Firm overview
Since 1942, Arias has been a trusted name throughout the Central American region and abroad, offering local market knowledge and impressive global reach.
We deliver a full complement of global legal and business solutions through our 7 Central American offices. As pioneers in the regionalisation of the Central American legal market with fully integrated offices spanning six countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras (Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula), Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, with over 150 attorneys, highly specialized in more than 30 practice areas.
Arias has been characterized as an innovative, pioneering and most highly respected law firm; a leader in providing legal solutions to its clients globally. Arias has always reached top standards in effective solutions, award-winning client service and unparalleled innovation to the region’s legal market, representing a wide array of clients doing business in the region, from major multinational corporations, to medium and small businesses, start-ups and individuals. Due to the vast experience our team has, dealing with multijurisdictional cases that present high levels of complexity and sophistication, which involve not only the participation on our regional team, but also contain important regulatory aspects that need to be handled with local authorities (regulators), clients trust our expertise in their most important matters.
At Arias, we work under the conviction that every client is important, and we ensure that all clients receive our best service in an efficient manner. Our legal practice includes large multi-billion and multi-jurisdictional transactions as well as day to day legal work. We are certain that our transaction experience and our dedication are highly valued by our clients.
MAIN PRACTICE AREAS:
Arbitration & 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 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 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 & 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.
Regulatory: Through our extensive knowledge of local regulations, we provide regulatory advice in Consumer protection, Data protection & privacy, Energy, Environment, Finance matters, Telecommunications, media and technology, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, among others.
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.
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.
We are a regional firm of multiple specialties. Since 1942 we have had the opportunity to accompany our clients in the implementation of thousands of projects that contribute with the economic growth of our countries through the creation of jobs, productive infrastructure, access to credit for entrepreneurs, implementation of new energy sources, execution of millionaire development projects and many other actions that have filled us with satisfaction.
However, our commitment to society does not end there. Corporate Social Responsibility is embedded in Arias' DNA since its inception. We believe it’s everyone’s responsibility to infuse and create positive changes in our environment to achieve a common good and ensure a better life for future generations.
The firm also understands the importance of Pro Bono work for the community. Having a team of specialists in different areas of law, our employees at Arias are able to offer legal assistance to individuals and organizations with limited resources.
In the region, Arias supports more than fifty organizations and dozens of individuals in proceedings related to the legalization of their operations, consultancies in labour issues, personal and family matters, and other areas of law in which they require assistance.
In 2016, our firm was recognized as one of the 55 "Leading Lights" of Latin America, thanks to the Pro Bono work and social responsibility activities preformed throughout the years. This recognition issued by Latin Lawyer and the Vance Center reflects the commitment and social impact that Arias has as a national and international organization ( http://ariaslaw.com/en/press/our-firm-is-recognized-as-a-leading-light-for-our).
Arias promotes equal opportunities for men and women within the firm. 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.
47% of our partners are women
50% of our associates are women
77% of our Managing Partners are women
Adding to this, the firm also supports several regional initiatives that promote diversity and support for women in vulnerable situations. In Nicaragua, our lawyers are part of the Entrepreneurs Women Network of Nicaragua (REN according to its acronym in Spanish) and they work actively to strengthen the growth, management and business dynamics for women and their personal and collective leadership, among others.
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