The powerhouse team at regional firm Arias remains a market leader, bringing strength to advising major financial institutions and multinational corporations on day-to-operations and complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions. The group’s comprehensive service covers matters ranging from M&A, joint ventures and project finance to antitrust, compliance, concessions and credit agreements. The firm’s broad client base spans such sectors as food and beverages, education, agri-business, telecoms, retail, and oil and gas. The practice is headed by managing partner and foreign investment authority Ana Teresa Rizo; Bertha Argüello, an expert in financial regulatory compliance; Gustavo-Adolfo Vargas, a specialist in advising multilateral institutions on the granting of credits, including the structuring and negotiation of agreements; and Rodrigo Ibarra, who handles matters involving hydrocarbons, telecoms and banking. Key support is provided at the associate level by Maryeling Guevara, who conducts complex due diligence for acquisitions, and Uriel Balladares, who manages horizontal property regimes and real estate regulatory matters.
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Profile
Work Department
Corporate and Commercial law | Energy and Natural Resources | Intellectual Property | Mergers and Acquisitions | Mining | Project and Infrastructure Finance | Regulatory | Start-ups and Entrepreneurs | Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Position
Partner
Career
Gustavo-Adolfo beginnings in Arias date to 2003, and since his reincorporation in 2013 in the Corporate department, his transactional practice involves structuring and drafting complex deals, often encompassing issues in the areas of Corporate Law and minority shareholders rights, Real Estate, Regulatory and other complex legal issues.
His professional experience includes two and a half years in the Legal Division of the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC), member of the IDB group, where he was part of the team of lawyers in charge of financing in the form of direct loans and equity investments and lines of credit to local financial intermediaries, and in investment funds across all of the Latin American and Caribbean region.
He has advised banks and international financial institutions as well as multilateral institutions in the granting of credits, including the structuring and negotiation of agreements. He has also participated in various local and regional mergers and acquisitions in industries as diverse as telecommunications, mining, hospitality and restaurants, and energy. Likewise, he has represented national and foreign investors in the purchases of properties as well as the structuring of important commercial transactions. He was appointed as a Partner in 2014.
Languages
Spanish | English | French | Portuguese
Memberships
- International Bar Association (IBA)
Education
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Law degree (LL.B.) from the Universidad Americana, Managua, Nicaragua.
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He is authorized as a practicing Attorney and Notary Public in Nicaragua.
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Master of Laws (LL.M.) with emphasis in Business and Corporate Law from Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, IL
Content supplied by Arias
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘They are very attentive to detail and are available. They handle the issues involved in different business areas and are interested in knowing the details of the industry in with which they are working.'
‘Gustavo Vargas takes the time to analyse all the details that need to be included in the contracts so that nothing is left unnoticed that could harm the company's interests in the future.'
‘Arias' corporate and finance team is one of a kind, combing experience, availability and knowledge.'
‘Bertha Argüello is one of the best in her field. Her experience, along with her expertise and technical knowledge, is remarkable.'
‘What makes them stand out is how accessible they are - they always answer a call or respond to an email, and are willing to provide the best service for any requirement.'
Key clients
- IFC
- Kola Shaler
- Grupo Bimbo
- Banco Santander
- Responsability Investments
- Banco Davivienda
Work highlights
Advised Banco Davivienda on an unsecured loan of up to $10m to Eolo de Nicaragua and other CMI group companies for working capital and/or foreign trade, bank guarantees, standby letters of credit and commercial letters of credit.
Advised Grupo Bimbo on the sale of its confectionery division, Ricolino, to Mondelez for $1.3bn.
Advised the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on the third tranche of a multi-year financing to Monte Rosa sugar mill, including a short-term loan of $15m and a long-term loan of $10m.