Mrs Andrea González > BLP > San Jose, Costa Rica > Lawyer Profile

The powerhouse environment law team at BLP remains a market leader, utilising a multidisciplinary approach to advise household-name multinationals, such as Kraft Heinz, Uber, WeWork and PepsiCo, across a diverse range of sectors. The practice’s comprehensive service covers compliance auditing and consulting, environmental dispute resolution, the proposing and drafting of new regulations, environmental planning related to tourist developments, laws and initiatives on conservation and green finance. In addition, the group acts for both public and private sector plaintiffs and defendants in environmental cases before the civil, criminal and administrative courts. The practice is headed by Mauricio Salas, who brings 25 years of experience to the team and who, in additional to environmental law, specialises in dispute resolution, and Andrea González. Key support is provided by associate Luis Palacios, who assists clients with litigation and with obtaining permits related to mining extraction and water concessions.

The powerhouse real estate and hospitality group at BLP remains a market leader, employing the deep bench strength of offices in San José, Puntarenas and Guanacaste (with a new fourth location in Marina Flamingo which opened in January 2023), in addition to branches across Latin America and Europe, to advise national and multinational developers, construction companies, lenders, private and institutional investors, landlords, tenants, and other major corporates involved in large-scale projects and high-value, cross-border transactions. The firm’s comprehensive services range from assistance with acquisitions, development, financing, sales, leasing, contract negotiations and structuring to day-to-day operations, tax planning, free trade zone matters and due diligence. The team is led by Luis M Castro, a practice area authority. Other key figures include Eduardo Calderón, the former president of the Bar Association of Costa Rica, who brings over 20 years of experience to projects in the country’s coastal and urban areas; Anneth Jiménez, an expert in construction and operation contracts; Andrea González, who specialises in free trade zone matters; Juan Carlos Tristán, who assists with regulatory compliance and hospitality sector matters; director and development strategist Catalina Soto; and senior associate and complex transaction advisor Karla González. Newly appointed special counsel José María Pacheco, who has experience managing large-scale real estate and hotel developments, joined the team from Sfera Legal in August 2022.