Ms Sofía J. Cohen > Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega > Panama, Panama > Lawyer Profile

Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega‘s active projects and energy practice strikes a balance between transactional and regulatory work. Drawing on the wider firm’s strength in the banking and finance sphere, the team is particularly well known for its prowess in project finance, advising an extensive roster of international financial institutions and multilateral development agencies. The firm’s recent workload spans the financing of projects in the transport, energy, hospitality and public infrastructure (including healthcare) sectors, as well as energy-related M&A. Estif Aparicio, who is renowned for his experience in complex, often cross-border financial transactions, takes the lead on project finance matters, while Sofía Cohen heads the regulatory side of the practice. The sizeable team also benefits from the expertise of up-and-coming partner Fernando Arias F and international associates Cedric Kinschots and Donald Canavaggio.

Clients praise Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega‘s dispute resolution department for its ‘global capabilities‘ and ‘robust understanding of cross-border regulatory matters‘, which make the firm well placed to handle high-profile, multi-jurisdictional disputes; a standout recent example is its representation of McDermott International in a complex insolvency case. The team is also widely recognised for its strength in international commercial arbitration (particularly proceedings against the Panamanian government) and in domestic litigation, recently appearing in a series of constitutional cases before the Supreme Court. Claudio De Castro, whose extensive practice takes in administrative, commercial, civil, IP, shipping and tax litigation, leads the team with co-managing partner Fernando Arias. Sofía Cohen, who plays a leading role in regulatory disputes, including antitrust cases, and litigation relating to government contracts and concessions, and Juan Corro are also key figures, and the practice was further bolstered at partner level in August 2023 with the addition of Fernando Aued, who is well versed in commercial, civil, administrative and maritime disputes (as well as regulatory cases), from Dentons. The firm also strengthened its junior team in 2022 with the arrivals of associate Mariel Núñez from Britton & Iglesias and international associate Isabella de la Guardia from Baker McKenzie LLP‘s Miami office.