Consortium Centro America Abogados was born in 2005 from a strategic alliance between five of the best law firms of each country in Central America, with the purpose of providing top quality regional services in a cost-effective and timely manner. From 2005 until now, Consortium has gained world-wide recognition, becoming the number one law firm in Central America, with the highest levels of customer satisfaction.
Consortium is listed in prestigious international directories such as: Chambers Global, Latin Lawyer, IFLR, Martindale Hubell, which rank the firm as one of the three most import firms in El Salvador. World Finance Legal Awards granted Consortium Centro America Abogados the award of "Best Banking & Finance Law Firm" in 2009. In the year 2010, the Firm also was awarded as "Central America Law Firm of the Year" by Chambers & Partners and the office in El Salvador was awarded as "Regional Law Firm of the Year" by ACQ.
Consortium Centro América Abogados is committed to: "Offer our clients the best personalized, high quality, efficient and ethical legal services in all countries of the Central American Region," through ten offices located in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. With more than 160 attorneys providing high quality standard services, it has become the largest provider of legal services in the region. 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 organizations such as the International Bar Association, American Bar Association, International Trademark Association, Latin American Intellectual Property Organization, Latin American Federation of Banks, among others.
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; the advice in all types of corporate and structured transactions, as asset securitization, factoring, leasing and derivatives. Consortium offices advised recently the Government of the Republic of El Salvador in Emission of bonds for US$ 635 millions, Grupo Promerica in a syndicated loan granted to Taca International Airlines for US$ 100 millions, the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) in the Expansion of San Jacinto-Tizate Geothermal Power Project (Nicaragua) for US$ 237 millions; Globleleq Mesoamerica Energy and Meosamerica Power in Cerro Hula Honduras: Renewable Energy for US$250 millions.
Corporate, commercial and M&A: Consortium handles incorporations of companies, board resolutions, general shareholders' meetings, drafting of contracts, international trade, mergers and acquisitions, distribution, licensing and agency agreements, commercial transactions and contracts, as well as general corporate matters. Consortium offices have represented Shell's regional operation sale in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua to Honduran conglomerate, Grupo Terra. Our office in Guatemala advised BI Bancolombia and CABEI in long-term financing for the construction of a new 300 MW solid fuel-fired power plant located near Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala for US$ 850 millions.
Intellectual property: Consortium advises on trademark, patent and copyright law, IP litigation, enforcement actions and registrations of IP rights, cancellation proceedings, and licensing, etc.
Litigation and arbitration: Consortium advises on administrative, civil, commercial, criminal and labour litigation, appellate and Supreme Court litigation. Partner Alvaro Castellanos is a member of the International Court of Arbitration, and partner Rolando Laclé Zúńiga is president of the International Center for Settlement and Arbitration (CICA).
Tax: Consortium specializes on the tax aspects of corporate and commercial transactions, including business planning, corporate transactions and tax litigation.
Regulated sector: Consortium has extensive experience in issues such as telecommunications, energy, free trade zones, environmental, etc.
Real estate: Consortium has ample experience with contracts related to real estate, horizontal property, work and construction contracts, financing, parceling, securities, purchase, sales and leases in real estate, including the respective authorizations 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.
Penal law: Consortium advises defendants and victims in subjects related to economic, financial and tax crimes, and in the prevention or defense in crimes of labour nature, due to industrial accidents.
Immigration law: Consortium advises foreigners in obtaining and renewing their temporary or permanent residence under any of the categories recognized by our immigration legislation, including visa for simple or multiple entries, visas for consulted entries, passports, visas for underage, extension of legal permanence in the country and acquisition and certificate authentication of birth, health and criminal records for immigration purposes.
Consortium's clients include leading international corporations, financial institutions, trade associations, industries, start-up businesses, partnerships and individuals.
Member: ABA - American Bar Association; IBA - International Bar Association; ADIP - International Private District Association; ASDEBAN - Association of Bank Law of El Salvador; ASIPI - Interamerican Association of Intellectual Property; World Jurist Association; Salvadoran Association of Commercial Law; ASPI - Association of Industrial Property of El Salvador; INTA - International Trademark Association; NYSBA - New York State Bar Association; World Services Group; International Tax Planning Association; International Insurance Society; Spanish Arbitration Club (Club Espanol de Arbitraje); Central American - British Chamber of Commerce; Chamber of Commerce and Industry - El Salvador; Spanish Chamber of Commerce - El Salvador; Brazilian Chamber of Commerce - El Salvador; American Chamber of Commerce - El Salvador; Mexican Chamber of Commerce - El Salvador; Canadian Chamber of Commerce - El Salvador; German Chamber of Commerce - El Salvador.