Headrick Rizik Alvarez & Fernández‘s practice often involves acting as local counsel for international clients, with Eileen Jiménez securing credit facilities for multinational manufacturer Grupo Diesco worth $275m, and practice co-head Jaime Senior advising Panamanian financial institution CIFI on a Dominican investment fund and French energy client Stoa on its investment in a renewables project. A highlight for the firm is its work on the first issuance of green bonds in the Dominican Republic securities market, led by Senior and assisted by newly promoted partner Fernando Marranzini. Aided by practice co-head Sarah De León and founding partner Roberto Rizik, the team additionally focuses on the payments industry, counting CardNet as a client in this space.

Jiménez Peña acts for local and international banks and other financial entities, often serving as local counsel on cross-border matters, including working with international and Puerto Rican firms to advise CIFI on project financing. A key focus is advising clients on lending, with practice heads Marcos Peña Rodríguez and Katherine Rosa leading advice on senior loans for education and telecoms projects and negotiating financial agreements. The firm recently assisted Banco Activo with a transaction in which an investor acquired a majority stake in the client. Senior associate Jennifer Beauchamps is a key name for project finance and corporate matters. Since publication, Beauchamps has been promoted to partner and co-head of the banking & finance and capital markets practices - effective as of January 2023.

OMG‘s Manuel Troncoso leads or co-leads on all of the firm’s banking work, often working in tandem with corporate partner Esperanza Cabral and aided by senior manager Aldana Fernández and consultant Diego García. The team takes on a range of work, including structuring and registering a $880m public issuance for Fiduciaria Reservas and negotiating a project financing package for an energy client. A highlight for the firm is its work on crypto assets; since 2019 it has analysed Dominican regulations on licensing and registration for Latham & Watkins LLP. The firm also advises banks on both commercial lending and loans to the Dominican state, recently acting for Banco de Reservas de la República Dominicana in its collection of public debt. Firm president Leonel Melo provides further oversight. Associate Lyna Desangles left in 2021 to join consultancy OV.

DMK Abogados is experienced in negotiations of loan deals and securities matters, particularly those with international elements, with the firm advising Spanish clients on their loans in the Dominican Republic and domestic client Banesco on its role as securities agent for foreign creditors. Practice head Patricia Read acted for Spanish bank Abanca on the restructuring of a $150m loan to a Dominican hotel, including the issuance and registration of securities and due diligence. The team also advised Spanish hotel chain Senator Hotels and Resorts on the restructuring of its $80m debt and renegotiations of loans. Andrés Ceara left the team to set up new firm CHJ Legal.

Guzmán Ariza focuses on restructuring and bankruptcy matters, such as handling airline PAWA Dominicana’s bankruptcy and the restructuring of debt for construction client Arconim Constructora. The firm also advises on loan agreements, such as acting for microfinance manager Blue Orchard on its loans to a Central American bank, and project financing, including working on a $37m financing for a photovoltaic power plant project. Fabio Guzmán Saladín and Alberto Reyes Báez oversee the majority of the firm’s finance work, with close involvement by senior counsel Pamela Benzán Arbaje. Work also includes acting for international financial institutions; the team advised a German asset manager on greenfield and brownfield investments in the Dominican cacao-coconut industry, as well as counting Swiss multinational bank UBS Group as a client. Alfredo Guzmán Saladín, who assists in liquidation proceedings and restructurings, and managing partner Fabio Guzmán Ariza are other names to note.

Pellerano & Herrera stands out for its cross-border work for multinational clients, including investment banks and asset management groups, and at times works together with global law firms to provide local counsel. It has a niche in advising Chinese investors, often on energy and natural resources projects, an area that is overseen by practice co-head and managing partner Ricardo Pellerano. The firm focuses on advice to lenders, frequently on financing infrastructure and real estate projects. Practice co-head Alessandra Di Carlo leads on work advising Citigroup, JP Morgan and Scotia Capital as underwriters of a $300m bond offering by an energy corporation. Members of the corporate team are closely involved in the practice, with corporate partner Carolina Leon overseeing investment, secured financing and trust indenture matters and senior associate Maria Montero acting as a key support in much of the firm’s work.

Pellerano Nadal‘s Luis Rafael Pellerano advised J.P. Morgan Securities and Citigroup Global Markets on liability management for the Dominican Republic’s issuances of sovereign bonds worth $2bn, $118m and $1.6bn, assisted by senior counsel Urania Paulino and associate Eduardo Pellerano. With particular experience in securities law, the firm also assists with acquisition and project financing. The team often handles work for clients based in the US, with Pellerano, Paulino and associate Daniella Pellerano providing local counsel to foreign law firms. Tax practice head Caroline Bonó joined from Pellerano & Herrera and co-leads on investment matters. Since publication, Paulino has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2023.

Pereyra & Asociados is known for its work on banking deals, providing regular assistance to longstanding client the Bank of Nova Scotia. The firm advised on the client’s $330m majority acquisition of Banco del Progreso, recently handling post-closing matters including compliance, tax, integration of entities and transfer of assets. M&A of financial institutions is a particular speciality, with the firm advising government authorities on M&A associated with banks. Founding partner Luis Miguel Pereyra leads all of the firm’s matters, aided by fellow practice co-head Emma Mejía Batlle.