Leading Individuals

Firms To Watch: Energy and natural resources/projects

Boutique firm Estudio Chávez Bosque S.A. is quickly establishing a strong presence in the energy sector thanks to the expertise of Rodolfo Alegría, who joined from Carrillo & Asociados in March 2022 and is renowned for contentious, regulatory and transactional energy matters.
Consortium Legal deepened its focus on the energy sector with the hire of renewable energy specialist Salvador Del Valle from independent practice in July 2021; he advises on regulatory matters and project development.
As well as advising major players in the oil and gas sector, where practice head Marcos Palma is particularly experienced, ECIJA INTEGRUM also has growing expertise in the fields of renewable energy and environmental law.

Energy and natural resources/projects in Guatemala

Aguilar Castillo Love

Widely recognised for the breadth and depth of its offering in the energy and natural resources sector, Aguilar Castillo Love has a particularly strong reputation in the electricity space, counting all three of Guatemala’s electricity distributors among its clients, in addition to advising generators. The team, which is highlighted for its ‘empathy‘ and ‘close client relationships‘, also handles matters in the oil and gas sector, with an emphasis on cross-border mandates. Its comprehensive practice encompasses regulatory matters, project development and finance, foreign investment and M&A, commercial issues and disputes. Juan Carlos Castillo Chacón, who has extensive experience across the full spectrum of energy matters (particularly electricity-related), leads the team with Natalia Callejas Aquino, a specialist in regulatory and compliance issues. René Vicente Rodríguez focuses on energy sector disputes. Associate Rudy Villatoro, who is currently on secondment at leading Mexican firm Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C., is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Juan Carlos Castillo Chacón; Natalia Callejas Aquino


Testimonials

The team stands out for the empathy and close client relationships of the partners managing the case.

Professional quality.

Key clients

Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala (EEGSA)


Energuate (Distribuidora de Electricidad de Oriente (Deorsa) and Distribuidora de Electricidad de Occidente (Deocsa))


Jaguar Energy


Administrador del Mercado Mayorista (AMM)


Transelec


Industria Energética Asociada


Work highlights


  • Representing Energuate in legal actions in relation to regulations issued by the municipality of Río Hondo that pertain to the procedures, permits, licences and administrative costs for the construction and installation of power towers.

Alta QIL+4 Abogados

Alta QIL+4 Abogados‘ thriving energy and natural resources practice advises on the full life cycle of project development, from procurement and financing through to the negotiation of PPAs and EPCs, and regulatory and environmental issues. In particular, the team is renowned for its experience in energy-related disputes, with an enviable recent record in high-profile international arbitration and constitutional litigation in the sector. It is also well versed in advising international clients on public bids and contracts. Practice head Alejandro Cofiño brings extensive experience in project finance, PPAs and concessions, particularly in relation to greenfield renewable energy projects. The talented line-up of junior lawyers includes senior associate Ignacio Grazioso, who handles a wide range of energy and infrastructure-related matters, and associate Héctor Morales, who focuses on environmental and regulatory issues. Alejandro Solares Morales and associate Estuardo Marchena are the key contacts for contentious matters.

Practice head(s):

Alejandro Cofiño


Testimonials

Up to date with the latest regulations.

The team stands out for its client service and prompt responses.

The Alta team has been able to identify the specific issues involved in the project, and they have carried out an analysis in line with the way the sector operates. The advice has gone beyond a general overview of legal issues and has incorporated business and political perspectives that have allowed us to meet our business objectives.

We received outstanding personalised service from Ignacio Grazioso. We felt that we were in good hands.

Key clients

Cova Energy


Multienergia – Corporacion Multi Inversiones (CMI)


Generadora San Andres y Generadora San Mateo


Minera San Rafael (Panamerican Silver Pass)


Viento Blanco


Grupo Terra – Energía


Hidrogene de France (HDF)


Horus (Grupo Onyx)


Neoen/IDC Energía


Vitol


Work highlights


  • Advised Cova Energy (the trading entity created to represent McDonald’s Guatemala) on the PPA for the purchase of green energy with Enel.
  • Advising the National Council of Protected Natural Reserves on the purchase and possession of land in a natural reserve area in the northwestern region of Guatemala.
  • Advised Belluno (Taco Bell Guatemala) on environmental compliance relating to wastewater management and solid waste.

Mayora & Mayora, S.C.

Praised by clients for its ‘agility‘ and ‘quality‘, Mayora & Mayora, S.C. fields an impressively broad energy and natural resources practice, which is continuing to expand into the renewable energy space. The department handles a healthy mix of transactional, regulatory and contentious work for a wide-ranging client base of energy distributors and generators, as well as infrastructure and construction companies, frequently teaming up with the firm’s offices in El Salvador and Honduras to advise on cross-border matters in the sector. The practice is highly active in energy-related disputes, with strong skills in administrative litigation and international arbitration, and also advises on the development and financing of power plants, government bids and PPAs. Rafael Briz, who is commended for his comprehensive energy practice, leads the team. Senior associate Juan Carlos Foncea provides capable support on the full range of energy and regulatory matters.

Practice head(s):

Rafael Briz


Testimonials

The team stands out for its agility and quality in dealing with our matters, and the availability of partners and associates to provide us with personal attention.

Warmth and empathy.

Key clients

Energia Del Caribe


Deocsa-Deorsa (Energuate)


Grupo Cobra


Grupo Ortiz


Cox Energy


Inkia Energy


Ingenio San Diego


Extreme Energy


Operadora De Terminales


Obrascón Huarte Lain


Work highlights


  • Assisting Cox Energy in establishing solar energy operations in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.
  • Representing Energuate in an arbitration against the National Institute of Energy relating to the payment of infrastructure costs.
  • Acting for Proveedora de Energía Renovable Peñaflor (Nodroc) in a dispute with an energy broker relating to the termination of a power purchase agreement.

A. D. Sosa & Soto

A. D. Sosa & Soto‘s energy and natural resources team is highly recommended by clients for its ‘depth of knowledge‘ and ‘commercial judgement‘, and is particularly prominent in the oil and mining spaces, including metallic mining. The practice has considerable expertise in regulatory matters, frequently advising on project permits and related environmental law compliance. Other strengths lie in foreign investment, including cross-border acquisitions and financings, and civil and constitutional litigation. Carlos Rafael Pellecer (who is sought after for his transactional expertise), Rodolfo Sosa (a longstanding expert in Guatemala’s oil industry), José Javier Sosa (a specialist in mining and renewable energy matters and environmental law) and Manuel Arturo Soto (who focuses on contractual issues) jointly lead the practice.

Practice head(s):

Carlos Rafael Pellecer; Manuel Arturo Soto; Rodolfo Sosa; José Javier Sosa


Testimonials

AD Sosa & Soto’s lawyers focus on training and studying the case that is presented to them in such a way that they can provide the best possible solution.

They have a unique position in the Guatemalan energy market with more than 40 years of direct experience, including drafting some of the governmental frameworks. Their depth of knowledge in the sector and commercial judgement to appropriately navigate the market is a key factor.

BLP

BLP has experience across a wide range of energy and natural resources matters, from the development and financing of projects (including clean energy projects) to domestic and regional transactions and regulatory matters in the sector, particularly in electricity. Rodolfo Salazar, who brings extensive expertise in energy-related litigation and arbitration, is the key contact for advice on energy and infrastructure projects (with an emphasis on public tenders) and environmental impact studies.

Carrillo & Asociados

Carrillo & Asociados‘ energy practice is strongly geared towards disputes, tapping into the wider firm’s expertise in the field to handle energy-related administrative and criminal litigation and arbitration. The team is also well versed in regulatory issues spanning the hydrocarbons, electricity, mining and environmental sectors, advising on participation in tenders, permits and licences. Rodrigo Callejas, who heads the strategic litigation practice, and Ricardo Recinos, who focuses on contentious and regulatory matters, are among the key figures in the team.

Lex Atlas

The energy practice at Lex Atlas leans on the longstanding sector expertise of practice co-heads Ignacio Andrade Aycinena (who founded the firm in October 2022 following his departure from Sfera Legal) and Jorge Asensio Aguirre, both of whom are experienced in advising local and, particularly, international clients on matters spanning the oil and gas, electricity, mining and renewable energy spheres. The team is well versed in M&A, financing, regulatory and litigation matters relating to the development of energy projects, with notable strength in disputes concerning ILO Convention 169.

Practice head(s):

Ignacio Andrade Aycinena; Jorge Asensio Aguirre


Key clients

Inversiones Pasabien


Novales Abogados

Novales Abogados has a strong profile for energy, infrastructure and environmental matters, having advised on the first project to expand Guatemala’s national electricity transmission network. The boutique firm is skilled in assisting with public tenders for electricity generation and distribution projects, PPAs and environmental permits, as well as handling disputes over the construction and development of energy projects. Javier Novales is the name to note for regulatory, contractual and contentious matters in the electricity and hydrocarbons sectors.