Pellerano Nadal > Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic > Firm Profile

Pellerano Nadal
AV. PEDRO HENRIQUEZ UREÑA NO. 150
TORRE DIANDY XIX, SANTO DOMINGO
10108
Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

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.

Practice head(s):

Gustavo Mena; Luis Rafael Pellerano

Testimonials

The team has been excellent from the beginning. They have given us a very good service and attention to each request made.

Key clients

Energas

Mota Engil

Docalsa

Work highlights

  • Assisted Energas with participating in a tender for the building and operation of an LNG plant in the port of Manzanillo.
  • Acted for Docalsa in a recent environmental dispute in relation to the contamination of natural pools in the area of La Toma.
  • Assisted Mota Engil with the bidding process for two international projects in the Dominican Republic, as well as representing the client before government authorities.

Dominican Republic > Tax Tier 1

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.

Practice head(s):

Caroline Bonó

Work highlights

  • Assisting Thryv with conducting tax due diligence in relation to its restructuring and merger.
  • Assisting Ayesa Ingeniería y Arquitectura with all local tax regulatory compliance matters.
  • Assisted Ruffo with all local tax matters relating to its operations in the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic > Banking and finance Tier 2

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.

Practice head(s):

Luis Rafael Pellerano; Marielle Garrigó; Urania Paulino

Testimonials

Pellerano Nadal is a world-class law firm operating in a developing market. Coming from major US law firms, my experience with Pellerano in the Dominican Republic is similar to the kind of service you would expect at a top firm in New York, Miami, Los Angeles or London. Their team is comprised of fluent English speakers and their legal expertise is, in my opinion, the best you can get in the Dominican Republic. They bill accurately and on time.

Pellerano is a one-stop shop firm to solve a legal challenge of any scale in the country. And they know everyone. It would be a mistake not to do business with them.

Luis Pellerano is a gentleman, an optimist and an extremely adept lawyer. He understands how to navigate working in a country defined by informal conditions while bringing a sense of understanding to any situation. His team work tirelessly to produce legal memos and recommendations, come up with strategies, and solve problems.

They have a fluent understanding of the international community and can communicate effectively with everyone from the CEO down.

Key clients

J.P. Morgan Securities

Citigroup Global Markets

Ruffo

Work highlights

  • Assisted J.P. Morgan Securities and Citigroup Global Markets with the $1.266bn issuance of sovereign bonds.
  • Assisting Ruffo, a start-up which assists with cross-border real estate transactions, with all its operations in the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

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.

Practice head(s):

Luis Rafael Pellerano; Marielle Garrigó; Urania Paulino

Testimonials

The team really understands how to get things done in the Dominican Republic – not just the laws and regulations, but also the culture. They compare very favourably with other firms.

Luis Pellerano (a real superstar and very trusted counsel) and Urania Paulino stand out.

This is an exceptional firm with exceptional people. I’d buy stock in the firm if I could, it’s so good.

Key clients

JP Morgan Securities

Citigroup Global Markets

Grupo Nutresa

Thyrve

Ruffo

Oscor Caribe

MK Inc of the Palm Beaches

Ayesa Ingeniería y Arquitectura

Compañía de Energía de San Pedro de Macorís (ENERGAS)

Work highlights

  • Advised Grupo Nutresa after Grupo Gilinsky launched a public acquisition offer for up to 62.625% of the shares in the company.
  • Advised a Spanish company on its proposed entry to the Dominican market.
  • Assisting Compañía de Energía de San Pedro de Macorís (ENERGAS) with its participation in a tender for the building and operation of an LNG plant in the Manzanillo port.

Dominican Republic > Environment Tier 2

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.

Practice head(s):

Gustavo Mena

Key clients

Barrick Gold Corporation

Belfond Enterprise (Pederson and Partners)

MK Inc of the Palm Beaches

New Fortress Energy

IMCD Group

J. Fortuna Constructores

Dominicana de Cales (DOCALSA)

Goldquest

Kinnox

Apache

Compañía de Electricidad San Pedro de Macorís (CESPM) – Energas

Work highlights

  • Assisted Compañía de Electricidad San Pedro de Macorís (CESPM) – Energas with the environmental aspects of its participation in a tender for the building and operation of an LNG plant in the port of Manzanillo.
  • Assisted IMCD Group with the environmental compliance assessment relating to its acquisitions of Andes Chemical and Quelaris International.
  • Assisted Ayesa Ingeniería y Arquitectura with environmental issues relating to its possible entry to the Dominican market.

Dominican Republic > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Pellerano Nadal, whose ‘best qualities are its in-depth knowledge and accessible team‘, handles a range of litigation, arbitration and mediation, including civil, tax, construction and distribution-related cases. Thanks to practice head Gustavo Mena's expertise in environmental law, the team also has robust experience in disputes in this sphere (Mena's wide-ranging practice also takes in commercial and labour litigation). Managing partner Luis Pellerano is prominent in alternative dispute resolution.

Practice head(s):

Gustavo Mena

Testimonials

The team is attentive and follows up well on legal matters.

They have a high level of communication. They look for direct and concrete solutions to resolve conflicts.

Its best qualities are its in-depth knowledge and accessible team.

Key clients

Jetblue Airways Corporation

Dominicana de Cales (DOCALSA)

Unicomer

Apache Corporation

MK Inc of the Palm Beaches

S2 Yachts

Gijón

CORESA

Belfond

Work highlights

  • Acting for Jetblue Airways Corporation in a variety of disputes.
  • Representing DOCALSA in an environmental dispute relating to the contamination of natural pools in La Toma.
  • Acting for Unicomer in a dispute with the tax administration, which is seeking the payment of consumption tax.

Dominican Republic > Real estate and tourism Tier 3

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.

Practice head(s):

Luis Rafael Pellerano; Marielle Garrigó; Urania Paulino

Testimonials

They have deep knowledge of the real estate sector.

They give options to their client and provide alternatives for possible conflict resolution.

Key clients

Jetblue Airlines

MK Inc of the Palm Beaches

Apache

Barrick Gold

Gijon

Compañía de Electricidad San Pedro de Macorís (CESPM) – Energas

Ruffo

Inter-Development Bank

Work highlights

  • Representing Jetblue Airways before the aeronautical authorities.
  • Assisting Ruffo, a start-up focused on cross-border real estate transactions, with all its operations in the Dominican Republic, including the opening of a local office and assistance in local tax matters.
  • Assisted Inter-Development Bank with the $180m financing of a new Four Seasons hotel development by Cisneros Real Estate.

Pellerano Nadal is a full-service law firm founded by a talented team with more than 40 years of experience providing first-rate legal and business consulting services. At Pellerano Nadal, we are guided by our clients’ needs and strive to provide trustworthy and dedicated legal and advisory services in a wide array of practice areas.

Our experienced team has also represented multinational and local clients in complex cross-border and domestic transactions, which uniquely positions us to provide the best value-added legal advice and representation available in the Dominican Republic.

We strive to provide our clients with solutions in all aspects and life cycles of their business ventures. We counsel them when investing in the Dominican Republic, whether investing in existing businesses, setting up their local operations or launching their own startups.

We also help clients identify, evaluate and minimize risks when making important strategic decisions relating to corporate organization and governance, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, ongoing operations, divestitures and exits. We provide advice on the regulatory, financial and tax implications of all-important business decisions in order to maximize rewards and ensure compliance with local law.

When strategies evolve to transactions, we also participate in representing and protecting our clients’ interests by collaborating in negotiating the best contractual terms possible and securing governmental authorizations and permits required to make them a reality.

We consider ourselves our clients’ strategic partners and are strongly committed to not only helping our clients mitigate risk, but also helping them discover business opportunities and maximize gains.

Our team has over 40 years of experience counseling clients looking to do business in the Dominican Republic in a broad range of specialized industries including energy, emerging technologies, tourism, aviation, mining, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and financial services, amongst others. The team also assists clients when challenges and disputes arise during the course of their business activities. Our extensive litigation, mediation, and arbitration experience, combined with a strong business acumen and pragmatic approach, enable us to tackle the most complex matters and offer clients efficient and effective solutions to their commercial and dispute-related challenges.

Department Name Email Telephone
Managing Parter - Banking and Finance; Corporate and M&A; Energy and Natural Resources; Real Estate & Tourism Luis R. Pellerano lpellerano@pellerano.com 809 473 4545
Partner - Dispute Resolution; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment; Labour & Employment Gustavo Mena gmena@pellerano.com 809 473 4545
Partner - Corporate and M&A; Real Estate and Tourism; Tax Caroline Bonó cbono@pellerano.com 809 473 4545
Partner - Banking and Finance; Corporate and M&A; Real Estate and Tourism Urania Paulino upaulino@pellerano.com 809 473 4545
Partner - Banking and Finance; Corporate and M&A; Real Estate and Tourism Marielle Garrigó mgarrigo@pellerano.com 809 473 4545
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