Highlighted for its 'substantial experience dealing with foreign employers', Baker & McKenzie, S.C. leverages its extensive network to advise major multinational clients on employee mobility issues, the rollout of global labour policies, and cross-border reorganisations and restructurings. The team also stands out for its expertise in complex employment litigation; this side of the practice was bolstered with the addition of Gabriel De Jesús, who now divides his time between labour and commercial litigation. Carlos Felce leads the team, with key support from senior associates Daniel Fragiel and Sebastián Nastari.
Labour and employment in Venezuela
Baker & McKenzie, S.C.
Practice head(s):
Carlos Felce
Testimonials
‘The team provides certainty regarding labour issues, with outstanding dedication and professionalism.’
‘Carlos Felce stands out for his great understanding of the commercial reality, which allows him to provide solutions that are not only legally effective, but also in accordance with the client’s expectations.’
‘Carlos Felce and his team have helped us with many different and varying situations over the years. They have been very responsive and have provided options for our problems.’
‘I feel comfortable relying on this firm for their advice and their expertise. They have substantial experience dealing with foreign employers.’
Key clients
Anglo American
Aspen Technology
Associated Press
Eni
HBO
Gold Data
Melia
Parmalat
Telefónica
3M
Laboratorios Leti
D'Empaire
D'Empaire's 'excellent' employment practice spans a wide range of matters, including the employment aspects of corporate transactions, the termination of employment contracts (including mass lay-offs and the dismissal of high-level executives), labour mobility issues, collective bargaining negotiations and high-profile labour litigation. Alejandro Disilvestro, who is particularly experienced in collective contract negotiations and conflict management with labour unions, leads the team with the 'unbeatable' Victorino Márquez. Newly promoted partner Biba Arciniegas and associate Aixa Añez are also key contacts.
Practice head(s):
Alejandro Disilvestro; Victorino Márquez
Testimonials
‘The D’Empaire team has timely and up-to-date knowledge on labour matters. The service they provide to the client is excellent, and this is reflected in the quality of the advice that they deliver and the follow-up they provide to any questions.’
‘The service we have received from Victorino Márquez is unbeatable. His response times are excellent and the advice he provides us with is clear and very timely. He even goes beyond the specific doubts that we raise, and discusses policy, modifications to the legislation and even publicity issues that may have an impact on our operation.’
Key clients
LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics
Mapfre
Bimbo
Copa Airlines
Hino Motors
Maurel & Prom
Goethe Institute
Syngenta
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Caracas, Venezuela
Embassy of Spain in Caracas, Venezuela
Work highlights
- Advising Bimbo on labour law issues regarding its operations in Venezuela.
- Advised Copa Airlines on the employment aspects of restructuring its operations in Venezuela, including handling a misclassification claim brought against the airline by its former legal adviser.
- Assisted Hino Motors with a sensitive matter regarding the termination of the contracts of several employees.
Dentons
Global firm Dentons is highly experienced in international employment matters, advising a broad roster of multinational companies from the pharmaceuticals, tobacco and aviation sectors, among others, on their day-to-day operations in Venezuela, as well as sanctions-related issues. The team also has significant expertise in representing employers in high-profile labour litigation. Venezuela managing partner Juan Carlos Pró-Rísquez leads the practice. Esther Cecilia Blondet, who stands out for labour litigation, Yanet Aguiar and of counsel Victor Duran are also names to note.
Practice head(s):
Juan Carlos Pró-Rísquez
Testimonials
‘The firm delivers a high level of service and specialised technical knowledge. What makes the team special is that they combine their technical knowledge of the law with their knowledge of the policy, values and processes of our company, in a practical and timely manner.’
‘Juan Carlos Pro stands out for his very good business sense, technical legal knowledge and diligent management of the client’s issues.’
Key clients
Washington Baseball Club
American Airlines
Air France
Banesco
Brinks (Servicio Panamericano de Protección)
British American Tobacco (Bigott)
Chilean Embassy
Vicson Beakert
Equinor
Johnson & Johnson Group
Mitsubishi
Mitsui
Work highlights
- Represented Schlumberger in an annulment lawsuit against an administrative order issued by the Labour Inspector’s Office that ordered the reinstatement of a former worker.
- Represented a multinational client in a $5m lawsuit brought by a former employee seeking commission on rest days, holidays and bonuses.
- Represented BAT Group in a lawsuit brought by a former worker requesting indemnities for an occupational illness without a certificate issued by the National Institute for Prevention, Health and Safety at the Work Place.
Lega
Lega‘ ‘strong‘ labour team has particular expertise in employment litigation, representing clients before Venezuela’s labour courts and public agencies. Other areas of strength include collective bargaining negotiations, employee transfers and dismissals, labour audits and recruitment issues. Gabriel Calleja, who has extensive experience in individual and collective labour matters, leads the team with John Tucker Barboza. Other notable contacts include Carlos Alberto Henríquez, Luis Azuaje, Natalia De Paz Garmendia and newly promoted partner Isabel Pestana.
Practice head(s):
Gabriel Calleja; John Tucker
Testimonials
‘Lega has a strong labour team, with in-depth knowledge of the law and current local practices. They deliver excellent results and fully understand the needs of transnational clients.’
‘John Tucker is a lawyer who fully understands the problems and challenges of employers, always providing practical and achievable solutions.’
‘Lega has a solid team that can provide services in different regions of the country, which makes it agile in meeting the client’s requirements.’
‘Gabriel Calleja stands out for his extensive technical knowledge and great communication skills.’
‘Luis Azuaje has great technical legal knowledge and a great sense of client service. He has good relationships with the administrative labour authorities.’
Key clients
Coca Cola FEMSA
Jones Lang Lasalle
Nestle
Project Hope
Lenovo
Tampa Bay Rays
General Electric/Baker Hughes
Cerveceria Regional
Makro Comercializadora
IBM
Work highlights
- Advising a number of major multinational clients on the labour and employment implications of the Covid-19 pandemic, including remote working and occupational health and safety issues.
- Advising IBM on the employment aspects of the transfer of its managed infrastructure services unit to Kyndryl.
- Advising Coca-Cola Femsa on an ongoing dispute over the termination of the employment contracts of a number of workers.
Altum Abogados, S.C.
Altum Abogados, S.C.‘ wide-ranging labour practice spans hiring, terminations, compensation and benefits, labour audits and restructurings. The ‘cohesive‘ team advises major domestic clients from the pharmaceutical, food and beverages, sports and manufacturing sectors, among others. Practice head Mariana Roso is experienced in assisting employers with labour law compliance and compensation and benefits arrangements. Senior associate Ariana Cabrera is also noted.
Practice head(s):
Mariana Roso
Testimonials
‘Altum’s labour department has a cohesive team that is always available to meet clients’ requirements. You can contact any of them and you will get consistent, high-quality responses. The team shows warmth and empathy with clients’ situations, offering functional solutions that always seek to ensure that the business can continue with its projects, without the legal issues being seen as an obstacle. Legal solutions are explained in a simple and understandable way.’
‘The lawyers of the labour department stand out for their specialised knowledge of the subject matter, and their intelligence and practicality in resolving situations and conflicts. In particular, Mariana Roso and Ariana Cabrera are accessible people who always give timely answers and follow up on queries to find out whether the solution was applied, if it worked and how it can be improved. In addition, they thoroughly review the facts of each case to extract all the relevant details so that they can analyse the problem.’
InterJuris Abogados
InterJuris Abogados handles both contentious and non-contentious employment matters for an impressive roster of international clients with operations in Venezuela, advising on day-to-day employment issues, cross-border hiring, restructurings, the compensation of high-level employees in foreign currencies, and high-profile labour litigation. Practice head Angel Meléndez Cardoza stands out for his advice to multinational clients. He is supported by associates Armando Hurtado and Daniela Urdaneta.
Practice head(s):
Angel Meléndez Cardoza
Testimonials
‘The team have solid knowledge of the labour practice area, and they are very proactive, practical and efficient in their recommendations and responses. They are extraordinary litigators and have been successful in most of the complex trials we have assigned them.’
‘All the lawyers in the team are excellent. Angel Meléndez is very knowledgeable about labour law – he is an excellent negotiator, but when it is necessary to go to court, his strategies for trials are brilliant and the results are usually as expected. His main virtue is that he knows our business very well and that allows him to understand our requirements, and he always shows this in his strategies and recommendations.’
‘Daniela Urdaneta is a very intelligent, proactive and organised lawyer. She demonstrates a great command of labour law. She is in charge of following up on the cases that we assign to the firm and always keeps us up to date. Her analyses and recommendations are very precise and accurate.’
‘Armando Hurtado is a young lawyer who, like his colleagues, demonstrates a great command of labour law. He is also very proactive and quick in his responses.’
‘They are very knowledgeable about labour law, but they also know the practice and criteria of the authorities very well. The main benefit of the firm is the mastery they have of technology. They have recommended the use of cryptocurrencies and digital signatures in our hiring and it has gone very well for us. Not many lawyers in Venezuela handle that area like they do.’
‘Ángel Meléndez stands out for his ability to find simple solutions for complex problems, solid legal knowledge and understanding of our business. He usually tells us about opportunities offered by new laws and judgments to improve our hiring and remuneration schemes before other companies start applying them. We consider him to be the best attorney in his area.’
‘Daniela Urdaneta is a very organised and professional lawyer. She also demonstrates a lot of knowledge of the law in Venezuela, which inspires a lot of confidence and security in clients.’
‘InterJuris is unique thanks to the high quality of its services and response times. Its strong point is not only knowing the law, but also what happens in practice. The client service is the best – we feel like they are part of our internal team because they know us very well. They are a young team and they handle cryptocurrency and technology issues very well, which is another of their main differentiators.’
Key clients
Cervecería Polar
Pepsi Cola Venezuela
Alimentos Polar
Productos EFE
Ericsson
Industria Láctea de Venezuela (Lactalis)
Goddard Catering Group
Uninet Business School
CMEC Engineering
Women on the Stage
Team Remoto
Al Jazeera
Cunapro
Amarillo Creative Lab
La Lucha
Quant Ventures
First Link Group
Work highlights
- Advised Ericsson on a restructuring and the termination of the employment of more than 60 employees.
- Assisted La Lucha with the audit of its labour and employment obligations and documents in accordance with current legislation.
- Acting for Parmalat in administrative proceedings initiated by an ex-employee who requested the restitution to his position following the termination of his employment contract.
LABOR – Gestión de Gente
Labour boutique LABOR – Gestión de Gente is well known for its representation of employees in disputes regarding employment contracts and terminations. The team also advises on downsizing and restructurings, the collective suspension of employment relationships, and issues such as remote working and co-working. Carlos Rivera, who is experienced in labour disputes and payroll restructurings, leads the practice, and Pedro Uriola is noted for his collective bargaining expertise.
Practice head(s):
Carlos Rivera
Testimonials
‘They are professional and have good relationships. They understand our requirements and adjust to the different scenarios that often arise. They handle information discreetly.’
Key clients
Cámara Nacional de Medicamentos Genéricos y Afines (CANAMEGA)
CA de Seguros American International (AIG)
Fundación Hospital Ortopédico Infantil
Engelberg Transportes Internacionales (ENTRA)/DB Schenker
Laminados Innovadores Laminova/Lamitech
Maryelis Chacón
Laboratorios La Santé
Mercantil Banco Universal
Empresas Polar
Work highlights
- Acting for an engineer in a lawsuit against Corporación Andina de Fomento relating to whether he had an employment contract with the organisation.
- Represented an executive in the negotiation of her exit from Nestlé in Venezuela.
- Advised Cámara Nacional de Medicamentos Genéricos y Afines (CANAMEGA) on the negotiation of benefits for pharmaceutical employees to maintain continuity in the sector during the pandemic.
Mendoza, Palacios, Acedo, Borjas, Paez Pumar & Cia.
Experienced litigators Alfonso Graterol and Esteban Palacios lead the employment practice at Mendoza, Palacios, Acedo, Borjas, Paez Pumar & Cia., which has a strong track record of representing employers in labour disputes and collective bargaining negotiations. In addition, the team advises the local subsidiaries of major multinationals on day-to-day employment matters and labour due diligence in M&A transactions. Carlos Páez Pumar is also noted.
Practice head(s):
Alfonso Graterol; Esteban Palacios
Key clients
MSD Farmacéutica
Coca-Cola Servicios de Venezuela
BI Worldwide de Venezuela
AON Risk Group
Hotel Paseo Las Mercedes (Inversiones Velicomen)
Distribuidora Alcarin
Grupo Perret
Grupo Formiconi
Juan Van Heel
Real Seguros
Work highlights
- Assisting MSD Farmacéutica (the Venezuelan subsidiary of Merck, Sharp and Dohme) with local labour matters, including litigation.
- Acting for Hotel Paseo Las Mercedes in a compensation claim brought against the client by an injured hotel worker.
- Advising Miranda Capital Partners on labour matters relating to M&A transactions, including salary and benefits, foreign workers and social security issues.
Travieso Evans Arria Rengel & Paz
Travieso Evans Arria Rengel & Paz advises local and multinational clients on labour contacts, benefits plans, foreign workers, and labour compliance, as well as the employment aspects of corporate transactions. On the contentious side, the team is active in collective negotiations and lawsuits. Oscar Ignacio Torres, who is experienced in collective bargaining and litigation, leads the practice. Litigator Hernando Barboza Russian, Pedro Garroni Requesens and Yeoshua Bograd Lamberti are also key contacts.
Practice head(s):
Oscar Ignacio Torres
Testimonials
‘Deep knowledge of Venezuelan legislation and how to carry out business in the complex environment of the country.’
‘Yeoshua Bograd has proven to be a professional with deep legal knowledge and a commitment to following up on our issues, making him a key ally in achieving the company’s objectives.’
Key clients
Ford
Avon Cosmetics
Mondelez
National Oilwell de Venezuela
Del Monte Andina
Stanhome Panamericana
ExxonMobil
Orica
Oracle
Aggreko Venezuela
Work highlights
- Advised Stonepeak Partners on the labour issues relating to its acquisition of Lumen Technologies.
- Acted for Stanhome Panamericana in an ongoing dispute over whether the client had a commercial or an employment relationship with the plaintiffs.
- Acting for Avon Cosmetics de Venezuela in a dispute with a group of around 150 workers which forcibly took hold of the client’s facilities in Guatire.
Araquereyna
The labour practice at Araquereyna is active in collective bargaining negotiations and administrative and judicial labour proceedings. The team also advises clients, including the local subsidiaries of multinational companies, on compliance with Venezuelan regulations on occupational health and safety and social security. Luis Alfredo Araque leads the team, and associate Patricia Lozada Pérez provides key support.
Practice head(s):
Luis Alfredo Araque
Testimonials
‘A very good, well-rounded team.’
Key clients
Turkish Airlines
Domino’s Pizza (Inversiones 937)
Constructora Andrade Gutiérrez
Pizzolante Comunicación Estratégica
UPS SCS Venezuela
Work highlights
- Advised Turkish Airlines on issues including compliance with health and safety regulations in the workplace.
- Advising Domino’s Pizza on workplace health and safety measures, as well as other labour matters.
- Representing Constructora Andrade Gutiérrez in numerous claims for compensation brought by former workers.
ESCG Abogados S.C.
ESCG Abogados S.C. handles a wide range of employment matters, from litigation and collective negotiations to advice on labour compliance, the hiring of senior executives and the employment aspects of corporate transactions. Its client base spans the food and beverages, entertainment, technology and healthcare sectors, among others. Andrés Carrasquero Stolk leads the team.
Practice head(s):
Andrés Carrasquero Stolk
Key clients
The British Council
Operadora Gastronómica Ávila
Alimentos Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)
Fundación Efecto Cocuyo
Multicine Las Trinitarias
CAF Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina
Fondo de Valores Inmobiliarios
HIAS
Godoy Córdoba Abogados
CA Tabacalera Nacional (Phillip Morris)
Consultores e Ingenieros Consein
Fundación Jacinto Convit
Centro Médico Docente La Trinidad
CA Ron Santa Teresa
CPL Air & Sea
SouthGenetics
Supra BT
Work highlights
- Advising The British Council on labour and compliance matters.
- Advising Supra BT on the labour-related matters connected to the a project for the outsourcing of technology for a multinational corporation.
- Advised CA Tabacalera Nacional (Phillip Morris) on labour and compliance matters.
Jurado Blanco & Aguirre (JBA Legal)
Jurado Blanco & Aguirre (JBA Legal) is highly experienced in contentious labour matters, in addition to advising on compliance issues and the negotiation of individual and collective agreements. The practice is led by Simón Jurado-Blanco, who stands out for his advice on contract termination, collective bargaining negotiations and contentious labour matters, and Alexis Aguirre Sánchez, an expert in health and safety issues.
Practice head(s):
Simón Jurado-Blanco Sandoval; Alexis Aguire Sanchez
Testimonials
‘The lawyers that make up this firm have an impeccable track record. We have worked with them for a long time and they have always defended our interests in order to reach good agreements.’
‘Simón Jurado has a great capacity for analysis, and is an expert in labour matters, firm when it comes to solving problems for the company, and very even-tempered in deciding and reaching favourable arrangements for the parties.’
‘Alexis Aguirre is a professional with a background in matters such as occupational health. He resolves issues with an understanding of the current situation in Venezuela, and provides the best recommendations both for the success of our company and to help us reach viable solutions to mitigate risks.’
‘Alexis Aguirre and Simón Jurado are specialists in labour law, and are always knowledgeable about the legal concepts and updates in our sector, solving conflicts in a prompt and open manner. The fees are accessible and there is immediate communication through technological platforms.’
‘What stands out is the team’s honesty, professionalism, ability to immediately solve labour conflicts, assistance in court, and above all their respectful attitude.’
‘The level of expertise and empathy with which they deal with each case are very high, they have a wide network of contacts in specific areas that generates incalculable added value in labour and occupational health and safety cases. They send us notifications and summaries of jurisprudence in an early and timely manner to keep us informed of the latest news and trends.’
‘Empathetic, communicative and proactive. They always approach situations and cases with a 360° perspective, evaluating the pros and cons to make the best decisions.’
‘The team stands out for it knowledge, expertise, mastery of the subject, intellectual capacity and effort. They are expert negotiators. Simón Jurado Blanco’s knowledge of labour matter is extraordinary, and he makes clients feel safe and supported.’
Key clients
Banco del Caribe (Bancaribe)
Sodexho Pass Venezuela
BBVA Banco Provincial
Transporte Marítimo Maersk
Kuehne + Nagel
CA Editora El Nacional
SA Sucesora Jose Puig & Cia
Deli Corporación
Toyocentro
Intertek
LBM Comunicaciones
DHL
Papeles Luciano
Agencia de Viajes Pasarini Suarez
Lior Cosmetics
Strategic Management Service (SMS)
Desarrollos Hoteleros La Castellana
Poscomercial
Work highlights
- Advising newspaper El Nacional on a labour audit and restructuring, as well as assisting the client in litigation.
- Representing Kuehne + Nagel in administrative and judicial labour proceedings.
- Providing ongoing advice on labour matters to Transporte Marítimo Maersk.
Ponte Andrade & Casanova
Advising the local subsidiaries of major multinationals on day-to-day labour issues is a key area of work for Ponte Andrade & Casanova, which is also experienced in employment litigation and collective negotiations with labour unions. Ignacio Andrade Monagas leads the practice with Francisco Casanova, who has notable expertise in social security and health and safety matters.
Practice head(s):
Francisco Casanova; Ignacio Andrade Monagas
Testimonials
‘The team at Ponte Andrade & Casanova is highly professional. It provides prompt responses and, above all, its advice is faultless.’
‘What stands out is the team’s immediate availability and communication.’
Key clients
Hyland Software
The Walt Disney Company
Zea BBDO (BBDO Worldwide)
Coca Cola Femsa de Venezuela
SC Johnson & Son de Venezuela
Banesco Banco Universal
Banco Exterior
Servicios Panamericanos de Protección (SERPAPRO) (Brinks Group)
Documentos Mercantiles (DOMESA)
Infocent (and its related entity Nomi Sistemas)
Consorcio Lake Plaza
Inversiones Instrumental Atlas
Red Inmobiliaria de Venezuela
AseguraPro Sociedad de Corretaje de Seguros
1001 Ideas para mi País
VINSOCA
Tamanaco Consulting Group
ASAP Venezuela
Work highlights
- Advising The Walt Disney Company on diversity and inclusion policies in Venezuela.
- Acting as regional counsel to Hyland Software and advising on the review of its employment policies and protocols.
- Advising SC Johnson & Son de Venezuela on negotiations with employees over the suspension of shifts for a three-month period.