Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee

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Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee was established in 1985 and has quickly become one of Panama’s leading law firms in the offshore area as well as in representing large corporations doing business in the country. The firm’s offshore practice is supported by its offices in the British Virgin Islands, Belize, the Bahamas and Luxembourg, and also by a strong network of correspondents throughout Europe, Asia, the United States and Latin America. In its local practice, the banking department is one of the firm’s main areas of strength, providing services to most of the large banks established in the country and also representing several foreign banks that have recently applied for a banking licence and have started operations in Panama. The firm also provides legal advice to a large number of companies involved in various areas of activities, ranging from the largest telecommunications company in the country to companies engaged in port activities, software production, transportation (airlines, railroad and shipping), electric distribution, construction, manufacturing, petroleum distribution, pharmaceutical distribution, banana trading and retail sales, among others. The firm’s main areas of strength are its excellent clientele and a well-trained group of lawyers with strong expertise in their respective areas of practice who share the firm’s commitment to providing prompt and efficient solutions to its clients’ needs. The firm invests heavily in telecommunications and computer equipment in order to make sure that contact with the clients is maintained at an optimum level.

International experience

Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee is very experienced in dealing with international clients. As previously mentioned, it is one of the leading law firms in the country in the banking area, and thus has handled many complex financial transactions for foreign banks and corporations. In addition, it represents many of the international companies that submitted winning bids for the purchase of privatised state companies, and has also provided legal assistance to Panamanian companies that have expanded their activities abroad.

Representative clients

The firm’s main representative clients include Citibank, HSBC Bank (Panama) SC, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (Panama) SA, Banco Santander (Panama) SA, Banco General SA, ES Bank (Panamá) SA, GNB Bank (Panama) SA, Andbank, St George’s Bank & Company Inc, GTC Bank Inc, BAC International Bank, The General Trust Company SA, Banco de Crédito SA, Kraft Foods (Panama) SA, The Shell Company (WI) Ltd, Merck, Sharp & Dhome, Philip Morris, Cable & Wireless Panama SA, Cable & Wireless plc, Mitsui, Pfizer Inc, Warner Lambert de Panama SA, Siemens AG, Cisco Systems Inc, Evergreen International SA, Chiquita Brands International, Grupo Taca, GBM de Panama SA, Grupo Lafise, Grupo Promerica, Bacardi Latinoamerica SA, Inter-American Investment Corporation, Panama Canal Railway Company, Kansas City Southern Industries Inc, Unilever de Centro América SA, Mi-Jack Products Inc, Compañía Azucarera La Estrella SA, Petróleos Delta SA, Compañía Istmeña de Seguros SA, Constructora Urbana SA (CUSA), Industrias Lácteas SA, Charles Schwab & Co Inc, Organización Cisneros, Elektra Noreste SA, VF Corp, COPA Airlines, Grupo Unidos por el Canal and London & Regional (Panama) SA, among others.

Main international areas of practice

Banking, capital markets and finance: The firm handles a wide variety of banking and finance matters, including the drafting of loan agreements, international securities transactions, initial public offerings and tender offers.

Corporate: The firm advises clients on selecting the best alternative to meet their particular needs, taking into consideration tax, regulatory, liability and confidentiality matters. It also provides counsel to clients on the reorganisation and restructuring of their operations, and in the drafting of articles of incorporations and by-laws.

Litigation: The firm provides excellent advice and assistance on a wide range of matters before national courts and other forums of dispute resolution. The firm’s litigators have also represented clients in arbitration hearings in the United States and Europe, and have acted as expert witnesses on issues related to Panamanian law in various courts around the world.

Mergers & acquisitions: Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee has acted as legal counsel for many of the bank mergers that have been completed in the country in recent years, as well as for several corporate mergers.

Antitrust: The firm specialises in antitrust and unfair competition law, advising clients on compliance with sound trade practices. The firm also monitors anti-competitive conduct by its clients’ competitors and takes whatever legal action is necessary to protect their interests. Languages: Spanish, English and French.

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