Facio & Cañas

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With more than 40 lawyers and close to 120 legal and non-legal support personnel, Facio & Cañas is Costa Rica’s largest law firm.

Founded in 1942 by a group of prominent attorneys, today Facio & Cañas is Costa Rica’s most prestigious law firm and one of the most renowned in Latin America, with a strong reputation of in-depth professional experience in all the areas of business Law. Also, Facio & Cañas is Costa Rica’s exclusive representative to the most important associations of independent law firms in the world, Lex Mundi (congregates more than 21,000 attorneys, in 160 law firms, in 100 countries around the world) and Club Iberoamericano de Abogados.

Major areas of practice

Arbitration and mediation: The firm’s attorneys efficiently apply the latest trends in negotiation, mediation, arbitration and other mechanisms for alternative dispute resolution, and maintain close links with the main organisations offering these services on a global level, such as ICSID and AAA.

General corporate representation: The firm represents a large number of international companies in the process of establishing a local operation.

Insurance: Recently open to private competition after being a governmental monopoly for more than 75 years, the insurance industry is potentially one of the major areas of development in forthcoming years. The insurance team is prepared to assist internationally and locally any company in their new venture in the country.

Litigation: For over 60 years the firm’s litigation lawyers have successfully represented local and international companies in the most complex cases of civil and commercial litigation.

M&A and financial transactions: Facio & Cañas has intervened in some of the largest capital transactions that have taken place in Costa Rica in recent years. The firm also represents clients in cross-border transactions.

Real estate: Facio & Cañas has been very active in the real estate practice area, developing new business opportunities and solutions to foreign and national clients. The firm’s experts deal with residential, touristic and commercial projects and transactions. The firm offices located in Guanacaste facilitate the access to this region of rapid expansion.

Telecommunications: For more than 20 years the telecommunications industry has been considered one of the most attractive markets for foreign investment in the country. The approval of CAFTA will permit the private participation in this industry and the firm’s attorneys are ready to deal with any projects and transactions in this particular area.

We have also created specialised practice groups in the following areas:

Fayca-Mark focuses on intellectual property, protection of trademarks, copyrights and patents of domestic and foreign clients.

Fayca-Tax focuses on taxes and is headed by renowned specialists, some of whom have been appointed to the highest position of the Costa Rican Treasury’s Tax Bureau. Its practice includes tax planning and litigation.

Fayca-Laboral focuses on labour law. It is characterised for providing effective and agile legal solutions for clients’ needs, with a business-oriented culture.

Fayca-Migración focuses on immigration law and is a well organised team that aims to facilitate our clients the relocation of expatriates.

Fayca-Gobierno focuses on administrative law and government affairs. It is actively involved in a large range of public related transactions and services, constitutional and regulatory matters, government litigation, government procurement and contracts, public concessions, among others.

Fayca-Ambiental focuses on environmental law. It is a highly capable team that assists companies in their compliance obligations with environmental requirements and performing environmental due diligence processes.

General areas of practice

antitrust, arbitration and mediation, commercial and investment banking, commerce and customs, constitutional law, consumer law, corporate representation, criminal law, energy and natural resources, environmental law, estates, foreign trade, government litigation, government procurements and contracts, high-tech industries, immigration law, insurance, intellectual property, international arbitration, litigation, labour law, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, public infrastructure and service concessions, real estate projects and transactions, shoreline zone and concession rights, taxes, telecommunications, tourism, transportation and trusts.

Apartado 5173-1000, San José

Costa Rica

Tel: +506 2256 5555
Fax: +506 2255 2510

www.fayca.com