Ms Liz Gordillo > Arias > Guatemala, Guatemala > Lawyer Profile
Arias Offices
6ª. Avenida 12-24 zona 10
Edificio HQ Fontabella, Nivel 8
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala. C. A.
Guatemala
Ms Liz Gordillo
Work Department
Labour Law | Regulatory
Position
Partner.
Career
Liz is a Managing Partner at Arias Guatemala and throughout the 30 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to practice in various areas of law. Currently she devotes most of her time counseling in labor, immigration and regulatory matters, serving clients in specific issues, day to day work, as well as providing them with updates on local regulations and in more extensive and complex processes.
She has been a member and advisor to institutions and commissions that have contributed significantly to the country and the region’s institutions:
– Member of the commission that revised the Draft Law on the Promotion of Free Competition and consumer, users and suppliers rights;
– Special Consultant to the United Nations in the State Modernization Program (1996-1997)
– Legal Adviser in the Modernization Program of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute – INGUAT (1997)
– Legal Adviser responsible for reviewing the Civil Service draft law, Pension Savings Act, Probity Law and Structuring of Guatemala’s Tax Administration – SAT (1996-1997)
– Legal adviser to the Minister and Vice Minister of Economy on draft laws (1996-1997)
– Legal adviser in the drafting of the new Migration and Alien Act and its regulation (1998)
– Legal Adviser in the CAFTA Trade and Commercial Law Assessment Activity Overview (2004)
– Team leader of Guatemala in the seminar simulating the regional conference of the USAID on the assessment of trade and commercial law CAFTA (2005)
In labor terms, she assists international and local companies in compliance with local regulations, contracts, labor disputes, internal labor regulations and occupational safety, among others. She has extensive experience advising companies on migration issues; facilitating the recruitment of foreign personnel and expatriation of local workers.
Moreover, her passion to keep herself updated in terms of the economic and legal environment, has allowed her to provide regulatory advice on various issues, serving diverse industries such as cosmetics, medical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, agriculture, technology, telecommunications, advertising and consumer protection. She has also provided consulting on anti-corruption for several companies.
Liz also has experience in corporate work, intellectual property and health registrations. Thus giving her the ability to deal with client’s cases from a comprehensive perspective, where she can anticipate, address, and prevent timely situations that could affect their business.
Her role in the firm goes beyond the service she provides to her clients. Liz spends part of her time mentoring and coaching new generations of lawyers in Arias, instilling in them integrity, ethics, and responsibility, values that characterize the firm.
Languages
Spanish and English
Memberships
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Guatemala Bar Association
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International Bar Association (IBA)
Education
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Degree in Legal and Social Sciences and Degree of Lawyer and Notary. Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala.
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Legal Aspects of International Business of the Central American Institute of Business Program. INCAE.
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Program of Instruction for Lawyers – PIL. Harvard Law School.
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Leading Professional Service Firms. Harvard Law School.
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Tort Law Course. University of Salamanca, Spain.
Lawyer Rankings
Guatemala > Intellectual property
In addition to being prolific in the filing and prosecution of trade marks for leading multinationals (including joining forces with their counterparts in the firm’s other offices in Central America to manage clients’ regional portfolios), the ‘excellent lawyers’ in Arias‘ IP team are increasingly active in advising on patent applications for major global pharmaceutical companies. The firm’s IP litigation practice is also continuing to grow, particularly in criminal anti-counterfeiting cases. Practice head Ivón Hernández, who was elevated to the partnership in June 2024, has wide-ranging experience in IP matters that extends to the IP aspects of software and licensing agreements. Associate Cristina Ortega, who rejoined the team in June 2023, contributes complementary expertise in data protection and technology, while managing partner Liz Gordillo
and seasoned litigator Mario René Archila are also key names at senior level.
Guatemala > Labour
(Hall of Fame)Arias fields a team of ‘experienced lawyers who provide practical and effective recommendations’, covering compliance, transactional and contentious labour matters. Counting an array of major international companies among its clients, the team is well versed in advising on the employment aspects of regional M&A transactions (frequently working alongside the firm’s other offices in Central America) and workforce restructurings, as well as related immigration issues and compliance with local regulations. Representing employers during internal investigations and in labour disputes is another core area of strength. Managing partner Liz Gordillo, who maintains a strong all-round labour practice, leads the team alongside Rosa María Arenales, who has growing expertise in the implementation of ESG programmes. The deep pool of junior lawyers also includes of counsel Marco Cruz, who joined from Conservis Abogados in December 2023, and litigation-focused associate Karla Gómez.