Lauded for its ability to ‘combine legal excellence with business acumen’, corporate heavyweight BLP leverages its full-service model and sizeable footprint in Central America to provide comprehensive support to prominent multinationals on big-ticket domestic and regional M&A, covering all aspects of the transaction from due diligence to antitrust and regulatory matters. Joint ventures, corporate restructurings, spin-offs and compliance issues are also core areas of expertise for the team, which acts for major players in the tech, agribusiness, telecoms and transport sectors, among others. The practice is headed by the ’extremely creative’ David Gutiérrez, who enjoys a strong international profile (and also oversees the Madrid office), and Adriana Castro, who stands out for her expertise in cross-border transactions, with an emphasis on the telecoms, media and tech spheres. The enviably deep bench also includes Eduardo Calderón, a high-profile name for M&A, international transactions expert Luis M. Castro, Adelina Villalobos, a specialist in foreign direct investment projects and free trade zone matters, and directors Adriana Acuña and Elia Naranjo. Clients also benefit from project management and pricing tools introduced by the firm’s Innovation Commission.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘It is a firm with a strong commitment to its clients - very good deliveries, very efficient and they are always looking for solutions to the clients' needs quickly and efficiently.’
'We would like to highlight David Gutiérrez and Adriana Castro. They are highly business-oriented, with excellent deliveries and excellent judgement in handling complex situations.’
‘What makes this practice unique is its combination of technical sophistication, a practical approach and true regional coverage. We've worked with other firms in the region, but none compare to BLP in terms of quality, speed of response and commercial understanding. Their M&A team not only masters the legal side but also deeply understands the business, which makes a huge difference. Unlike other firms, BLP offers a truly integrated experience in Central America, without friction between jurisdictions.'
'Their service culture is exceptional: they work as if they were part of our team. They've incorporated technological tools that streamline the due diligence process, and their team is diverse, solid and very stable. For us, they are clearly the best option in the region.’
‘What truly distinguishes BLP's lawyers is their ability to combine legal excellence with business acumen. They don't just identify risks, but rather seek viable and creative solutions to make transactions successful.'
'David Gutiérrez stands out for his strategic approach and his ability to provide legal advice with business acumen. He is extremely creative and always thinking about how to make the deal work, without losing strength on the legal side. Elia Naranjo stands out for her efficiency, attention to detail and constant commitment. Compared to other firms, the BLP team is more involved, better understands the stakes and provides greater real value. They are a natural extension of our internal team.’
Key clients
- Evertec
- JCDecaux
- Banco Davivienda
- Garnier & Garnier
- Aki KB
- Baxter
- Universidad Fidélitas
- Aurora Sustainable Lands / Heartwood Timberlands
- Indra / Minsait
- DAC Realty Corporation / Garnier & Garnier / Daki Capital
- Millicom
Work highlights
Advised Evertec in the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Zunify Payments, a company dedicated to the business of financial operations by electronic means.
Advised JCDecaux on its acquisition of a 70% majority stake in IMC, a leading out-of-home advertising company operating across Central America, Colombia and Panama.
Advised Banco Davivienda on its agreement with The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank Canada) to integrate Scotiabank’s operations in Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Adriana Castro; David Gutiérrez