The ‘excellent' team at Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramírez is hailed for its ’vast experience' across the full spectrum of labour and immigration law, counting a host of major local and international companies among its clients. The team’s workload ranges from day-to-day planning and drafting of employment contracts to the transfer of employees following M&A and spin-offs, the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and disputes with employees. At the head of the practice, Enna Ferrer is renowned for her experience in the field, which also extends to immigration law; Francisco Iglesias focuses on labour litigation and union negotiations; Juan Gabriel González handles both contentious and non-contentious matters; and Nelson Sales, who was promoted to partner in January 2024, is particularly skilled in the employment issues relating to the winding down of clients’ operations.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Excellent lawyers. Good knowledge of the subject matter, involvement in the case and empathy for the client. They give us a sense of security by providing alternative solutions, suggesting the most direct one. Since bringing our cases to AFRA, we haven't had any decisions made against our company.'
- 'The team is very well rounded and well prepared, with vast experience. They have a good combination of youth and experience. They are like a family - they work together that way and treat clients that way. The transparency of the billing is excellent.'
- 'The team stands out for the level of expertise and knowledge in each aspect of a labour law issue, whether it is litigation, a regulatory issue, a special project or union negotiations. They have a group of experts in every area and they approach the matter in a comprehensive way.'
- 'Our experience with AFRA was excellent. I would like to highlight the professionalism with which they handle our queries; the service provided by all of the people we have spoken with has been excellent. The billing is always on time and detailed, and in my opinion, and based on my experience of working with the firm for many years, the collaboration with the client is exceptional.'
- 'A personalised service, prompt responses and five-star legal support. Nelson Sales is excellent.'
Key clients
- L’Oréal Panama
- DHL Panama
- Port of Singapore (PSA)
- Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF)
- International School of Panama (ISP)
- Arcos Dorados (McDonald's Corporation)
- Ricardo Perez (Itochu Group)
- Hospital Paitilla (Hospiten Group)
- ALS Global Panama
- Productos Toledano
- Industrias Lácteas (Estrella Azul)
- Sony
- Hilti Latin America
- Puma Energy
- Servier
- Citibank
- Felix (Importadora Maduro)
- adidas
- Banistmo (Grupo Bancolombia)
- Cervecería Nacional (AB InBev Group)
- Cinemark
- Cummins
- Trane Technologies
- Farmacias Arrocha
- Liebherr
- Alimentos del Istmo (PepsiCo)
- Stanley Black and Decker
- UBS
- Vopak
- Western Union
- Goldwind Services
- Brown-Forman Corporation
- Komatsu
Work highlights
- Assisted Bocas Tropical Corporation with the successful negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement with its union, strategically establishing salary adjustments and benefits.
- Successfully represented Industrias Lacteas (Estrella Azul) in collective claims for the reinstatement of former employees, who claimed their termination agreements were void as they were not offered the mandatory 2-day notice.
- Successfully acted for PSA Port in a claim for the reinstatement of a former employee, who claimed their dismissal violated a special protection granted to employees with chronic illnesses.
Lawyers
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Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Enna Ferrer, Juan Gabriel González, Francisco Iglesias, Nelson Sales