García & Bodán > Tegucigalpa, Honduras > Firm Profile
García & Bodán Offices
LOMAS DE GUIJARRO
EDIFICIO CORPORATIVO ONÓN
NO. 105-106. TEGUCIGALPA
Honduras
- Go to...
- Rankings
- Firm Profile
- Main Contacts
- Lawyer Profiles
García & Bodán > The Legal 500 Rankings
Honduras > Intellectual property Tier 2
Garnering praise for its ‘availability, coordination and responsibility‘, the Honduras IP team of García & Bodán routinely joins up with its counterparts in the firm’s offices across Central America to assist clients with the management of their regional IP and health registration portfolios. Acting for a host of major multinationals in the media, food and beverages, retail and pharmaceutical sectors – to name but a few – the firm demonstrates strength in trade mark, patent and copyright matters, including administrative and criminal litigation. The ‘knowledgeable, responsible and reliable‘ Graciela Cruz heads the team in Honduras, while Julio Vargas, who is based in the El Salvador office, leads the regional IP practice.Practice head(s):
Graciela Cruz; Julio Vargas
Testimonials
‘Availability, coordination, responsibility.’
‘Graciela Cruz is a knowledgeable, responsible and reliable professional.’
‘The personalised service provided by Graciela and her team stands out. They keep in close contact and can resolve urgent issues with a phone call, without additional costs or prior notice.‘
Work highlights
- Assisting Novo Nordisk with the procurement and maintenance of all the required Honduran health registrations and licences for its biological and biotechnological products.
- Advising Mexican and Argentinean pharmaceutical companies Laboratorios Bagó, Bago Group and Armstrong Laboratorios de México on the management of their trade mark portfolios.
- Acting for Crocs in an anti-piracy action against five importers of counterfeit products in order to seize the items that are infringing on the client’s IP rights.
Honduras > Tax Tier 2
García & Bodán‘s ‘agile and totally competent‘ tax team supplements the firm’s busy corporate and finance practices when advising on the tax planning of major transactions, and also assists multinational corporations with the tax implications of their expansion into Honduras, including obtaining exemptions under the country’s various tax regimes. In addition, the team advises on compliance and recent changes to the law governing free trade zones, and handles a steady stream of disputes with the tax authority. Office managing partner and practice head Vanessa Oquelí focuses on tax planning and the structuring of transactions, while Godofredo Siercke takes the lead in litigation. Recently promoted senior associate Gabriela Aguirre, whose areas of expertise include advising on tax exemptions, is also a key contact.Practice head(s):
Vanessa Oquelí
Testimonials
‘We work with the firm in several countries and we have found them very diligent and the advice excellent.’
‘The team stand out for the diligence with which they respond to our queries. They are agile and totally competent.’
Key clients
Aerovías de México
INCAE Business School
IT Servicios de Infocomunicación Honduras
Software One
United Airlines
Versatec
Econored
AJE Group (Big Cola)
Knoah Solutions
AmCham
Honduras > Banking and finance Tier 3
The banking and finance team at García & Bodán takes advantage of the firm’s regional presence to advise on cross-border financing transactions, including syndicated loans and project finance. The team also has a strong track record in capital markets matters, advising on notes issuances on the international markets, and brings to bear significant experience in regulatory issues in the fintech space. Honduras managing partner Vanessa Oquelí steers the practice, contributing additional expertise in corporate, energy, tax and aviation matters. Godofredo Siercke is particularly well versed in advising on syndicated loans and project finance in the energy sector.Honduras > Corporate and M&A Tier 3
The corporate practice at García & Bodán, which is highlighted as ‘one of the most prestigious firms‘ in Honduras, has robust experience in complex cross-border transactions, frequently teaming up with the firm’s offices throughout Central America on regional deals. The department is well versed in corporate matters across the full range of industry segments, but has a particular emphasis on heavily regulated sectors including energy, infrastructure, insurance and telecoms, with growing strength in the fintech space. Office managing partner Vanessa Oquelí ‘brings a lot of experience‘, particularly in M&A and related tax matters. Other key names include Godofredo Siercke, a specialist in the energy sector, and capable senior associates Gabriela Aguirre, Astrid Villeda and San Pedro Sula-based Melissa Ayala, who contribute complementary tax, real estate and labour expertise.Practice head(s):
Vanessa Oquelí
Testimonials
‘We have been working with García & Bodán for many years and we can affirm that they are one of the most prestigious firms in our country. They are innovative and solve cases in the way that best suits their clients.’
‘The firm’s lawyers are very efficient and always have a solution to the issues raised.’
‘Vanessa Oquelí brings a lot of experience to the table. She is one of the best lawyers in Honduras.‘
‘G&B has an excellent team of professionals who are aware of country risk and remain up-to-date on the most relevant issues in our industry. Likewise, G&B demonstrates proactivity by anticipating the future needs of our operations.‘
‘Godofredo Siercke is a lawyer who has the necessary experience to give timely advice in the corporate area, standing out for his focus on risk management.‘
Key clients
Aerovías de México (Aeroméxico)
Arch Reinsurance
Cummins
Gildan
Cargill
INCAE Business School
Software One
Payless ShoeSource
Inversiones Centroamericanas
United Airlines
Work highlights
- Advising Intelsat on the renewal of its licence to provide satellite services in Honduras.
Central America > Corporate and finance
The first Nicaraguan firm to expand into Central America, García & Bodán now fields teams in Honduras (from branches in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula), El Salvador, Guatemala and Costa Rica; it has also grown its presence in Nicaragua with offices in San Juan del Sur and Tola (led by Eduardo Cabrales, who focuses on real estate and tourism-related transactions in the area) in addition to its original headquarters in Managua. Under the leadership of regional managing partner Terencio García in Nicaragua, the firm is well versed in advising investors into Central America on cross-border acquisitions, while its financing expertise extends to syndicated loans and project finance. Federico Gurdián, who was appointed as regional director of the corporate and transactional practice in May 2022, is also a key contact in Nicaragua. In Honduras, where the firm is noted for its strength in sovereign bond issuances, Vanessa Oquelí handles the full range of corporate and finance matters. Oscar Torres, who also directs the regional labour practice, takes the lead on transactional mandates in El Salvador.Work highlights
García & Bodán > Firm Profile
García & Bodán ensures uniformity and excellence in its legal services. It is a full-service law firm with eight offices in Central America, located in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
García & Bodán has a team of highly qualified attorneys, who graduated with honours from prestigious national and international universities; recognized for their expertise in complex transactions in a context of rapid change and a competitive business environment and well known for their pragmatic and business-minded approach to the legal issues brought forth by clients.
García & Bodán’s team not only serves and supports its clients in all legal activity required in accordance with their businesses, but also guides foreign investors when entering a new country.
The firm’s main policies are
- Fast response in a maximum of three hours during office hours and not more than 24 hours during non-office hours.
- Observance of conflicts of interests at regional level, not at an individual office.
- Answers always well founded in law, making reference to the applicable law or disposition.
Main areas of practice
Corporate and transactional: García & Bodán has participated in complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and elaboration of due diligence in a variety of industrial sectors.
Tax: this practice area is one of the supporting pillars to clients in their investments and businesses in Central America. García & Bodán elaborates and develops tax planning services to maximize clients’ profitability, all in accordance with the laws in force in each country.
Banking and finance: the team provides advice on both unique and complex financial transactions, such as: syndicated bank financing, structured finance, sovereign bond issues, private bond issues, project finance, financing of acquisitions and derivatives, purchase and sale of debt portfolios, trusts, among others; as well as in the area of current regulation of financial markets.
Capital markets: our capital markets practice focuses on advising public and private companies seeking to raise capital, and assisting them in structuring alternative forms of financing, advising them on the best capital structures to meet their business objectives.
International trade: this area is characterized by providing support to national, regional and international companies in matters derived from their commercial activity, the efficiency of their import, export and transit processes, as well as the relationship that the companies sustain with the different public-private representatives, contributing together to strengthen their competitiveness and access to markets.
Intellectual property: this practice focuses in litigation of patents and actions against trademark infringement, handling of brand portfolios, brand monitoring, health records and legal advice on copyrights and other IP rights.
Litigation and arbitration: this practice group is in the capacity of solving disputes through the use of dispute resolution mechanisms or, if necessary, through litigation before courts of all the jurisdictions, including specialized courts.
Real estate: it is characterized by its active participation in the most important tourism-related transactions, especially in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras. It provides advice to real estate developers, hotel operators and condominium developers, among others.
Labor: García & Bodán provides labor law services in general, including preventive legal advice, ranging from individual to collective issues, and from administrative labor law to full-fledged litigation.
Energy and natural resources: the firm’s expertise covers all areas and activities of the energy and natural resources sector, including oil and gas.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Regional Managing Partner | Terencio J. García Montenegro | terencio.garcia@garciabodan.com | (505) 2264 7790 |
Managing Partner | J. Vanessa Oquelí de Riera | vanessa.oqueli@garciabodan.com | (504) 2235 9178 |
Partner | Godofredo Siercke Núñez | godofredo.siercke@garciabodan.com | (504) 2235 9178 |
Partner | Graciela S. Cruz Raudales | graciela.cruz@garciabodan.com | (504) 2235 9178 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Gabriela Aguirre Barahona | Associate | View Profile | |
Graciela S. Cruz Raudales | Partner | View Profile | |
J. Vanessa Oquelí de Riera | Managing Partner | View Profile | |
Godofredo Siercke Núñez | Partner | View Profile | |
Astrid Villeda Hersperger | Associate | View Profile | |
Mauricio Zarruk Hasbun | Corporate-Commercial Labor | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Total staff : 8Languages
English SpanishMemberships
AMCHAM IBA (International Bar Association) ABA (American Bar Association)Other
Partners : 4- Intellectual property
- Tax
Firm Rankings
- Central America > Corporate and finance