Guzmán Ariza > Punta Cana, Dominican Republic > Firm Profile

Guzmán Ariza > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dominican Republic > Labour and employment Tier 1

Guzmán Ariza‘s team labour and employment team is frequently instructed by international clients, including the New York Mets and Club Med. The group leverages the firm's full-service offering and 'one of the best reputations in the country' to handle significant employment litigation before the Dominican courts, going as far as the Supreme Court, and is also highlighted for its mediation ability. Other key elements of the firm's recent workload include complex contract negotiations, and payroll and compliance-related advice. The group is headed up by Rubén García, who is well regarded for his experience in collective bargaining agreements, and litigator Rhadaisis Espinal.

Dominican Republic > Real estate and tourism Tier 1

Guzmán Ariza is well known for advising on major real estate and tourism-related transactions in the Dominican Republic, while clients also benefit from its presence in the key locations of Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Samaná. The firm stands out for its expertise in project financing and acquisitions, acting for prominent multinationals including Club Med. The sizeable team is led by experienced managing partner Fabio Guzmán Ariza, Alfredo Guzmán Saladín (an expert in corporate and commercial matters in the real estate and hospitality sectors), Julio Brea Guzmán (who plays a key role in real estate and condominium projects), Rubén García and César Calderón. The team was further strengthened at top level by the addition of senior counsel Patricia Guzmán from DMK Abogados in October 2022 and the promotion of Marianne Olivares in June 2023.

Dominican Republic > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Drawing on the support of eight offices in the jurisdiction, the team at Guzman Ariza is highly experienced in the structuring of M&A deals and foreign investments, company reorganisations, and general corporate and commercial issues. In Santo Domingo, the practice is headed by Fabio Guzmán Saladín, who has a strong track record in the M&A arena, with an emphasis on international business transactions, and of counsel Alberto Reyes, while Alfredo Guzmán Saladín, an expert in the hospitality, entertainment, real estate and sports sectors, leads the team in Punta Cana. The practice was bolstered at senior level by the promotion to partner of Pamela Benzán Arbaje in June 2023.

Dominican Republic > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Guzmán Ariza, whose ‘reputation in the local market‘, ‘integrity‘ and ‘ethics‘ are noted by clients, has a longstanding presence in the dispute resolution sphere in the Dominican Republic and is particularly prominent in bankruptcy cases (where Fabio Guzmán Saladín is a high-profile name). An experienced quartet of partners leads the practice – Fabio Guzmán Ariza, whose broad practice takes in labour and medical malpractice litigation, Rhadaisis Espinal and Alberto Reyes Báez, both of whom handle civil and commercial litigation, are all based in Santo Domingo, while real estate-focused Julio Brea Guzmán is the key contact in Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Cabrera.

Dominican Republic > Environment Tier 2

Guzmán Ariza‘s main focus lies on the environmental aspects of real estate and tourism projects, but other sector strengths for the team include the hospitality, construction and entertainment industries. The team’s workload spans sustainability and environmental impact assessments, compliance, permitting issues, and environmental disputes. Giselle Pérez Reyes oversees the team and utilises her significant regulatory expertise to advise on large-scale energy, hydrocarbon, tourism and real estate projects. Corporate department chair Fabio Guzmán Saladín and real estate and tourism specialist Alfredo Guzmán Saladín are also key contacts.

Dominican Republic > Tax Tier 2

Guzmán Ariza‘s group, which ‘adapts very well to clients' requirements', advises a diverse client base which includes multinationals and foreign financial services companies on all areas of tax planning, transfer pricing (which is a core area of strength) and regulatory compliance in the Dominican Republic. The team also represents clients in audits by the tax authorities and in tax disputes. Managing partner Fabio Guzmán Saladín and Alfredo Guzmán Saladín lead the team; the pair are proficient in the tax aspects of corporate and financial transactions, and the latter is also noted for his knowledge of tax issues in the real estate and hospitality sectors. The group also benefits from the assistance of tax advisor and certified public accountant Mariano Corral, who is based overseas.

Dominican Republic > Banking and finance Tier 3

Guzmán Ariza's banking and finance team is particularly strong in restructuring and bankruptcy matters, and is sought after for its advice to clients hailing from the real estate and construction industries. Key lawyers include Fabio Guzmán Saladín and Alberto Reyes Báez.

Dominican Republic > Intellectual property Tier 3

Senior counsel Leandro Corral and Fabio Guzmán Saladín, both of whom are highly active in advising on trade mark registrations, lead Guzmán Ariza‘s intellectual property team, which counts trade marks, patents, industrial designs and copyrights among its key areas of strength. Cross-border matters are a significant feature of the group’s work, thanks to its wide-ranging international client base, which spans the car manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas sectors, among others.