Arias is a standout Central American law firm, with its Guatemalan office located in Guatemala City. Founded in El Salvador, the firm has since expanded throughout Central America. It also has offices in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm is top tier across the financial and corporate and project development practice areas. It represents both strategic buyers and sellers across a variety of industries in acquisition matters, as well as borrowers and lenders in banking matters including credit facilities and loan agreements. Occasionally, the firm partakes in capital markets work including securitizations and bond issuances. The project development team has experience in the oil and gas, telecommunications and energy industries.
Key clients
Arias maintains strong relationships with key clients including Equinor, SBA Communications, Hidroenergy de Nicaragua, Banpro, Cooke Central America Finance and Teléfonica.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Over the research period, the firm advised on banking and M&A matters. In the banking space, the team acted for borrowers and lenders in financing and refinancing arrangements as well as regulatory matters. It also worked on project financing deals in the real estate industry. M&A transactions include representing buyers and sellers in spinoffs and acquisitions.
Deal highlights: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Evertech Group $615 million financing
IMCD acquisition of Quelaris Internacional
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2022/2023)
Asset finance
“They are very responsive, always reply back in a timely manner. Responses are clear but concise. Assessments are thorough and their advice trustworthy.”
Banking and finance
“Arias' expertise in the area of foreign reinsurance in Guatemala is evident in the quality of their work. Arias is attentive to detail, cognizant of deadlines, and very communicative and responsive.”
M&A
“I want to highlight their great responsive capacity to provide fast and accurate legal assessment in the different areas.”
Project development: Infrastructure
“Time management – excellent. Knowledge – excellent. Professionalism – excellent"
Restructuring: Corporate
“Excellent professionals.”
Luis Pedro Del Valle
“His responsiveness and the appropriate way to help navigate the firm for the different matters that we have to attend.”
Martin Montenegro Lou
“Martin is an excellent communicator and very easy to work with.”
Francisco Zuluaga
“Francisco is very responsive, always attentive to our emails and calls, he can easily respond almost any question. He has demonstrated good legal knowledge and understanding of the industry.”
“Realistic time management and highly knowledgeable.”