Mr Alfredo Rodríguez > Consortium Legal > Ciudad Guatemala, Guatemala > Lawyer Profile

M&A transactions are the cornerstone of the corporate practice at regional powerhouse Consortium Legal, which is sought after for its advice to major domestic and multinational clients. The team has a strong track record in cross-border transactions – including deals involving multiple jurisdictions in Central America, thanks to its extensive regional network – and also assists with corporate restructurings and M&A-related tax, labour, IP, real estate, regulatory and litigation matters. The highly experienced duo of Alfredo Rodríguez (who has complementary tax expertise) and Rafael Alvarado Riedel (whose practice spans foreign investment and international commercial contracts) heads the team. Sofia Escribá is a go-to name for M&A, with a specialism in highly regulated sectors such as mining, and the practice also benefits from the expertise of firm president Álvaro Castellanos. Senior associate Maria Fernanda Morales leads a department focused on company incorporations, and associate Roxana Sandoval provides key support. The firm also demonstrates its sustainability credentials through its membership of the Central American Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (INTEGRARSE) and has established a regional equality policy. Since publication, Alvarado Riedel has moved to an in-house role at Tigo.

The real estate team at Consortium Legal leverages the firm’s full-service offering to advise on all financial, environmental, corporate and tax issues relating to the development of major projects, with a recent emphasis on the high-end residential and industrial sectors. The team has broad expertise spanning project finance, the acquisition, sale and renting of properties, the constitution of horizontal property regimes and tourism-related matters, and acts for an impressive array of large developers. At the helm of the practice, Alfredo Rodríguez brings his extensive corporate, tax and foreign investment experience in real estate matters, and Sandra García de Zedán advises on the full range of residential (including public housing), office, industrial park and tourism projects. The talented line-up of associates includes Jaminie Recinos, Mario Pivaral and Cristina Samayoa, who joined from Alegalis in September 2022.

Consortium Legal is renowned for the depth and breadth of its tax offering, using the firm’s full-service and multi-jurisdictional model to its advantage when advising on a wide range of local and cross-border tax matters. Commended by clients for its ‘knowledge and experience in international taxation‘, the team frequently advises on the tax aspects of foreign investments, including M&A and real estate transactions, and related issues such as customs tax and transfer pricing. The firm also has an enviable reputation in tax litigation, handling both civil and criminal cases before Guatemala’s highest courts. The four-partner team includes Alfredo Rodríguez (who has extensive experience in transactional tax), Olga María Meléndez (a standout in both contentious and non-contentious matters), Mario Estuardo Archila (a high-profile name for tax disputes) and David Erales (who leads the tax litigation practice). Associate Alejandra Fuentes-Pieruccini garners praise for her expertise in cross-border matters.

Consortium Legal maintains a formidable offering across Central America, with a presence in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras (in both Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula), Nicaragua and Costa Rica (where it has branches in San José and Escazú, as well as two offices in Guanacaste, taking advantage of the province’s thriving tourism sector). The firm plays a prominent role in both domestic and cross-border financial transactions, and routinely advises foreign investors on projects in the region. In Costa Rica, Mario Quesada-Bianchini, who has three decades of experience in financial transactions and banking M&A (and also coordinates the firm’s regional finance practice), and fintech lead Randall Barquero are among the key contacts for financial matters, while Rolando Laclé Zúñiga, an expert in M&A and foreign investment, and Juan Manuel Godoy are names to note in the corporate team. Oscar Samour, a go-to specialist in multi-jurisdictional transactions, heads the banking practice in El Salvador, and steers the corporate team alongside Maria Alejandra Tulipano, who has a focus on international commerce, and Diego Martín. Olga Barreto, whose expertise spans the corporate, finance and aviation spheres, leads the team in Nicaragua. In Guatemala, the highly regarded Álvaro Castellanos heads the finance practice, while Alfredo Rodríguez, who has complementary tax expertise, and Rafael Alvarado Riedel lead the corporate team. An experienced quartet of partners – José Ramón Paz Morales, José Ramón Paz Padilla, Gustavo León-Gómez and José Rafael Rivera – handles corporate and finance matters in Honduras.