Costa Rica > Dispute resolution > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Batalla Abogados’ dispute resolution team advises national and international clients on delicate disputes, with particular expertise in the real estate, consumer products, energy, tax and environmental sectors. In addition to practice co-heads Róger Guevara and Alejandro Batalla, the team's administrative and constitutional litigation capabilities were expanded with the arrival of experienced attorney Marvin Carvajal in January 2019.

BLP's dispute resolution team, led by Mauricio Salas, is sought out by high-profile international clients for the most delicate and complex cases. In a recent example, department head and key associate Thelma Petrucci defended Dow Chemical in mass tort litigation related to a banana pesticide later associated with sterility and cancer in agricultural workers, which was eventually dismissed after several years of discussions. Giselle Reuben and Pedro Castro represented Sony in the prosecution of a piracy ring involved in illegal tampering of hardware and software reproduction. Pandora Americas, China Iron and Steel Association, and Jiangsu Shagang International Trade are also on the firm's client list.

Dentons Muñoz' seven-strong dispute resolution practice is jointly led by Roy Herrera and Carolina Muñoz. Highlights included the team advising BioMarin on a donation agreement with a local entity which would comply with the company's internal compliance policies and local anti-corruption laws. Also among the firm's high-profile clients is the British Embassy in El Salvador. Associate Daniela Vargas left the team to join small local firm Lexpenal Abogados Penalistas.

Handling a wide range of criminal, civil, administrative, commercial and intellectual property litigation, the dispute resolution department at Facio & Cañas is especially skilful in complex damages recovery cases. Federico Torrealba and Rodrigo Oreamuno, who is also an arbitrator and regularly participates in cross-border investment treaty arbitrations, lead the team.

The four-partner dispute resolution team at Aguilar Castillo Love often assists companies from the healthcare industry and takes on cases involving international trade issues, including anti-dumping cases and internal fraud and compliance cases. In a notable example, John Aguilar-Quesada and practice head Esteban Agüero Guier, with support from associate Laura Rodríguez Amador, are currently acting for a multinational agrochemical company in case relating to an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud which is being litigated in the civil and criminal courts simultaneously. Founding partner John Aguilar-Osborne is also a key figure in the department.

Arias' three-partner litigation and dispute resolution practice, led by Vicente Lines and senior associate German Rojas, is experienced in handling white-collar crime cases, among other matters. Currently, Carlos Ubico and a number of associates are representing Mondelēz in an unprecedented class action labour lawsuit over whether a previous distribution relationship was an employment or commercial relationship. The team also acted for new clients Electrolux, Florida Ice and Farms Company, Unicomer and Coface. Carolina Flores handles tax litigation. The firm recently strengthened its team with the addition of associate Estefanía Batalla from Batalla Abogados.

Founding partners Jaime Barrantes and Sergio Artavia  are the key contacts at Artavia & Barrantes Abogados. The team takes on a wide variety of litigation, ranging from corporate, civil, administrative and constitutional cases to intellectual property infringements. In addition, the firm handles cross-border arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

Consortium Legal's dispute resolution practice represents clients in civil, commercial, administrative and labour litigation, as well as commercial arbitration. The team, which is jointly headed by Rolando Laclé Zúñiga and José Pablo Valverde, also handles tax, constitutional and IP-related disputes, and assists clients in the growing area of alternative dispute resolution. The firm's client list includes banking and finance institutions and hospitality and healthcare companies.

The 'very responsible, client-oriented' ECIJA expanded its regional presence in Central America with the incorporation of Expertis' offices in Costa Rica. Team heads Mauricio París, who has 'the perfect balance between world-class attorney and an academic with great knowledge of the most recent legal topics', and Mariela Hernández focus on commercial litigation and arbitration. Hernández recently represented Grupo Istmo de Papagayo in an arbitration filed by the Costa Rican Association of Composers and Musical Authors in relation to the collection of intellectual property dues. The firm's extensive client list also includes Pfizer, Coca-Cola Femsa, Maersk and Herbalife.

Following the integration of Pacheco Coto in January 2018, EY Law Central America fields a two-partner team led by María del Mar Herrera and Allan Hernández. All lawyers from the previous firm stayed on, with the exception of Juvenal Sánchez, who left to found his own law firm in July 2018. Areas of strength include distribution disputes and competition and consumer matters. The department is regularly instructed by Verizon Communications; for instance, it recently defended the client against allegations of breach of contract related to the publication of telephone directories. Hernán Pacheco O and Alejandro Antillón are also key contacts.

Sfera Legal handles complex litigation and arbitration matters, especially for clients with a financing or investment background. The department is jointly led by Robert van der Putten, who has expertise in complex real estate disputes, and José Schroeder. In an example of the practice's core strengths, van der Putten successfully represented a number of real estate investors in various arbitration proceedings before the International Conciliation and Arbitration Centre of the Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce. The firm's lengthy client list also includes Holcim Costa Rica, Pan-American Life Insurance Group and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Under the leadership of Jonatán Picado, the dispute resolution and litigation department at Zürcher, Odio & Raven handles litigation and arbitration, with particular expertise in the real estate, construction and energy sectors. The team also assists with alternative methods of dispute resolution. Clients have included Gas Tomza, Portafolio Inmobiliario and Banco Improsa.

With a presence in Costa Rica as well as Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, regional firm Nassar Abogados has extensive experience in representing clients from the pharmaceutical and aeronautical industries. The specialised team of litigators surrounding Tomás Nassar, Henry Rodríguez and María Lupita Quintero assists with commercial, civil, labour, administrative and criminal disputes.

Saborio & Deloitte de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima's combined tax and dispute resolution department is jointly led by Francisco Villalobos, Fabio Salas and Allan Saborío and specialises in assisting clients from the banking and finance sector in tax disputes.