Monica Villafaña

Practice Areas

Corporate and Commercial Law

Contracts

Agency and Distribution

Free Trade Zones

Tax Law

Mining

Energy

Competition Law

Acquisitions, mergers and spin-offs

International Trade Law

Foreign Investment

Public Procurement

Non-profit organisations

Career

Mónica has over 18 years of experience concentrating her main practice in corporate transactions, commercial contracts, agency and distribution, transactional law, project finance, M&A and competition law.

Also excels in the fields of agency free zones, tax law, mining, energy law, international Trade, foreign investments, public procurement, non-profit organizations. Key counsel to top multinational companies.

Mónica had a relevant role in the process of implementation and modification of Law 479-08 on corporations, a very relevant change of law in corporate law in DR.

Has been ranked by Chambers and Partners Global and Latin America and Latin Lawyer. Likewise, she has been recognized for her outstanding work by The Legal 500 as recommended lawyer in 2017 and 2018, and as a next generation partner in 2021.

Professional Memberships

International Bar Association (IBA)

Cámara de Comercio e Industria Franco-Dominicana, Comisión Jurídica, President.

Asociación Nacional de Jóvenes Empresarios (ANJE).

Dominican Bar Association.

Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)

Active member of several commissions created by the Executive Branch and civil society organisations to study and implement the Companies Law, and propose its amendments (Law 31-11).

Active member of commissions created for the study and proposal of legislation for commercial restructuring, Civil Code, among other legislative initiatives.

Publications

Getting the Deal Through – Distribution & Agency

Dominican Republic Company Formation: A Practical Global Guide

The Mergers & Acquisitions Review (DR chapter)

Corporate Legal Audit: Legal blindage tool and good corporate management

Critical Comparative Study of the Simplified Joint Stock Company and its implementation in the Dominican Republic.

Corporate Governance Practices in Family Business Companies.

Typical clauses restricting the negotiability of shares in limited liability companies.

Study of new perspectives on the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons: Advances and shortcomings of Law 137-03 and Comparative Law.

Languages Spoken

English, Spanish and French.

Education