Isabel Cristina López > LOVILL > Panama City, Panama > Lawyer Profile

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.

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.

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.

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.