Mrs Carolina Leon > Pellerano & Herrera > Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic > Lawyer Profile

Pellerano & Herrera
Av. Abraham Lincoln 1019
Edificio Federico Pages More
5to piso
Dominican Republic

Work Department

International and foreign investment department

Position

Carolina M. Leon joined the firm in 2006 and became a partner in 2019, leading the Energy and Telecommunications practice areas. She has more than 15 years of experience providing legal advice in the areas of foreign investment, corporate law, regulatory, contracts, free trade agreements, mergers and acquisitions, labor law, free zones, distribution and telecommunications, advising important foreign companies on Law 173 on Protection to the Importer Agents of Goods and Products.

Career

She has also been involved in counseling Major League Baseball Teams on the acquisition of properties and drafting of related contracts for the construction of baseball training camps in the Dominican Republic, and she has also represented clients in conciliation processes under Law 173 and Law 1-02 on Unfair Trade Practices and Safeguard Measures. Her representative transactions include legal advice to the administrator of the Dominican Republic’s number portability before the local Telecommunications Regulator (lNDOTEL) with respect to the implementation of number portability in the country; negotiating agreements with telecommunications service providers; advising on the investment structure for luxury international franchises seeking to establish operations in the Dominican Republic; advising on the merger of two companies providing telecommunications services before lNDOTEL, advising international organizations on the financing and equity investment in a telecommunication service provider, and advising an international financial entity in structuring local securities for the issuance of senior notes by a Dominican company, among others.

Languages

Spanish and English

Memberships

She is a member of the Dominican Bar Association.

Education

Carolina received her Bachelor of Laws, magna cum laude, from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in 2004. In 2005, she completed her Masters in International Business, specializing in Negotiations with Latin America and Asia, at Instituto de Educación Continua of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona and she received her master’s degree in law from Instituto de Empresa (IE) Business School in Madrid, Spain. She has attended courses and seminars on issues related to trade, corporate taxation, legal protection of economic interests of consumers and the Dominican corporate law, among others.

Lawyer Rankings

Dominican Republic > Banking and finance

Pellerano & Herrera stands out for its cross-border work for multinational clients, including investment banks and asset management groups, and at times works together with global law firms to provide local counsel. It has a niche in advising Chinese investors, often on energy and natural resources projects, an area that is overseen by practice co-head and managing partner Ricardo Pellerano. The firm focuses on advice to lenders, frequently on financing infrastructure and real estate projects. Practice co-head Alessandra Di Carlo leads on work advising Citigroup, JP Morgan and Scotia Capital as underwriters of a $300m bond offering by an energy corporation. Members of the corporate team are closely involved in the practice, with corporate partner Carolina Leon overseeing investment, secured financing and trust indenture matters and senior associate Maria Montero acting as a key support in much of the firm’s work.

Dominican Republic > Corporate and M&A

(Next Generation Partners)

Carolina LéonPellerano & Herrera

Pellerano & Herrera stands out for its strength in advising international clients, acting for a wide-ranging roster of multinational companies from the technology, pharmaceuticals, telecoms and fashion sectors, among others. The team has particular expertise in assisting multinational companies with entering the Dominican market, as well as advising on foreign investments, local and cross-border M&A, and corporate restructurings. In addition, the firm entered a collaboration agreement with global firm Andersen Legal in August 2021, expanding its international reach. The practice is led by managing partner Ricardo Pellerano, who is experienced in high-profile transactions in the banking, real estate and tourism sectors in particular, and Alessandra Di Carlo, who is noted for her expertise in cross-border deals. Carolina Leon is also recommended for her advice to international clients on M&A and foreign investments.

Dominican Republic > Labour and employment

Pellerano & Herrera is experienced in both labour disputes and advisory work for an impressive roster of multinational clients. Litigator Lucy Objío heads the contentious side of the practice, which focuses on representing major employers in claims brought by employees, while special counsel Isabel Andrickson leads the consultancy practice, advising on the labour aspects of M&A and reorganisations, the recruitment and dismissal of employees, and the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements. Corporate partner Carolina Leon assists with the employment aspects of transactions, and senior associates Sheila Oviedo and Laura Patiño handle labour disputes and consultancy matters, respectively.

Dominican Republic > Real estate and tourism

Aviation is a key area for Pellerano & Herrera and practice co-head Ricardo Pellerano, with Vitelio Mejía Ortiz covering permits and authorisations for Interjet, as well as corporate and financial advice for tourism resorts, and Alessandra Di Carlo working on property financing and acquisitions. Day-to-day advice for clients in the tourism sector is also covered; Di Carlo and Mejia Ortiz advise Amhsa Marina Hotels & Resorts on operational matters as well as defending the client against IP and negligence lawsuits.  Carolina Leon oversaw service agreements for the restart of Carnival Cruise Corporation’s operations, including tour operator and lease agreements, as well as counting Expedia, for whom she provides day-to-day assistance, as a client. Practice co-head Ramón Luciano advised on land demarcation issues for both a tourist resort and Avon, as well as real estate matters for individuals such as recovery of real estate in a will dispute, and property sales for foreign investors. Tourism industry partner Caroline Bonó left the firm to join Pellerano Nadal.