Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

• The key differentiator of AFRA's lawyers, especially Luis Moreno and Annette Bárcenas, is the quality of their personalized service and their ability to actively listen to the client's needs before making any recommendations. The team demonstrates a genuine interest in understanding the full context of each consultation—not only the legal aspects, but also the operational, strategic, and financial environment in which the company must make decisions—allowing them to offer solutions tailored to the realities of the business and designed to ensure the best possible outcome.
• AFRA's practice is distinguished by its highly personalized and strategic service, focused on gaining a deep understanding of its clients' business and regulatory needs. The team goes beyond traditional legal advice, acting as a true business partner, anticipating risks, proposing practical solutions, and supporting clients in making key decisions throughout the project lifecycle. One of its main differentiators is its profound knowledge and experience in projects and infrastructure, particularly in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) schemes. AFRA actively participated in drafting the PPP Law, giving them an exceptional understanding of the spirit, scope, and objectives of the regulatory framework. For in-house counsel, this translates into high-value-added advice: the AFRA team not only interprets the law clearly but also applies it practically to contract management, enabling them to identify, understand, and properly allocate risks, design effective mitigation mechanisms, and take timely action in response to critical events during PPP contract execution.
• Excellent broad-based understanding of the Panamanian market, along with high-quality legal advice.
• The team's main differentiator lies in the human and professional qualities of its lawyers, combined with a deeply results-oriented mindset. It's not just their technical knowledge—which is outstanding—but how they apply it: with business acumen, a sense of urgency, and a clear commitment to service. In particular, Juan Antonio Alfaro stands out as a true project manager within the firm. He has the ability to structure, organize, and propel complex matters forward with a comprehensive vision, contributing out-of-the-box ideas and practical solutions. His approach is not limited to analysis, but rather to unlocking obstacles and making things happen, always with quick and actionable responses. For her part, Annette Bárcenas is simply exceptional. She represents the voice of experience within the team, with solid and reliable judgment even in the most complex scenarios. Her level of commitment is hard to match: if the situation requires it, she is willing to go the extra mile—including working late—to ensure optimal client service and that matters progress smoothly. Compared to other firms, the difference lies in that level of genuine involvement. While other teams may simply offer opinions, AFRA takes ownership of matters, actively manages them, and supports the client through to completion. This combination of leadership, experience, and true dedication is what sets them apart from their competitors.
• AFRA's practice is distinguished by a rare combination of technical rigor, a sense of urgency, and genuine empathy for the client's needs. Beyond the consistently high quality of their legal work, the team is characterized by its ability to become deeply involved in each matter, understanding not only the legal issue but also the business and operational context in which it arises. This translates into practical, timely solutions aligned with the client's objectives.
• AFRA offers top-tier, internationally recognized, personalized senior support. They have a dedicated team and provide excellent customer service. They seamlessly integrate junior and senior teams into transactions. Their feedback is precise and they collaborate proactively to find solutions for multi-party transactions.

Key clients

• APM Terminal
• Ruta del Este Sociedad Concesionaria, S.A.
• Sika
• EPP Energy
• Grupo Senda
• Monjasa
• Grupo Cox (Energy)
• PSA International Terminal, S.A. (PPIT)
• Petroamerica Terminal, S.A. (a VTTI Company)
• Astillero Puerto de Balboa, S.A. (Astibal)
• Vopak
• Grupo Enfragen

Work highlights

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.

Annette Bárcenas

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Juan Antonio Alfaro

Next Generation Partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Luis Horacio Moreno