DR&R Abogados y Consultores Fiscales (De Castro, Rivas y Rodríguez)

Managing Partner: Norman De Castro
Senior Partners: Luis Rivas, Milcíades Rodríguez, Laura Feliz, Jesús Almánzar
Number of partners: 5

Firm Overview:
DR&R Abogados y Consultores Fiscales is widely known for its expertise in dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, trusts, taxation, labour, employment and real estate. The firm partners’ backgrounds are well recognised throughout the country and even in the Central American-Caribbean area, with over 100 years of combined experience providing legal advice and assistance in all sectors in Dominican Republic. The firm capitalises on its strategic locations in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana, to assist both local clientele and foreign investors in the country.

Main Areas of Practice:

Litigation & Dispute Resolution:
The firm is actively involved in high-profile disputes and arbitration in Dominican Republic involving from pro bono matters to landmark real estate class-action lawsuits and the representation of public figures against lawsuits. The firm counsels clients in criminal disputes, environmental claims, white collar crimes, civil claims, labour and employment as well as, intellectual property disputes and provides arbitration, mediation and conciliation services. Key clients in this area are well-known local and international stackholders, such as Seguros Universal (largest insurance group in the country), ALTICE (France), Asociación Dominicana de Constructores y Promotores de Viviendas (ACOPROVI), Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Asociación Dominicana de Administradoras de Riesgos de Salud (ADARS), Macrotech Pharmaceutical, Barrick/Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation (Canada), Citibank, N.A., Bepensa Group (Mexico), Blue Mall (Velutini Group Venezuela), Viamar Group (largest car import and retailer in the country) agencies of the Dominican government.

Banking, Finance & Securities:
The firm advises Dominican and international banks and local savings and loan associations on capital markets, securities regulations, corporate compliance, investment funds, project finance, public finance, bonds issuance and economic development. Key clients in this area are Fiduciaria Popular, Fiduciaria Universal, Fiduciaria Reserva, Banco Popular Dominicano, and Banco de Reservas de la República Dominicana (first and second largest commercial banks in the DR respectively).

Corporate & Commercial:
Assisting clients in the energy, hotel and tourism, mining, sports and transportation sectors, DR&R provides advice to their clients regarding the incorporation of local companies, corporate restructurings, joint ventures, project finance, shareholder’s agreements, corporate governance, and corporate compliance. The firm is well-known for its expertise in handling complex matters and the vast experience of the team in this field. Key clients in this practice are some of the country’s leaders in their economic areas, such as Viamar Group, Jumex Group (Mexico), Gavilon, Inc (USA)., Richemont Group (Switzerland), Vik Group (Norway/Spain), Grupo Punta Cana, Ducati Spa (Italy), AKUO-PECASA (France), F&S Solar Group (Germany), SYM Naval Group (Spain), Corporación HMS (Spain), Boston Red Sox (USA) and Mueblería y Colchonería La Nacional.

Intellectual Property:
The firm assists local and international clients on trademark registrations especially for the health and food industries, as well as with copyrights issues, patent registration, transfer and licensing contracts. DR&R also advises clients in litgation matters in connection with product liability and consumer protection. Some clients on this area are Jumex Group (Mexico), Mott’s Snapple International, Macrotech Pharmaceutical, and Cartier Latin America & Caribbean.

Labour & Employment:
The firm counsels in all aspects of labour law, employment and social security, providing companies and individuals with a wide range of services including breach of contracts issues, union matters, employment agreements, termination of contracts and labour disputes. Key clients in this practice are Vellutini-Blue Mall Group (Venezuela), OpSec Security Group (USA), Tokmakjian International (Canada), Macrotech Pharmaceutical, Altice Dominicana (France), AK Drilling / TYCHE (USA/Perú) and Constructora Dupla.

Mergers & Acquisitions:
DR&R advises clients in the negotiation of stock purchases, corporate restructurings, public tendering processes, joint ventures, and any deals that involve the purchase, sale, merge, and division of companies in the country. Some clients on this area are Administradora de Fondos de Inversión Popular, AKUOPECASA (France), Grupo Hoteles Vik (Norway/ Spain), and F&S Solar Group (Germany).

Real Estate & Tourism:
The firm represents both local and international clients in all types of real estate transactions such as joint ventures, real estate financing, purchase and leasing contracts, incorporation of condominiums and real estate complexes, and dispute resolution. Among such important clients are Grupo Punta Cana (largest tourism group in the country), Caribbean Catering Services, AVIAM, Ltd, Playa Hotels and Resorts Group (Spain), Marinarium, Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts and Asociación de Tour Operadores Receptivos Bávaro-Punta Cana.

Taxation:
The firm counsels both local and international clients in local and international taxation. The tax team distinguishes for its in-depth knowledge of tax regulations advising clients on strategy design and tax planning, transfer pricing, corporate taxation, tax disputes and claims, as well as tax due diligences. Among them the firm can mention Accor Group (France), Barrick Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation (Canada), Ocean World Hotels, OpSec Security Group, Grupo Meliá (Spain), Telecom Worldwide Solutions, H10 Hotels Group (Spain), Grupo Hoteles Vik (Norway/Spain), and Indra Sistemas.

Trusts:
The firm advises the major trust companies established in the country, counselling its clients in the implementation and use of trusts in local and international transactions. Among the firm’s clients there are key market stakeholders, such are Fiduciaria Popular, Fiduciaria Universal, Fiduciaria Reservas, Corporacion HMS (Spain), Hospital General Las Colinas and Consorcio Málaga.

International Work:
DR&R represents both individual and corporate clients around the globe, particularly from the United States, Spain, France, Germany, Mexico, Canada and Venezuela, assisting with cross-border transactions and counselling on the most suitable corporate vehicles for their investment in Dominican Republic; but also some local groups, such as Horizon Consultants and CONCAVA, upon their establishment in various Caribbean and Latin-American jurisdictions (such as BVI, Aruba, Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico).

Languages:English, French, Spanish.