Ms Cristina Lewis de la Guardia > Galindo, Arias & López > Panama, Panama > Lawyer Profile

Galindo, Arias & López remains a standout in the field of aviation finance, with a particular strength in advising airlines, including Panamanian flag carrier Copa Airlines as well as an array of foreign carriers. The team frequently advises on the acquisition, financing and leasing of aircraft, drawing on its close links with international firms to handle high-profile, cross-border transactions, and also assists with corporate and regulatory matters, such as the certification of cargo and passenger airlines. Cristina Lewis, who is renowned for her experience in aviation finance, leads the team. The key names at junior level are consultant Daniel Sessa, who has significant expertise in commercial and financing issues in the aviation sector, and regulatory-focused associate Claudia Juárez.

Galindo, Arias & López‘ banking practice attracts strong praise from clients for its ‘extensive experience in cross-border transactions‘, although it is also highly active in assisting with local loans. Advising both leading banks and large corporate borrowers, the team stands out for its expertise in transactions in highly regulated industries, including telecoms, energy and finance. The firm also shines in aviation finance, where Cristina Lewis is highlighted for her ‘great knowledge‘; the department’s clients in this field include Panamanian flag carrier Copa Airlines. Practice head Roberto De Araujo López is commended for his experience in advising domestic banks, particularly on financial regulatory matters. Diego Herrera and Jose Luis Sosa are also key names in the practice, with an emphasis on international transactions with Panamanian aspects. The capable pool of junior lawyers includes consultant Daniel Sessa and associate Claudia Juárez, who focus on the aviation sector, and associate Andrés Sanjur, who is noted for his project finance experience.

Galindo, Arias & López‘ top-flight capital markets practice acts for a diverse domestic, regional and international client base, including leading financial institutions and key players in the aviation, telecoms and real estate sectors, drawing on firm-wide expertise in these areas. The firm has a strong presence in high-value public offerings of corporate bonds, and is equally adept at handling domestic and cross-border capital markets transactions. The team is also highly active on the regulatory front, frequently assisting major financial institutions in compliance matters; Roberto De Araujo López, who has extensive in-house experience with the Superintendence of Banks of Panama and Colombia, is a standout name in this field. Cristina Lewis heads the team and is well versed in transactional and regulatory capital markets matters, with an emphasis on the aviation sector. Highly experienced associate Carla López provides key support to both partners on the issuance of securities and related due diligence.

The projects and energy practice at Galindo, Arias & López stands out for the depth and breadth of its offering, with strengths encompassing project finance, public procurement and government contracts, real estate and regulatory matters. The financing of large-scale energy and infrastructure projects (including the development of major healthcare facilities) is a core source of mandates, but the team is also highlighted for its experience in energy-related disputes, where clients emphasise its ‘extensive knowledge of the laws that govern the Panamanian electricity market‘, and regulatory issues in the renewables space. Salomón Behar, a high-profile name for public tenders and project development in the energy sector, leads the practice alongside project finance expert Cristina Lewis. Diego Herrera and litigation partners Diego de la Guardia and Selva Quintero (both specialists in the energy and public utilities sectors) also lend senior expertise to the team.