BKM | Berkemeyer > Asuncion, Paraguay > Firm Profile

BKM | Berkemeyer > The Legal 500 Rankings

Paraguay > Legal market overview

Paraguay > Administrative law Tier 1

Drawing on ‘extensive knowledge of the regulatory standards of the different public institutions and municipalities of Paraguay‘, BKM | Berkemeyer has developed a standout practice in public procurement, PPP projects and infrastructure projects. Martin Carlevaro is a name to note in the Paraguayan legal market for PPP projects and concessions; he is frequently involved in the country’s major projects, with recent advice to key client Rutas del Este including the financial restructuring process of the duplication and expansion of Route PY02. Senior associates Vivian Maldonado and Milena Sljivich both have considerable experience in infrastructure and administrative law, and both previously worked at the Attorney General’s Office. They provide support across the full range of matters, while senior figure Hugo Berkemeyer is a further key contact, coordinating the department alongside Carlevaro.

Paraguay > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

Highlighted for its ‘dynamism and 100% focus on the client‘, BKM | Berkemeyer‘s competition law department has been a key player in the recent swell of attention on this area of law in Paraguay. Having established a dedicated department, the team has swiftly gained experience both in investigations by the domestic competition authority, Conacom, and in merger filings and compliance following major M&A deals. In this context the team has been approached by international firms working on cross-border mergers that involve Paraguay. Manuel Arias, who was promoted to the partnership in May 2022, is well regarded by clients in this area and is one of the more experienced partners in this nascent practice area. He leads the team alongside Carla Sosa, who is similarly well versed in this area, having pursued a diploma in competition law. Senior partner Hugo Berkemeyer is also a key contact here, and the three draw together this practice with the firm’s broader corporate law group. Manfredo Ramirez was singled out by one client for his ‘substantial contribution‘; he makes up a strong associate-level group in this practice area, which also includes Andres Nasser and senior associate Alvaro Rojas, who joined the firm in October 2021.

Paraguay > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

BKM | Berkemeyer celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2021 and, having started originally as an intellectual property firm, it has developed into one of the country’s full-service heavyweights, acting in the full range of corporate matters. The team is praised for its ‘innovative and business effective solutions‘ and its client base includes international leaders in pharmaceuticals, banking and telecoms, as well as key players in Paraguay’s agribusiness sector. Managing partner Hugo Berkemeyer has established a strong reputation in the market and oversees advice to many of the firm’s top clients. He co-leads the practice with Manuel Arias, who was promoted to the partnership in 2022 and frequently leads on transactional matters; and Carla Sosa, who focuses on the contentious side of the workload. The department also fields a large team of associates; Milena Sljivich is experienced in international transactions and day-to-day corporate matters; Leyla Apud supports across the range of M&A; Antonio Villa Berkemeyer frequently assists with commercial contracts and competition law; and Alexander Berkemeyer, who returned to the team after completing an LLM and MBA in the US, concentrates on advising English and German-speaking clients.

Paraguay > Environment Tier 1

BKM | Berkemeyer‘s offering in environmental law is among the most prominent of the full-service firms in Paraguay, with practice head Yolanda Pereira regularly advising multinationals and leading domestic companies on their ongoing regulatory obligations and liaisons with local communities. While work continues to cover a variety of sectors that have need of environmental law counsel, recent market trends covered by Pereira and her team have included reforestation and advice on the country’s carbon credits system. Outside of corporate law support, the firm also acts in environmental litigation.

Paraguay > Intellectual property Tier 1

Seven decades on from its inception as an intellectual property law boutique, BKM | Berkemeyer remains synonymous with this area of practice in Paraguay. Its client base includes a comprehensive list of major multinational and domestic players in various markets, the food and beverage industry being a particularly strong area for the team, where it counts Coca-Cola and Grupo Bimbo among its clients. The highly specialised department has team leaders for particular disciplines within IP, with seasoned veteran and market reference Marta Berkemeyer overseeing the department as a whole. The trade mark group is led by associate Irene Angulo, and Cristobal Gonzalez heads the patent division, while also having expertise in copyright. Bárbara Dollstadt is highly regarded in the market and is the name to note for IP disputes, and senior figure Hugo Berkemeyer is a further key contact, leading across the full range of matters. An international department is coordinated by associates Jaqueline Querciola, whose focus is on contentious matters, and Valeria Carron, another trade mark expert.

Paraguay > Tax Tier 1

Tax specialists Federico Valinotti and Mauro Mascareño head BKM | Berkemeyer‘s tax group, which acts for international and domestic clients on the gamut of matters, from cross-border deals and innovative tax structures to audits and litigation. A recent highlight saw both practice heads and tax-focused associate Carlos Vargas leading advice to Cadiem Casa de Bolsa and 27 other clients in filing an unconstitutionality class action against the last paragraph of section 15 of the Tax Reform Act. Valinotti’s focus is on international investments and cross-border transactions, while Mascareño draws on 12 years of experience assisting a plethora of clients with tax planning, tax litigation and tax refunds. Innovative tax matters are also a keen focus of the department as a whole.

Paraguay > Banking and finance Tier 2

BKM | Berkemeyer has developed a strong offering in banking and finance and is particularly well regarded for its ‘innovative and efficient ideas for the structuring of projects‘. Its advice to Rutas del Este (as contractor) and Sacyr Concesiones and Ocho (as sponsors) for the $220m financing for the PY 02 road project has become increasingly complex as financing options have become more sophisticated in Paraguay in recent years. Three practitioners oversee the department: Hugo Berkemeyer is the firm’s leader and provides advice to a host of prestigious banks and financial institutions; Manuel Arias, promoted to the partnership in May 2022, is an expert in corporate finance and works closely with fellow practice head Martin Carlevaro, who is one of Paraguay’s foremost figures in project financing. He is supported on PPP and infrastructure financing by senior associate Milena Sljivich, while associate Adriana Ocampos assists in matters with public law or contentious elements.

Paraguay > Dispute resolution Tier 2

A broad, multidisciplinary team supports BKM | Berkemeyer‘s clients in the full range of commercial and tax litigation, and its arbitration offering is becoming increasingly prominent. Among its varied caseload in terms of sector coverage, the group has acted in a number of banking and agribusiness matters recently. Senior partner Hugo Berkemeyer co-leads the team and is a key contact for a number of the firm’s clients. Alongside him, corporate law expert Carla Sosa leads across the spectrum of matters, and senior associate Natalia Oddone also regularly takes a leading role in cases. The department’s deep pool of associates includes Martin Romero, Federico Huttemann and Natalia Alarcón.

Paraguay > Labour and employment Tier 4

Supporting its clients from a corporate law perspective, the labour and employment team at BKM | Berkemeyer assists with various issues, including the release of stable workers, drafting and coordinating employment contracts, and advice on human resources policies. Senior associate Hugo Aponte is the primary contact and the firm has added two labour law-focused associates to support him: Mauricio Ozuna, who has 15 years of experience in labour law and social security, specialising in judicial litigation; and Jorge Peralta, who acts in trials and in corporate law advisory issues.