Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez

We have a highly trained team to respond to the needs of entrepreneurs in the real estate and tourism sector, as well as to meet their objectives.

We provide a comprehensive and personalized service for real estate and tourism projects regarding structuring, financing, tax advice, permits and contractual disputes, among others.

We carry out legal due diligence, which includes verification of the legal status of the properties, tax and regulatory situation, liens, claims, property registration history, property rights and permits required for the project, among others. We also assist the client in the transactional component of the asset purchase, risk identification and recommendation of strategies for their mitigation.

We have extensive experience with special regimes for real estate investment companies, having had the opportunity to advise clients on incorporation and tax aspects.

Likewise, we support national and international companies with the structuring of leasing operations necessary to achieve their commercial objectives.

We represent leading national and foreign companies in the main productive sectors, including:

• International hotel chains.
• Retailers.
• Investment banks.
• Construction companies and developers.
• Investment funds.
• Real estate investors.
• Public and private companies.

Representative transactions include advising international franchises in the food sector on the review of land where they have established their commercial operations nationwide, as well as reviewing and advising on lease contracts. We have also assisted international hotel chains with the establishment of operations in Panama, as well as investment funds in the acquisition of agroforestry farms for commercial purposes.

The size, preparation and experience of our commercial law team makes us one of the main reference points for doing business in Panama. We have a multidisciplinary team with experience and the ability to understand the commercial aspects underlying the legal issues that arise. This allows us to provide effective and efficient solutions that fit the requirements of our clients.

Our ability to respond quickly and in line with the speed that our clients' business operations demand has positioned us as a leading firm providing clients with support in their legal needs.

We have successfully advised companies whose business activities are carried out within major industries, such as :

• Pharmaceuticals.
• Manufacture.
• Technology.
• Wholesale and retail trade.
• Education.
• Construction.
• Hospitality and Tourism.
• Entertainment.
• Port.
• Free Zones, Free Trade Zones and Other Special Areas.

We advise clients at every stage of business development. As part of our business law advice, we frequently have the opportunity to support our clients with:

• Structuring of businesses and partnerships.
• Preparation and review of commercial contracts.
• Identification of specific permits and authorizations applicable to our clients' business activities in an expeditious and efficient manner.
• Administrative regulatory support for obtaining applicable permits and authorizations.

Our experience of more than 55 years has allowed us to evolve in accordance with the most demanding ethical quality standards and new international requirements to offer agile and innovative responses to our clients' challenges. This has positioned us as strategic advisors to multiple multinational and family-owned companies, as well as families, both in Panama and in the region.

Our estate planning, trusts and foundations services include:

• Regulatory advice;
• Incorporation of corporate vehicles;
• Constitution and administration of guarantee trusts, testamentary trusts, administration trusts, as well as the custody of assets as trustees;
• Investment advice and structuring and succession plans.
• Succession plans and family protocol for national and foreign companies.

We have a highly qualified team in labor law, integrating decades of experience with regulatory and commercial knowledge. We have the ability to see the needs of clients from their perspective and with commercial sensitivity. Likewise, we provide innovative solutions that set precedents in each of our interventions.

Our team of labor lawyers is the most recognized in the Panamanian market, due to its vast experience and track record in the field. Our services include: general labor legal advice, judicial and extrajudicial claims, labor disputes (collective and individual), arbitrations, strategic labor planning, among others.

We assist numerous clients with operations in Panama that come from various productive sectors and industries, which gives us the ability to understand the legal labor needs and opportunities that exist in all sectors, including, but not limited to:

• Port.
• Hospitals.
• Insurance.
• Pharmaceutical.
• Retail and wholesale trade.
• Manufacture.
• Transport.
• Aviation.
• Hospitality and tourism.
• Education (universities, schools).
• Construction.

Among our outstanding efforts are the strategic planning and execution of the transition of the public transportation system from a private entity to a governmental one. Likewise, we have assisted in the planning and execution of transitions resulting from the privatization of services. Additionally, we have successfully participated in the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements in most of the country's productive sectors, agreements that are benchmarks in the legal labor market.

We have a recognized practice in the areas of litigation and arbitration that has positioned us as one of the leading law firms in Panama. Our approach is based on advising and supporting our clients to mitigate risks, mediate and reach agreements that provide an efficient solution to conflicts, as well as conducting a thorough analysis of claims and creating strategies.

We represent national and international clients from the main productive sectors, such as:

• Leading construction companies and project developers in mega-project concepts
• Insurance and reinsurance companies.
• National and international banks.
• Telecommunications companies.
• Ports.
• Aeronautical companies.

We have represented our clients in administrative, judicial and arbitration proceedings before national and international centres such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in different areas, such as:

• Ordinary contractual proceedings of a civil, commercial and corporate nature, as well as non-contractual liability.
• Simple and mortgage executive processes.
• Bankruptcy reorganization and liquidation processes.
• Constitutional proceedings such as claims of unconstitutionality or warnings of unconstitutionality and protection of constitutional guarantees before the Supreme Court of Justice. As well as in administrative proceedings of nullity or full jurisdiction before the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court.
• Litigious situations or administrative claims.
• Our Litigation and Arbitration team is made up of professionals with a high sense of ethics and transparency. This has led some of them to serve as arbitrators, earning valuable recognition among their peers for their objectivity and thoroughness.

We have one of the most active and well-established immigration practices in Panama.

Our services focus on corporate labor operations (expatriations, visas and work permits), as well as immigration processes for investors, company executives, retirees and tourists. We have served as immigration advisors in a wide range of sectors for local and multinational clients, as well as non-profit organizations, international organizations and regional offices of multinational companies.

We assist companies in large-scale hiring processes for foreign technical personnel, following the award of high-profile projects by the State. We also advise international schools and prestigious universities in the hiring of foreign labor.

We have a specialized and committed team that is responsible for looking beyond each particular case. We accompany clients throughout their immigration process, while helping them choose the necessary visa according to their short, medium and long-term objectives.

We were part of the drafting of the Special Regime for Multinational Companies for the Provision of Services Related to Manufacturing (EMMA), as well as the Law on Headquarters of Multinational Companies (SEM) in relation to immigration regulations, Qualified Investor visa regulations, among others.

We stand out for having one of the most recognized intellectual property departments in Panama. We specialize in trademark and copyright matters, including their processing and defense.

We support clients in processes related to the registration and protection of trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, franchises, industrial designs, domain names and trade names in general.

We actively represent clients in litigation and anti-piracy measures. Our experience extends to the main productive sectors, including: retail, pharmaceutical, personal hygiene, cosmetics, food and beverage, entertainment, and textiles. We also have experience providing intellectual property advice to NGOs.

Thanks to our global approach, we have a worldwide network of leaders in other jurisdictions to provide a quality experience.

In addition to assisting in the registration of works, we also help our clients with administrative processes that may arise due to copyright infringement by third parties. We also have extensive experience assisting clients in the hotel and hospitality sector in negotiating rates so that they can sign the corresponding agreements and licenses with collective management entities.

We excel in legal advice on competition law and consumer protection, assisting local and international companies in all areas of regulations within this branch of law.

Our client portfolio includes companies in the construction, telecommunications, retail, hydrocarbon, entertainment and hospitality sectors, among others, who benefit from the regulatory knowledge provided by our team.

We have led high-profile merger verification processes carried out in Panama. Together with the firm's transactional team, our expert competition lawyers successfully assist clients in relevant mergers and acquisitions. The representative transactions where we have supported the merger verification processes are within the telecommunications, banking, industrial, and aeronautical sectors, among others.

We have a long history of representing local and international insurance companies, reinsurers and insurance brokers. Our experience and high quality standards make us leaders and trusted allies for the main players in the market.

We also advise clients on matters related to insurance and reinsurance in sectors such as maritime, real estate, health, finance and construction.

Our team is highly trained and has vast experience to assist clients in:

• Registration and licensing.
• Drafting insurance contracts.
• Recurring reports to the regulator.
• Representation of insurers and reinsurers in claims related to their clients.
• Insurance litigation, coverage disputes in multi-jurisdictional matters, directors and officers liability, business interruption insurance, professional and property indemnity insurance, and claims litigation, among others.
• Advice on compliance with anti-money laundering regulations related to the insurance business, including public sector contractors.