Vinatea & Toyama
More informationThe distinguished employment team at Vinatea & Toyama is one of the largest in the country with over forty lawyers, and is a popular choice for major companies operating in Peru. The practice is experienced in the full spectrum of employment issues, including contentious and non-contentious matters for both domestic and international clients. Name partners Luis Vinatea and Jorge Toyama are experienced in dispute resolution, while Herbert Prelle is skilled in assisting clients with the design and incorporation of strategies to manage labour conflicts. Renato Mejía leverages his twenty years of experience to assist clients in designing labour policies for corporate clients and offering consulting services in employment law. Alfredo Salvador specialises in trade union relations, while Roberto Matallana is recommended for employment litigation in particular. Magaly Alarcón, who co-heads the litigation team with Matallana and Vinatea, is particularly experienced in issues pertaining to equal pay and sexual harassment. Eduardo Mercado was promoted to partner in January 2023 and has recently been focusing on the retail and agroindustry industries. Associates Juan Carlos Girao, Cynthia Lagos, Fabiola Maza and Alfonso Higa are also key contacts for labour and employment matters. Since publication, Girao has been raised to the partnership - effective as of March 2024.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The V&T practice considers the needs of its clients, proposing concrete and total solutions, not only from the legal field, but when taking other things into consideration, which leads to a solid and comprehensive proposal. In all offices, I have encountered exclusively juridical visions. They have a solid team led by their partners.’
- ‘I highlight their closeness and full availability to our queries and requirements. Particularly the willingness and excellent advice of Magaly Alarcón, who has always contributed every time we have sought her out.’
- ‘Work of very high quality, efficiency, and speed.’
- ‘Luis Vinatea is excellent.’
- ‘Fast, good quality care with high involvement in cases. Attention 24/7 and synchronized coordination. They use technology more and more.’
- ‘Correct, respectful people of good qualities. Renato Mejia, Jorge Toyama, Magaly Alarcon.’
- ‘Renato Mejía is an incredible lawyer because he always thinks in a 360-degree way; he is a resolute lawyer who always provides practical solutions. He masters the laws and judicial decisions in an up-to-date way and transmits everything to us in a simple fashion that allows us to make the best decisions. Mario Dávila is also excellent.’
- ‘We have been working with Eduardo Mercado since before he was appointed as a partner of Vinatea & Toyama. Eduardo Mercado is characterised by his broad vision when analysing our problems and providing us with very good alternatives almost immediately or on the same day. We value time very much; most of our decisions must be made quickly and adapt to the circumstances that arise during the day. We find in Eduardo Mercado knowledge of our sector and of our problems, speed and connection with our business. Pedro Díaz is an outstanding associate; he has extensive knowledge of our day-to-day operations. Since 2019, he is the one who has made it easier for Vinatea & Toyama to learn more about our reality, our particularities, and our needs, which has ensured that as a client we receive timely, precise and appropriate legal advice for our reality.’
- ‘Vinatea & Toyama is the main law firm that supports all our labour issues. It is a benchmark firm in the labour legal industry in Peru.’
- ‘Dr Toyama and his partner Alfredo Salvador, who lead our advisory service, are conceptual benchmarks in the industry, and their closeness and support on different fronts and labour contingencies explain the years of our relationship and the internal vision of becoming strategic business partners.’
- ‘The firm’s lawyers identify with our company’s cases, make them their own; their level of dedication and commitment is remarkable. It is important to highlight the specialised and personalized attention of partner Renato Mejía, always willing to propose the best strategies in collective bargaining processes, arbitrations, Sunafil inspection procedures and attention to demands that have a high impact on the company's work (among other issues consulted) which allows us to adequately manage the labour management of the company. In addition to Renato, Luis Vinatea and Jorge Toyama, leaders in labour law in Peru, also stand out. I also identify Eduardo Mercado, Juan Carlos Girao, Cynthia Lagos, Alfonso Higa García, as well as Mario Dávila and Solanch Estrella.’
- ‘The team is made up of a staff of professionals with specialized experience who completely and effectively answer all the client’s doubts. They are capable of visualizing and planning the best scenario for resolving various conflicts. They are attentive professionals, since they are constantly monitoring current legislation and bills that involve issues of interest to all clients, with an innovative contribution from their management – likewise, they are accessible and collaborative, with a rapid response capacity in the face of any issues.’
- ‘I would definitely recommend this law firm. Vinatea & Toyama is one of the most important and prestigious firms in the Peruvian market since the best labour lawyers in Peru work there. Their new and young lawyers are also being prepared with the same culture of service and commitment.’
Key clients
- Angloamerican Quellaveco
- Solgas Perú
- Intercorp Group
- Cencosud
- GMO Perú
- AJEPER Group
- Snack América Latina
- Electrodunas
- Banco de Crédito del Perú
- Grupo Breca
- Nexa Resources Perú
- Celepsa – Central Hidroeléctrica El Platanal
- Mapfre Perú Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros
- Ripley Perú
- Minera Aurífera Retamas
- Minera Ares
- Papelera Nacional
- Telefónica del Perú
- AGAP
- CONFIEP
- Tasa
- Prosegur Compañía de Seguridad
- Corporación Montana
- APM Terminals Callao
- Hortifrut
Work highlights
- Assisted multiple clients from several sectors to submit protective actions against the Peruvian government and the entering into force of the new outsourcing regulations.
- Advised a client on its collective bargaining with two unions, employees and workers, as well as on an individual case that has been emblematic for the company.
- Represented ADEX in a popular action process initiated by the Federation of Textile Workers of Peru, which demanded that the legally established textile bonus ‘Prima Textil’ be extended to the administrative employees of these companies.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Luis Vinatea, Jorge Toyama, Herbert Prelle, Renato Mejía, Alfredo Salvador, Roberto Matallana, Magaly Alarcón, Eduardo Mercado