Consortium - Rodríguez, Archila, Castellanos, Solares & Aguilar SC

This content can only be accessed by Latin Lawyer subscribers

Consortium Centro America Abogados is the largest provider of high-quality legal services in the Central American region with more than 160 attorneys and 10 offices located in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

The firm is consistently top ranked among the best law firms in the Central American region by prestigious international legal directories such as International Financial Law Review, Latin Lawyer, Martindale and Practical Law Company – Which Lawyer?

Consortium Centro America Abogados was awarded for the second year in a row “Best Central America Law Firm of the year” by Chambers and Partners and ACQ Finance Magazine also recognised Consortium as “Best Central America Law Firm of the Year” in 2011. Its office in Guatemala was awarded “Best Guatemala Law Firm of the Year” in 2011 and 2009 by Chambers and Partners. The firm was also awarded “Best Banking & Finance Law Firm in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica” by World Finance UK Legal Awards 2009-2010.

Consortium was given these awards for its high-quality service and innovation in new projects, its pioneering role in the region, as well as proof of market development and excellence in client representation.

The Guatemalan Law firm Rodriguez, Archila, Castellanos, Solares & Aguilar SC, founded in 1990, became a founding member of Consortium Centro America Abogados in 2005.

Consortium maintains close relationships with leading law firms in the USA, Europe, Asia and the rest of the world. Its members participate in international legal organisations.

Main international areas of practice

Banking, finance law and capital markets: Consortium offices have extensive and solid experience in this practice area. The firm provides advice to prestigious banks and financial institutions on financial laws and regulations in the five countries; in aspects related to structuring of complex local or international financial transactions; project finance; advice on all types of corporate and structured transactions, such as asset securitisation, factoring, and leasing and derivatives.

Corporate, commercial and M&A: Consortium has been appointed to coordinate the legal matters of incorporations of companies, board resolutions, general shareholders’ meetings, drafting and execution of contracts, international trade, mergers and acquisitions, distribution, licensing and agency agreements, commercial transactions and contracts, as well as general corporate matters.

Consortium – Guatemala advised BI Bancolombia and CABEI in a long-term financing for the construction of a new 300MW solid fuel-fired power plant located near Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala for US$850 million and the Russian investment company, Solway Group, in the acquisition of Compañía Guatemalteca de Niquel from Hudbay Minerals for a total of US$170 million.

The office has also advised Pollo Campero, a Guatemalan chain of restaurants, in the joint venture with Café Barista, a major coffee shop chain; Actis, an English Investment Fund, in its acquisition through a leveraged buyout, of Gas Natural’s (90 per cent) ownership rights in DEORSA and DEOCSA, two companies who distribute electricity in Guatemala.

Intellectual property: Consortium advises on trademark, patent and copyright law, IP litigation, enforcement actions and registrations of IP rights, cancellation proceedings and licensing, etc. On 2011, our office in Guatemala registered the first Appellation of Origin in such country, ie, “Café Antigua”.

Consortium – Guatemala also advise unipharm SA, Laboratorios Químico Farmacéuticos Lancasco SA and Pollo Campero in the worldwide coordination of all their intellectual property matters (new filling, renewals, domain names, enforcement, etc)

Litigation and arbitration: Consortium advises on administrative, civil, commercial, criminal and labour litigation, including requests for appeals and Supreme Court litigation. Partner Alvaro Castellanos is a member of the International Court of Arbitration, Paris, France and partner Rolando Laclé Zúñiga is president of the International Center for Settlement and Arbitration (CICA).

Tax law: Consortium specialises in the tax aspects of corporate and commercial transactions, including business planning, corporate transactions and tax litigation.

Regulated sector: Consortium has extensive experience in matters related to telecoms, eolic energy, mining, environment, etc.

Real estate: Consortium has ample experience with contracts related to real estate, horizontal property, construction, financing, parcelling, securities, sales, and leases in real estate, including the respective authorisations and registrations.

Labour law: Consortium oversees the interpretation of labour laws and international treaties in effect in Central America, the drafting and enforcement of internal labour regulations and the calculation of labour liabilities and actuarial studies.

Criminal law: Consortium criminal law is concentrated on subjects related to economic, financial and tax crimes, and in the prevention or defence in crimes of labour nature, such as the result of industrial accidents.

Migratory law: Consortium advises foreigners in obtaining and renewing their temporary or permanent residence under any of the categories recognised by our immigration legislation.

www.consortiumlegal.com