Dominican Republic

Guzmán Ariza is a full-service firm with eight locations countrywide. The firm was founded in 1927 and has offices in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Las Terrenas, Casa de Campo, Samaná and Cabrera. It is a part of the SCG Legal and GGI Geneva Group International networks. The firm is known for its work in the financial and corporate and project development practice areas. Many of its clients are international and represent a variety of industries. The team advises clients in matters relating to acquisitions, financing, restructurings and project financing and development.   

Highlights 

Guzmán Ariza has been actively involved in significant cross-border deals, showcasing their expertise in corporate finance. In a $65 million PPP project, it advised Ridge Partners on the concession of a solid waste processing plant, facilitating its conversion to biofuel and bioproducts. Its role included negotiating financing and revising the final concession contract with the National Energy Commission.  

Additionally, Guzmán Ariza is advising on consortium negotiations with Barrick Gold for the $1 billion extension of the Pueblo Viejo Gold Mine, a project that will elevate Barrick’s total investment in the country to $7 billion. 

Key clients 

POSCO Engineering and Construction, Tyson Foods, MetroBank, The Walt Disney Company and Global Bank Corporation.  

Headrick Rizik Alvarez & Fernández is an experienced firm that was founded in 1985. The firm’s main office is in Santo Domingo. The firm is also a part of the legal network known as TAGLaw. The firm has focused its efforts on developing its asset finance and banking practices. The firm is also strong in project development, specializing in project acquisitions and projects in the mining and energy sectors.  
  

Highlights 

The firm acted as local counsel for a $318 million credit facility, it advised CIFI Services as lenders alongside several banks on the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a 270 MWp combined cycle power plant. 

The firm also represented Maverick Foods, facilitating the equivalent of a US 363 sale in the Dominican Republic. This set a precedent in the country’s restructuring law and saved 250 jobs.  

Key clients 

CIFI, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Advanced Asset Management, CMI Energia and Euthenia Energy.  

Full-service firm OMG has three domestic offices in the Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo, Santiago and Punta Cana, as well as an international office in Panama. The firm is a part of LEGUS and Eversheds LatAm Alliance Group. The firm is known for its work in both the financial and corporate and project development practice areas. In financial and corporate, the firm has experience with bond issuances, reorganizations, mergers, loan agreements, acquisitions and restructurings. It works across numerous industries. In project development, the firm is especially active in the real estate and tourism industry. Within this industry, it represents developers and financiers in real estate developments, joint ventures, acquisitions and financing.   

Highlights 

The firm acted as lead counsel for a transaction involving GCS, a fintech company in the Dominican Republic. This landmark deal is set to enhance Grupo Popular’s leadership in financial services innovation.  

The firm is assisting BanReservas in the planning and development of a project that will combine a touristic and commercial district with an innovation center and a film studio on the north-western coast of the Dominican Republic. This government initiative, led by BanReservas, highlights the firm’s expertise in managing large-scale, multifaceted projects and their ability to navigate complex legal landscapes in cross-border transactions.  

Key clients 

Murales Trust, Streamline Integrated Energy, BanReservas, Grupo Velutini, Ascend Fund and SIBA Energy Corporation

Pellerano Nadal Law & Consulting is a full-service firm with an office in Miami, Florida and another in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The firm focuses on cross-border transactions, specifically the issuance of sovereign bonds. In project development the firm specializes in concession and exploration contracts in the mining and energy sectors, as well as varying types of infrastructure projects.  

Highlights 

The firm’s noteworthy cross-border expertise was demonstrated in its role as local counsel in the sovereign bond issuance as global depository notes by the Dominican Republic. The firm advised J.P. Morgan Securites and Citigroup Markets respectively as the dealer managers and initial purchasers of the bond issuance. It also advised on the first liability management executed in the local markets, showing its ability to lead innovative work. 

The firm was also counsel to Inter-American Development Bank as lender in the financing for the development of Four Seasons hotel by Cisneros Real Estate. The firm advised on the regulatory, real estate, finance and environmental components of this significant transactions.  

Key clients 

J.P. Morgan Securities, Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio, Inter-American Development Bank, United States International Development Finance Corporation and Anheuser-Busch InBev.  

Alburquerque Abogados Consultoreshas over 40 years of experience. The firm has one office in Santo Domingo and is a member of TerraLex. 

Focusses/specialisms 

The firm is noted for its M&A and project development practices.  

In M&A, the firm offers its services on all varieties of transactions, though it has in recent years attended to a higher concentration of divestments and sell-side work in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.  

In the project space, the firm is particularly involved in tourism development deals. 

Key clients 

Among the firm’s key clients are Caliente Club & Resorts, Caribbean Venture LQV, Laurus Master Fund and Ribo Capital.  

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Project development  

“They have a vast knowledge of the Dominican Republic's commercial law and an international network of collaborators.” 

Founded in 2005, the office of De Camps Vásquez Valera is located in Santo Domingo. 

Focusses/ specialisms  

The firm attends to corporate and M&A matters, financings and project development deals. 

In the corporate space, the firm provides regulatory advice to a variety of companies. 

In M&A, a large portion of the firm’s deals pertain to the energy sector.  

The financing group is among the firm’s most active, emphasising lender-side representation.   

The firm’s project development team emphasises renewable energy development deals and represents bidders, concessionaires, developers and contractors, among others.  

Key clients  

Key firm clients include Acropolis Center, Grupo Cisneros, Grupo Puntacana and Invesco Global Group. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2021/2022) 

Project development 

“Best energy law firm in the Dominican Republic. Superb knowledge of all energy-related matters, with a highly collaborative and pragmatic team that quickly understands the needs of its clients in securing a successful transaction.” 

“Well connected, solid legal advice.” 

López Grullón Abogados & Consultores was founded in 2009 and operates out of Santo Domingo. 

Focusses/ specialisms 

The firm emphasises capital markets transactions pertaining to structured finance and securitisation, representing clients in such roles as obligor, issuer, depository and others. 

Key clients 

Among the firm’s key clients are Cevaldom, Constructora Armando Toros and Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores.  

Founded in 1966, Ulises Cabrera has gained a lot of experience in business law. Though the firm is capable in many industries, it is particularly experienced in pharmaceuticals, food and beverage and industrials. It acts for clients in divestments, acquisitions, mergers, restructurings and incorporations. It also works on regulatory matters including AML compliance. In project development, the firm represents clients in the energy and infrastructure industry in financing and development matters.    

Highlights 

The firm’s various teams collaborated as counsel to AERODOM in the renegotiation of a concession agreement with the Dominican Republic. The agreement is related to the broad portfolio of eight airports, mostly international, all in the Dominican Republic.  

The firm also advised TLC Associates, a veteran-owned U.S. company specializing in call centers and BPO services, in its expansion in the Dominican Republic. With over 260 employees, the new entity, TLC Associates DR, S.R.L., will operate as a service-free zone in Santo Domingo. Ulises Cabrera has been crucial in securing permits and approvals, ensuring compliance, and facilitating the smooth transition and integration of the workforce relative to this endeavor.  

Key clients 

Solugenix Corporation, Siemens Mobility, Watchfire Signs, TotalEnergies Marketing Dominicana and AERODOM – Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Vinic Airports) 

Testimonials 

“We liked the firm’s knowledge of our business and of our company in itself.” (PPP/PFI client)