Fabrega Molino > Panama, Panama > Firm Profile

Fabrega Molino > The Legal 500 Rankings

Panama > Offshore Tier 1

Highly praised for its ‘extensive experience, personalised service, and accessible and supportive partners‘, Fabrega Molino advises a wide array of financial services firms, corporations, and HNWIs and family businesses from across Latin America and the Caribbean. The estate planning and private client branch of the practice focuses on succession planning, wealth management, the formation of trusts and foundations, and corporate governance, while the corporate side specialises in the organisation of Panamanian corporate structures and assists with the tax and commercial aspects of international transactions. Recently, the firm has also seen a notable uptick in instructions relating to M&A and the establishment of multinational company headquarters (SEM) in Panama. On the private client side, the ‘responsive, personable and brilliant‘ Gretel Ciniglio advises on wealth management, estate and succession planning, governance and family law matters, while Juan Pablo Fábrega handles the full array of corporate and estate planning issues, and also has a notable strength in arbitration. The sizeable group also includes José Juan Marquez and associate Juan Raúl Sosa, both of whom are frequently called upon to advise on tax issues; Liza Díaz, who has a focus on advising Central American and Caribbean clients; and Carlos Molino, who stands out for his assistance to clients in Colombia.

Panama > Dispute resolution Tier 2

The ‘attentive, cordial, professional and intelligent‘ dispute resolution team at Fabrega Molino is frequently called upon to represent local and multinational companies in the full spectrum of litigation and arbitration, including securities, IP, antitrust, consumer rights, financial, commercial, maritime and labour disputes. Drawing on the strength of the firm’s private client practice, the team is also skilled in disputes involving ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices in Latin America and the Caribbean. Two seasoned practitioners lead the team: Jorge Molina, who is singled out by clients as ‘one of the lawyers with the most experience and knowledge in Panama‘ and has a wealth of expertise in commercial, banking, family and insurance litigation (including cross-border cases); and Juan Pablo Fábrega, a specialist in corporate and estate planning matters, focusing on arbitration. Miguel Urriola is also active in labour and asset recovery cases.

Panama > Labour Tier 2

Fabrega Molino‘s labour team is highlighted by clients for its ‘experience and mastery of the subject‘, covering the full range of contentious and non-contentious matters. The firm frequently assists with day-to-day issues such as the drafting of employment contracts and compliance with local labour regulations, in addition to handling labour disputes and the employment aspects of M&A transactions. Practice head Miguel Urriola has a strong track record in labour litigation and the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements. He receives stellar support from the ‘outstanding‘ Carlos Molino, who heads the immigration department, and senior associate Lourdes Bishop, who has a focus on advising multinational companies.

Panama > Real estate Tier 2

Fabrega Molino handles the full spectrum of real estate matters, ranging from the acquisition of land, commercial leases and land-use regulations to project finance and property-related disputes. The team is well versed in the development of commercial, residential, retail, hospitality and logistics projects, including in the historic Casco Viejo district of Panama City, counting leading financial institutions and real estate developers among its clients. At the helm of the practice, senior partner José Agustín Preciado brings extensive experience in advising on real estate investments to the table. He is ably supported by senior associate José Antonio Sierra, who focuses on corporate real estate matters and government regulatory permits.

Panama > Tax Tier 2

Fabrega Molino‘s ‘dynamic, up-to-date‘ tax practice is widely hailed by clients for its position ‘at the forefront of tax issues‘, with wide-ranging experience of advising multinational corporations on tax structuring and compliance, direct and indirect tax issues, and transfer pricing, and noteworthy expertise in Panama’s special tax regimes. The firm also has a thriving wealth and estate planning practice, where senior partner Gretel Ciniglio and Carlos Molino are the key contacts. Firm president José Juan Marquez, whose practice spans tax and succession planning matters, leads the team. Associate Juan Raúl Sosa (who joined from KPMG in June 2022) particularly stands out for his advice on commercial and transactional tax matters and issues surrounding the taxation of free trade zone companies and multinationals.

Panama > Banking and finance Tier 3

Fabrega Molino draws upon its ‘extensive knowledge of local laws‘ to advise both local and international banks, financial institutions and trust companies on a broad range of financial transactions, including syndicated loans, project finance, acquisition finance and debt restructuring. On the regulatory side, the firm frequently assists with obtaining banking licences and setting up operations in Panama. Following the departure of Tatiana Abadía in 2022, the team is headed by senior partner Juan Pablo Fábrega and senior associate Denisse Correa, who is highlighted for her ‘efficiency, charisma, sensitivity and support‘. The department was also strengthened by the addition of associate Pablo Martinelli, whose practice includes debt restructuring and project finance, from Galindo, Arias & López in May 2022. Principal partner Ana Lorena Morales also adds senior expertise.

Panama > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

The ‘smart, practical business lawyers‘ at Fabrega Molino excel in the full range of transactional, commercial and regulatory issues, advising clients from large multinationals to high-net-worth families. The team routinely assists with M&A (including both local and cross-border transactions), in addition to advising on issues such as corporate governance, commercial contracts and antitrust. At the helm, Juan Pablo Fábrega has a wealth of experience in advising clients from Europe and the Americas on corporate and M&A matters, and is widely recognised as an authority on company incorporations; Gretel Ciniglio is highly regarded for her advice to high-net-worth individuals and family offices; and José Agustín Preciado handles M&A and real estate transactions, with an emphasis on acting for private equity sponsors. The team was strengthened at the associate level in 2022 with the arrivals of Pablo Martinelli from Galindo, Arias & López and Juan Raúl Sosa, who focuses the tax aspects of M&A, from KPMG.

Panama > Intellectual property Tier 3

An ‘exceptional‘ team which ‘stands out for its efficiency, excellence, knowledge and track record‘, the IP group at Fabrega Molino handles a healthy mix of advisory work and litigation, with a broad client base spanning the healthcare and life sciences, consumer products, food, textiles and technology sectors. The team advises on trade mark registrations in Panama and throughout Latin America, and also has expertise in patents and copyright, in addition to routinely representing clients in cancellation, nullity and opposition actions. ‘Spectacular‘ practice head Farah Molino is well versed in the management of IP portfolios nationally and internationally and has a particular strength in the copyright area, acting as local adviser to collective management organisations in Panama.

Panama > Projects and energy Tier 3

Fabrega Molino‘s projects and energy practice attracts strong praise for its ‘experience in dealing with regulatory bodies‘ and ‘deep knowledge of Panamanian public law‘, which is reflected in its recent advice to the Ministry of Public Works on the structuring of Panama’s first PPP project. The firm also has a robust track record in advising on the tender process and financing of major projects in the energy (including renewables), transport and mining sectors. At the head of the practice, Ana Lorena Morales, who is singled out for her ‘clear understanding‘ of both public and private projects matters, specialises in government contracts, with expertise in the construction, telecoms, energy and transport spaces.