The litigation team at regional powerhouse Alta QIL+4 Abogados is renowned for its expertise in litigation in the energy and mining sectors, with a strong track record of defending the operators of Guatemala’s largest hydroelectric power plants in constitutional disputes. More recently, the team has been increasingly active in representing clients in the oil industry and in handling civil and criminal litigation on behalf of major domestic banks. The firm is also noted for the strength of its growing arbitration practice, which has significant expertise in international disputes in the energy sector. Alejandro Solares Morales leads the team, focusing on complex commercial litigation and international arbitration. At associate level, Luis Pedro Martínez leads the criminal litigation department, and Estuardo Marchena is skilled in arbitration. Senior partners Marcos Ibargüen and José Quiñones are also key figures in the market.

The ‘excellent’ team at regional firm Arias has a wide-ranging dispute resolution practice that spans civil and commercial litigation, criminal cases, labour disputes and arbitration. In addition, the team is active in disputes relating to distribution agreements, tax issues and public procurement processes, as well as niche areas such as human rights and family law. Clients include major multinationals from sectors including retail, pharmaceuticals and energy. Heading the team is the vastly experienced Mario René Archila, who is noted for both his litigation expertise and his experience as an arbitrator. Senior counsel Luis Fernando Zelada focuses on civil and commercial litigation, as well as labour disputes, and senior associate Mónica Medrano is the key contact for anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and white-collar crime cases.

Longstanding domestic firm Carrillo & Asociados is best known for its prowess in constitutional litigation, handling high-profile civil rights and public interest cases against government institutions. The team also has a strong reputation for financial services litigation; practice co-heads Rodrigo Callejas and Emanuel Callejas are highly active in cross-border asset recovery, insolvency and fraud investigation cases. Other areas of expertise include administrative disputes, particularly in relation to the energy sector and public procurement matters, criminal litigation, and arbitration, most notably in the energy, telecoms and construction sectors. Also co-heading the sizeable team are senior partner Alfonso Carrillo; Luis Mazariegos, who has extensive experience in criminal, commercial, labour, constitutional and administrative disputes; Ricardo Recinos, who focuses on civil and constitutional litigation; and criminal litigation specialist Fernando Mendizábal.

A highly regarded domestic firm, Legalsa is well known for its strong litigation practice, with experience in administrative, civil, commercial, criminal and constitutional cases that range from procurement-related litigation to shareholders’ disputes and white-collar crime defence. The team is also active in national and international arbitration and has represented multinational companies in arbitration proceedings against Guatemalan government entities. Founding partner Henry Comte has vast experience in complex litigation and arbitration and is one of three practice heads, alongside Alejandro Penados, whose areas of specialism include shareholder, inheritance and concessions-related disputes, and Marisol Fión, an expert in administrative, civil and commercial litigation. The strong cohort of associates includes Julia González, who focuses on criminal litigation (including tax, environmental and white-collar crime cases), and corporate litigation specialist Andrés Dubón.

The ‘prestigious’ dispute resolution practice at Aguilar Castillo Love stands out for its strength in handling cases in the energy sector, with a particular focus on arbitration, where it frequently acts for major domestic electricity distribution companies in high-profile proceedings. The team is also experienced in litigation; its recent workload includes commercial, administrative and constitutional cases. Practice head René Vicente Rodriguez is skilled in both litigation and arbitration, and Guatemala managing partner Juan Carlos Castillo Chacón is widely known for his expertise in arbitration and energy-related disputes. Natalia Callejas Aquino is also a key contact for arbitration, and commercial and administrative litigation.

BLP‘s litigation practice counts among its clients well-known domestic and multinational companies from a range of sectors, including technology, pharmaceuticals, transport and agriculture. The team is experienced in civil, commercial and constitutional litigation, with additional strengths in labour, IP, environmental and white-collar crime cases. Practice head Rodolfo Salazar is highly experienced in arbitration proceedings, and has expertise in disputes relating to public law and procurement, the energy sector and environmental issues.

Consortium Legal has a strong track record in civil, commercial, constitutional, and administrative litigation, and is increasingly active in both institutional and ad hoc arbitration, handling a series of cases relating to breaches of contract in the banking and energy sectors, among others. The firm also has a strong criminal law practice, with a focus on environmental and tax fraud cases. The practice is jointly led by Elías Arriaza, whose broad workload spans arbitration and civil, commercial and administrative litigation, and criminal law-focused litigator Lionel Aguilar. Associate Erick Efrén Pérez provides experienced support.

Mayora & Mayora, S.C. is well known for its experience in disputes in the energy sector, counting Central America’s largest energy distribution company among its clients. The team has significant strength in commercial, administrative, labour and IP litigation, in addition to an arbitration practice with significant experience that stands out for its expertise in energy, telecoms and foreign investment-related cases. The team is led by Paola Galich, who also heads the litigation side of the firm’s labour practice. Rafael Briz is also noted for his extensive experience in cases in the energy sector. Senior associates José Ramos and Byron Deulofeu have specialist expertise in criminal and IP cases, respectively.

A. D. Sosa & Soto has significant expertise in a wide range of litigation, from administrative and constitutional cases to civil and commercial disputes (with a particular focus on cases relating to the termination of distribution agreements). The team also handles arbitration, IP litigation and white-collar crime cases, and is increasingly active in labour litigation following the launch of the firm’s new labour department. Associates Daniel Marroquín, whose practice spans civil, constitutional, commercial and criminal litigation, and David Barrientos, who focuses on white-collar crime, are the key contacts. They co-head the practice alongside Juan Sebastián Soto, Carlos Rafael Pellecer and Rodolfo Sosa.

The ‘dynamic, proactive’ team at global firm Dentons Muñoz was notably bolstered by the arrival of associate practice director Paola Haase from Alta QIL+4 Abogados in August 2021; she brings significant expertise in constitutional cases to the group, particularly with regard to the energy sector. The team is experienced in both litigation and arbitration, and is especially active in representing companies in the mining and hydrocarbons industries in high-profile disputes with local communities. Guatemala managing partner Luis Abundio Maldonado is also a key contact.

ECIJA Integrum‘s ‘excellent and extremely capable’ team stands out for its specialism in international arbitration, including investment arbitration, with a dedicated practice that has handled high-profile proceedings in the energy, mining, fintech, pharmaceutical and financial sectors. The team is also experienced in commercial, civil and constitutional litigation, and has drawn on the firm’s wider global network to handle multi-jurisdictional cases. Marcos Palma is a key contact for disputes in the energy and financial sectors. He co-heads the practice with Edson López, who is praised by clients for his ‘excellent command of the rules of international arbitration and extensive international experience’; associate Andrea Miranda, who focuses on civil litigation; and Rodrigo Castillo, who acts in a variety of international arbitrations. Since publication, Castillo has left the firm.

EY Law Central America’s ‘multidisciplinary, committed and experienced’ dispute resolution practice is well placed to handle tax disputes and financial services litigation, drawing on the strength of the firm’s global consultancy arm. Trade mark and environmental litigation are also notable areas of expertise, and with offices across Central America, the team is active in cross-border disputes. Costa Rica-based Hernán Pacheco leads the team with senior manager Fernando Rosales (Guatemala City), who focuses on tax litigation. Senior associate Jacqueline Montoya is also a key contact for civil, tax, administrative and constitutional litigation.