Our immigration team works together with the client’s human resources professionals to provide tailored and practical guidance for the establishment or relocation of employees to the Republic of Panama.
LOVILL > Panama City, Panama > Firm Profile
LOVILL Offices
LOVILL
MIDTOWN SF74
CALLE 74 DE SAN FRANCISCO
PANAMA CITY
Panama
MIDTOWN SF74
CALLE 74 DE SAN FRANCISCO
PANAMA CITY
Panama
LOVILL > The Legal 500 Rankings
Panama > Dispute resolution Tier 2
LOVILL‘s dispute resolution team is highlighted for its ‘deep understanding of the local legal landscape, combined with its international expertise‘, which is reflected in its impressive track record of representing international clients (including household-name multinationals and foreign states) in cross-border cases in Panama. The firm is well versed in both litigation and arbitration, acting in disputes across the full spectrum of civil, commercial, criminal and administrative law, with a growing niche in multi-jurisdictional insolvency litigation. At the head of the practice, ‘standout leader‘ Isabel Cristina López has notable strength in cross-border commercial disputes. The team also benefits from the expertise of recently promoted partner Jeannette Bravo, a specialist in labour litigation, and dual-qualified (in New York and Panama) associate Christopher Glasscock, a ‘great litigator‘ who also has a focus on international arbitration.Practice head(s):
Isabel Cristina López
Testimonials
‘The team provides a personalised service focused on an overall strategy. A diverse team that contributes in different areas to resolve the case as soon as possible. Its personalised approach is its greatest strength.‘
‘We would like to highlight the passion, commitment and professionalism of the work of Christopher Glasscock. The dedication of the whole team makes the client feel confident and supported with everything that is happening.‘
‘I believe that what sets the firm apart is its deep understanding of the local legal landscape, combined with its international expertise. This allows the team to provide comprehensive legal services to clients from a wide range of industries, both in Panama and abroad.‘
‘I want to especially highlight Cristina López, who I consider to be a standout leader who possesses a unique set of skills and qualities that set her apart from her competitors. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, as well as a deep commitment to serving her clients’ needs.‘
‘It is a very engaging firm which combines expertise in corporate matters and litigation and arbitration. Very quick in its responses and focused on client service.‘
‘Christopher Glasscock is a great litigator. He demonstrates a great deal of knowledge and expertise in litigation and arbitration. He fulfilled all our requirements.‘
Key clients
CAABSA
Mexichem Panama
Republic of Ecuador
Inmobiliaria Citelis
Grupo Especializado de Seguridad e Investigaciones (Gresinsa)
Riba Smith
SBA Torres Panama
Visa
Amanco
Unilever
Work highlights
- Represented the Republic of Ecuador and Corporación Azucarera Ecuatoriana, Coazucar Ecuador (Ecudos) in a $60m contractual claim filed by Caribbean Financial International Corporation (CFI), as well as representing Ecudos as plaintiff in a second case.
- Represented Blondie in a claim filed by Nacional de Seguros de Panamá y Centroamérica for alleged damages caused to property in an office building in Panama City.
- Represented Gresinsa in a claim filed by a former worker seeking damages over an injury allegedly suffered at work.
Panama > Labour Tier 2
Standing out for its ‘response times, flexibility with fees and quality of responses‘, LOVILL advises a host of multinationals and local SMEs on the drafting of employment contracts, adapting global policies to their operations in Panama, employee dismissals (including in sensitive cases) and immigration matters, as well as the labour aspects of corporate transactions. In addition, the team handles the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements with unions and frequently represents employers in labour litigation. The ‘exceptional‘ Jeannette Bravo, who was elevated to the partnership in July 2023, leads the team and is particularly sought after for her advice to major multinationals on day-to-day employment issues.Practice head(s):
Jeannette Bravo
Testimonials
‘The firm stands out for its response times, flexibility with fees and quality of responses.‘
‘It is very easy to work with them – they have a great capacity to adapt to working with our team. Swift and thorough responses.‘
‘Lovill’s labour team work in a very professional, timely and reliable manner.‘
‘The labour practice is highly up to date with labour law, which allows it to adequately and effectively meet the requirements of clients.‘
‘Her personal qualities, as well as her specialisation and knowledge in labour matters, make Jeannette Bravo an exceptional lawyer.‘
Key clients
Unilever
SGS Panamá
Banco Lafise Panamá
Ceva Logistics
Grupo Terra
Dekel
Gresinsa
Atrio Mall
Telecable
Visa
Isthmian Investment Corporation
Hacienda San José
SBA Communications Panama
Financiera Turbocash
Mexichem Panama/Wavin
Colliers
UDI Services
Work highlights
- Advised Gresinsa on all labour matters related to the winding down of the company and assessment of its relationship with the employees’ union.
- Acting as local counsel to SBA on day-to-day labour and immigration issues.
- Acting as local counsel to Unilever on all labour and immigration law matters, including advising the company on the relocation of C-level executives as part of the company’s global strategy.
Panama > Real estate Tier 2
Commended by clients for its ‘great all-round service focused on Panamanian real estate‘, LOVILL has a broad practice encompassing the sale and acquisition of land, the development of commercial and residential projects, the horizontal property regime, lease agreements, the merger and segregation of plots of land, and the restructuring of the ownership of land. Elizabeth Heurtematte, who divides her time between Panama City and Tokyo, advises a range of national and international companies, family offices and private individuals on real estate matters; she leads the team with Isabel Cristina López. The ‘exceptional‘ Alejandro Fung, who is noted for advising on ‘both the commercial and the legal aspects of decisions affecting properties‘, was promoted to partner in July 2023.Practice head(s):
Elizabeth Heurtematte; Isabel Cristina López
Testimonials
‘Excellent time management and client service.‘
‘Alejandro Fung is a top-notch lawyer who acts with a sense of urgency and delivers practical solutions.‘
‘A great all-round service focused on Panamanian real estate. Thoroughly professional with quick response times, often over the weekend.‘
‘Alejandro Fung is exceptional and provides a great service. He considers both the commercial and the legal aspects of decisions affecting properties.‘
‘Lovill has a small team, which I see as an advantage. The team members (led by Cristina López) work very closely together.‘
‘We work with Alejandro Fung. He provides an excellent service and well-explained, business-oriented advice, in a very effective manner.‘
Key clients
Pearl Island
Mexichem Panamá/Orbia Group
Isthmian Investment Corporation
Hacienda San José
M&A Capital
Urban Developers and Investors
Riba Smith
Atrio Mall
Valor Advisors
Blue Playa Venao
Work highlights
- Advising Pearl Island, the developer and owner of the Pearl Island resort project, on the segregation of land plots for future development.
- Advising Urban Developers and Investors on all matters relating to the development of residential buildings in Panama City.
- Advising Blue Playa Venao, the developer of a private residential beach resort in Pedasi, on the sale of villas and apartments.
Panama > Tax Tier 2
Singled out for ‘its efficient way of solving problems‘, the tax team at LOVILL advises an array of international clients on the structuring of cross-border transactions, regulatory compliance, the benefits available under Panama’s special tax regimes and the effects of tax treaties. The team also supports the firm’s active real estate department in advising on tax issues relating to real estate transactions and projects, and is equally adept at representing clients in tax disputes before the Panamanian courts. Dividing her time between Panama City and Tokyo, Elizabeth Heurtematte leads the practice and is noted for her experience in corporate tax structuring and estate planning. Isabel Cristina López is also a key contact, alongside newly promoted partners Alejandro Fung and Jeannette Bravo.Practice head(s):
Elizabeth Heurtematte
Testimonials
‘They are more proactive and less formal than their competitors.‘
‘The team stands out for its efficient way of solving problems.‘
Key clients
Ceva Logistics
Dekel Group
Visa
Grupo Terra
Pacifica Petroleum
Isthmian Investment
Unilever de Centroamérica
SGS Panama Control Services
M&A Capital
Riba Smith
Work highlights
- Advising an individual client on the tax strategy for several real estate and fund investments in the US.
- Advising Pacifica Petroleum on the renewal of its registration under the Legal Stability Regime in order to maintain the legal framework and tax benefits available in the Panama Pacifico special economic zone.
- Advising a multinational company on the application of benefits under Panama’s tax treaties to avoid double taxation on dividends to shareholders of the company.
Panama > Corporate and M&A Tier 3
Attracting praise from clients for its ‘combination of good legal knowledge and efficiency‘, LOVILL houses a broad corporate practice covering M&A, joint ventures, spin-offs and corporate reorganisations, as well as commercial and regulatory issues. The team acts for clients across the full spectrum, from large multinationals to Panamanian family offices, and is also skilled in assisting companies with establishing their businesses in Panama or expanding into other jurisdictions in Latin America. In addition, the firm distinguishes itself through its strength in real estate-related transactions across the residential, hospitality and retail spaces. Panama City and Tokyo-based Elizabeth Heurtematte and Isabel Cristina López lead the team, which can now call upon the expertise of four partners following the promotions of the ‘proactive‘ Alejandro Fung and Jeannette Bravo, who heads the labour practice, in July 2023. The firm also stands out for its impressive diversity and inclusion credentials; three of its four partners are women.Practice head(s):
Elizabeth Heurtematte; Isabel Cristina López
Testimonials
‘We like the firm because of the personal relationship they have built with our company. We like the support they provide and their help with international operations and regulatory permits in Panama is very valuable.‘
‘Their treatment of us is excellent – their service is of a high quality and the results have always been satisfactory. We have worked with Jeannette Bravo and Cristina López and their services have always been excellent.‘
‘Lovill provides us with a very personalised service and we have developed a very good relationship both in terms of legal opinions and in terms of the services they offer. The combination of good legal knowledge and the efficiency with which they deliver their services are the basis of our very good opinion of the firm.‘
‘Our main contact is with Elizabeth Heurtematte, who is available to turn to when required, but the day-to-day relationship is handled by Alejandro Fung, who is clear in his explanations of the legal matters on which we consult him and, in addition, responds quickly and efficiently to our requests.‘
‘Alejandro Fung is a good and responsible lawyer.‘
‘Alejandro Fung is proactive and can deal with any legal issues that come his way.‘
Key clients
Unilever
SGS Panama Control Services
Dekel Holdings
Aseo Capital
Visa
Mexichem Panama/Orbia Group
SBA Communications Corporation
Depuración de Aguas del Mediterráneo
Ceva Freight Management
M&A Capital
Isthmian Investment Corporation
Work highlights
- Advising Costa Rican telecoms company Telecable on the start of its operations in Panama.
- Advising Mexichem Panama, a part of the Orbia Group, on all commercial agreements with its service providers and all corporate transactions in Panama.
Panama > Banking and finance Tier 4
LOVILL‘s ‘excellent‘ and ‘highly technically skilled‘ banking and finance team handles a steady stream of transactional and regulatory matters, advising an impressive client roster that includes banks, foreign investment funds, multilateral development agencies and multinational corporations. The team assists with syndicated loans, debt refinancing, project and acquisition finance, and compliance issues, and also has growing expertise in the fintech space. Elizabeth Heurtematte, who divides her time between Panama City and Tokyo, leads the practice and has noteworthy experience in multi-jurisdictional financial transactions and project finance. The team has also been strengthened at the senior level, with Alejandro Fung rising to the partnership ranks in July 2023.Practice head(s):
Elizabeth Heurtematte
Testimonials
‘I believe that Lovill has an excellent team – very professional and dynamic.‘
‘The standout quality of the lawyers, apart from their knowledge in their area of practice, is that their responses are of good quality and timely. The service is more personalised than at other law firms.‘
‘Excellent. Very professional and highly technically skilled.‘
‘They understand clients’ requirements very well. They seek practical solutions without neglecting their clients’ interests.‘
Key clients
Inter-American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest)
Visa
Inversiones CrediQ Business
Banco Lafise Panamá
BAC Credomatic
Inversiones Amilena
Grupo Terra/Uno
Banco Agrícola
SGS Central America
Financiera Autocash
Riba Smith
Grupo Q
Unilever
Work highlights
- Acting as local counsel for Grupo Q in negotiations regarding a multimillion-dollar credit agreement with Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio Exterior, where four companies of the group act as co-borrowers and Grupo Q is the guarantor.
- Advised IDB Invest on a $12m cross-border loan to Rent-A-Pallet.
- Advising a regional fintech company on the process of its dissolution.
LOVILL > Firm Profile
About LOVILL: Founded in 2009, LOVILL is a law firm recognized by clients and international publications as a leader in dispute resolution, corporate/ M&A, labor law, real estate and banking and finance. We are focused on providing legal services with the standards required by Fortune 500 companies. We are known for excellence in service, dedication to our clients, and strict quality control across all our practice areas.
A committed team by your side: Our teams are trained to work beyond our borders serving clients from all around the globe both for their legal needs in Panama as well as managing legal services across Latin America. LOVILL combines true multidisciplinary teams in said areas, making the firm a preferred choice for advising on local and international transactions.
We are known for excellence in service, dedication to our clients, and strict quality control across all our practice areas.
We provide practical and innovative problem solving strategies, working in alignment with the highest standard of ethics.
Our attorneys build close relationships with clients based on trust. Our services are aimed at safeguarding the best interests of our clients and working to achieve their objectives with comprehensive and result oriented strategies. We offer legal advice that fits the jurisdiction, the needs of the client and that the client can implement in a practical manner.
Our culture: LOVILL’s relationship with its clients is based on shared core values. Trust and ethical business practices are essential for the firm and compliance is built into all its practice areas. At LOVILL our team constantly exceeds client’s expectations due to our high performance and quality assurance protocols.
A vibrant work culture that flows with diversity and inclusion: Promoting and offering professional development to women and minorities is at the core of our firm culture. For several years LOVILL has been awarded for “Most Pioneering Firm in Gender Diversity in Latin America” by Chambers & Partners Latin America.
LOVILL has an outstanding track record when it comes to diversity in leadership positions in our team. We believe that merits and performance are essential when choosing and promoting our legal and support team.
Dispute resolution: LOVILL’s dispute resolution practice has an international reputation and has consistently achieved top rankings for providing creative and innovative strategies for complex cross-border disputes and arbitration proceedings.
For LOVILL each case is a unique problem that requires a tailor- made solution and strategy that takes into account law, process, and commercial impact. We have broad experience in civil law disputes before Panamanian courts, national and international arbitration, negotiations, and complex multijurisdictional disputes that involve asset recovery, transnational insolvency litigation and complex corporate structures, as well as providing strategic advice to avoid legal disputes.
LOVILL has represented high profile companies in cross border disputes in industries such as infrastructure, finance, energy, logistics, banking, telecommunications, real estate, consumer goods and entertainment and hospitality. In addition, thanks to our team’s in-depth knowledge of public and private international law, LOVILL has a specialized expertise in the representation of sovereign states and state-owned enterprises.
LOVILL’s dispute resolution team is carefully selected from law students that have competed in prestigious international moot court competitions. Within that selection process LOVILL takes into consideration and has a preference for the Phillip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition, or similar moot courts of international relevance because of the level of performance and skills they provide for outstanding advocacy.
Corporate and M&A: We represent our clients in complex international transactions, as well as legal matters required in the regular course of business. Our corporate team provides legal advice to clients in the following sectors: consumer goods, infrastructure, logistics, transportation, hotels, security, financial entities, telecommunications, e commerce, among others. We offer a multidisciplinary team that can advise businesses on corporate structures, contracts, compliance, administrative regulations, tax and merger and acquisition transactions.
LOVILL has developed an expert practice for providing legal services in the region to multinational companies, family offices, foreign investors, and private clients that consider Panama, due to its strategic location, special investment incentives, political stability and dynamic economy, as the best place to establish their operations in the region. We advise each client according to the investment regime and corporate structure that best suits its business goals.
Real estate: LOVILL offers legal advice on all matters related to real estate law in Panama. Our clients in this sector are local and international developers and investors, who, hand in hand with LOVILL, have developed large real estate projects ranging from residential and commercial developments, hotels, shopping centers, projects in the historic center of Panama and private infrastructure in general.
Tax law: LOVILL provides tax planning and tax advice to companies operating in Panama, including in special economic regimes such as: Panama Pacifico, Multinational Company Headquarters, City of Knowledge and free zones.
Global wealth and private clients: We work with high net worth individuals, family offices, closely held businesses and accounting and law firms abroad to provide legal services across multiple legal areas.
Our services range from wealth planning, formation and management of corporate structures, corporate and business law, real estate investments in Panama, compliance, tax advice, family disputes to business succession planning to immigration and relocation services.
Lovill advises private clients and families with a net worth anywhere from seven to eleven figures on estate planning, ownership structures and private foundations. Lovill works together with banking partners to offer trusts and investment services in order to provide the full range of solutions required for a successful estate planning of high net worth individuals with multiple types of assets across the globe to organize and facilitate the transfer of wealth to future generations.
Labor law: We have a team of lawyers specialized in providing legal advice in labor law to local and local and international clients, including leading multinational companies. Our lawyers represent our clients in all stages of employment relationship. We also offer our clients assistance in labor litigation and restructuring processes, among others.
Our services in this area include: Application of the labor measures presented by the government due to Covid-19 and the reopening of the business sectors and guidelines that they must comply with, including application and implementation of measures such as teleworking, reduction of working hours, suspensions, creation, monitoring and assistance to the Committee of Hygiene, trainings and legal advice for staff and management.
Immigration law: LOVILL has a team of lawyers specialized in providing legal advice in immigration law to local, international clients and leading multinational companies.
Intellectual property: We advise and represent clients in the registration of trademarks of products and services, trade names, utility models, industrial designs, patents and all aspects of the Industrial Property Law of Panama. Similarly, we advise our clients on copyright and protection of their works: books, software, productions under copyright Law.
Finance, banking and securities: LOVILL has a team of lawyers specialized in advising on banking, financial and securities law. The LOVILL team is trained to provide its clients with comprehensive legal advice on financial operations and regulatory aspects in the Republic of Panama.
Our clients are banks with general license in Panama, with regional and international presence, financial companies, investment advisers, investment funds, family offices, among others.
We have successfully represented clients in local and cross-border financial transactions, such as project finance, preparing and reviewing legal documentation to establish credit facilities and collateral, due diligence of financial institutions, purchase and sale of banking and financial entities, amongst others.
Languages: English / Spanish
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner - Corporate and M&A, Private Clients, Banking and Finance | Elizabeth Heurtematte | elizabeth.heurtematte@lovill.com | (507) 2153215 |
| Partner - Dispute Resolution | Isabel Cristina López | cristina.lopez@lovill.com | (507) 2153215 |
| Partner - Labor, Immigration and Administrative Law | Jeannette Bravo | jeannette.bravo@lovill.com | (507) 2153215 |
| Partner - Tax, Real Estate | Alejandro Fung Mangravita | alejandro.fung@lovill.com | (507) 2153215 |
Meet The Team(s)
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jeannette Bravo | Partner | View Profile |
|
Alejandro Fung Mangravita | Partner | View Profile |
|
Christopher Glasscock | Associate | View Profile |
|
Elizabeth Heurtematte | Founding Partner | View Profile |
|
Isabel Cristina López | Founding Partner | View Profile |