First, can you please give us an idea of the sort of work your team has done recently? 

In the last year we have closed multiple successful operations. In particular, I can highlight the sale of most of our commercial premises in the Condominium Fishing Lodge Cap Cana, as well as an agreement for the sale of twenty apartments, all these properties to the same buyer. It was a complex operation, which involved arduous negotiations because the properties sold were the subject of various litigations. It took us six months to coordinate the closing; a failed and tense closing and then a successful closing. This operation involved joint work with three different groups of lawyers: Guzmán Ariza, who are our external lawyers, the buyer’s lawyers, and the lawyers of the company with which we had the litigation.  

Like most of the hotels in the East zone, our hotels were affected by Hurricane Fiona, which led to a temporary closure of operations with all that this implies at the labour level. This led to difficulties in contracting builders and suppliers, both national and international due to extreme conditions. In short, a flood of various unscheduled issues and conflicts came our way. These had to be dealt with in record time because any delay has major financial implications.  

In litigious matters, we currently have some real estate litigation that has the potential to set important legal precedents on condominiums.  

How do you stay up-to-date with changes in laws and regulations in the Dominican Republic relevant to your organisation’s industry? 

This year, I have participated in several virtual seminars on real estate and tax. Based on the content of the seminars, I can indicate that the most innovative and interesting were one on the real estate guarantee law and another on fiscal treaties and international agreements. Additionally, due to the legal area in which I work, I also did a new training on the money laundering law, with a focus on prior investigations and internal policies and procedures. One of my plans is to return to education to do another master’s degree, preferably in international trade, which is one of my greatest areas of interest.  

What is a cause, business related or otherwise, that you care about, and why?   

From my area of practice, I can indicate that one of my concerns is the reforms that I understand should be carried out in the Condominium law, which has become obsolete for the practical problems that have arisen since the law was enacted. In particular, to meet the specific needs of tourist condominiums because they have specific and particular characteristics, even derived from the real estate project in which they are located.