Morgan & Morgan

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Morgan & Morgan leverages its full-service model to advise an extensive roster of major real estate developers, investors and financial institutions on corporate, financial and regulatory matters in the real estate space, with notable recent experience in tourism-related projects. In addition to handling M&A and joint ventures, the firm routinely assists with the acquisition, sale and leasing of properties, permitting and environmental issues, and project finance. Another standout area of activity is the constitution and registration of SIIs, where Ricardo Arias, who co-heads the firm’s securities practice, has specialist expertise. The firm also fields a dedicated department focused on administrative issues such as the registration of mortgages. Francisco Arias, whose broad practice encompasses real estate-related corporate, financial and securities matters, leads the team. Experienced senior associate Giselle Moncada, who heads the firm’s office in David, Chiriquí, is also a key figure in the team.

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Key clients

  • Constructora Urbana (Cusa)
  • Grupo Eleta
  • Grupo Verde Azul
  • Banco La Hipotecaria
  • Banvivienda
  • Desarrollo Bahia
  • Banistmo
  • Los Castillos Real Estate
  • Prima Sociedad Inversión Inmobiliaria
  • Inmobiliaria Casas Grandes
  • Dream Properties
  • Desarrollo Inmobiliario del Este
  • Commercial Center Developers

Work highlights

  • Advised Dream Properties, as sponsor, on the constitution and registration before the Superintendency of Capital Markets (SMV) of NF Real Estate Fund as a real estate investment trust (SII).
  • Advising Corporación Valle Lindo on the registration of its affiliate with the SMV as an SII.
  • Advising Inmobiliaria Casas Grandes on the registration of an affiliate with the SMV as an SII.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Francisco Arias
Francisco Arias G. is currently a Partner at Morgan & Morgan and heads the Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities and Capital Markets, Intellectual Property, and Real Estate practice groups of the firm. Mr. Arias has over 20 years of legal experience, first in New York as an associate at Kronish, Lieb, Weiner & Hellman (today Cooley Kronish); and then in Panama as an associate and then a partner of Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega. He regularly advises clients in connection with the sale and purchase of businesses as well as joint ventures. During the last years, he has participated in transactions in several industries, including electricity generation, insurance, construction, real estate, hospitality, banking related services, shrimp farms, restaurants, retail, printing and editing, and non-alcoholic beverages, some with cross border components. Mr. Arias also has extensive experience in capital markets transactions including but not limited to capital raising through public and private offerings, capital markets regulatory work and listings on the Panama Stock Exchange. Furthermore, he has consolidated himself as a leading project finance lawyer in Panama, participating in the country’s most important transactions representing institutions involved in the principal projects in Panama such as the Panama Canal Expansion project. Chambers & Partners, IFLR 1000, Latin Lawyer, Legal 500 and LACCA have recognized Mr. Arias as a leading lawyer in banking and finance, corporate and M&A, capital markets and government contracts. Mr. Arias has been also involved in the pro bono activities of the firm playing an active role advising various NGOs on their legal issues. Mr. Arias obtained a B.A. in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University (1986) and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center (1989). Francisco Arias is currently admitted to practice law in the Republic of Panama and was admitted to the bar of New York.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Francisco Arias