Lexincorp > San Salvador, El Salvador > Firm Profile

Lexincorp
71 AVE. NORTE Y 3 CALLE PONIENTE
3698 COLONIA ESCALON
SAN SALVADOR
El Salvador

El Salvador > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Drawing on a regional network spanning Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the Salvadoran dispute resolution team at Lexincorp acts for national, regional and multinational corporations and financial institutions in high-stakes litigation, arbitration and mediation, with specialty in administrative tax litigation. The team is led by Enrique Escobar, a seasoned litigator who has particular expertise to the energy and telecoms sectors, and Kevin Vargas, who was promoted to partner in January 2023 and who handles complex administrative, constitutional and labour disputes. Support is provided at the associate level by Mauricio Guardado, who is experienced in disputes concerning tenders and labour contracts, as well as contentious-administrative proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Enrique Escobar; Kevin Vargas

Testimonials

‘They are very good lawyers and defend my interests very well.‘

‘Kevin Vargas seeks to defend my interests in the best way and Mauricio Guardado is a great support to the team.‘

Key clients

Hipotecaria San Miguel

GCE International

Grupo Monge

Puma El Salvador

Work highlights

  • Represented Grupo Monge in a contentious-administrative claim against the General Directorate of Internal Taxes, seeking a reduction of its income tax balance.
  • Successfully represented Puma El Salvador in contentious-administrative tax proceedings.
  • Acted for GCE International in an insurance case relating to the closure of a factory in El Salvador.

El Salvador > Banking and finance Tier 3

The Salvadoran team at Lexincorp harnesses the bench strength of additional locations in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to advise domestic and multinational corporations and financial institutions (including banks and investment firms) on a diverse range of matters across the practice area. The firm’s client portfolio spans such sectors as manufacturing, tech, telecoms and energy, in addition to an expanded offering in the cryptocurrency space. Antonio Guirola, whose practice spans the coordination, negotiation, structuring and execution of multi-jurisdictional financial transactions, leads the team, along with Adriana Portillo and managing partner Enrique Escobar, who draws on his background as legal counsel for local banking entities.

Practice head(s):

Antonio Guirola; Adriana Portillo; Enrique Escobar

Testimonials

‘They are all excellent, very punctual and quickly carry out what is requested. They provide personalised management of our matters that protects our interests.‘

‘They are highly trained and up to date with current trends, and they work well as a team. Adriana Portillo and Enrique Escobar stand out.‘

Key clients

RAF

Supertex

Pettenati

Banco Industrial

Banco General

Ficohsa

Paxful

Work highlights

  • Assisted tech product company RAF with obtaining a commercial loan granted by Banco Atlantida El Salvador for $7.5m.
  • Advised sportswear manufacturer Supertex on a $3m revolving loan with Banco Agrícola.
  • Advising textile manufacturing company Pettenati on an $8m commercial loan granted by the Industrial Bank of El Salvador.

El Salvador > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

Harnessing the support of locations in Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the Salvadoran corporate and M&A team at Lexincorp advises regional and national corporations on a wide range of matters across the practice area. Displaying particular strength in the energy and food sectors, the group is led by transactional specialist Antonio Guirola, who routinely assists clients with incorporation and the establishment of a foothold in the region, and Enrique Escobar, who provides additional expertise in banking issues and corporate governance. Adriana Portillo is a key name for advice on joint ventures and M&A.

Practice head(s):

Antonio Guirola; Enrique Escobar

Testimonials

‘They stay up to date and protect my interests. The team are focused.‘

‘They are very professional. Enrique Escobar and Adriana Portillo keep everything in order at my company.‘

Key clients

Boskalis

Green Planet Energy

Ventus

Puma

Grupo Monge

Al Forno and Corporación

Work highlights

  • Advising Puma on the transfer of assets, permits and licences valued in excess of $10m to a newco.
  • Advising Ventus on the development and operation of a wind power plant, valued at over $70m.
  • Advising retailer Grupo Monge on corporate, contractual,  and consumer protection issues.

Central America > Corporate and finance

Originally founded 20 years ago by partners in Guatemala and El Salvador, Lexincorp has built a strong presence in Central America, with further offices in Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Counting a host of leading international and regional banks, financial institutions and corporations among its clients, the firm routinely advises on multi-jurisdictional M&A, syndicated loans and refinancings, with a growing offering in the fintech space. In El Salvador, Antonio Guirola, a specialist in international transactions; Adriana Portillo, who also handles related tax and competition issues; and Enrique Escobar, a standout name in the energy and financial fields, are the key figures. Roberto Rodríguez, who has a notable track record in advising international clients in the banking sector, takes the lead on corporate and finance matters in Nicaragua, while Julio Aparicio, who has a niche in advising restaurant clients on franchising agreements in Central America, is the go-to contact in Guatemala. Engels Zelaya, a specialist in the energy and public sectors, heads the corporate team in Honduras, where the firm has offices in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.

Work highlights

A leading Central American law firm with five offices located in the major cities throughout the region, Lexincorp specializes in providing legal advice to its domestic and international clientele. The firm’s regional practice has evolved to integrate processes, services, knowledge, business, values and solutions to provide the highest quality results, operating as a single, fully integrated Central American firm, rather than separate firms with international networking.

Although each of the firm’s five offices serves its jurisdiction, Lexincorp’s integration offers all of its clients, in any country, the ability to access all the resources of the regional offices and lawyers to the extent their matters require. The firm’s clients include domestic and multinational corporations and international financial institutions.

With over 50 lawyers spread across the Central American region, Lexincorp offers high levels of excellence and expertise in all of its practices and specialties, which has awarded the firm with rankings as a leading and recommended firm by Chambers & Partners, IFLR 1000 and Latin Lawyer.

Main areas of practice

Corporate, mergers and acquisitions: due diligence of all towers located in El Salvador purchased by Peppertree Capital Management Inc. Led the merger of Matallana SA and Laboramos SA, consolidating the operation in Guatemala of these subsidiaries of Colombia’s leading company in the paper industry, and was involved in Dispapeles SA’s assistance to SunEdison in the acquisition of two solar energy projects in Honduras – these projects were the first renewable solar energy plants in the country.

Financial and banking: counseled Balboa Bank and Trust on securing a loan for US$1.5m as working capital of the Entre Rios energy company in Guatemala. Legal counsel for Banco Industrial and Westrust Bank (International) Limited on the structuring of a loan for the construction of a mall in Costa Rica. Assistance for Banco General in Costa Rica on the structuring of a loan for the opening of a new department store of the Central American trademark SIMAN.

Intellectual property: negotiations between Millicom International Cellular SA and Telemovil El Salvador, for the registration of well-known trademark TIGO and its different variations in El Salvador. Legal managers of the trademark portfolio of Samsung Gear Blink and its official advisors in El Salvador. Samsung, according to Forbes, is in the top ten most famous trademarks in the world.

Real estate and property: legal counsel for Grupo Apolo on a real estate project of apartments in Guatemala. Assistance of a local client in Costa Rica on the purchase of 104 properties of plantations (teak trees) from another Costa Rican corporation. Lexincorp served as the firm in charge of performing the corresponding public deed to be submitted before the National Registry for the registration of the properties under the name of the client.

Tax: Lexincorp Honduras obtained a first instance court ruling in which the closure of duty free stores by the executive director of revenue was declared illegal. This statement allowed the client to claim damages in the order. It was the only contributor to get a favorable judgment.

Arbitration: Lexincorp El Salvador represented a client in an executive judgment derived from an assignment of receivables, in which the judge resolved in favor of the counterparty. This decision was appealed and the judge resolved in favor of the client. Representation of Intermoda El Salvador in an administrative litigation lawsuit against the National Registration Center for refusing the registration of the trademark Pepe Jeans P. Representation of L’oreal Guatemala in El Salvador, in an administrative litigation lawsuit against the General Directorate of Customs, which did not recognize certificates of origin in importing goods from the client and imposed fines of 300%.

Department Name Email Telephone
Senior partners Enrique Rodolfo Escobar López (El Salvador)
Senior partners Gonzalo Menéndez Park (Guatemala)
Senior partners Arnoldo André-Tinoco (Costa Rica)
Senior partners Fernando Midence-Mantilla (Nicaragua)
Senior partners Benito Zelaya (Honduras)
Corporate, mergers and acquisitions Enrique Escobar López
Corporate, mergers and acquisitions Arnoldo André-Tinoco
Tax Enrique Escobar López
Tax Gonzalo Menéndez Park
Real estate Arnoldo André-Tinoco
Real estate José Andrés Fuxet
Intellectual property Gonzalo Menéndez Gonzalez
Intellectual property Camila Escobar
Environmental Engels Zelaya
Litigation, arbitration and ADR Alonso Vargas
Litigation, arbitration and ADR Benito Zelaya
Administrative Claudia Vivas
Energy Leslie Henry
Transport and maritime Sylvia Nadesda Zelaya
Other fee-earners : 55
Partners : 11