The market-leading banking and finance team at regional firm Arias is praised by clients for its 'first-class' advice to local and multinational banks and financial institutions involved in high-value, cross-border transactions. The sizeable team is led by finance authority Armando Arias; Roberta Gallardo, who also heads the M&A practice; Ana Mercedes López, who is active in the energy and aviation finance spaces; public infrastructure project specialist Luisa Rivas; energy sector expert Carolina Lazo; and Mario Lozano, who brings expertise in the areas of fintech and cryptocurrency to the practice. They are supported by Ernesto Sánchez  and Adán Araujo (both of whom were promoted to senior counsel in November 2021) and Rafael Burgos (who also moved up the ranks to senior associate). The group’s full-service offering covers complex debt restructurings, loan agreements, equity investments, asset securitisation, project finance and due diligence processes. With a client base that includes financial industry pillars IDB Invest and Citibank, the team is active across the hospitality, construction, aviation and energy sectors.

The powerhouse banking and finance practice at BLP continues to be a force in the market, providing comprehensive advice to major regional and international commercial banks, financial institutions, multilateral agencies and private equity sponsors on a diverse spectrum of matters. Headed by respected finance authority Zygmunt Brett, the practice assists with loan agreements, securitisations, credit restructurings, bonds issuances, regulatory compliance, and banking litigation and arbitration proceedings. The team also includes Mariana Nóchez, who brings experience from her corporate law background to high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions; directors Luis Vega, who is noted for handling financial disputes, and Antonella Imbers; and associate José Gochez, who handles complex project finance matters. Acting for such key market players as Bank of America, IDB Invest and the Bank of Nova Scotia, the team’s industry expertise extends to complex financings in the energy and real estate sectors.

Highlighted for its ‘vast knowledge in the banking and financial area’, Consortium Legal employs deep regional bench strength (with offices across Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua) to assist government agencies and major multinational banks and financial institutions, including Credit Suisse and the Bank of Nova Scotia, with high-value, cross-border transactions. Headed by financial sector authority Oscar Samour, the team advises on due diligence processes, asset securitisation, derivatives, leasing issues and loan agreements. Project finance expert Felipe Aragón, who was promoted to senior associate in April 2022, provides support, along with associates Daniel Leiva , a specialist in fintech, insurance and reinsurance matters, and Annette Herrera , who arrived from Holland & Knight LLP in August 2021, with a background in capital markets matters. The team’s active client base fuels transactions across the telecoms, automotive, infrastructure and real estate sectors.

With offices in 17 countries spanning Central America, Europe and Asia, the experienced team at ECIJA utilises its global reach to advise local and international clients. The full-service practice covers corporate financing, asset financing, debt restructuring, capital markets matters, bank contracting, due diligence and regulatory compliance. Office founder and managing partner Alfredo Navas Duarte and Carlos Gil, a specialist in energy and telecoms-related matters, are the key contacts.

The banking and finance team at LatinAlliance El Salvador utilises its regional presence (thanks to partner offices in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Costa Rica) to assist insurance companies, local and regional banks, and other financial institutions with securitisations, syndicated loans and compliance issues, as well as providing representation before regulatory bodies. Founder and managing partner José Adolfo Torres is a key contact.

With offices across Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, Lexincorp pairs deep regional bench strength with the experience of its Salvadoran team to provide a comprehensive service to local and international corporates and financial institutions (including banks and investment firms) on wide range of matters. Led by banking law expert Enrique Escobar, the group advises on guarantees, the structuring and negotiation of loan agreements, securitisations, due diligence issues, debt management and the constitution of trusts. The team is supported by Antonio Guirola, who is experienced in the coordination of international transactions, and Adriana Portillo, who was promoted to partner in January 2022.

Coordinating with its offices in Honduras and Guatemala, the team at Mayora & Mayora, S.C. brings regional expertise to its advice to financial institutions, government bodies, individual investors, funds and multinational corporates on day-to-day matters and financings related to major projects and the entry of companies into the Salvadoran market. Senior partner Manuel Telles heads the practice, bringing decades of experience of assisting clients with structuring individual and syndicated loans, in addition to securitisations, guarantees, leasing, factoring and due diligence processes. Senior associate Jennifer Rodríguez, who has a background in both corporate and banking law, provides support when advising on banking products, contracts and corporate governance. The team’s client base spans sectors including IT and energy, with a roster that includes French power producer Neoen.

The multi-disciplinary team at Romero Pineda combines the strength of its corporate, commercial, and banking and finance departments to advise national and regional insurance companies and financial institutions on matters ranging from project finance, securities and microfinance to due diligence processes, share transfers and loan agreements. Department head Francisco Martinez and senior associate Camila Villafuerte are the key contacts.