ECIJA > Panama, Panama > Firm Profile

ECIJA Offices

ECIJA
Calle 50, Edificio Embajador,
Mezzanine 1, Bella Vista
Ciudad de Panamá
Panama
Visit website +507 209 6614

ECIJA > The Legal 500 Rankings

Panama > Labour Tier 2

Praised by clients for its ‘exemplary service‘, the labour practice of global firm ECIJA is frequently engaged by well-known multinationals to advise on compliance with local labour regulations, employment contracts, employee transfers and dismissals, social security, immigration and human resources policies. The team’s extensive client roster covers the logistics, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and retail industries, and it also has niche expertise in the sports sector. The ‘exceptional‘ Antonio Alberto Vargas combines his strengths in employment law and litigation and arbitration to represent employers in labour disputes before the Ministry of Labour and the national courts. Associate Diana Tejada is highly regarded.

Practice head(s):

Diana Tejada

Testimonials

‘ECIJA Panama’s support has been invaluable in providing a quality service to deal with local labour issues, given the particularities of the Panamanian market. They provide an exemplary service, and they are always available despite the difficulties faced on a project.’

‘Antonio Vargas is an exceptional lawyer. He provides great management of labour issues, and is always available to assist with the various projects on which we require advice in Panama.‘

‘Diana Tejada’s willingness to resolve client issues has been invaluable. She is always positive, and achieves the objectives despite the strict deadlines that we are working to. A lawyer with a bright future.’

‘They are young lawyers but well versed in all of the issues that we have consulted them on.‘

Key clients

DHL Panama

Mercantil Farmacéutica (Mefasa Panama)

Foster International Corporation

Jeancenter Corp

Distribuidora Panatex

Fundación Danilo Pérez

Fútbol con Corazón (FCC)

Denim Retail Group

Work highlights

  • Advising Helix International on labour issues in Panama, including the termination of employee contracts and Panamanian legislation relating to wages.
  • Advising Mercantil Farmacéutica on employment matters relating to the impact of Covid-19, including labour contract suspensions and terminations, reduced working hours and the implementation of teleworking.
  • Successfully represented Foster International in a claim brought by an employee before the Colón provincial court for unpaid benefits.

Panama > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

The Panama team of global firm ECIJA is ‘distinguished by its proactivity‘ and ‘great availability‘. As part of the firm’s network across Iberia and Latin America, the team is well placed to assist both well-known domestic brands and international companies, with experience in M&A, corporate restructurings and the establishment of operations under Panama’s multinational company headquarters (SEM) regime. The team is also commended for its expertise in the TMT sector. Practice head Daniel Shamah, who frequently advises on company incorporation, corporate governance and franchise matters, and Armando Córdoba, who specialises in commercial, legal tech, data protection and IP issues, are the key names.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Shamah

Testimonials

‘The Panama team is distinguished by its proactivity, always wanting to go the extra mile for clients and colleagues who collaborate with the firm. The work delivered is always of a high quality, covering all possible points and aspects that need to be analysed to provide the client with a comprehensive view of the problem or situation.’

‘Client service and attention to detail. Proactivity, quality of deliverables and quick responses to clients’ requirements.’

‘The team is well prepared and knows the law relating to all the work we have done. They are faster and more effective than the other firms we have worked with before.’

‘They respond quickly and are available. I have worked with Daniel Shamah and Antonio Vargas, who are excellent.’

‘A high level of service and commitment, with great availability.’

‘What makes this practice unique is its ability to bring a traditional and ancient profession into the present day. They provide legal solutions that are ready to face the challenges of the digital age that large, medium and small companies face. The main skill of this team is the ability to find tailored legal solutions for the TMT sector, all without losing sight of its role in supporting the corporate management of the business and people.‘

‘In our experience with the firm we have found an effective mix between legal advice on the TMT sector and a personalised service that gives us a feeling of warmth and a sense that the lawyers are genuinely interested, not only in the legal situations we are facing, but also also in the professional relationship that we are building.‘

‘Armando Córdoba and Daniel Shamah stand out not only for their mastery of their areas of practice, but also for their joint ability to develop customised solutions for every aspect of our business, while always trying to let creativity flow. They have a formidable ability to adapt to change, which is key in today’s ever-changing world.‘

Key clients

Jeancenter Corporation

Grupo Shalom

Novillo Alegre

DHL Panama

Distribuidora Panatex

Helix International Global

AMVAC

Sanofi

Work highlights

  • Advised AMVAC on its corporate reorganisation after the acquisition of Agricenter and the change of shares within the limited liability company.
  • Advising DHL Panama on various corporate matters.
  • Advising Jeancenter on the restructuring of all departments and subsidiaries of its holding company.

Central America > Corporate and finance

Spanish firm ECIJA has continued apace with its expansion in Latin America, launching an office in Uruguay in April 2023, and has already established a strong platform in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic. Clients in the region can also benefit from the firm’s recent alliance with Taylor Wessing LLP. Commercial and M&A specialist Guillermo Zúñiga leads the corporate team in Costa Rica (which is based across two offices), while Alfredo Navas Duarte is the key contact for corporate and finance matters in El Salvador. Rosalinda Cruz Sequeira and Roberto Williams steer the corporate practice from the firm’s two Honduras offices. Marcos Palma is the key figure in Guatemala and Daniel Shamah heads the corporate team in Panama.

Work highlights

ECIJA > Firm Profile

The firm: ECIJA is a European law firm with headquarters in Spain and offices in Portugal, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and El Salvador. ECIJA has a multidisciplinary team of over 800 professionals, with exceptional experience in their areas of specialization, enabled to work in different jurisdictions, with extensive knowledge of the different industries and international markets. ECIJA is a client-focused law firm with the agility and personal service of a high-end boutique firm and the multidisciplinary experience of a large firm. ECIJA is a full-service firm with significant experience and specialized in the practice areas required by international clients to invest and operate globally.

ECIJA’s international capacity is outstanding, the firm offers integrated cross-border advice. Since 2019, ECIJA has merged with 16 law firms and has become the largest Spanish law firm in Latin America. Nowadays, ECIJA has 29 offices in 16 countries. Furthermore, in 2019 ECIJA signed the biggest strategic agreement with the 4th largest firm in China (Grandall Law). The agreement brought together 3,500 lawyers and 54 offices in Iberia, Latin America and Asia. “To put that in perspective, that is comparable with CMS and Norton Rose Fulbright, some of the biggest firms in the world by headcount.” Law.com

Main areas of practice: The corporate and intellectual property departments are one of three specialist areas our full-service firm offers, by establishing a boutique firm in 2013.

The success of this firm gained the attention of leading Spanish firm ECIJA which was looking to establish a footing in Panama. In 2019, the firm merged with ECIJA which is now developing its brand in Panama and across the region.

Dispute resolution: ECIJA has a strong practice for dispute resolution both in local courts and arbitration. We have a specialized area in commercial, civil and labor litigation, as well as domestic commercial arbitration.

Also, we have more than five years advising national and international companies mainly in labor law matters. Likewise, representing important national companies dedicated to the banking and insurance business activity in civil and commercial litigation.

The sectors the practice works in cover retail, non-government organizations, pharmaceuticals, logistics, agrochemicals, and others.

What sets our firm apart is that we have a tailored and personalized approach to each client given our origins as a boutique, which the partners have maintained after the merger with ECIJA.

Clients rely on our partners for full corporate advice so our lawyers are also experienced in tax and IP matters as part of their advisory work to clients.

We have experience in import and export management for companies operating in the Panamanian free zones, business structuring and commercial operations including agricultural operations.

We receive many referrals from the Jewish diaspora in Israel, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico coming to live and/or work and invest in Panama.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Managing Partner | Intellectual Property Armando Córdoba acordoba@ecija.com (+507) Office: 209-6614 Mobile: 6490-6088
Partner | Corporate/M&A Daniel Shamah dshamah@ecija.com (+507) Office: 209-6614 Mobile: 6676-2887
Partner | Dispute Resolution Antonio Vargas Aguilar avargas@ecija.com (+507) Office: 209-6614 Mobile: 6275-7393

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Armando Cordoba photo Armando Cordoba Managing Partner at ECIJA Panama View Profile
Daniel Shamah photo Daniel Shamah Partner View Profile
Antonio Vargas photo Antonio Vargas Partner Dispute Resolution: Litigation and arbitration, Distribution and consumer law, Labour Law… View Profile

Staff Figures

Diana Tejada : Marketing & Communication
Ana Raquel Guerra : Marketing & Communication

Languages

English
Spanish