Real estate and tourism in Dominican Republic

DMK Abogados has a strong focus on the tourism industry, and provides cross-practice advice in a broad range of matters, spanning from transactions to government negotiations and tax incentives. During 2020 and 2021, active areas for the team included tax compliance, disputes, regulation and franchising, among other areas. The group also stood out for acting as lead counsel to Corporación Aeroportuaria del Este on the public-private matter regarding the construction project of the Bavaro International Airport; practice head Enrique De Marchena Kaluche leads on this. In addition to her tourism focus, Patricia Guzmán is recognised for her activity in environmental and administrative law.

Guzmán Ariza has one of the most recognised real estate departments in the Dominican Republic. It covers day-to-day matters and operations, permits and licences, in addition to project financing and acquisition deals for hotel chains. As a key differentiator, the team's expertise also encompasses projects regarding condominiums, luxury second homes and agricultural properties. Fabio Guzmán Ariza is a highly regarded real estate lawyer with longstanding experience in this area. Alfredo Guzmán Saladín is the head of the firm’s Bávaro-Punta Cana and La Romana offices; he has extensive experience in assisting multinational clients with transactions in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Julio Brea Guzmán also receives praise; he focuses on condominium transactions and litigation. Associate Achelis Santana is also noted.

In the real estate space, ECIJA DVMS is best known for assisting high-end hotel clients with their acquisition and construction projects. Another significant focus for the practice is the sports industry; here, the firm stands out for advising sport teams with the acquisition of real estate and construction projects. Gabriel Dejarden focuses on the hospitality, baseball and financial services sectors, and Polibio Valenzuela combines his real estate expertise with experience acting in the tourism sector, including handling construction financing and construction agreements; the duo co-head the department. Christian Molina, who additionally covers trusts, affordable housing and public infrastructure, is also noted.

Headrick Rizik Alvarez & Fernández is appreciated in the market for providing cross-practice advice and a full-service offering to clients in the real estate and tourism sectors. Key additional areas of expertise include tax, environmental, social security and labour law, among others. The firm often represents large tourism groups and real estate investment firms in complex tourism projects, restructurings of real estate holdings, and concessions. Jaime Senior is an active member of the team, who focuses on M&A, negotiation of commercial agreements, and tourism investments. Mary Fernández and Marisol Vicens are also noted.

OMG stands out in the area of real estate and tourism, where it assists clients in a wide variety of projects. In particular, the team has a notable track record in mixed-use tourist real estate developments, resort properties and timeshare and fractional ownership agreements, among others. The lawyers also have knowledge of demarcation procedures, regulation and condominium development, as well as construction, licences and permits, which testifies to the group's dedication to this sector. Practice head Laura Troncoso's experience takes in hotel operations, real estate, zoning and finance, while Juan Alcalde focuses on cross-border commercial and financial transactions.

Pellerano & Herrera stands out for its highly international client base. It represents investors, lenders and underwriters in real estate finance transactions, while also counselling clients in the tourism sector. These include airlines – which the team is able to assist leveraging its aviation practice, led by Vitelio Mejía Ortiz – booking companies and cruise lines, among others. Ricardo Pellerano, who acts as managing partner and co-head of the firm’s Chinese desk, is often involved in complex transactions in the banking, real estate and tourism sectors. Caroline Bonó  heads up the tourism industry group and regularly advises real estate developers and clients in the tourism sector entering the Dominican Republic. Special counsel Ramón Luciano leads the real estate practice, focusing on mortgage financing, contracts and regulations affecting real estate transactions. Since publication, Bonó has left he firm, effective October 2021.

Pellerano Nadal‘s real estate and environmental practice groups often act for clients in the tourism sector. The team has significant experience in real estate transactions, while also covering renegotiations of rental contracts, disputes and environmental due diligence. Land use is one of practice head Luis Rafael Pellerano‘s key specialisms, and he is also known for handling projects involving hotels, retail centres, office buildings and mixed-use developments. Development, investment, leasing, financing and asset management are among his areas of expertise. Gustavo Mena, Urania Paulino and Belkys Génesis Rodríguez are also names to note. Since publication, the team has been strengthened by the arrival of Caroline Bonó from Pellerano & Herrera, effective October 2021.

Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti has a notable track record acting in a wide variety of non-contentious real estate matters, spanning from sales and purchases, financing, development projects to trusts, due diligence and tax matters. Real estate litigation also features in the team's workload; in particular, the team's caseload includes eviction disputes, fraud investigations, inheritance matters and foreclosures. In the tourism space, the firm focuses on tax incentives under the Tourism Incentives Law of the Dominican Republic. Román Medina Diplan and Luis Heredia Valenzuela jointly head the practice.

Alburquerque Abogados – Consultores specialises in assisting local and international operators in the tourism industry, with an emphasis on hotel chains and foreign investors. Leasing contracts, due diligence, and licensing and permits are among the team’s main areas of focus, with real estate acquisitions, construction and tax matters also featuring in the team's caseload with regularity. Gina Hernández Vólquez co-leads the practice alongside managing partner José Alburquerque Prieto. With a focus on tax matters relating to the sector, real estate M&A and the financing of projects and operations, Laura Polanco Coste is also a key practitioner.

At Jiménez Peña, the real estate and tourism team is led jointly by founding partner Luis Julio Jiménez and Vilma Veras, who often co-lead on matters involving foreign investment in Dominican tourism; hotel remodelling and refurbishment; and the set-up of free zones. The group's client base notably includes operators in the hospitality and tourism industries, as well as aviation companies and real estate investment funds. Jiménez is an expert in administrative law, economic regulation, project finance and government relations, and Veras specialises in corporate and commercial work.

Pereyra & Asociados assists commercial brokers, real estate developers, investors and lenders in a wide spectrum of real estate matters, including drafting and negotiating transactions, permits and licences, tax incentives, as well as project financing and environmental feasibility studies. The team, led by Luis Miguel Pereyra, recently stood out for assisting a foreign bank in a tourism project on the island, which included elements of corporate real estate - Emma Mejía Batlle's specialism - M&A, mortgage issues, leases, labour matters and dispute resolution. Gregorio García focuses on real estate and tourism-related litigation. Estate planning for private clients is also covered by the firm.