OMG > Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic > Firm Profile

OMG > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dominican Republic > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

OMG advises a wide range of domestic and international clients on M&A, the structuring of foreign direct investments and the establishment of free trade zones, as well as commercial and regulatory matters including distribution and sales agreements and import and export issues. The firm also draws on a number of international affiliations, as part of the Legus network and the Eversheds Sutherland Latin America Alliance, to provide multi-jurisdictional services. The practice is led by firm president Leonel Melo, legal strategy co-ordinator Esperanza Cabral, who stands out for her expertise in M&A and restructurings, Johanna Soto, who advises on M&A, restructurings, foreign investments and estate planning, commercial department head Laura Piantini and senior director Gloria Gassó, who focuses on cross-border corporate transactions, including M&A and joint ventures. The practice was bolstered in August 2021 with the addition of senior consultant Melissa Valdez from Squire Patton Boggs.

Dominican Republic > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

OMG‘s energy work is boosted by the presence of specialists in the team, with energy practice head Michelle Abreu promoted to partner in December 2021 and energy consultant Emily Sucart hired from Guzmán Ariza in January 2022. Since their promotion and hire, Abreu and Sucart have worked on a power purchase agreement (PPA) for Streamline Integrated Energy regarding one of the first waste-to-energy plants in the Caribbean. Esperanza Cabral brings corporate expertise to the practice, regularly co-leading on matters such as acquisitions of renewable energy assets, including due diligence, financing for a solar energy project, and reducing the tax implications of the sale of shares in a wind farm. With oversight from firm president Leonel Melo, the firm often takes on regulatory matters, entering into negotiations with regulators such as the Dominican Tax Authority and working on regulatory elements of transactions. Clients are usually energy companies, but the firm also advises investors on energy projects.

Dominican Republic > Banking and finance Tier 2

OMG‘s Manuel Troncoso leads or co-leads on all of the firm’s banking work, often working in tandem with corporate partner Esperanza Cabral and aided by senior manager Aldana Fernández and consultant Diego García. The team takes on a range of work, including structuring and registering a $880m public issuance for Fiduciaria Reservas and negotiating a project financing package for an energy client. A highlight for the firm is its work on crypto assets; since 2019 it has analysed Dominican regulations on licensing and registration for Latham & Watkins LLP. The firm also advises banks on both commercial lending and loans to the Dominican state, recently acting for Banco de Reservas de la República Dominicana in its collection of public debt. Firm president Leonel Melo provides further oversight. Associate Lyna Desangles left in 2021 to join consultancy OV.

Dominican Republic > Dispute resolution Tier 2

OMG‘s dispute resolution team counts major domestic and multinational companies from a range of sectors, including healthcare, financial services, aviation, telecoms and tourism, among its clients. Notable recent areas of activity include commercial, administrative, insurance and real estate-related litigation. Director Tristán Carbuccia leads the practice and has experience in foreclosure and collection proceedings, domestic and international arbitration, and criminal, administrative and constitutional law. Corporate partners Leonel Melo and Esperanza Cabral are also key contacts for related disputes.

Dominican Republic > Real estate and tourism Tier 2

Structuring trusts for real estate project developments is a key part of OMG‘s work, as well as designing corporate structures for purchase and ownership of projects, led by corporate specialist Esperanza Cabral and often aided by associate Mairení Silvestre. Silvestre and fellow associate Patricia Losada assisted Park Adventure Group with the building and operation of a sustainable theme park and hotel, including permits, financing and corporate structures, and zoning specialist Losada also advised an NGO on architectural and engineering interventions in cities. The team also cover restructuring of time shares for Meliá Hotel International and condominium regulations. Former practice head Laura Troncoso left the firm to become general counsel for Playa Grande Golf & Ocean Club.

Dominican Republic > Tax Tier 2

OMG‘s tax department head Ana Taveras, who was made partner in December 2021, co-leads on all the firm’s tax work with either corporate partner Esperanza Cabral or firm president Leonel Melo, assisted by tax specialist associate Montserrat Viñals. The practice advises on either standalone matters or as part of cross-department work, such as the tax aspects of restructurings and transactions. The team is experienced in negotiating with the tax authority; recently it contended the authority’s opinions over the tax impact of transactions, such as a sale and purchase of shares and a real estate transaction involving CGT, and successfully acquired a waiver of withholding tax for a renewable energy client.

Dominican Republic > Intellectual property Tier 3

OMG‘s IP practice is boosted by IP specialist and consultant Angeannette Tejeda, who has experience of IP law in the Andean Community. Department head Luis Eduardo Aquino often negotiates between foreign manufacturers and local distributors regarding IP rights; for example, he acted for distributor AG Mercantil in negotiations with Philips over exclusivity to distribute AVENT products. In turn, he advised Brazilian manufacturer Ourofino Saúde Animal on assignment of sanitary registrations during the termination of its contract with a distributor. The firm’s cross-border work also covers registrations of assets in multiple jurisdictions.

Dominican Republic > Labour and employment Tier 3

OMG focuses on labour litigation and is particularly active in defending employers in wrongful termination claims brought by former employees, including senior executives. The team also provides assistance to its wide-ranging roster of clients, which spans the financial services, food and beverages, energy, healthcare, tourism and real estate sectors, on compliance, internal policies, labour issues relating to the Covid-19 pandemic (such as the reduction of working hours and salaries) and the transfer of employees following M&A transactions. Consultant Luis Pantaleón, who specialises in litigation, is the key name in the practice.