investments, insurance and reinsurance, oil and gas, project and infrastructure finance, public private partnerships, real estate, among others.

DIVERSITY:

Arias promotes equal opportunities for men and women within the firm, in which recruitment, appointments and professional growth are based on individual merits above any other reason. At Arias, over 50% of the lawyers in the region are women.

46% of our partners are women

57% of our associates are women

100% of our managing partners are women

57% of our administrative managers are women

Partners promote learning and growth opportunities for female attorneys, taking into consideration their personal life, family responsibilities, studies, etc., while encouraging them to thrive in their career.

PRO BONO:

Our partners are involved in various activities, especially regarding, inclusion and education of children, the protection of families and vulnerable women across Central America.

At Arias, the pro bono work is promoted by partners and associates. Each member is free to decide which association or foundations will be supporting. As a firm operating in developing countries Arias has a profound commitment to protect, defend and support people in need. Being our countries places where violence and displacement are highly sensitive issues, and real issues, Arias Managing Team is constantly encouraging collaborators to act as part of the solutions our societies need among the problematic environments.

We are proud of the commitment every associate, partner or team member shows and strongly believe that this kind of selfless work can only make us become better humans, working to make our nations better.