Legalsa
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Legalsa, has grown into one of the leading law firms in Guatemala, providing services as a one-stop firm and becoming business advisors for both big companies and new entrepreneurs. The firm has been successful in dispute resolution, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, banking, intellectual property and administrative law relating to bids and concessions. Recently, the firm has grown its portfolio in real estate and has also led the legal advice for startups and entrepreneurs wanting to operate within Guatemala.
Main areas of practice
Aviation: In recent years, the firm has been recognised by the market as a firm with special expertise in the sale and acquisition of aircrafts in Guatemala. Since 2017 the firm has formalised aircraft sales transactions, both locally and internationally.
Banking law: The firm provides a full range of legal services for international and national banks and financial institutions including syndicated loans and leasing contracts.
Corporate and M&A: The firm acts as a regular outside counsel for new and established corporations in several business sectors which include: banks, food and beverage, manufacturing, call centres, shipping, power generation, shopping malls, agricultural industries and a real estate development, among others. The firm has advised and represented national and foreign investors in cross-border transactions, including M&A and joint ventures, and has provided comprehensive legal advice and assistance to direct foreign investors for organisation, set up, start-up and ongoing operation of new business ventures in Guatemala.
Dispute resolution: The firm provides specialised dispute resolution services which include civil and administrative litigation, arbitration, credit recovery, intellectual property litigation, constitutional law actions and criminal law proceedings. The firm is best known in Guatemala for its capabilities in: highly complex, ‘bet the company’ litigation; shareholder dispute resolution and prevention; Dispute resolution involving government procurement, concessions and public tenders; and white-collar and business crimes.
Intellectual property: The firm has extensive experience in implementing intellectual property strategies for companies in the IT and financial services sector. This includes strategies for the protection and defense of intellectual property rights, agreements such as license, franchising, confidentiality (NDA), non-compete, technology transfer, distribution, and others. The firm provides advisory services to artists on copyright protection for works of art, auction management, and works of art resale rights.
Immigration: The firm handles different clients with their matters in the immigration field, both national and internationally.
Real estate: The firm is best known for having upscale developers as clients that require special neighbour regulations to determine the correct use of the different amenities on their buildings. Structuring Horizontal Property regimes and the related contracts and documents to ensure the projects success. Estate planning for family estates that have a large number or complex assets. Enforceability and execution of lease contracts in shopping centres and office complexes.
Startups Legalsa: In 2017 the firm officially launched the project ‘Startups Legalsa’, which aims to serve as legal advisors for entrepreneurs and startups. The entrepreneurship ecosystem in Guatemala has been growing in recent years, and through this project, the firm has been known as the pioneer and leading firm by sharing knowledge and participating as legal mentors with different private entities as incubators and accelerators, as well as public sector entities like the Ministry of Economy.
Tax: Comte & Font – Legalsa advises clients in the design and execution of tax planning for corporate businesses and transactions as well as tax litigation.
Languages: Spanish, English, German, French.