Garnering praise for its ‘availability to provide assistance and clarity in its advice’, the banking and finance offering at Central American heavyweight BLP saw a significant boost in June 2023 with the arrival of practice head Jorge Luis Arenales from Arias, bringing a wealth of experience in high-profile domestic and cross-border financings. The team acts for a wide range of international lenders, including banks and multilateral development agencies, and is also a strong choice for local borrowers seeking financing for projects in the agroforestry, renewable energy and waste management sectors. Core areas of expertise include syndicated and cross-border loans, capital markets matters and fintech issues, with the team frequently joining forces with the firm’s other offices to handle regional transactions. The capable pool of junior lawyers includes senior associate Gustavo Gamboa and special counsel Carolina Saadeh (a specialist in regulatory matters).
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Testimonials
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‘The team are always willing to provide support and have better knowledge of the industry than other firms.’
‘The team stands out for its availability to provide assistance and clarity in its advice.’
Key clients
- Avianca
- IDB Invest
- Barentz International
- ING Bank
- HSBC UK Bank
- Coöperatieve Rabobank
- Nedbank, London Branch
- Grupo Hencorp
- Reserva las Verapaces I
- The Bank of Nova Scotia
- Banco Promerica
- Evertec
- Banesco
- Coincaex
- Ransa
- Paysafe
Work highlights
- Advised Evertec in Costa Rica and Guatemala on the refinancing of its credit facilities to acquire Sinqia, a leading player in the market of software for financial services in Brazil.
- Advised Scotiabank on the restructuring and modification of local guarantees relating to the refinancing and purchase of Yamana Gold.
- Assisting Mercon (which has subsidiaries in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras) with all aspects of local law relating to its filing for chapter 11 in the US.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jorge Luis Arenales