Mr Carlos Molino > Fabrega Molino > Panama, Panama > Lawyer Profile

Highly praised for its ‘extensive experience, personalised service, and accessible and supportive partners‘, Fabrega Molino advises a wide array of financial services firms, corporations, and HNWIs and family businesses from across Latin America and the Caribbean. The estate planning and private client branch of the practice focuses on succession planning, wealth management, the formation of trusts and foundations, and corporate governance, while the corporate side specialises in the organisation of Panamanian corporate structures and assists with the tax and commercial aspects of international transactions. Recently, the firm has also seen a notable uptick in instructions relating to M&A and the establishment of multinational company headquarters (SEM) in Panama. On the private client side, the ‘responsive, personable and brilliant‘ Gretel Ciniglio advises on wealth management, estate and succession planning, governance and family law matters, while Juan Pablo Fábrega handles the full array of corporate and estate planning issues, and also has a notable strength in arbitration. The sizeable group also includes José Juan Marquez and associate Juan Raúl Sosa, both of whom are frequently called upon to advise on tax issues; Liza Díaz, who has a focus on advising Central American and Caribbean clients; and Carlos Molino, who stands out for his assistance to clients in Colombia.

Fabrega Molino‘s labour team is highlighted by clients for its ‘experience and mastery of the subject‘, covering the full range of contentious and non-contentious matters. The firm frequently assists with day-to-day issues such as the drafting of employment contracts and compliance with local labour regulations, in addition to handling labour disputes and the employment aspects of M&A transactions. Practice head Miguel Urriola has a strong track record in labour litigation and the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements. He receives stellar support from the ‘outstanding‘ Carlos Molino, who heads the immigration department, and senior associate Lourdes Bishop, who has a focus on advising multinational companies.

Fabrega Molino‘s ‘dynamic, up-to-date‘ tax practice is widely hailed by clients for its position ‘at the forefront of tax issues‘, with wide-ranging experience of advising multinational corporations on tax structuring and compliance, direct and indirect tax issues, and transfer pricing, and noteworthy expertise in Panama’s special tax regimes. The firm also has a thriving wealth and estate planning practice, where senior partner Gretel Ciniglio and Carlos Molino are the key contacts. Firm president José Juan Marquez, whose practice spans tax and succession planning matters, leads the team. Associate Juan Raúl Sosa (who joined from KPMG in June 2022) particularly stands out for his advice on commercial and transactional tax matters and issues surrounding the taxation of free trade zone companies and multinationals.