The powerhouse team at regional firm Arias remains a market leader, advising major financial institutions and multinational corporations on a comprehensive range of matters, including cross-border M&A, project finance and infrastructure matters, joint ventures, concessions and credit agreements. The team's client base spans the banking and financial services, telecoms, media, food, insurance and energy sectors. The practice is headed by managing partner and foreign investment authority Ana Teresa Rizo, Bertha Arguello, a financial regulatory expert, and deal-structuring specialist Gustavo-Adolfo Vargas. Roger Pérez and Rodrigo Ibarra, who was promoted to partner in August 2021, are both experienced in high-value transactions. Key support at the associate level is provided by Uriel Balladares and Maryeling Guevara.

Backed by offices throughout the region, the team at Consortium Legal continues to be a leader in the corporate and finance practice areas, assisting national and multinational corporations and financial institutions with a comprehensive range of matters. Headed by foreign investment authority Carlos Taboada and financial and corporate restructuring expert Olga Barreto, the full-service practice covers company incorporation and market strategy, M&A, due diligence, regulatory compliance and related tax matters, in addition to subordinated agreements, guaranteed and unsecured credit lines, joint ventures and project finance. Former General Secretary of the Ministry of Justice of Nicaragua Martha Lorena Icaza and senior associate Meyling Sampson, a free trade zone restructuring specialist, provide support. The team’s active client base includes household names Nestlé and Caterpillar and spans the food and beverages, financial services, energy, retail, telecoms and tech sectors.

‘Experts in the field’, the corporate and transactional lawyers at García & Bodán remain a force in the marketplace, coordinating with the firm's partner offices in Central America to advise regional and multinational corporations and financial institutions on day-to-day issues and high-value transactions across multiple jurisdictions. The team is led by regional managing partner Terencio García and regional director of the corporate and transactional practice Federico Gurdián, who was appointed senior partner in May 2022. The group provides comprehensive support on regulatory issues, bond issuances, company incorporations and shareholders’ agreements, as well as concession contracts, consumer rights issues, licensing, due diligence processes and M&A. Supported by telecoms and real estate specialist Carlos Téllez and tax practice head Melvin Estrada Canizales, the team advises a broad client base that features household names United Airlines, Payless ShoeSource and Stanley Black & Decker, with expertise in the aviation, energy, education, food, apparel and financial services industries.

The business law team at BLP employs the full bench strength of its office across the region to assist major multinational corporations, financial institutions and international development banks on day-to-day matters and complex, high-value transactions. Ernesto Rizo leads the team, bringing over 20 years of experience in corporate and finance matters to the table, and is supported by associate Federico Barrios, a specialist in due diligence and the negotiation and execution of business cooperation agreements. The practice’s full service extends to M&A, corporate restructurings, distribution relationships, administrative procedures, credit restructuring, consumer rights issues and retail banking transactions. Acting for key market players Mastercard, Volvo and IDB Invest, the practice has an active client roster across the mining, tobacco, insurance, automotive and financial services sectors.

Highlighted for its ‘extensive knowledge of Nicaraguan law’, the corporate and finance team at Central American firm Lexincorp assists household-name multinationals (including Sony and Nokia) and regional financial institutions with high-value, cross-border transactions. Spearheaded by managing partner Claudia Vivas, who served as a senior legal adviser to the United States Embassy in Nicaragua, the department offers an extensive service covering company incorporations, corporate governance, franchise agreements and M&A, in addition to financial matters such as complex loan agreements, project finance and supplier credit agreements. International banking adviser Roberto Rodríguez is also a key contact. The team’s client base spans the manufacturing, tobacco, apparel, telecoms, food and financial services industries, with recent growth displayed in the mining sector.

Connected to an extensive global network, the corporate and finance department at ECIJA Castillo & Fiallos provides a full service to regional and international corporations and financial institutions, which includes advising on project finance, debt restructuring, due diligence, M&A, corporate governance, commercial contracting and regulatory compliance. Edmundo Castillo and Maria Antonieta Fiallos are the key contacts.