Dentons > San Jose, Costa Rica > Firm Profile

Dentons > The Legal 500 Rankings

Costa Rica > Compliance Tier 2

The Costa Rican compliance team at Dentons co-ordinates with offices in Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala to design risk assessment strategies and corporate governance programmes for multinationals operating in such sectors as logistics, pharmaceuticals, health, tourism and telecoms. The group’s full service includes assistance with internal investigations, due diligence, training, and anti-corruption and anti-money laundering strategies. The team is led by practice area expert Tatiana Reuben, who brings more than 20 years of experience and specialises in compliance with the US Corrupt Practices Abroad Act, the UK Bribery Act, antitrust laws, export control and trade and Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions. Key support is provided by associate Josué Blen, who previously served as legal adviser to the Ministry of Public Education and the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica > Dispute resolution Tier 2

The Costa Rican team at Dentons utilises the combined bench strength offices in Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, and its bespoke Dentons Direct cloud system (which streamlines case tracking), to represent multinational financial institutions and corporates including Bayer and Schneider Electric in a wide range of complex, cross-border disputes. With an active client base spanning sectors ranging from energy, pharmaceuticals and logistics to financial services, pharmaceuticals and construction, the practice’s comprehensive offering covers such matters as commercial litigation and arbitration, environmental law, insurance litigation, collection actions, and restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings. The team is led by experienced litigator and arbitrator Roy Herrera, a member of the board of directors for the Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration of the Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce. The group is supported by senior associate Aracelly López, who performs due diligences on litigation proceedings for companies involved in multi-jurisdictional M&A, and associate Johann Montero Brenes, who specialises in labour and employment matters.

Costa Rica > Real estate Tier 2

Dentons utilises the bench strength of its regional network of seven offices in six countries to advise developers, private equity firms, real estate funds, and multinational corporates across such sectors as tech, logistics, energy, tech and banking on the sale and purchase of real estate and the financing and development of real estate projects. The practice’s comprehensive service extends to construction matters, regulatory compliance, and related tax issues and litigation. Managing partner Eduardo Zúñiga leads the team, bringing experience in project legal structures, environmental issues and the negotiation of hotel management agreements, and assists clients with urban developments, gated communities and beachfront resorts. Other key figures include senior associate Natiuska Traña, who advises private individuals on acquiring luxury homes, and associate Natiuska Traña, who brings expertise to handling lease contracts, and property development and administration agreements.

Costa Rica > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Utilising the bench strength of its regional network of seven offices in six countries, the corporate team at Dentons advises national and multinational corporates across industries ranging from food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, financial services and energy to e-commerce, telecoms, tech, media and real estate on day-to-day operations and complex, cross-border transactions. The practice’s comprehensive service includes assistance with tax matters, compliance, M&A, business unit spinoffs, tender and exchange offers, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, strategic alliances and divestitures. The team is led by Eduardo Zúñiga, who specialises in the hospitality and real estate sectors, and Tatiana Reuben, who brings over 20 years of in-house experience to the practice, and whose focus lies on the design and implementation of compliance programmes. Senior associate Montserrat Ortega joined in January 2022 from an in-house role.

Costa Rica > Labour and employment Tier 3

The Costa Rican labour and employment team at Dentons utilises the combined bench strength of offices in Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, to provide a comprehensive service to global household names including Dole, Starbucks, Amazon and Merck across sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals, tech, hospitality and software to real estate, manufacturing, telecoms, retail and energy. The team is led by Anna Karina Jiménez, who brings expertise to assisting with matters ranging from compliance audits, the negotiation and drafting of employment contracts, collective bargaining matters and employee benefits programmes to labour litigation, contract terminations and the employment aspects of M&A. Other key figures include senior associate and preventative risk management specialist Silvia Hernández and associate Daniela López Salas, who advises on human resources matters and social security matters, and who arrived from BDS Asesores in October 2022.

Costa Rica > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

The public law and environmental law department at Dentons advises clients across the construction, energy and civil engineering sectors involved in high-value, cross-border infrastructure projects, assisting with matters ranging from regulatory compliance and procurement processes to structuring PPPs, project finance and litigation. Managing partner Eduardo Zúñiga is a key contact.

Central America > Corporate and finance Tier 3

As the Central American branch of global firm Dentons, Dentons is one of the few firms in the region to have an international presence, making it well equipped to handle multi-jurisdictional transactions. In Costa Rica (where the firm has two offices), real estate and hospitality specialist Eduardo Zúñiga leads the corporate team with Tatiana Reuben. Luis Abundio Maldonado, who also co-chairs the infrastructure practice for Latin America and the Caribbean, is the name to note in Guatemala, while in Honduras Arturo Zacapa heads the team. In Nicaragua, Edgard Torres handles corporate and finance matters, and Daniel Martinez, who has a strong track record in international deals, leads the El Salvador practice. The highly experienced Gisela Álvarez de Porras is the key contact in Panama.