Corporate heavyweight Alta QIL+4 Abogados leverages its regional network, made up of offices in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Honduras, and full-service model to handle complex M&A transactions spanning multiple Central American jurisdictions, in addition to assisting with related tax, labour, administrative, compliance and environmental issues. Singled out by clients for its ‘great talent and high level of commitment‘, the team also advises on high-profile domestic M&A, divestments and corporate restructurings, with strengths in the telecoms, financial services, agriculture and energy sectors, among others. Managing partner Marcos Ibargüen and María Isabel Luján lead the sizeable team, which also includes José Quiñones (who heads the firm’s tax and compliance practices), Alejandro Cofiño (an expert in energy-related deals), Andrés Lowenthal (a go-to name for advising international clients) and Melissa Echeverría (who was raised to the partnership in March 2023). Senior associates Santiago Granados, who is active in local and regional transactions, and Ignacio Grazioso provide capable support. The firm has also established a robust diversity and inclusion initiative and code of ethics.

Arias has a comprehensive corporate and M&A practice in Guatemala, as well as providing region-wide services to clients investing in Central America, with a network of seven offices (including a presence in Panama) to draw upon for support. The team advises a diverse roster of multinational companies across the energy, real estate, telecoms, pharmaceutical and banking sectors, to name a few, and has also expanded its base of domestic clients, recently acting for a number of prominent local businesses. Strengths include domestic and cross-border M&A, corporate restructurings, the incorporation of local operations, corporate governance and commercial issues. Luis Pedro del Valle took over leadership of the department in March 2023 following the departure of Jorge Luis Arenales; del Valle is noted for his broad expertise, covering M&A, corporate restructurings and venture capital transactions. The team also benefits from a deep bench of talented junior members, including senior associates Cindy Arrivillaga (who is experienced in cross-border transactions) and the recently promoted Jorge Ordóñez. Since the conclusion of research, the team has been strengthened further with the August 2023 hire of former PepsiCo legal manager for Central America and the Caribbean Luis Pedro Jegerlehner, as of counsel; an experienced corporate all-rounder, he brings additional expertise in matters including ESG, compliance, FCPA and conflict management.

In a significant development, the ‘highly committed‘ team at BLP now benefits from the expertise of three partners, following the arrival of Jorge Luis Arenales, who brings an enviable track record in M&A and specialist knowledge of highly regulated industries to the firm, from Arias in June 2023; he joins well-regarded practice heads María Inés Arenales and Luis Ruiz. The corporate department attracts praise for its ‘extensive experience‘, with a wide-ranging practice that encompasses M&A, spin-offs, commercial and distribution issues, and compliance, and can also draw on the full-service firm’s strengths in the environmental, real estate, labour, IP and litigation fields. With a growing international client base, the team is well equipped to handle cross-border transactions, taking advantage of its regional footprint to advise on Central America-wide deals. Senior associates Gustavo Gamboa (who was promoted in April 2023) and Carolina Saadeh (who joined from an independent practice in January 2022) are the key names at the junior level. The firm has also established an Innovation Commission aimed at implementing new technologies, and an internal programme to promote integration and non-discrimination. Since publication, María Inés Arenales has left the firm for her own practice.

M&A transactions are the cornerstone of the corporate practice at regional powerhouse Consortium Legal, which is sought after for its advice to major domestic and multinational clients. The team has a strong track record in cross-border transactions – including deals involving multiple jurisdictions in Central America, thanks to its extensive regional network – and also assists with corporate restructurings and M&A-related tax, labour, IP, real estate, regulatory and litigation matters. The highly experienced duo of Alfredo Rodríguez (who has complementary tax expertise) and Rafael Alvarado Riedel (whose practice spans foreign investment and international commercial contracts) heads the team. Sofia Escribá is a go-to name for M&A, with a specialism in highly regulated sectors such as mining, and the practice also benefits from the expertise of firm president Álvaro Castellanos. Senior associate Maria Fernanda Morales leads a department focused on company incorporations, and associate Roxana Sandoval provides key support. The firm also demonstrates its sustainability credentials through its membership of the Central American Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (INTEGRARSE) and has established a regional equality policy. Since publication, Alvarado Riedel has moved to an in-house role at Tigo.

In addition to its presence throughout the Northern Triangle region of Central America, Mayora & Mayora, S.C. also benefits from its close links with international firms thanks to its membership of the Lex Mundi legal network, making it a strong choice for multinational clients seeking advice on complex regional M&A and the establishment of operations in Central America. The team is also consistently active in corporate restructuring, joint venture, and corporate governance and compliance mandates, leveraging the firm’s full-service offering to assist with related banking, administrative, tax and labour issues and drawing on firm-wide expertise in energy matters to advise prominent clients in the sector. Department head Sandra Castillo has a broad practice, with an extensive client roster of international companies and major domestic groups. She is ably supported by senior associates Ana Cristina Garita and María de la Concepción Villeda, a specialist in civil and commercial contracts. Managing partner Eduardo Mayora and Claudia Pereira continue to lend senior expertise to the team.

Full-service domestic firm A. D. Sosa & Soto is hailed by clients as ‘very knowledgeable about the Guatemalan business environment‘, with a wide-ranging corporate practice as well as expertise in the taxation, environmental, IP, labour and real estate aspects of transactions. The team handles a steady stream of M&A and joint venture mandates, advising both multinational and local companies on investments in Guatemala, and assists with the expansion of businesses throughout Mexico and Central America. Another key dimension of the practice is advising on commercial contracts, including franchise and distribution agreements. The ‘brilliant and dynamic‘ Juan Sebastián Soto, Carlos Rafael Pellecer and Einar Klanderud lead the team; all three are recognised for their strength in M&A and international contracts. The firm has also expanded its offering to clients with the launch of a dedicated compliance practice led by director Giovanna Menegazzo, who joined from Deloitte Legal Guatemala in October 2022.

Aguilar Castillo Love‘s corporate practice is widely recognised for its representation of multinationals with a longstanding presence in Guatemala, and has recently won a number of new international clients, leveraging the firm’s full-service regional offering as well as its expanding presence in Latin America (with offices in Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay and Bolivia). The team has been consistently active in M&A involving Guatemalan targets and also advises on joint ventures, spin-offs, corporate restructurings, compliance and contractual issues. The practice is jointly led by Juan Carlos Castillo Chacón, who has a strong track record in advising international clients on M&A, and Natalia Callejas Aquino, a key name for cross-border mandates, corporate compliance and investigations. Associate Rudy Villatoro is currently on secondment at top-flight Mexican firm Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. The firm also continues to promote gender diversity in the legal sector through its Proyecto ACL Mujeres initiative.

Clients of Legalsa highlight the full-service firm’s personal approach and praise the team’s ‘humility and seriousness‘. The corporate department has an impressive record in cross-border M&A, advising international companies and major local and regional players, and has recently been active in assisting foreign direct investors with the expansion of their operations into Guatemala. Infrastructure, energy, aviation and telecoms are among the firm’s core sectors of expertise, and it also has a growing niche in the fintech and mobile apps space, as well as a practice dedicated to advising start-ups on corporate and IP issues (with an emphasis on the food and technology industries). David Font, an expert in M&A, foreign direct investment, real estate and fintech, jointly heads the practice with Johann Hartleben, whose experience spans domestic and international transactions. Senior associates Mónica Linares and Andrés Dubón focus on real estate issues and corporate disputes, respectively.

Well-established domestic firm Carrillo & Asociados focuses its corporate practice on multi-jurisdictional M&A, frequently assisting both foreign and local clients with due diligence and deal structuring, and international commercial contracts. A full-service firm, it is also well equipped to assist with M&A-related tax, environmental, regulatory and criminal matters. Sara Santacruz is the key contact in the team, routinely advising on corporate transactions, including restructurings and foreign investments, and labour law issues; she is also the founder of Transforma, a national group of women lawyers. At the associate level, Juan Francisco Sandoval is a name to note for M&A, the sale and purchase of assets, and commercial, civil and real estate contracts.

With the advantage of a global as well as a regional footprint, Dentons is consistently active on the cross-border M&A front, acting as local counsel to major multinationals. The ‘detail-oriented‘ team is well versed in advising on company incorporations and the launch of operations in Guatemala, in addition to assisting local and foreign clients with the expansion of their businesses in Central America. Other strengths include restructurings, joint ventures, and administrative and regulatory compliance issues. Office managing partner Luis Abundio Maldonado heads the practice and is particularly sought after by clients in highly regulated industries, including mining, energy and telecoms.

Lexincorp‘s corporate practice focuses on M&A, corporate planning and corporate governance, where it has strengths in advising multinationals setting up operations in Guatemala. The firm’s regional presence and membership of the global Multilaw network are also assets for international clients. The practice is led by corporate and IP specialist Gonzalo Menéndez González in conjunction with the experienced Julio Aparicio, whose broad expertise includes a niche in assisting with franchise contracts for restaurants in Central America and the Dominican Republic.

As a member of the LEGIC regional alliance, Alegalis benefits from a presence in Central America, and has also established operations in Hong Kong. The team is particularly well versed in advising clients in the healthcare and real estate sectors, and has a close association with non-profit Fundación Paso Dos, through which it provides legal support for start-ups. Director José Carlos Pérez leads the corporate and international business department, with a focus on commercial contracts and company incorporations. Managing partner Juan Antonio Mazariegos is another key figure in the practice.

Deloitte Legal Guatemala has established a prominent presence in Latin America, including in Guatemala, where the corporate team draws on its strong international and regional connections to advise a host of major domestic, multinational and multilatina clients. The practice is particularly active on the M&A front, but also handles day-to-day corporate, commercial and compliance issues. Ruby Asturias joined the firm from EY Law Central America in 2021 and is widely recognised for her experience in M&A and investment mandates; she is supported by senior lawyers Carmen María Mérida and Allan Jeancarlo Morales.

Focused on the corporate, start-up and technology spaces, LegalPlus attracts praise from clients as ‘an invaluable resource for cross-border transactions with a Latin American aspect‘, offering a remote office in Hong Kong and a presence in the US through Minnesota-based of counsel Mauricio Duarte. The team specialises in venture capital transactions, advising local entrepreneurs, family offices, investment funds and individual investors (with an emphasis on the technology and renewable energy sectors). Founding and managing partner Alvaro Hurtado jointly leads the team with Duarte and associates Pamela Rodas and Juan Andrés Campos.