The ‘top-tier’ team at regional firm Alta QIL+4 Abogados is highly regarded for the depth and breadth of its corporate offering, with a practice spanning M&A, joint ventures, capital raises, restructurings and corporate governance and compliance issues. In particular, the group has a stellar reputation for acting on both the buyer and seller side of multi-jurisdictional transactions, including joining forces with the firm’s offices in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Honduras to assist foreign companies with their expansion in the Central American market. ‘Top-notch' managing partner Marcos Ibargüen and María Isabel Luján, who leads the pro bono practice, head the sizeable team. Other key figures include compliance practice head José Quiñones, who is particularly active in M&A in the financial and insurance sectors; Alejandro Cofiño, a go-to name for energy and finance-related matters; Andrés Lowenthal, an expert in cross-border transactions; up-and-coming M&A partner Melissa Echeverría; and senior associates Santiago Granados and Ignacio Grazioso. In addition, the firm has established a steering committee focused on diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Alta has a very good and broad team. They are very flexible and adapt to the client's needs.’
‘The firm is top-tier and certainly the best firm I have had the opportunity to work with in Central America. Their availability and quick responses always made us feel very comfortable in a demanding transaction and with a client and counterpart with very specific characteristics.’
‘I found both Marcos Ibargüen and Santiago Granados to be first-class lawyers, always ready to collaborate and very knowledgeable about the standards for corporate transactions. Santiago in particular caught my attention. He is an associate who for all intents and purposes functions as a partner and seems to me to be without a doubt someone who is going to have a very strong future in the transactional field. Certainly, his level of experience and performance are very high for his age. I would definitely recommend Santiago if I had to refer an M&A lawyer in Guatemala.’
'The team are experts in their areas of law and are always able to make time for you, not only for routine work but also for more complex issues.'
‘Marcos Ibargüen is a top-notch lawyer.’
Key clients
- Disagro De Guatemala
- Nexeo Solutions
- Central Agrícola
- Dollar City
- Telus International
- Cinepolis – Mex
- Grupo Gentera
- WPP Group USA
- Airbus Helicopters
- Baker & McKenzie
Work highlights
- Advised Industria San Miguel on the negotiation and structuring of a joint venture with a local partner in the food and beverage industry to bring its products to the Central American market.
- Advised Telus International on the integration of a stock ownership plan across several jurisdictions, requiring a complete filing under local law and a special registration in Guatemala.
- Advised Calidad Inmobiliara on the structuring of a third real estate fund tailored for a private placement to raise equity financing for the development of four real estate projects.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Andrés Lowenthal
María Isabel Luján
José Quiñones
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Melissa Echeverría
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Santiago Granados
Practice head
Marcos Ibargüen; Maria Isabel Luján