Central American firm Lexincorp is well equipped to handle both national and international disputes, with robust experience in litigation as well as conciliation, mediation and arbitration proceedings. In particular, the firm stands out for its ability to represent large corporations and public institutions in the energy, construction and infrastructure sectors, in line with the firm's strength in the projects sphere, as well as handling a steady stream of debt recovery actions. The team is led by Honduras managing partner Benito Zelaya, who brings to bear significant skill in domestic and international commercial arbitration. The sizeable associate group includes Juan Carlos Benítez, Alejandro Cáceres, Luis Cruz, Carlos Urrutia and Saúl Aguilar.
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Profile
Work Department
Corporate Law, Regulatory Law, Dispute Resolution; Industries: Infrastructure, Commercial, Banking, Energy, Telecommunications, Concessions, and Public-Private Partnerships.
Position
Managing Partner
Career
Benito primarily specializes in providing legal counsel to businesses, as well as in structuring projects, acquiring companies, arranging financings, structuring trusts, structuring vehicles for specific purposes, establishing corporate governance, compliance, and competition plans. He offers legal advice to companies across various industries.
Benito has extensive experience in dispute resolution. He has been involved in various complex high-value disputes related to commercial contracts, banking, infrastructure projects, energy, real estate development, roads, public-private partnerships, concessions, condominium regimes, distribution contracts, insurance contracts, shareholder conflicts, among others. He acts as legal counsel for companies, as a party's lawyer in arbitration and jurisdictional courts, as well as an arbitrator, conciliator, and secretary.
Benito Zelaya typically serves as a lawyer, national and international arbitrator, and adjudicator. He has held various prominent roles in his legal career. He was a member of the Arbitration Court of the International Chamber of Commerce from 2017 to 2022. Currently, he serves as a delegate to the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce since 2022 and is also the representative for Honduras of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation since January 2022. Additionally, he was the founder and president of the Honduran Chapter of the Spanish Arbitration Club from 2015 to the present day. Benito has demonstrated leadership and commitment to promoting alternative dispute resolution methods. He is a board member of the Latin American International Arbitration (LIA), the Latin American Arbitration Association (ALARB), among others, highlighting his involvement in international organizations related to alternative dispute resolution methods.
Languages
Spanish
Memberships
Colegio de Abogados de Honduras: Honduran Bar Association
International Bar Association: International Bar Association
Federación Iberoamericana de Abogados (FIA): Ibero-American Federation of Lawyers (FIA)
Cámara de Comercio Internacional: International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
Latin American and Iberian Chapter of the ICC Institute of World Business Law: Latin American and Iberian Chapter of the ICC Institute of World Business Law
Grupo latinoamericano de Árbitros de la Cámara de Comercio Internacional (CCI): Latin American Group of Arbitrators of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
Asociación Latinoamericana de Árbitros (ALARB): Latin American Arbitration Association (ALARB)
Latin American International Arbitration (LIA): Latin American International Arbitration (LIA)
Club Español de Arbitraje - Capítulo Hondureño: Spanish Arbitration Club - Honduran Chapter
Dispute Resolution Board Foundation: Dispute Resolution Board Foundation
Asociación Latinoamericana de Derecho de la Construcción: Latin American Construction Law Association
Education
Postgraduate Degree in Civil Procedural Law, Mediation, and Arbitration – University of Salamanca
Candidate for Doctorate in Law - University of San Carlos – Guatemala (Currently preparing for thesis defense)
Master's Degree in Continuing Education in Commercial and Investment Arbitration – University of Alcala (Currently enrolled)
Master's Degree in Business Law (LLM) - Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Master's Degree in Business Management - Central American Technological University, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Bachelor's Degree in Legal Sciences – Dr. José Matías Delgado University, San Salvador, El Salvador.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Excellent law firm, very pleasant attitude.’
‘Benito Zelaya: Excellent service and leadership. Alejandro Cáceres: A capable, responsible, young lawyer.'
‘Lexincorp is a firm with high standards, which has allowed it to provide its services internationally. We worked with Benito Zelaya, who demonstrated his conflict prevention skills and extensive knowledge of dispute resolution. He was always one step ahead of a potential dispute and made his knowledge available. Honest and transparent.'
‘Benito Zelaya is a lawyer with sufficient knowledge to resolve any situation he encounters. He also has a team who have been carefully selected to reflect the firm's expertise, knowledge, and commitment, which generates trust among their clients.’
'Comprehensive service focused on my sector (construction).'
Key clients
- Empresa Hondueña de Infraestructura Aeroporturia SA (EHISA) Cámara Hondureña de la Industria de la Construcción (CHICO) Atradius Collection Multigroup BAC Credomatic Corporación Multinversiones (CMI) CINSA, S.A. de C.V. GMG Comercial Honduras S.A Petroleos y Energia de Honduras SA de CV (Petrhosa)
Work highlights
Secured the dismissal of an arbitration claim brought against CISA by Banco Atlantida, arguing that the client was late with a payment after obtaining a $19m loan.