Mr Luis Diego Obando > Arias > San Jose, Costa Rica > Lawyer Profile

The energy team at regional firm Arias provides advice on major energy generation projects at every phase – from initial investment to operations. The group’s comprehensive service extends to assistance with bidding processes, regulatory compliance issues and advisory services to large energy consumers in the development and support of contracts of sale or supply. The team is led by project finance expert Carlos Ubico, who brings strength to administrative procedures and litigation proceedings, the creation of public-private partnerships, public works concessions and challenges before the Constitutional Court. Ubico is supported by senior counsel Luis Diego Obando, an administrative law specialist with experience litigating at both the national and international levels.

The environmental group at Arias employs regional strength to advise national and international corporates and developers on a wide spectrum of matters across the practice area. With a client base spanning such sectors as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, agriculture, energy and chemicals, the team’s comprehensive service covers environmental litigation and alternative dispute resolution, legal permits and licences, ESG services, expansion planning, regulatory compliance, renewable projects and environmental due diligence. The team is led by seasoned environmental litigator Roberto Cordero, who brings over 20 years of experience and who assists clients with environmental health and safety, sustainability, and crisis management, and Carlos Ubico, who utilises a background in project finance, public law, administrative litigation, and constitutional claims before the Costa Rican Constitutional Court. Other key figures include senior counsel Luis Diego Obando, who has litigated internationally before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and associate Mónica Espinoza, who handles the environmental aspects of major transactions for clients across the fishing, automotive and hospitality industries.

The team at Arias utilises its regional presence to advise investors, government agencies, NGOs and multinationals including Telefónica and McKinsey & Company on a diverse spectrum of matters, ranging from administrative procedures, lawsuits against the government and government procurement proceedings to public works, infrastructure concessions, public project financing, and claims before the Costa Rican Constitutional Court. The firm’s active client base spans such sectors as telecoms, construction, pharmaceuticals, tech, energy, and hospitality. The team is led by Carlos Ubico, who brings experience in administrative procedures, work concessions and project finance, along with Vicente Lines (an expert in energy and infrastructure), Carlos Camacho, Andrey Dorado and Diego Gallegos (who brings expertise to asset finance transactions). Other key figures include senior counsel Luis Diego Obando and associate Mónica Espinoza, both seasoned international litigators.