Hailed as ‘a comprehensive practice, with highly capable lawyers with excellent business understanding', the corporate offering at full-service domestic firm Legalsa stands out for its advice to local clients on the expansion of their operations in Central America, and has seen strong recent activity in the financial services and agroindustrial sectors. The team is also adept at advising foreign clients on establishing branches in Guatemala, including assisting with commercial contracts and regulatory and licensing issues. Other key pillars of the practice are advising local family-owned businesses on corporate governance and succession issues and supporting start-ups in the food and tech industries. At the head of the team, David Font is well regarded for his expertise in foreign investment, real estate and fintech matters, while Johann Hartleben enjoys a thriving M&A practice. Senior associates Mónica Linares and Andrés Dubón provide assistance with the full range of corporate issues.
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Profile
Work Department
Corporate/M&A, Administrative Law, Banking and Finance, Foreign Investment, Estate Planning, Real Estate
Position
Partner
Career
David Font is a Founding Partner and Director of Legalsa. His practice focuses on Corporate and Commercial Law; Administrative and Public Law specialized in government procurement and contracts and public bids and concessions; infrastructure projects; commercial transactions and contracts; Fintech; banking and international financing; design, incorporation, maintenance and modification of corporate vehicles and governance, particularly in cases involving disputes among shareholders or with third parties; mergers and acquisitions; direct foreign investment; real estate development and transactions; and estate and tax planning.
David’s recent experiences include: comprehensive legal support for the telecommunications sector and for the start-up of operations of multinational companies entering the Guatemalan market; acting as local expert advisor in an international arbitration concerning foreign investment in infrastructure and mining projects; design of legal and tax strategies for real estate developments worth over US$100 million in the last year alone; and structuring of credit facilities of over US$25 million granted by Guatemalan banks for international investments, and guaranteed by assets and revenue in different countries.
Languages
Spanish, English
Memberships
- Guatemalan Bar Association
- International Bar Association (IBA)
Education
- JD, Universidad Rafael Landívar
- MBA, INCAE Business School, Costa Rica
- Postgraduate certifications in Maritime Law from Universidad Rafael Landívar and in Tax Law from the Guatemalan College of CPAs
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘My team receive a personalised service from the people we work with at the Comte & Font Legalsa law firm. We feel like we are the firm's most important client.’
‘A comprehensive practice, with highly capable lawyers with excellent business understanding.’
‘Committed, responsible and highly capable lawyers. I have had the pleasure of working with David Font and Johann Hartleben and they are excellent.’
‘The Legalsa team is excellent. They are a very client-oriented team and therefore offer practical solutions to complex problems.’
‘They are always available and willing to go the extra mile for the client.’
‘The service provided to us by Legalsa and in particular by Johann Hartleben is simply excellent. They respond to emails quickly, know the law and customs in Guatemala, have the necessary contacts and simply help clients solve problems.’
‘The team provides quick responses, reliability, understanding of the client's problems and practical points of view.’
Key clients
- América Móvil
- Claro Guatemala (Telgua)
- Grupo Ultramar
- Fosforera Centroamericana
- Prolease
- Grupo Cixsa
- Norton Lilly International
- Compañía Agrícola Industrial Santa Ana
- Amigo Paisano
- Super Auto Repuestos Acquaroni
Work highlights
Advised financial services company Amigo Paisano on its agreement with a US-based company to form a co-branded online money transfer processing service customised to service the needs of Latin American immigrants to the US.
Assisted swimming pool construction company Watermania with creating a joint venture with Caymanian investors to allow the client to expand its business into the Cayman Islands market.