Luis Rafael Pellerano > Pellerano Nadal > Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic > Lawyer Profile

Pellerano Nadal brings together regulatory and transactional knowledge to handle a wide range of matters in the banking and finance arena. The team can now call upon the expertise of three partners, following the promotion of Urania Paulino in January 2023 and the arrival of Marielle Garrigó in February 2023 from Medina Garnes Abogados. The pair lead the practice alongside Luis Rafael Pellerano, an expert in project finance and cross-border transactions, with significant experience of advising US clients. Associate Eduardo Pellerano handles matters in the infrastructure, technology, tourism and energy sectors, among others.

The leadership group at Pellerano Nadal was strengthened significantly in 2023 with the promotion to the partnership of Urania Paulino (whose broad practice covers foreign investment, international trade and M&A) in January and the arrival of experienced transactional lawyer Marielle Garrigó from Medina Garnes Abogados in February; they lead the practice alongside ‘superstar‘ managing partner Luis Rafael Pellerano. The group is instructed by a diverse client base from the energy, technology, tourism, aviation, retail and consumer goods sectors, among others, to advise on a wide range of matters, including multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions and entry to the Dominican market.

Pellerano Nadal, which is praised for its ‘good service and attention to each request made‘, has a strong track record of advising on the development of major domestic energy projects; its recent highlights include assisting Energas with the tender for the construction and operation of an LNG plant in the port of Manzanillo. In addition, the team handles energy-related corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, environmental issues and significant disputes. Gustavo Mena, who has over 30 years of experience in environmental law, including handling international arbitration in this space, leads the team alongside Luis Rafael Pellerano, who is a high-profile name for project finance and transactions in the energy and mining sectors. Senior associate Eduardo Pellerano provides key support.

Pellerano Nadal has a strong track record of handling environmental compliance matters relating to projects and transactions in the real estate, mining and energy sectors, among others. The team is also adept at handling environmental litigation; its recent highlights include representing a local mining company in a dispute over environmental damage in the area. Gustavo Mena, who has extensive experience in environmental law (including acting as an expert in international arbitration cases), heads the practice. Senior associate and regulatory expert B Génesis Rodríguez frequently advises on environmental services, management and compliance. Managing partner Luis Rafael Pellerano lends senior expertise to the team.

Caroline Bonó leads the team at Pellerano Nadal, which offers advice on the full spectrum of tax issues, both within the Dominican Republic and internationally. The group is a go-to for multinationals looking to set up businesses in the country, as well as advising on the tax side of M&A and foreign investments. Aviation, retail, consumer goods, and free zones are among the areas in which the team has expertise. Bonó is a sought-after practitioner when it comes to the development of tax strategies and defending regulated legal entities before the tax authorities in the Dominican Republic, supported by senior associate Eduardo Pellerano, whose practice is focused on tax issues in general business law. Managing partner Luis Rafael Pellerano and Gustavo Mena are also names to note at senior level.

Pellerano Nadal‘s multidisciplinary team, which has ‘deep knowledge of the real estate sector’ and is part of a ‘one-stop-shop firm which is able to solve any scale of legal challenge in the country’, leverages practitioners’ skill sets in corporate, M&A, finance and energy matters to advise on local and cross-border real estate transactions and regulatory issues. Managing partner Luis Rafael Pellerano leads the practice alongside Marielle Garrigó and Urania Paulino; all three are skilled in a wide variety of transactional matters, and Paulino has addition expertise in the aviation field.