Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán > Panama, Panama > Firm Profile

Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán > The Legal 500 Rankings

Panama > Intellectual property Tier 2

The IP lawyers at Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán are highlighted as ‘very skilled trade mark practitioners‘, but also have expertise in patent matters, with a comprehensive practice which covers filings, oppositions and renewals, as well as anti-counterfeiting litigation. The firm enjoys strong connections with international law firms thanks to its membership of alliances such as Multilaw, allowing it to advise multinationals across a broad spread of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, telecoms, luxury goods, sports, and food and beverages, on the management of their IP portfolios. ‘Excellent‘ practice head Gabriela Tejada de Britton, who is the current president of the Panamanian Association of Intellectual Property Law, is renowned for her experience in the full spectrum of trade mark and patent matters. She is supported by up-and-coming partners Moisés Rivera, an expert in IP litigation (particularly opposition actions), and Mariela de la Guardia (who leads the firm’s growing data privacy and protection department), and ‘remarkable‘ associate Fernando González-Ruiz, whose practice has an emphasis on brand protection and anti-counterfeiting litigation.

Panama > Offshore Tier 2

Thanks to its Icaza Accounting Services and Icaza Trust Corporation divisions, Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán is well equipped to advise on the structuring of trusts, corporations and private interest foundations across a broad spread of jurisdictions, with offices in Cyprus, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and Uruguay, and the ability to provide services in the BVI, the Bahamas, Belize, Anguilla and the Seychelles. In particular, the firm focuses on succession planning for HNWIs and family businesses, as well as structuring and administering commercial and public trusts. An experienced trio of lawyers leads the practice: Domingo Díaz has a 35-year record of advising on company formation and management, with a focus on expanding the firm’s operations in Asia; Joaquín Díaz is sought after for his advice on Panama private interest foundations; and Estefanía Alemán acts as director of Icaza Trust Corporation. The talented line-up of junior lawyers includes deputy manager Luis Martínez and Domingo Díaz de la Guardia, who is responsible for company formation operations.

Panama > Banking and finance Tier 3

Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán‘s expertise in project finance makes it a popular choice to advise leading domestic and international banks on high-profile infrastructure developments; its recent work highlights include advising on the financing of the expansion of the Panama City metro, and it has also been highly active in transactions relating to healthcare facilities and road construction. The experienced leadership group is made up of Gabriel González-Ruiz, a standout name for advising international consortiums on project finance; Luis Chalhoub, who has a broad banking and finance practice that notably includes advising on factoring transactions; and Michelle O de de la Guardia. Alfredo Fonseca, who was elevated to the partnership in June 2023, is also a key contact for project finance in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Panama > Capital markets Tier 3

Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán advises a broad client portfolio of banks, multilateral institutions, private funds and corporations on the full range of capital markets matters, from public offerings on both the domestic and international markets to the licensing of brokerage houses and investment fund managers. The highly experienced Gabriel González-Ruiz, whose workload spans regulatory and transactional matters, is a key contact; other names to note include Michelle O de de la Guardia, who has additional expertise in trust-related issues, Luis Chalhoub and recently promoted partner Alfredo Fonseca.

Panama > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

With a focus on advising multinationals across a wide array of sectors, the corporate team at Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán is well versed in cross-border M&A, and also has standout expertise in asset purchase transactions (particularly in the real estate sector), corporate reorganisations, spin-offs and joint ventures. Practice head Alexis Herrera Jr has robust skill sets in M&A, with an emphasis on the energy, infrastructure and trade fields, drawing on his strength in public procurement matters. He leads a highly experienced team, which includes Luis Chalhoub, whose wide-ranging practice takes in commercial, M&A, competition and consumer protection, and free trade zone law, Gabriel González-Ruiz and former Minister of the Presidency of Panama Álvaro Alemán. Recently promoted partner Alfredo Fonseca and associate Adolfo González-Ruiz provide capable support. The firm is also noted for its participation in social development programmes and pro bono services through its foundation, Fundación IGRA.

Panama > Dispute resolution Tier 4

Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán‘s experienced dispute resolution team is skilled in a wide range of civil, commercial, administrative, family, tax, consumer protection and competition-related disputes, often joining forces with the firm’s specialist IP, maritime and labour departments to take on contentious cases in these areas. In particular, it has a strong recent track record in representing international companies and consortiums in construction disputes relating to major energy and infrastructure projects. The experienced duo of Marisol Ellis (whose strengths also include arbitration) and Carlos Villalobos, both of whom joined the partnership in January 2022, leads the practice. Associate Albany Broce provides capable support in civil litigation.

Panama > Labour

Panama > Real estate