Mr Diego De La Guardia > Galindo, Arias & López > Panama, Panama > Lawyer Profile

The dispute resolution practice at Galindo, Arias & López is lauded for its ‘experience and knowledge to deal with sensitive issues‘. The firm is commended for the depth of its expertise in administrative litigation in highly regulated sectors, acting for an impressive roster of key players in the energy (particularly electricity), financial, aviation and telecoms industries, and for its stellar track record in cases before the Supreme Court. The team also has extensive experience in construction litigation, and is increasingly active in the arbitration arena, including in international proceedings. Diego de la Guardia, who is a mainstay on high-profile contentious mandates, steers the practice alongside Selva Quintero, who wins high praise for her ‘professional, personalised, transparent and empathetic service‘, with a strong focus on complex energy and telecoms disputes. Of counsel Adán Arjona, an expert in corporate disputes and a former President of the Supreme Court, is another name to note at the senior level. The firm also benefits from a sizeable pool of skilled associates, including Jeimy Lasso, who is particularly well regarded for administrative litigation; Gabriela Vásquez, a specialist in labour and regulatory disputes; and María Dorado, who frequently handles damages claims.

The projects and energy practice at Galindo, Arias & López stands out for the depth and breadth of its offering, with strengths encompassing project finance, public procurement and government contracts, real estate and regulatory matters. The financing of large-scale energy and infrastructure projects (including the development of major healthcare facilities) is a core source of mandates, but the team is also highlighted for its experience in energy-related disputes, where clients emphasise its ‘extensive knowledge of the laws that govern the Panamanian electricity market‘, and regulatory issues in the renewables space. Salomón Behar, a high-profile name for public tenders and project development in the energy sector, leads the practice alongside project finance expert Cristina Lewis. Diego Herrera and litigation partners Diego de la Guardia and Selva Quintero (both specialists in the energy and public utilities sectors) also lend senior expertise to the team.

Galindo, Arias & López fields a diverse real estate practice, capable of handling the full range of regulatory, corporate and project finance matters in this space, acting for an impressive roster of major real estate developers. The team’s broad expertise spans office, retail, hotel, luxury residential and restoration projects, where the team advises on procurement, permitting and financing; it also handles traditional real estate transactions and assists clients with condo regulation. Advising on real estate investment trusts (SIIs) is also among the practice’s core strengths. Of counsel Salomón Behar, the chair of the firm’s project finance department, heads the sizeable team, which also includes litigation leader Diego de la Guardia (who has experience in project finance and government contracting), Ramón Ricardo Arias, Diego Herrera and Jose Luis Sosa (who focuses on M&A and project finance transactions).