Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti > Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic > Firm Profile

Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dominican Republic > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

With experience of advising multinationals across a range of sectors, including energy, mechanical engineering, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages, Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti handles both domestic and cross-border corporate transactions. Areas of strength include M&A and foreign investments, corporate restructurings, contractual matters (particularly agency and distribution agreements), and regulatory and compliance issues. Managing partner Georges Santori Recio, who is noted for his advice to foreign clients on corporate finance, M&A and commercial matters in the Dominican Republic, leads the sizeable team alongside José Maldonado Stark, an expert in advising investors in the trade, real estate, infrastructure and financial services sectors, Luis Heredia Valenzuela, whose expertise spans M&A, foreign investments and joint ventures, and Román Medina Diplán. Ariel Jaquez Nuñez is also a name to note. Angelica Noboa Pagan  joined the team from Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C. in 2021 bringing with her significant expertise in regulatory, competition and international trade matters.

Dominican Republic > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti‘s ‘very capable‘ team is experienced in a wide range of commercial, civil, criminal and constitutional litigation, including complex multi-jurisdictional cases. Notable areas of expertise include contractual disputes, particularly those involving distribution agents in the Dominican Republic, and fraud, insurance, tax and family law cases. Managing partner Georges Santoni Recio leads the team alongside senior associate Joan Batista Molina, who has expertise in criminal, real estate and administrative law. José Maldonado Stark and Luis Heredia Valenzuela are also names to note.

Dominican Republic > Energy and natural resources Tier 2

Much of Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti‘s work in the energy sphere involves renewable projects, including solar and wind, and their regulatory requirements, including regulatory aspects of M&A, construction and financing. Led by José Maldonado Stark, the firm’s work includes project finance, such as foreign investment, as well as due diligence for acquisitions and negotiations of contracts. Managing partner Georges Santoni Recio  and Román Medina Diplán provide oversight, and associate Laura Cruz Felix frequently assists with regulatory matters.

Dominican Republic > Intellectual property Tier 2

Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti assists clients with litigation in administrative courts, such as filing oppositions against trademark applications before the National Trademark Office, all the way up to the Constitutional Court, before which the firm is representing a client in an image use claim. Practice head Rosa Campillo Celado and Mónika Fiallo Paradas act for a Dominican photographic services company in a dispute with Adobe regarding the ‘Photoshop’ trademark, representing the client before the National Trademark Office. The firm oversees trademark protection, publicity rights and copyright issues for sectors including pharmaceuticals, nutrition and consumer goods.

Dominican Republic > Labour and employment Tier 2

The ‘well-rounded‘ employment practice at Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti spans both contentious and non-contentious matters. Representing employers in labour disputes is a key area of expertise, but the team also plays an active role in advising international clients on the labour aspects of setting up local subsidiaries, including hiring personnel, compliance with local labour and social security regulations, review of company policies and immigration issues.  The practice is led by managing partner Georges Santoni Recio, who is noted for his assistance to foreign clients in labour disputes, and José Maldonado Stark. Ariel Jaquez Nuñez and Mónika Fiallo Paradas, whose specialisms include immigration law, are also names to note.

Dominican Republic > Banking and finance Tier 3

José Maldonado Stark at Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti handles financing for project development, notably energy and real estate developments, which has involved assisting with the structuring of credit facilities and securities. The firm acts for both domestic and international companies. The team’s cross-border work also includes overseeing the formalities for loans by foreign investors, an area that Georges Santoni Recio leads on. Luis Heredia Valenzuela is also noted.

Dominican Republic > Real estate and tourism Tier 3

Led by Román Medina Diplán, the team at Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti focuses on advice for individual investors on their purchases and sales of property and land, occasionally in tourist areas; work includes due diligence, title research, contracts and tax incentives. The firm also covers condominium rules, demarcation of land and litigation. José Maldonado Stark handles real estate issues for energy clients, such as advising BAS Corporation on a long-term lease, easements and due diligence on land prior to project development. Luis Heredia Valenzuela provides oversight on transactional and contentious matters.

Dominican Republic > Tax Tier 3

José Maldonado Stark oversees much of the team’s tax work at Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti, often aided by associate Laura Fernandez-Peix, with Georges Santoni Recio and Ariel Jaquez Nuñez also leading matters. As a member of tax consultancy network BLITA International, the firm represents clients in administrative proceedings and frequently advises on the tax aspects of real estate investments, such as tax-efficient structuring for real estate investors or taxes on transfers of real estate. Luis Heredia Valenzuela and Román Medina Diplán, who acts for private clients, additionally co-head the department.