Rising Stars

Dispute resolution in El Salvador

Arias

Dispute resolution powerhouse Arias leads the way in El Salvador, frequently acting for household-name multinationals and financial institutions (such as Citibank, Philip Morris and Walmart) in high-stakes litigation, as well as alternate dispute resolution processes and out-of-court settlements. Covering the key pillars of corporate, commercial, competition, civil, administrative and environmental law, the group represents a broad client base spanning the retail, pharmaceuticals, banking, tobacco, real estate and energy sectors. In addition, the team represents clients in administrative and judicial antitrust proceedings, as well as labour and IP disputes. The team is headed by Eduardo Ángel, whose practice takes in civil, commercial, contentious-administrative and constitutional litigation (including disputes relating to labour and competition law, money laundering claims and distribution agreements). Other key figures include Jaime Rodríguez, who handles complex contractual and construction-related disputes, as well as commercial and civil litigation, and Fernando Montano, who brings added strength to matters involving competition and anti-money laundering regulations.

Practice head(s):

Eduardo Ángel


Testimonials

At Arias you can find a comprehensive solution to your company’s problems, as they have true specialists in key areas.

Eduardo Ángel has great specialisation in both labour issues and litigation issues. That knowledge allows him to give well-founded recommendations and he has the ability to give a lot of confidence to those who work with him.

It is a great team with extensive experience, which stays up to date and is very professional.

Eduardo Ángel is a great lawyer with extensive knowledge and experience, who explains his recommendations clearly.

The team stand out for their experience in various branches of the law and their invaluable commitment to their clients.

The Arias team have a high level of technical knowledge and experience. They are always attentive to the needs of their clients, are strong and decisive, and advise and direct clients appropriately.

The lawyers are high-performing, they stay up to date and their experience is outstanding. Eduardo Ángel is knowledgeable about procedure and administrative and constitutional law, and supports the client in the search for solutions and the defence of their interests.

Key clients

AB InBev


Davivienda


Citibank


Hanesbrands


Philip Morris


Walmart


Dizucar


CBX Global


Essity


Strike


Work highlights


  • Successfully defended Panalab against a claim for damages over the alleged termination without cause of a distribution agreement.

CENTRAL LAW El Salvador

Employing the full bench strength of offices throughout the region, The experienced dispute resolution team at CENTRAL LAW El Salvador leverages the firm's presence throughout the region to represent an impressive roster of international banks and corporations from the tech, fashion, automotive, pharmaceutical and retail sectors, among others. The team is noted for its expertise in complex administrative tax proceedings and multi-jurisdictional disputes, but its practice extends to debt collection actions and disputes relating to distribution relationships and antitrust issues. The department is led by office founding partner and seasoned litigator Piero Rusconi Gutiérrez, who brings to bear diverse expertise in maritime, civil, constitutional, immigration, corporate and banking disputes.

Practice head(s):

Piero Rusconi Gutiérrez


Key clients

Daewoo El Salvador


Banco Internacional de Costa Rica


Nexsys de Centroamérica


Gano Itouch


C.Imberton


Salvatore Ferragamo


Ricardo Alberto Alfaro Castillo


Neumann Gruppe


Excelentes Servicios a los Transportistas


Farmacias Uno


Daewoo El Salvador


Banco Internacional de Costa Rica


Work highlights


  • Representing Daewoo El Salvador in contentious-administrative proceedings in which two fines, import tariffs and taxes on the transfer of personal property and the provision of services were successfully contested.
  • Successfully represented Salvatore Ferragamo in a dispute relating to a distribution relationship.
  • Representing Nexsys de Centroamerica in the process of collecting a commercial debt of more than $100k plus interest from a regional company.

Consortium Legal

With locations in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, the team at Consortium Legal is well equipped to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes. Spanning such sectors as agriculture, construction, retail, banking and hospitality, the group’s client base of financial institutions and domestic, regional and multinational corporations includes key market players such as Motorola and Operadora Del Sur (the distribution centre of Walmart). The team is led by César Ramos, who brings to bear over 35 years’ experience in arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution methods, as well as civil, commercial, economic crime and labour litigation. The group is supported by associates Diego Rivera, who assists with administrative litigation (including environmental cases and sanctioning proceedings before public bodies) and specialises in the telecoms, energy and aeronautics industries, and Némesis Guevara, who joined the firm in April 2022 from a role in the courts.

Practice head(s):

César Ramos


Testimonials

As a company, we feel satisfied that the firm is always up to date with the latest legislative changes in different branches of the law and can provide advice at all times.

What makes the difference is the 24/7 customer service provided by César Ramos, who is a very committed lawyer.

Key clients

Motorola


Banco General


Banco Promerica


Banco Cuscatlan


UDP Coyatoc Labtop


Procesos De Manufactura


Operadora Del Sur (Walmart)


ECOSS SEM


Full Service


Work highlights


  • Defending Agroindustrias El Cuscatleco against a claim seeking a declaration of nullity of a public deed of dation in payment.
  • Acting for Motorola in a commercial foreclosure proceeding.
  • Acting for UDP Fuentes Labtop in a dispute with the Ministry of Public Works over a construction contract.

García & Bodán

The litigation and arbitration practice at García & Bodán, which specialises in IP enforcement, harnesses the bench strength of offices in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to represent major international banks and corporations (including household names such as Sky and Mattel) across sectors ranging from entertainment and media to energy and hospitality. The team is led by office managing partner and regional IP head Julio Vargas, the former president of the Salvadoran Intellectual Property Association, who handles complex administrative and judicial IP cases, and a broad range of anti-piracy, data privacy, e-commerce and tech-related disputes, and Oscar Torres, who heads the Salvadoran litigation department, and has notable expertise in corporate, commercial and labour cases. The practice now benefits from the expertise of three partners, following the promotion in January 2023 of experienced tax litigator and practice director Mauricio Orellana.

Practice head(s):

Oscar Torres; Julio Vargas


Key clients

Crocs


Carnes Procesadas (Grupo Capsa)


Sky International (The DirecTV Group)


Banco Procredit


Mattel


PedidosYa (Delivery Hero)


Work highlights


  • Representing Mattel in the filing of criminal claims relating to counterfeit products infringing the client’s copyright over the Barbie doll and trade marks over the Uno game.
  • Acting for Sky International in administrative trade mark litigation in defence of its Sky trade mark.
  • Successfully defended PedidosYa (Delivery Hero) in administrative trade mark opposition cases.

Lexincorp

Drawing on a regional network spanning Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the Salvadoran dispute resolution team at Lexincorp acts for national, regional and multinational corporations and financial institutions in high-stakes litigation, arbitration and mediation, with specialty in administrative tax litigation. The team is led by Enrique Escobar, a seasoned litigator who has particular expertise to the energy and telecoms sectors, and Kevin Vargas, who was promoted to partner in January 2023 and who handles complex administrative, constitutional and labour disputes. Support is provided at the associate level by Mauricio Guardado, who is experienced in disputes concerning tenders and labour contracts, as well as contentious-administrative proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Enrique Escobar; Kevin Vargas


Testimonials

They are very good lawyers and defend my interests very well.

Kevin Vargas seeks to defend my interests in the best way and Mauricio Guardado is a great support to the team.

Key clients

Hipotecaria San Miguel


GCE International


Grupo Monge


Puma El Salvador


Work highlights


  • Represented Grupo Monge in a contentious-administrative claim against the General Directorate of Internal Taxes, seeking a reduction of its income tax balance.
  • Successfully represented Puma El Salvador in contentious-administrative tax proceedings.
  • Acted for GCE International in an insurance case relating to the closure of a factory in El Salvador.

Romero Pineda

Domestic firm Romero Pineda marshals the experience of its team to assist major national, regional and global corporations (including key market players Belcorp and Grupo Bimbo) across such sectors as entertainment, cosmetics, aviation, sports, food and telecoms with high-stakes litigation, complex negotiations and alternate dispute resolution strategies. The sizeable leadership group is made up of founding partner and firm chairman Roberto Romero, a specialist in international arbitration who has served as counsel to the embassies of both Mexico and Guatemala; litigation department director Carlos Castillo, an authority in IP litigation who brings over 30 years of experience to the practice; and associates Feridee Alabi, who handles complex contentious-administrative cases, with a focus on those related to government sanctions, and Nadya León, who handles extra-judicial negotiations in relation to the enforcement and protection of trade marks, in addition to nullity and cancellation actions.

Practice head(s):

Roberto Romero; Carlos Castillo; Feridee Alabi; Nadya León


Key clients

ISP


Belcorp


Gaspro


Pochteca


Udp Inkoa-Dycsa


Vape


Mina Roca


Cosmo Moda


Cocina de Vuelos


RGIS


Polycolor Internacional


HealthCo Products


Productos Alimenticios Bocadeli


Grupo Bimbo


Rochester Midland Corporation


Work highlights


  • Representing Belcorp in proceedings against an employee of the company accused of improper appropriation.
  • Defended Cosmo Moda, which owns Aldo Shoes & Accessories stores in the Galerias and Multiplaza malls in San Salvador, against a sanctioning process initiated by the Consumer Protection Office.
  • Acted for Cocina de Vuelos, a company dedicated to providing food services to the airlines that use the El Salvador International Airport, in filing a case for fraud against a former financial manager.

Sáenz & Asociados

The dispute resolution group at Sáenz & Asociados represents domestic and multinational corporations from a variety of sectors, including telecoms, energy, construction and tech, in arbitration and civil, commercial, labour, administrative, constitutional and competition-related litigation. Mario Enrique Sáenz, a former deputy magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice who is well versed in both litigation and arbitration, is the key contact.

BLP

The team at BLP advises local and international corporations across the full spectrum of dispute resolution matters, ranging from corporate and commercial litigation and disputes relating to consumer protection and international distribution agreements to product liability and shareholder conflicts, and mediation and arbitration proceedings. In addition, the team’s full service extends to real estate, tax, environmental, labour, antitrust and intellectual property disputes. Director Luis Vega, an experienced litigator, is the key contact.

LatamLex | Guandique Segovia Quintanilla (GSQ)

The dispute resolution team at LatamLex | Guandique Segovia Quintanilla (GSQ) coordinates with the firm's offices throughout the region to handle both domestic and international arbitration and litigation. The group's experience spans mediation and litigation relating to trade rights, tort law and administrative actions. Former Vice President of El Salvador Carlos Quintanilla Schmidt, an expert in disputes in areas ranging from constitutional law to estate planning, is the name to note.

Mayora & Mayora, S.C.

Coordinating with the firm’s offices in Honduras and Guatemala, the Salvadoran team at Mayora & Mayora, S.C. provides a comprehensive dispute resolution service to multinational corporations and financial institutions, displaying strength in such sectors as energy, construction and security. The practice’s wide skill set covers arbitration and labour, competition, customs, administrative, constitutional, consumer protection and criminal litigation. The team is led by experienced senior partner and El Salvador office head Manuel Telles, who draws on his expertise in corporate and finance law. Senior associate Rolando Suria provides key support in debt recovery and tax disputes.

Practice head(s):

Manuel Telles


Testimonials

I will only say that this firm is the best thing that has happened to us as a company – they are an invaluable support.

They differentiate themselves through their client service and follow-up, which is simply excellent.

Key clients

Neoen (Capella Solar)


Torres Legal

The dispute resolution team at boutique firm Torres Legal handles complex arbitration and litigation for a wide-ranging client base of financial institutions, multinational corporations, governmental institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of El Salvador (MAG) and family offices, with expertise spanning the healthcare, banking, tourism, real estate, fintech and sports sectors. The practice is overseen by founder, managing partner and seasoned arbitrator Héctor Torres, Oscar Giralt, a specialist in public administration-oriented disputes, and associate Rubén Rivas, who handles litigation related to contracts, investments, real estate rights and construction industry operations. Other key figures include Luis Domínguez, who manages insurance disputes, and Héctor Torres Reyes, who brings over 30 years of experience as a judge and district court magistrate to the practice.

Practice head(s):

Héctor Torres; Oscar Giralt; Rubén Rivas


Testimonials

Their lawyers have a strong business approach when managing legal disputes, a quality that really differentiates them from others. They make a very good use of technology to communicate and to prepare the cases.

Héctor Torres helped us finish a very complex case that put our company at great risk. He is completely understanding and his advice is always one step ahead. Rubén Rivas is a very intelligent lawyer and a great negotiator.

Torres Legal works on the strategy of its cases with great dedication.

Héctor Torres’ strategic approach to the case presented to the court, as well as his knowledge of his client’s business environment, provides great added value to the firm’s services. Oscar Giralt’s experience and level of preparation is unique in the market. His high degree of specialisation allows him to effectively defend his clients. Rubén Rivas knows how to handle extra-judicial negotiations very well, and his dedication to studying the evidence and legal arguments means he is very precise when it comes to representing his clients.

The firm has many innovative legal services that make it stand out in the market. It sets itself apart with its constant effort to serve its clients in the best way.

The firm remains up to date technologically, as well as technically.

Oscar Girault stands out for his capacity to solve problems.

Key clients

Avitours


Insami


Saint Germain


Mikasa Coporation


Ministerio de Agrícultura y Ganadería de El Salvador


Work highlights


  • Acting for sports equipment company Mikasa Corporation in a trade mark dispute involving a former business partner.
  • Acting for Insami  in a dispute over a property whose value increased exponentially due to the fact that it is in the area adjacent to an important new highway, the San Miguel bypass.
  • Successful represented Avitours in pursuing a claim against a business partner over the management of a rock concert.