Lawyer Rankings

Panama > Banking and finance

Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee is one of the leading Panamanian players for banking and finance legal services, handling some of the country’s most high-profile transactions. The ten-strong team covers the full array of sector-related work, ranging from advice on syndicated loans, credit facilities and debt structuring, to assistance on real estate and project finance. Banks, financial sponsors, investors and multinationals regularly seek the practice’s advice on complex domestic and cross-border transactions as well as day-to-day regulatory advice. Recent standout work saw the team counsel lender Banco General on various matters, such as a $46m financing for the completion of the construction of the Altos del Parque project, and a $38m financing for the construction of a new hospital in Costa del Este. Practice head Arturo Gerbaud led advice to a banking consortium including The Bank of Nova Scotia and Unibank, regarding a $40m secured syndicated loan granted to Evolution Hotel. Highly regarded Eloy Alfaro led the team acting as local counsel to Citibank regarding a loan granted to CrediQ, a Central American company providing vehicle-financing services. Heavyweights Banistmo, Banco Santander Central Hispano and BAC International Bank also feature on the firm’s client roster. Associate Patricia Cordero is another name to note.

Panama > Corporate and M&A

Jointly led by esteemed Alejandro Ferrer and Arturo Gerbaud, Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee‘s corporate and M&A practice is well regarded in the market, not least because of the team’s wide-ranging expertise in sector-related matters. The sizeable department is a regular legal advisor to both purchasers and sellers in complex local and cross-border transactions, and offer a multitude of services related to acquisitions, mergers and share transfers, as well as corporate and regulatory matters. Petroamérica Terminal, Phoenix Tower International, Julius Bäer and Citibank feature on the practice’s longstanding client list. Standout work included the team’s advice to the Panamanian branch of The Bank of Nova Scotia on its $550m acquisition of Scotiabank (Panama), following its winding-up. The ‘very good‘ Eloy Alfaro is highly experienced and also active in the corporate arena, where associate Rita de la Guardia offers key support.

Panama > Real estate

Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee fields a strong real estate practice co-led by partners Lorenzo Marquinez, Eloy Alfaro and the strongly-endorsed Anibal Galindo. The well-established powerhouse offers legal advice to banks, financial institutions and luxury real estate developers on a broad spectrum of sector-related matters, with a recent focus on the financing of commercial, industrial and residential developments. Partner Arturo Gerbaud led advice to Banco General on the $24m financing for the construction of the Arraijan Town Centre mall; the team also represented the same bank in another $34m financing for the construction of a premium beachfront community. In on-going work, the four-partner practice group continues to assist Ideal Living regarding Panama City’s largest mixed golf/residential development project, Associate Rafael Marquinez is also active in the team. Santa María Golf & Country Club. Grupo Verdeazul, Grupo Eleta and Constructora Urbana are other representative clients.