Carrillo & Asociados > Guatemala, Guatemala > Firm Profile

Carrillo & Asociados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Guatemala > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Carrillo & Asociados is widely recognised for its experience in local and international litigation and arbitration, and, thanks to its longstanding strength in constitutional cases, is often the first port of call for individuals involved in complex rule of law disputes. The six-partner team is also well versed in criminal, civil and commercial litigation, as well as having niche expertise in insolvency and asset recovery actions. Ricardo Recinos takes the lead on arbitration; along with Luis Mazariegos (who has notable expertise in labour and intellectual property disputes), he also focuses on civil, constitutional and commercial litigation. Fernando Mendizábal specialises in criminal, including white-collar crime, litigation, where he is supported by experienced senior associate Leopoldo Zeissig and associate Jennifer Bravo. Rodrigo Callejas leads the strategic litigation practice group and is highly active in cross-border insolvency, bankruptcy and asset recovery proceedings; Emanuel Callejas is another prominent figure in these fields. Founding partner Alfonso Carrillo also remains a high-profile name in the practice.

Guatemala > Banking and finance Tier 3

Leveraging the wider firm’s longstanding strength in litigation, the banking and finance team at established Guatemalan practice Carrillo & Asociados is widely recognised for its specialism in restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy matters, with an emphasis on cross-border proceedings. In addition to transactional and regulatory matters, another key element of the workload is assisting local and international clients with fraud investigations and the recovery of assets. Rodrigo Callejas, who leads the strategic litigation practice group, is a go-to name for restructurings and insolvencies, and partner and certified fraud examiner Emanuel Callejas stands out for international asset recovery matters.

Guatemala > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Well-established domestic firm Carrillo & Asociados focuses its corporate practice on multi-jurisdictional M&A, frequently assisting both foreign and local clients with due diligence and deal structuring, and international commercial contracts. A full-service firm, it is also well equipped to assist with M&A-related tax, environmental, regulatory and criminal matters. Sara Santacruz is the key contact in the team, routinely advising on corporate transactions, including restructurings and foreign investments, and labour law issues; she is also the founder of Transforma, a national group of women lawyers. At the associate level, Juan Francisco Sandoval is a name to note for M&A, the sale and purchase of assets, and commercial, civil and real estate contracts.

Guatemala > Energy and natural resources/projects Tier 3

Carrillo & Asociados‘ energy practice is strongly geared towards disputes, tapping into the wider firm’s expertise in the field to handle energy-related administrative and criminal litigation and arbitration. The team is also well versed in regulatory issues spanning the hydrocarbons, electricity, mining and environmental sectors, advising on participation in tenders, permits and licences. Rodrigo Callejas, who heads the strategic litigation practice, and Ricardo Recinos, who focuses on contentious and regulatory matters, are among the key figures in the team.

Guatemala > Intellectual property Tier 3

The IP practice at Carrillo & Asociados has a strong focus on litigation, tapping into the wider firm’s expertise in dispute resolution. The team handles both civil and criminal actions, including cancellations, oppositions and unfair competition claims, but is particularly prominent in the anti-counterfeiting space, assisting with investigations, prosecutions and the seizure of counterfeit goods. In addition, the team advises on the registration of trademarks and patents for a range of domestic and international clients. Experienced litigators Luis Mazariegos and Ricardo Recinos specialise in contentious-administrative IP matters, while strategic litigation head Rodrigo Callejas and senior associate Mauricio Ordóñez are the names to note for criminal IP cases. Associate Alfaro López concentrates his practice on the management of IP portfolios.

Guatemala > Tax Tier 3

Carrillo & Asociados‘ tax practice is largely focused on litigation, reflecting a firm-wide emphasis on this area; the team, which stands out for its ability to handle both contentious-administrative and criminal proceedings, has a strong record in cases relating to the payment of VAT, customs issues and challenges to audits by the SAT. The key name to note at partner level is Rodrigo Callejas, who leads the strategic litigation practice and has considerable expertise in fraud investigations. The talented cohort of lawyers includes senior associate María de Lourdes Villanueva, a specialist in tax, customs and international trade matters, as well as estate planning.