Mercedes Sancho > ECIJA > San Jose, Costa Rica > Lawyer Profile
ECIJA Offices
AVENIDA ESCAZU, TORRE LEXUS
PISO 3. ESCAZU
SAN JOSÉ
Costa Rica
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Mercedes Sancho
Work Department
Corporate, Real Estate, Foreign Investment, Notarial Law and Competition Law.
Position
Partner
Career
Mercedes Sancho is partner in the areas of Corporate, Real Estate, Foreign Investment, Notarial Law and Competition Law.
She has extensive experience in the field of advising national and foreign companies, as well as real estate projects, tourism developments and concessions in both the Maritime Terrestrial Zone and the Polo de Papagayo Tourism Area.
She was the in-house counsel for Península Papagayo Tourism Project -one of the most relevant developments in Costa Rica- for seven years and three years as an in-house counsel of a renowned transnational construction implements leader company.
Her great ability to coordinate, execute procedures and understating of the business roles in the different market trends during over 2 decades, is praised by her peers and allowed her to lead as Legal Project Manager (LPM) for different clients not only in Costa Rica, but abroad Central America.
She currently advises several clients in different areas, mainly in corporate real estate law, commercial law, the various contractual structures that link the start-up of companies and their businesses.
Advises Marketing Departments and product importing companies in the implementation of preventive legal processes and advice on the subject of Consumption, Sanitary Registers and prevention formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture. Implemented and directs the Corporate Social Responsibility program in ECIJA Costa Rica.
Languages
Spanish and English.
Memberships
Member of the Women in Profession Association of the Vance Center, being one of the founders.
Education
She obtained her university degree from the University of Costa Rica as a Lawyer and as a Public Notary. Member of the Bar Association of the Republic of Costa Rica. Currently she is studying to obtain an MBA degree from EUNCET Business School, Barcelona with a specialization in Marketing, Technology and Innovation at ADEN International Business School (specialization granted by George Washington University).
Lawyer Rankings
Costa Rica > Real estate
The real estate team at ECIJA utilises the bench strength of offices in 17 countries spanning Central America, Europe and Asia, and working relationships with Magic Circle firms such as Clifford Chance LLP, to advise national and multinational developers, investors and corporates, across such sectors as energy and hospitality, on the financing and construction of projects including resorts and residential communities. The firm’s full service extends to matters ranging from acquisitions of assets, construction agreements, concession processes and environmental matters to the obtaining of financing facilities, and setting up property in a condominium regime. Guillermo Zúniga leads the team, bringing decades of experience to assisting with complex real estate projects and transactions involving concessions in the Maritime Zone, the forestry industry, protected areas, condominiums and luxury hotels. Other key figures include Mercedes Sancho, who utilises a background as a real estate, tourism and luxury development in-house counsel, and associate Ana Cristina Mora, who assists with due diligence research procedures on properties, procedures to obtain transaction permits and the creation of investment vehicles.
Costa Rica > Corporate and M&A
Leveraging the bench strength of offices in 17 countries spanning Central America, Europe and Asia, and working relationships with Magic Circle firms such as Clifford Chance LLP, and bolstered by the firm’s March 2023 alliance with Taylor Wessing, the corporate and M&A team at ECIJA advises major multinationals (including Sanofi) on day-to-day matters and high-value, cross-border transactions. The practice’s services cover matters ranging from M&A, due diligence and corporate governance to commercial contracts and foreign investments. The group’s active client base spans the pharmaceuticals, energy, financial services, consumer goods, e-commerce, tourism, automotive and agrochemicals industries. The team is headed by corporate structure expert Guillermo Zúñiga, who has led the practice for over 20 years, and who brings strength to managing complex distribution schemes and matters involving the real estate and energy sectors. Other key figures include real estate specialist Mercedes Sancho, who brings expertise to advising NGOs and foundations seeking to establish a presence in Costa Rica, and experienced associate Monserrat Soto Roig. Since publication, the firm has also strengthened it global hallmark practice of TMT with the hire of former vice minister Edwin Estrada; previously at the country’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunication, he joined the firm as of counsel in March 2024.