Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez

Senior Partners: Rodrigo A Moreno Jr, Alfredo Ramírez Jr, Enna Ferrer de Carles, Luis López Alfaro

Contact Partners: Alfredo Ramírez Jr, Luis López Alfaro

Number of partners worldwide: 15

Number of other lawyers worldwide: 19

Firm Overview:

Since its opening back in 1965, the firm has grown into one of Panama’s leading full-service law firms. The firm is recognised for its solid integrity, consistent work and its ability to successfully address and solve legal issues in sophisticated deals. AFRA’s team of lawyers and staff are committed to providing straightforward and practical solutions to their clients’ legal concerns, distinguishing themselves by providing a ‘one stop shop’ experience to their clients.

Main Areas of Practice:

Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions:

The firm handles a wide variety of general commercial matters, and is frequently retained to handle sophisticated mergers and acquisitions deals. The firm’s services include carrying out comprehensive due diligence procedures, negotiations of the deal’s agreements, and a reliable support throughout the post-closing process. In recent years the firm has been busy advising on important M&A transactions across different sectors of the economy, such as insurance, real estate, banking and finance companies, oil and energy, ports, retail, and health, amongst others.

Intellectual Property:

AFRA’s intellectual property department is one of the strongest and busiest in the country. Experienced intellectual property lawyers and professional staff provide services in registration and protection of trademarks, patents, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, franchises, industrial designs, domain names and commercial names in general. This is supported by a strong and diverse network of correspondents throughout all of North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

Banking & Finance:

The firm serves as external counsel for local banks and private international finance institutions, and its services range from addressing every day regulatory questions, to structuring complex finance and securitisation deals. Over the years, AFRA has acted as legal counsel to local and international companies in securing credit facilities for the construction of major public and private works. AFRA’s project finance team remains busy representing multilateral institutions, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, Inter-American Investment Corporation, Deutsche Investititions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG), Corporación Andina de Fomento amongst others, in finance transactions for projects ranging from hydroelectric power plants to the construction of infrastructure.

Public Contracting & Infrastructure:

The firm has validated its experience acting as legal counsel to many international and local firms that have been awarded contracts for the construction of highways, roads, hydroelectric facilities, energy transmission systems, ports and other public utilities. In the last few years the firm has been active advising construction companies, oil and gas companies and the current mass transportation company of the Panama City metro area. The firm also represents a significant number of players in the energy and telecommunications industry, and has been present in major energy projects involving LNG, wind and solar power.

Labour & Immigration:

The firm has extensive experience in providing assistance to international clients carrying out business activities in Panama, in connection with union and labour disputes and litigation, as well as with regulating the presence of expatriates officials sent to Panama by their multinational companies.

Tax:

The firm offers practical tax advice to international clients and guides them in attaining tax efficiency in their local operations. The firm also supports clients in making sure they are tax compliant, and advises financial institutions and multinational companies on new tax reporting obligations.

Languages:Spanish, English.

Representative Clients:

Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Accenture, adidas Latin America, S.A., Aeroman, Arcos Dorados, Banesco, S.A., Banco Aliado, S.A., Bosch, BP Products North America Inc., Carnival Corporation, Caribbean Financial Group, China Electric Power Equipment, Cinemark, Citibank, N.A., Colgate Palmolive, Corporación Andina de Fomento, Corp Financiera El Sol, Corporacion Multi-Inversiones, Credicorp Bank, Deutsche Investititions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Ford Motor Company, Global Bank Corporation, Grand Bay Paper & Care Products, Grupo Agrisal, Hasbro Inc., Hilti Latin America, Hospiten, Inter-American Development Bank, Inter-American Investment Corporation, JVCKenwood Electronics Latin America, S.A., LG Electronics, L’Oreal, Microsoft de Panamá, S.A., Office Depot, Organización Terpel, Pepsico, Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), Puma Energy, Red Bull GmbH/Red Bull de Panamá, S.A., Ricoh Latin America, Riu Hotels, Safra National Bank of New York, Shire, Stanley Black & Decker, TIGO, Trane, Volaris, Vopak, and The Western Union Company.