Facio & Cañas > San Jose, Costa Rica > Firm Profile

Facio & Cañas > The Legal 500 Rankings

Costa Rica > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Bolstered by the March 2023 opening of two new offices in Puntarenas and Guanacaste, the multidisciplinary team at Facio & Cañas remains a leader in the market, bringing strength to representing public figures and household-name multinationals such as Coca-Cola FEMSA, Oracle, Sony Music and Peugeot involved in high-stakes criminal, administrative, civil and commercial litigation and arbitration. With a client base spanning such sectors as sports, real estate, education, hospitality, energy, telecoms, aviation, entertainment and food and beverages, the group’s full service covers matters ranging from defamation and breach of contract claims to cases involving intellectual property rights and the termination of distribution agreements. The team is headed by seasoned litigator Federico Torrealba and Carlos Oreamuno, an expert in international commercial distribution disputes. Other key figures include experienced arbitrator Gianna Cersosimo, a specialist in anti-piracy cases, and senior associate Adelita Olivares and associate Ana Guillén, who in addition to civil matters, have handled complex criminal proceedings representing victims of economic-property crime.

Costa Rica > Tax Tier 2

The multidisciplinary tax team at Facio & Cañas brings strength to assisting major national and international corporations, banks, and insurers, including such key market players as Telefónica, Del Monte, British American Tobacco, ASSA and Holcim, with a diverse range of matters across the practice area. With a client portfolio spanning the banking, telecoms, construction, tech, agriculture, food, tobacco and retail industries, the practice’s comprehensive service covers administrative tax audits, litigation,  corporate restructuring, M&A, tax planning for profit and non-profit organisations, compliance monitoring and tax return processing. Department founder and finance and tax law expert Adrián Torrealba leads the team, along with Jose Maria Oreamuno, who specialises in administrative matters, senior associate Modesto Vargas, who brings experience of working for the Costa Rican Treasury, and tax manager Erik Ramirez.

Costa Rica > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Bolstered by the March 2023 opening of two new offices in Puntarenas and Guanacaste, the corporate team at Facio & Cañas provides a one-stop shop to advise major multinational corporates, including Oracle and GSK, on day-to-day matters and complex, high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions. With a client portfolio spanning such sectors as tech, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, consumer goods, medical devices and retail, the team’s comprehensive service ranges from regulatory compliance, corporate governance, due diligence and the negotiation of local and regional M&A to company incorporation and franchising, agency and distribution matters. The practice is led by Federico Rucavado, who brings expertise in business structuring and free trade zone regime matters; seasoned litigator and arbitrator Carlos Oreamuno; Roberto Leiva, who brings over 30 years of experience and assists with contract negotiation, general corporate matters, financial operations, real estate deals and M&A; managing partner Sergio Solera; and foreign investment expert Edgar Odio, who specialises in the structuring of commercialisation arrangements for the avoidance of competition risks. Key support is provided by senior associate Mariela Solano, whose background includes work on corporate transactions in the energy and fintech sectors.

Costa Rica > Intellectual property Tier 3

Faycamark, the intellectual property division of Facio & Cañas (which expanded in March 2023, opening two new offices in Puntarenas and Guanacaste) brings strength to advising major multinational corporates such as Jaguar Land Rover on a diverse spectrum of matters related to copyrights, patents, trade marks, trade secrets and regulatory law. Assisting clients across sectors ranging from apparel, tech and entertainment to food and beverages and the automotive industry, the group’s comprehensive service covers enforcement, strategic portfolio development and management, due diligence and complex IP litigation, representing foreign and national franchisors, licensors and distributors engaged in merchandising ventures and product licensing. Managing partner and IP authority Milagro Chaves leads the team, with senior associate and life sciences specialist Laura Valverde.

Costa Rica > Labour and employment Tier 3

The labour and employment practice at Facio & Cañas (which in March 2023 opened two new offices in Puntarenas and Guanacaste) brings strength to advising household-name multinationals including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and IBM on the full range of labour and employment matters. The practice is powered by two teams – one led by experienced litigator Luis Sanchez Montero and the other headed by senior associate Graciela Soto, who joined from Deloitte Legal in September 2022, and who utilises a labour and immigration skill set to advise clients in such sectors as life sciences, energy, manufacturing, financial services, tech and agribusiness. Montero is supported by Mauricio Bolaños, who provides clients with expertise in alternative dispute resolution, compensation packages and termination agreements. With an active client portfolio also spanning the sports, telecoms, logistics and aviation sectors, the team’s full service extends to payroll restructuring, due diligence and human resources queries. Other key figures include associates Katherine Zamora, who advises on workplace risk management and compliance with social security regulations, and Javier Guerrero, who handles both litigation and day-to-day matters.

Costa Rica > Real estate Tier 3

Bolstered by the March 2023 opening of two new offices in Puntarenas and Guanacaste and coordinating with its environmental department and network of engineers, topographers and consultants, the real estate practice at Facio & Cañas provides a one-stop shop for realtors, developers, construction companies and multinational corporates (across such sectors as hospitality and pharmaceuticals) involved in major real estate projects and transactions. The practice’s comprehensive service extends to due diligence, transaction structuring, and negotiation and consultations on free trade zone regimes. The team is led by Sergio Solera, who brings expertise in advising companies in major acquisitions, and Federico Rucavado, who advises on project development, risk management and day-to-day matters. Senior associate Marco Castegnaro assists individual clients with the purchase of properties in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica > Banking and finance