South America

Arias

Address: Calle La Mascota #533, Colonia San Benito. San Salvador, El Salvador, C. A.,
Phone: (503) 2257 0900
Website: http://ariaslaw.com/en

THE FIRM

Arias was established in 1942 by Francisco Armando Arias (1915–2013), and today the firm continues to be the most recommended firm in Central America, with 76 years of experience in providing accurate and timely solutions based on our clients’ goals and backed by a great team of professionals, highly focused on client service.

Our heritage, passion for law and commitment to quality, allows us to grow along with the region and overcome new challenges in each country in which we operate: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

OUR TEAM

We offer our clients the best legal talents of the region. The Arias team comprises 33 partners and over 141 specialised attorneys in more than 33 practice areas. Clients highly value our team’s ability to handle local and cross-border transactions and our unparalleled experience, having participated in many of the region’s most important deals and advising the world’s leading companies.

MAIN PRACTICE AREAS

Arbitration and litigation: We advise companies facing litigation of various types before administrative or judicial forums. This includes out-of-court settlements, alternative mechanisms for dispute resolutions and skilful litigation. Our team also has vast experience in international and local arbitration.

Antitrust: Advice in concentrations, competition-related litigation, clearance, cartel investigation and litigation, compliance, counselling and training programmes, antitrust disputes, commercial disputes and judicial reviews, among others.

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

Corporate and Commercial: Our corporate practice serves national and multinational corporations in different industries including aviation, hospitality, energy, banking, pharmaceutical, technology, among others. We provide advice on corporate governance, start-up projects, due diligence, contracts, corporate law, commercial law, immigration and day-to-day legal needs.

Energy: We provide 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. We have 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.

Intellectual property: Our Intellectual Property department is well known and respected among the leading IP specialized firms and companies in Latin America, US and Europe. They turn to Arias for representation and work in the region, especially in matters related to managing their trademarks and patent portfolios, as providing assessment in matters related to copyrights, technology, data protection, life sciences, health regulatory matters, within other related issues.

Labour law: 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 and acquisitions: Negotiations and closings in selling and acquiring companies, acquisition of minority and controlling interest, business due diligence process and identifying legal contingencies.

Regulatory: Through our extensive knowledge of local regulations, we provide regulatory advice in consumer protection, data protection and privacy, energy, environment, finance matters, telecommunications, media and technology, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, among others.

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

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 and real estate, among others.

Other offices:

Guatemala: Diagonal 6, 10-01 zona 10 Centro Gerencial Las Margaritas, Torre II, oficina 402-B. Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, C. A.

Company Tel: (502) 2382 7700

Company Fax: (502) 2382 7743

Company Email: contact.guatemala@ariaslaw.com

Honduras Tegucigalpa: Centro Comercial El Dorado 6° Piso, Boulevard Morazán. Tegucigalpa, Honduras, C. A.

Company Tel: (504) 2221 4505

Company Fax: (504) 2221 4522

Company Email: contact.honduras@ariaslaw.com

Honduras San Pedro Sula: Edificio Park Plaza, Local 19 Barrio Guamilito, 5° y 6° Calle, 11 Avenida N.O. San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras, C. A.

Company Tel: (504) 2550 2202

Company Fax: (504) 2557 6488