Morgan & Morgan > Panama, Panama > Firm Profile

Morgan & Morgan > The Legal 500 Rankings

Panama > Capital markets Tier 1

With ‘extensive knowledge‘ of capital markets matters, Morgan & Morgan is experienced in public and private offerings, including cross-border mandates. The team acts for both local and international issuers and underwriters, counting major banks and financial institutions, public entities and private corporations among its clients, and has notable expertise in advising investment funds, particularly real estate investment trusts (REITs). It is also experienced in regulatory matters. Francisco Arias, who has a strong client base of banks and financial institutions, leads the practice with Ricardo Arias, a specialist in the establishment and registration of investment funds and REITs. The team also includes Roberto Vidal, who is experienced in high-yield debt and equity securities offerings, Kharla Aizpurúa and Aristides Anguizola.

Panama > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Morgan & Morgan has a broad corporate practice, spanning both domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures, restructuring and corporate governance, and is particularly noted for its advice to multinationals on the establishment of headquarters in Panama. Its diverse client base includes banks and financial institutions and companies from the real estate, transport, energy, and food and beverages sectors, among others. In addition, the firm has launched a new practice focused on advising start-ups on developing their businesses, led by Kharla Aizpurúa and international associate Miguel Arias, and offers pro bono services as a member of the Pro Bono Declaration of the Americas. The experienced Francisco Arias leads the team, which also includes Inocencio Galindo, who brings additional banking, mining and tax expertise to the team, Roberto Vidal and Ramón Varela.

Panama > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Morgan & Morgan‘s ‘robust‘ team has a broad dispute resolution practice spanning civil, constitutional, administrative and commercial disputes, with particularly notable expertise in insolvency litigation, acting for both debtors and creditors. The team handles both litigation and an increasing amount of domestic and international arbitration, with a diverse client base which includes major local banks, mining and maritime companies and multinationals from the insurance, construction and financial services sectors. In addition, the firm has a strong criminal litigation practice, led by Omar Rodríguez, which specialises in white-collar crime cases. At the head of the team, Jose Carrizo has wide-ranging experience in litigation and arbitration, including large insolvency and asset recovery cases, and Luis Vallarino has expertise in government contract and regulatory disputes, among other areas. Senior associate Mayte Sánchez Gonzalez  stands out for her expertise in arbitration, particularly in disputes over infrastructure projects, as well as in corporate and commercial litigation. Since publication, Sánchez has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2022.

Panama > Labour Tier 1

Morgan & Morgan advises on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including assisting with the labour aspects of corporate restructurings and M&A transactions, the hiring and termination of employees, the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, employment litigation, and the creation of internal employment policies and disciplinary procedures. The team's impressive client base is made up of local and multinational companies from a variety of sectors, among them energy, insurance, financial services, real estate and logistics. At the head of the practice, Ricardo Aleman and Maria Teresa Mendoza are experienced in advising on employment contracts and termination agreements, collective bargaining negotiations and litigation. In addition, Albalira Montúfar leads the immigration practice and senior associate Milagros Caballero focuses on assisting international clients with the employment issues surrounding setting up their headquarters in Panama.

Panama > Offshore Tier 1

Morgan & Morgan has continued to expand its offshore practice, advising high-net-worth clients on the structuring of private funds and related mandates. In addition, it has formed an alliance with MASCO Multiple Accounting Services Corporation to provide clients with accounting services, and founded Panama Compliance Services to assist with due diligence. The firm’s additional offices in the British Virgin Islands, Belize and the Bahamas allow it to provide corporate and fiduciary services in multiple key jurisdictions. The sizeable team is led by Roberto Lewis, who has significant expertise in advising on wealth preservation and distribution for Central and South American clients. Other notable team members include Raúl Castro, an expert in tax, corporate and estate planning; Luis Manzanares, who specialises in multi-jurisdictional structures; and associates Nestor Broce and Laura Barrios, who has notable tax expertise and heads a new department advising family offices on Bahamian SMART funds.

Panama > Tax Tier 1

Highlighted for its ‘technical knowledge, experience and reputation‘, Morgan & Morgan has a wide-ranging tax practice, advising on the tax aspects of M&A, joint ventures and projects, as well as on tax compliance and litigation before the courts and the Panamanian Tax Authority. It has particular strength in corporate tax, advising on both national and international tax planning, transfer pricing and special tax regimes available to multinationals operating in Panama. In addition, the team assists private clients with tax compliance and residency issues. Practice head Inocencio Galindo has extensive expertise in tax structuring and corporate tax compliance. Senior associate Amanda Barraza, who has ‘a lot of experience in Panamanian and international taxation‘, is also a key contact. Since publication, fellow senior Fanny Evans, who focuses on wealth planning and corporate services, has been raised to the partnership - effective January 2022.

Panama > Transport: Shipping Tier 1

Morgan & Morgan‘s broad maritime practice spans shipping registration, financing and litigation matters, with clients including financial institutions, ship owners and agents, and port operators. The team is highly active in the registration of Panamanian flag vessels with the Panama Maritime Authority and also handles a wide range of maritime disputes, including litigation relating to collisions, cargo, oil spill pollution, charter party disputes and insurance claims. Juan David Morgan Jr leads the shipping and admiralty litigation practice, while Jazmina Rovi heads the ship finance and registration team. Other notable contacts include Francisco Linares, Luis Raven and associate Diego Abadia, all of whom have extensive experience in maritime disputes.

Panama > Banking and finance Tier 2

Morgan & Morgan acts for both lenders, including major foreign and domestic banks, and borrowers, advising on a wide range of financial matters. Among the areas of strength for the ‘excellent‘ team are project finance, particularly in relation to energy, mining and infrastructure projects, syndicated lending, banking sector M&A, and regulatory matters. It has additional expertise in insolvency and restructuring, areas which have been particularly active during the pandemic. Inocencio Galindo leads the team, which also includes the ‘committed‘ and ‘accessible‘ Kharla Aizpurua Olmos, who stands out for her strength in domestic and cross-border transactions, Francisco Arias, who has expertise in structured finance and regulatory matters, and project finance specialist Ramón Varela. Senior associate Ana Carolina Castillo is also noted.

Panama > Projects and energy Tier 2

Morgan & Morgan counts government entities, major domestic and international financial institutions, multilateral development agencies and investment banks among its clients, and has extensive experience in advising on the financing and construction of large-scale infrastructure projects, including transportation, mining and renewable energy developments. In addition, the firm advises on public tenders and government concession contracts. Practice head Ramón Varela specialises in advising on the financing and development of energy projects, including renewable projects, in addition to handling M&A and regulatory issues in the energy sector. Other key contacts include Inocencio Galindo and Kharla Aizpurúa, who have considerable expertise in project finance, Aristides Anguizola, who is particularly experienced in mine development and finance, and senior associate Ana Carolina Castillo, who specialises in financial and corporate transactions and regulatory matters in the energy sector.

Panama > Intellectual property Tier 3

The ‘extremely responsive‘ team at Morgan & Morgan has a strong international client base, advising companies from the luxury goods, food and beverages, and automotive sectors, among others. The team assists with trade mark and patent prosecutions in Panama and other jurisdictions, as well as customs and counterfeiting issues, the IP aspects of M&A transactions and franchise agreements, and IP litigation. Associate Allen Candanedo  is particularly experienced in contentious IP matters, acting in opposition, cancellation and nullity actions, and handling anti-counterfeiting litigation. Fellow associate Maria Eugenia Brenes focuses on the management of clients’ IP portfolios in Panama and health registrations.