Arias Fábrega & Fábrega has built a powerful reputation in the market. "They are a premier law firm in Panama," one competitor states, with another agreeing with him: "They are a great law firm – very old and established and strong in international work....
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Arias Fábrega & Fábrega has built a powerful reputation in the market. "They are a premier law firm in Panama," one competitor states, with another agreeing with him: "They are a great law firm – very old and established and strong in international work. They have top lawyers and large market share."
Client feedback echoes the market opinion, with one noting: "All lawyers from this firm are very select ones." Another adds: "They know a lot about government-specific regulations and everything related to the transactions in the public sector. They are not only very good at handing the legal aspect of transactions, but also good at mediating in negotiations. There is fluent communication all the way through in international deals."
Partner Estif Aparicio, who has had a hand on most of the firm's important work during the past year, is singled out for praise by clients. "He has a very wide range of experience working in structured and complex deals," one remarks.
Deals
In August 2011, Aparicio advised HSBC Securities and Global Bank as joint lead arrangers and book runners on the $395 million acquisition financing for Empresa Nacional de Autopista (ENA). He also represented Citibank in the financing of Panama City's Metro project. Valued at $298 million, the deal was closed in November 2011.
In addition, in a deal led by partner Ricardo Arango, who heads the capital markets, banking and M&A practices, alongside senior associate Julianne Canavaggio, the firm acted for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, an export financing bank, in connection with the registration and issuance of unsecured negotiable banking certificates (Certificados Bursátiles) in Mexico in the aggregate principal amount of $76 million.
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