Icaza, Gonzalez - Ruiz & Aleman (IGRA)

Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán has gained a wealth of experience over the years in a wide range of corporate legal services. 

Our skilled attorneys who are knowledgable in business law and maintain themselves constantly updated on legislative and regulatory developments, advise clients on their rights, responsibilities, and obligations in legal matters related to:

• agents, 
• creditors, 
• partnerships, 
• intellectual property, 
• trusts, 
• contracts, 
• environmental issues, 
• among others, including all kinds of litigation

When taking on a client, the firm provides relevant information for decision-making and assists in planning and assessing projects and business opportunities, performing legal due diligence, negotiating, drafting, reviewing contracts, and incorporating companies. 

The team is known for building strong client relationships with clients and providing support in every stage of their business process.

The firm regularly provides counsel to multinationals, banks, small and medium businesses, and governments in various cases ranging from cross-border transactions to financing and corporate governance.

ICAZA, GONZALEZ-RUIZ & ALEMAN has a team of specialized attorneys with vast experience in the regulations in force applicable to free competition and consumer protection in every field.

Our team can provide:

• Legal advice on consumer protection and antitrust matters.
• Advisory and handling every kind of proceedings (administrative and judicial) regarding this matter.
• Review of contracts and other documents to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
• Procuring licenses, authorizations, and queries before the corresponding administrative authorities.

In this context, the firm represents several companies that offer their goods and services to consumers and users, and we provide advice to prevent risks of any possible legal actions. In this area, we usually assist banks, financial entities, communications & information technology enterprises, and providers of every kind of goods.

Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán’s immigration practice provides cost-effective and timely immigration services to various clients, including multinationals, local companies, non-profit organizations, and individuals in general.

The practice combines its experience with preventive planning, and specific processes, allowing us to create a customized and efficient system to fulfill the needs of each client.

The department handles immigration matters on behalf of our independent and international corporate clients in their Panamanian business dealings and in conjunction with our Labor law practice. Together, the team strives to provide companies with a competitive advantage when hiring and retaining their human resources.

Our team of lawyers has extensive experience in dealing with the relevant authorities and is aware of the intricacies of Panamanian law and procedures. Our policy is to remain in direct contact with the client and maintain constant communication, with a lawyer on call to answer any inquiries and solve major immigration or labor-related matters.

Depending on the client-specific needs and interests, our team is ready to assist in the following areas:

• Registration with the Panamanian Immigration Authority
• Request for Visas (tourist, temporary visitor, resident, investor, immigrant, retiree, etc.)
• Acquisition of Panamanian Citizenship
• Personal identity cards (cédula)
• Work permits, among others.

Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán’s immigration practice provides cost-effective and timely immigration services to various clients, including multinationals, local companies, non-profit organizations, and individuals in general.

The practice combines its experience with preventive planning, and specific processes, allowing us to create a customized and efficient system to fulfill the needs of each client.

ICAZA, GONZALEZ-RUIZ & ALEMAN provides legal advisory, litigation services, and obtainment of any license related to insurance activities to several prestigious insurance companies in Panama.

We advise a large number of insurance companies in their corporate matters. In particular, we verify that administrative requirements are completed and assist in establishing new businesses for a variety of insurance operations. We acquire licenses for life and non-life products and services, underwriters and reinsurers, intermediaries, customs brokers, and captives. In addition, we can assist with the documentation required in connection with the sale or purchase of insurance products.

Our team of professionals has advised on debt and secured financing transactions, as well as for insurance in the shipping industry. We also provide insurance advice to our clients in the financial and banking industries.

Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán’s Intellectual Property and Brand Protection practice assists in all aspects related to trademarks, patents, utility models, industrial designs, slogans, copyrights, trade, and domain names, Brand Protection and Anti-Counterfeiting, Data protection, as well as unfair competition and regulatory matters.

Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán’s Intellectual Property and Brand Protection practice assists in all aspects related to trademarks, patents, utility models, industrial designs, slogans, copyrights, trade, and domain names, Brand Protection and Anti-Counterfeiting, Data protection, as well as unfair competition and regulatory matters.

These legal services are provided in connection with a wide variety of products and services that range from chemicals to banking services, including colorants, cleaning preparations, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronic goods, software, surgical devices, vehicles, watches, jewelry, printed materials, furniture, clothing, games, food, beverages, tobacco, telecommunication, transportation, and education material, among others.

The firm’s highly active and recognized Brand Protection and Anti-Counterfeiting practice helps clients create and implement specific and practical strategies to protect their brands from counterfeit activities. In addition, we offer market surveillance in known hotspots where fake goods are usually sold, as well as in social media and e-commerce.

We also work closely with the IP Prosecutors Office, the National Customs Authority, and risk analysis officials in ports to target suspect containers with counterfeit goods in transit through Panama. Moreover, we provide regular training to public officials in the region on behalf of our clients on identifying fake goods.

The practice has been consistently ranked in publications such as Chambers Latin America, WTR 1000, and Managing IP. In addition, it has won Trademark firm of the year in Panama, awarded by WTR and IAM at The Global IP Awards in 2020 and by Managing IP in 2021.

ICAZA, GONZALEZ-RUIZ & ALEMAN has a team of knowledgeable and experienced lawyers specializing in labor law who offer a variety of practical tools and solutions that allow our clients to manage their labor relationships in an efficient, safe, and reliable manner.

We accompany our local and international clients from the very moment they start operations in Panama, providing them with valuable support in labor and social security matters, including advice on issues related to individual employment contracts, salaries, working hours, overtime, unions, collective bargaining agreements, strikes, occupational hazards, calculation of labor rights and benefits, disciplinary sanctions, and termination of employment.

We represent our clients in individual and collective labor claims before the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and before the Labor Courts.

ICAZA, GONZALEZ-RUIZ & ALEMAN’s labor law team provides constant support to clients such as Caterpillar, FCC Construcción, UBS Asesores, Banco Panamá, GlaxoSmithKline, Cirsa, Panamerican Life Insurance Company, Samsung, Dell, Bancolombia, among others.

All labor matters, questions, and concerns that may arise will be attended and coordinated by Javier José Vallarino, partner of the firm and in charge of the Labor Law Department of ICAZA, GONZÁLEZ-RUIZ & ALEMÁN, with the permanent support and active participation of partners Joaquín Díaz S. and Alexis V. Herrera R., who have vast experience in Labor Law.

Our lawyers specialized in Labor Law are part of the Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (LACCA) list of “the most important lawyers in Latin America”, a guide for professional leaders in the private sector, as a result of the votes of its own members.

ICAZA, GONZALEZ-RUIZ & ALEMAN has one of the leading litigation practices, formed by highly specialized partners, associates, and support personnel with vast experience in the area.

We understand the importance of disputes and our client’s personal and business needs. Therefore, we offer customized service and constant communication with our clients during our commitment.

Our multilingual personnel works closely with the client to identify all the points of interest, select the most favorable actions, and deliver a high-quality, efficient service. We ensure to take the best course of action to achieve the desired result.

Accustomed to handling complex cases, our attorneys are highly qualified and comply with strict annual updating programs. Our experience covers all legal fields, some of which are:

• Civil and Commercial Litigation | Carlos E. Villalobos or Marisol T. Ellis.
• Intellectual Property Litigation | Gabriela Tejada de Britton
• National and International Arbitration | Marisol T. Ellis
• Maritime Litigation | Alexis V. Herrera Jr. or Joel R. Medina
• Labor Litigation | Joaquín A. Díaz S., Alexis V. Herrera Jr. or Javier Vallarino
• Administrative Proceedings | Alexis V. Herrera Jr., Marisol T. Ellis or Carlos E. Villalobos
• Family Proceedings | Marisol T. Ellis
• Tax Litigation | Marisol T. Ellis
• Consumer Protection and Defense of the Competition Proceedings | Marisol T. Ellis or Carlos E. Villalobos