Juan Sebastián Soto
A. D. Sosa & Soto
More informationFull-service domestic firm A. D. Sosa & Soto is hailed by clients as ‘very knowledgeable about the Guatemalan business environment’, with a wide-ranging corporate practice as well as expertise in the taxation, environmental, IP, labour and real estate aspects of transactions. The team handles a steady stream of M&A and joint venture mandates, advising both multinational and local companies on investments in Guatemala, and assists with the expansion of businesses throughout Mexico and Central America. Another key dimension of the practice is advising on commercial contracts, including franchise and distribution agreements. The ‘brilliant and dynamic’ Juan Sebastián Soto, Carlos Rafael Pellecer and Einar Klanderud lead the team; all three are recognised for their strength in M&A and international contracts. The firm has also expanded its offering to clients with the launch of a dedicated compliance practice led by director Giovanna Menegazzo, who joined from Deloitte Legal Guatemala in October 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Very professional team.’
‘Juan Sebastián Soto is a brilliant and dynamic lawyer.’
‘The AD Sosa & Soto team is very competent and very knowledgeable about the Guatemalan business environment. They have very talented partners like Juan Sebastián Soto and Carlos Pellecer, who, in addition to being very good technically, have excellent knowledge of the Guatemalan system. In addition, they have highly relevant expertise in compliance matters, which gives clients security when doing business.’
‘Juan Sebastián Soto and Carlos Pellecer stand out among the firm's lawyers. I believe that they are very timely in their answers, innovative and trustworthy.’
Key clients
- Coca-Cola Femsa
- Danone de Guatemala
- DLocal/Demerge Guatemala
- Huawei Telecommunications Guatemala
- Bodegas Frías
- The Conscious Home
- Multinational Brand Management Group (MBMG)
- Compañía Procesadora de Níquel de Izabal (Pronico)
- Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel (CGN)
- Standard Fruit De Guatemala
- Exacta Digital Media Guatemala
- PriceSmart (Guatemala)
- Techno Hydro/Tecnomecánica de Guatemala
- Alucaps Centroamericana
- Grupo PDC
Work highlights
- Acted as local counsel to Techno Hydro/Tecnomecánica de Guatemala in connection with the expansion of its business activities in Mexico.
- Advising MBMG on the negotiation and review of franchise and distribution agreements for the L'Occitane, Parfois, Bimba y Lola and Adolfo Dominguez brands in Guatemala and Honduras.
- Advising Coca-Cola Femsa on contractual matters, including the implementation and execution of digital agreements and the use of electronic signatures in some of the company’s documents.
Lawyers
Leading partners
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Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Juan Sebastián Soto, Carlos Rafael Pellecer, Einar Klanderud