BKM | Berkemeyer > Asuncion, Paraguay > Firm Profile

BKM | Berkemeyer > The Legal 500 Rankings

Paraguay > Legal market overview

Paraguay > Administrative law Tier 1

The administrative law team at BKM | Berkemeyer has extensive experience providing legal advice on infrastructure projects, primarily in the road, transportation, energy and sanitation sectors. The firm demonstrates expertise in public private partnerships, advising the private investor on the project finance aspect of the first PPP in Paraguay. The group is also made up of public procurement experts, with experience in government tenders, from medical supplies and management software to traditional public works tenders. The team is co-led by Hugo Berkemeyer, whose main focus is investments and the set-up of corporate structures. He leads the team alongside Martín Carlevaro, who has extensive experience advising on infrastructure projects, project finance, public contracts and regulatory issues. At the associate level, Adriana Ocampos has experience advising on PPP and turnkey projects, and Dahiana Acosta has a thorough knowledge of international public tenders and public contracts. Vivian Maldonado and Milena Sljivich are also names to note.

Paraguay > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

BKM | Berkemeyer has continued to build on its antitrust practice, led by Carla Sosa and Manuel Arias, taking on a number of new clients recently, including Banco Continental. The firm handles a wide range of matters for both national and international clients, including merger control filings, claims of anticompetitive conducts and consultations on antitrust issues. The firm has been involved in many cases that have been processed before Conacom. Along with Sosa and Arias, the team is led by figurehead Hugo Berkemeyer. At the associate level, Andres Nasser, Alvaro Rojas, Manfredo Ramirez and Leyla Apud are active members of the team.

Paraguay > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

BKM | Berkemeyer fields ‘an exceptional team’ in corporate and M&A that continues to operate at the highest level of the market. The firm has extensive experience in government tenders and has assisted with several projects in this area, including public-private partnerships and public works. The team advises large international companies on their distribution contracts with national players. The firm continues to expand its extensive list of international clients, with recent additions such as Varo Energy, and has also made similar strides as regards its domestic client base. Managing partner Hugo Berkemeyer leads advice to many of the group’s key clients. He co-leads the group with Carla Sosa and Manuel Arias, who oversees all matters in the corporate commercial department for both national and international companies. The team has a large pool of associates: Alexander Berkemeyer continues to focus on German and English-speaking clients, having completed his MBA and LLM in the USA. Mauro Mascareño takes a lead role on a number of matters. Milena Sljivich, Antonio Villa Berkemeyer and Stael Olmedo all come with high praise from clients.

Paraguay > Environment Tier 1

BKM | Berkemeyer‘s environment team is led by Yolanda Pereira, a recognised expert in environmental law, offering advice on environment, energy and natural resources projects. The team advises clients from a range of sectors, including agribusiness and energy, wherein the firm often assists clients with sustainable initiatives, from the production of biofuels and hydrogen to electric car incentives. The firm also handles litigation related to environment matters, at both the administrative and criminal levels. Pereira’s practice also covers environmental liability, regulatory matters, permits and licensing.

Paraguay > Intellectual property Tier 1

BKM | Berkemeyer is a leading firm in the IP practice area. The team handles the full range of matters, from the registration of trade marks, domain names, patents and designs, copyrights and copyright procurement, to life science and agriculture regulatory, licensing, franchising, technology and biotechnology agreements. The firm also handles contentious matters, including enforcement and litigation at administrative, civil and criminal levels. The practice continues to grow, present at the firm's recently opened offices in Ciudad del Este, and advising major national and international clients, such as Nestec and Grupo Bimbo. Marta Berkemeyer heads the team, with support from Hugo Berkemeyer, who takes a lead role in many of the firm’s cases. Bárbara Dollstadt leads the litigation department and Cristobal Gonzalez, who oversees the patent department. Jaqueline Querciola and Irene Angulo jointly lead the trade mark department, and Valeria Carron heads the international department, receiving considerable praise from clients. At the associate level, Jazmin Hamuy, Viviana Rolon and Lilian Lopez are active members of the IP team.

Paraguay > Tax Tier 1

BKM | Berkemeyer‘s ‘outstanding‘ tax team is made up of experienced litigators who regularly represent clients in significant tax disputes before government entities, from municipalities to the Supreme Court. The group offers advice to foreign investors on Paraguay’s fiscal incentives schemes, and on import and export matters. The team assists clients with tax audits, and has extensive knowledge of tax regulations. Recent additions to its already extensive client base have included both local and international clients, such as AGT Networks and Delivery Hero. The team is co-led by Mauro Mascareño, who has experience in both local and international tax advice, as well as tax planning, tax litigation and tax refunds. Mascareño also leads the firm’s transfer pricing department. Co-head Federico Valinotti is a tax expert with extensive experience in the field, focusing on international investments and cross-border transactions. Carlos Vargas has extensive experience in local and international tax planning, litigation and credits. At the associate level, Rodrigo Gómez Sánchez advises public and private entities, corporations, guilds and non-profit entities, both local and foreign, on national and international tax law.

Paraguay > Banking and finance Tier 2

BKM | Berkemeyer‘s banking and finance team offers advice on the full spectrum of Paraguay’s financial market. The team has experience in both domestic and international transactions, in which the group represents all sides, from lenders to borrowers to structuring entities. The firm is actively involved in capital markets transactions and acts as the attorney to the Paraguayan stock exchange. The leasing and sales of aircrafts is another area of expertise. The team is led by Hugo Berkemeyer, the firm's figurehead; Manuel Arias, who leads the firm’s banking and capital markets practice, with extensive experience advising high-profile local and international banks; and Martín Carlevaro, who takes charge of the dedicated infrastructure and project finance practice which, alongside Arias’ banking team, has been involved in the financing of some of Paraguay’s key public infrastructure project finance deals in recent years. At the associate level, Milena Sljivich‘s experience at the attorney general’s office brings a public sector insight to finance matters. Senior associate Andres Nasser has experience and proficiency in banking regulation, and at associate level, Adriana Ocampos and Alvaro Rojas come with client recommendation. Gastón Segovia joined the team as an associate from the National Securities Commission in 2022.

Paraguay > Dispute resolution Tier 2

BKM | Berkemeyer‘s large dispute resolution team has extensive experience in the core areas of litigation. The firm handles commercial disputes, judicial and administrative litigation, and arbitration. The team is also involved in contentious matters arising from competition and antitrust legislation. The firm has worked to expand the practice, especially in the areas of economic criminal law and compliance, and the group collaborates with other practice areas within the firm to cater to clients in a range of sectors, including labour, tax, environment and IP. The team is led by Hugo Berkemeyer, Carla Sosa and Natalia Oddone. At the associate level, Martin Romero, Natalia Alarcón and Federico Huttemann are names to note.

Paraguay > Labour and employment Tier 4

BKM | Berkemeyer‘s labour and employment team handles a range of labour matters, including the drafting and coordinating of employment contracts and company regulations, assisting with human resources policies and coordinating international and temporary employment. The firm has successfully advised clients on the release of long-term employees, in most cases reaching extra judicial settlements. Sensitive labour matters, such as unfair dismissal disputes, sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, are a further strength. The group also consists of emergency advisors, experienced negotiators and immigration experts, and has a specialised consultancy and litigation team. Associate Hugo Aponte, who has extensive experience in employment and local labour advice, including labour litigation, leads the team. Aponte also advises international companies on compliance with national labour laws. Associate Jorge Peralta regularly advises both local and international clients on sensitive employer transfers and has litigation experience, defending companies in cases of justified and unjustified dismissals. Mauricio Ozuna is an associate with extensive experience in the fields of labour law and social security, and specialises in judicial litigation.