Esperanza Cabral > OMG > Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic > Lawyer Profile

The banking and finance group at OMG is hailed for its ‘strong ability to understand structured finance and complex financial products’. The team is skilled in commercial lending and project finance and also stands out for its strength in banking regulation, where it is increasing its know-how in the fintech space. Manuel Troncoso, who is heavily involved on transactional mandates at the intersection of corporate law and finace, heads up the team alongside firm president Leonel Melo. Esperanza Cabral and consultant Aldana Fernández, a specialist in banking law, project finance and fintech, are also noted.

OMG is praised for its ‘broad knowledge and experience on a range of matters and across industries’ and is able to leverage its membership of international networks, such as the Eversheds Sutherland Latin America Alliance, to assist clients with multi-jurisdictional projects. The key pillars of the practice are the structuring of M&A and foreign direct investment, the establishment of free zones, and regulatory and commercial issues (including production, transportation, distribution and sales contracts). The sizeable leadership group is formed by firm president Leonel Melo, legal strategy coordinator Esperanza Cabral, Johanna Soto, commercial department head Laura Piantini, Gloria Gassó, who was promoted to partner in April 2023, and director of corporate compliance Adewilxe Castillos.

OMG is ‘always at the forefront of the energy market‘, with a practice that runs the gamut of financial, operational, environmental, tax and regulatory issues in this sphere. Notable strong suits include assisting with the acquisition and sale of energy-related assets and the development of energy projects, including in the renewables space. Among the team’s key clients are energy companies and local and foreign investors. The trio leading the practice is made up of firm president Leonel Melo, who handles corporate, finance and tax mandates; legal strategy coordinator Esperanza Cabral, who is proficient in M&A and restructurings; and Michelle Abreu, a specialist in the full range of energy sector matters. Senior consultant Emily Sucart is also an active member of the team.

At OMG, the dispute resolution team has skills across a wide range of areas, from commercial, civil and administrative litigation to arbitration and the enforcement of arbitral awards. The department is co-headed by senior directors Tristán Carbuccia, whose practice covers foreclosure and collection proceedings and international arbitration, and Luis Pantaleón, who was promoted in May 2023 and handles civil and commercial litigation. Esperanza Cabral is also able to bring to bear her significant corporate expertise to handle contentious matters in this space. Consultants Michele Hazoury and Carlos Bordas provide key support.

OMG‘s multidisciplinary team advises on the tax implications of corporate transactions, as well as handling standalone tax planning projects, with the analysis of both  direct and indirect taxation a key part of the group’s work. Practice head Ana Taveras has a strong track record of advising on tax planning for clients in various industries, including energy, infrastructure, financial services, real estate and tourism, as well as assisting with cross-border transactions. Esperanza Cabral, who has extensive experience in the tax elements of M&A matters, is also a senior name to note. As head of the legal planning practice group, associate Farah Raful is well placed to assist with tax and estate planning.

The diverse workload for OMG‘s real estate and tourism team includes advising on the full life cycle of mixed-use tourism projects, including planning, condominium development, construction issues, licences and permits, the retail of resort properties and timeshare matters. The team predominantly acts for developers, investment funds and hotel chains, utilising its office in the well-known resort town of Punta Cana. M&A expert Esperanza Cabral, who is also the firm’s legal strategy coordinator, heads up the team and has extensive experience in high-profile transactions in the real estate and tourism sectors. Strategic planning manager Patricia Losada also stands out for her expertise in real estate, zoning, regularisation and tourism matters.