Arias
(The following information was supplied by the firm)
Our firm: Arias is the leading global business law firm in Central America and the firm of choice in the region. The firm stands out for providing innovative and effective solutions that help clients achieve their business goals, while enjoying the benefits of working with an integrated firm, with presence in six countries through seven offices, 42 partners, and 130 highly trained and experienced attorneys with offices in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panamá.
Since 1942, Arias has been setting the standards in the region by combining its global reach with local expertise, and providing a visionary outlook on the world’s business environment.
Our team: Among our staff, we have attorneys with many years of experience in several practice areas combined with young lawyers. This means our firm is constantly innovating and adapting to the needs of today’s world, which ensures we are able to offer our clients the best legal talent in the region.
Areas of practice: Arias is a full-service firm, providing advice in over 33 practice areas, with renowned specialists in each jurisdiction. Some of the firm’s main practice areas include: corporate, antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, tax, arbitration and litigation, compliance, banking and finance, intellectual property, labor law, energy, oil and gas, real estate, immigration, and general counsel services, among others.
Our focus: We make things happen. We provide creative and innovative legal solutions that add value to our clients, taking the time to know and understand their business goals, while always focused on providing reliable and accurate legal services, with their best interests in mind.
International reach:Â The firm advises on local and cross-border transactions, assisting some of the major international corporations doing business in the region, and also providing legal support to local clients going abroad.
Recognitions and awards: Consistently, we have been honored with important recognitions and awards such as “Firm of the Year in Central Americaâ€, “Firm of the year†in the countries we operate, “Client Service Awardâ€, “Best Regional Firm for Women in Business Lawâ€, “Deal of the Yearâ€, among other relevant regional and local awards for the firm and our members.
Equal opportunities: We promote diversity within the firm, professional growth is based on each individual’s merit regardless of the gender or ethnics.
- 47% of our partners are women
- 48% of our associates are women
- 57% of our management positions are held by women
- 100% of our managing partners are women
2,000 Pro-bono hours per year: Corporate social responsibility and Pro-bono work have always been an important part of our DNA. We believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to inspire and generate positive changes in our environment in order to achieve and ensure a better future for the next generations.
Languages spoken:Â Spanish, English, French, German, and Portuguese
Key Contacts
Managing partner
Carolina Flores
carolina.flores@ariaslaw.com
(506) 40362800
Managing partner
Vicente Lines
vincente.lines@ariaslaw.com
(506) 40362800
Firm Rankings
Administrative & Public Law
Band 1
Banking & Finance
Band 1
Competition/Antitrust
Band 3
7.0
Compliance
Band 1
9.0
Corporate/M&A
Band 1
9.0
Dispute Resolution
Band 3
7.0
Energy & Natural Resources
Band 2
8.0
Environment
Band 1
9.0
Infrastructure
Band 1
Insurance
Band 2
8.0
IP
Band 1
IP: Trademarks
Band 2
8.0
Labour & Employment
Band 3
7.0
Litigation
Band 2
8.0
Projects
Band 1
Real Estate
Band 3
7.0
Tax
Band 1
TMT
Band 2
8.0
Leading Lawyers
Articles
In the Fashion Industry. By Ivón Hernandez – Arias, Guatemala One of the characteristics of the fashion industry is that it has all kinds of people and companies, from artisans, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), to multinationals. Each one is a piece of the machinery that moves the global fashion market on a daily […]
By, Paola Rojas, Senior Associate for Arias in Costa Rica.  Although in Costa Rica the current law does not expressly regulate workplace harassment, this figure has been conceptualized, over the years, as a series of systematic acts of aggression, mostly psychological, that seek to undermine dignity, cause isolation and even force a worker to resign […]
The future of law is linked to technological evolution, especially with the arrival of new tools: smart contracts. The implementation of smart contracts poses not only the modernization of the contractual mechanisms that we already know, but also the challenge of adapting traditional law to an environment where technology gives a modern meaning to fundamental […]
RESOLUTION 004/2025 APPROVES THE GUIDE FOR THE PREPARATION OF PERIODIC SECURITY REPORTS (IPS/PBRER) FOR PANAMA The Ministry of Health of Panama issued guidelines for the submission of Periodic Safety Reports (IPS/PBRER) by sanitary registration holders in Panama. These reports should include aggregated data, new safety information, and a benefit-risk analysis. The guide seeks to establish […]
By Rolando Alvarenga, Arias  In recent years, legal innovation has profoundly transformed the landscape of the legal profession. From being a discipline associated with formality and tradition, the legal sector is adopting disruptive technologies that optimize its services, improve efficiency and open new opportunities for legal professionals. This evolution is not only changing the […]
Arias. On December 30, 2024, Executive Decree No. 177 of December 30, 2024 (hereinafter the “Regulations”) was enacted, which regulates the law that establishes the obligation to maintain accounting records for certain legal entities (hereinafter the “Law”). Exceptions: Legal Persons Exempt from Compliance with the Law: Legal entities that are tax taxpayers in the Republic […]
On November 15, 2024, the new Vaccination Law was approved by Decree Number 25-2024 by the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala. This legislation seeks to strengthen the immunization system and guarantee access to safe and effective vaccines for the entire population. The most relevant aspects of the law are developed below: The law seeks […]
INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE IN 2025 AND COMPLIANCE WITH EMPLOYER OBLIGATIONS. By Arias, Guatemala 1. MINIMUM WAGE 2025Â Â The minimum wage established by Government Agreement No. 264-2024 of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security will come into effect as of January 1, 2025. Below we provide more details on this matter. How much […]
Business Innovation in the Legal Framework of El Salvador. By: Adán Araujo, Arias. Adán Araujo, Senior Counsel in El Salvador, expert in Corporate Law, shares with us this article about the Simplified Joint Stock Company (SAS), a legal figure introduced in 2024 that facilitates the creation of companies through simplified procedures, limits the liability of its shareholders […]
Rolando GarcÃa, Senior Counsel in ARIAS Costa Rica. Rolando, an expert in Commercial Law, shares with us the following article on how paradigm shifts in the way consumers acquire goods and services generates the need to analyze the relevance and effectiveness of existing consumer protection regulations. Particularly, on the elements that would allow balancing the […]
By Anny Ramos, associate, Arias. Trademark law in the execution of a franchise agreement or a license to use. How do they differ? Over the years globalization has been a fundamental catalyst in the growing integration of economies around the world, the clearest example being the direct impact it has had on the business need […]
by Arias – El Salvador The Congress declared the year-end bonus as non-taxable with the Income Tax up to an amount of one thousand five hundred dollars (USD$ 1,500.00). On November 26th, 2024, in plenary session, the Congress approved the transitory decree that declares as a non-taxable income, and consequently not subject to the Income […]
Provided by Arias.  November 2024 | Guatemala In the early hours of November 20 of 2024, the Congress of the Republic approved, as a matter of national urgency, the bill of the Competition Law, which seeks, among others, to promote and defend competition, as well as to prevent, investigate, combat, prosecute and sanction anticompetitive practices. […]
The law for the protection of personal data, and the law for cybersecurity and information security have been approved. Written by Fernando Montano, and David Blanco, Arias On November 12, 2024, the Salvadoran Congress approved the Personal Data Protection Law and the Cybersecurity and Information Security Law. The Personal Data Protection Law aims to establish […]
KEY ELEMENTS Uriel Balladares, attorney at ARIAS Nicaragua and expert in Labor Law, shares this article on the obligations imposed by Nicaraguan legislation and international treaties to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace, the benefits these regulations provide to employers, and recommendations for best practices to be implemented for the integration […]
THE TRANSFER OF POWERS FROM THE NATIONAL FORESTRY INSTITUTE (INAFOR) TO THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (MARENA) WAS APPROVED. Written by: Rodrigo Ibarra, Isabella Machado Jirón, Arias – Nicaragua October 2024 | Nicaragua To ensure compliance with the forestry regime in the national territory, the National Assembly approved Law No. 1,222 “Law on […]
A Pillar of Business Sustainability. Written by Catalina Rivera, Arias  As we observed World Mental Health Week, it’s essential to reflect on a topic that, while often overlooked, profoundly affects millions of workers and the success of organizations: mental health in the workplace. The increasing pace of work, pressure for results, and lack of support […]
By Arias Digital transformation is an imminent need for companies and governments around the world. In this context, the electronic signature has become an essential tool to facilitate the execution of contracts, commercial transactions and other legal acts without the need to be physically present. In Honduras, the Law on Electronic Signatures (Decree 149-2013) and its Regulations mark a before and […]
Rodrigo Ibarra, partner, and Kevin Humberto Castro, associate attorney at ARIAS, Nicaragua  Public infrastructure projects can be defined as the activity or set of activities whose function is to improve the provision of services in the medium and long term; and due to their level of importance, according to the Political Constitution of the Republic of […]
Andres Marroquin, lawyer in ARIAS Guatemala and expert in Commercia Law, shares the following article on the importance of lawyers as strategic allies in business legal compliance and risk prevention, helping business owners avoid unforeseen risks and costs. Usually, lawyers are solicited when a situation that needs to be resolved arises; however, should this be […]
Without Sanitary Registration in Nicaragua. Throughout the year 2024, the National Authority for Sanitary Regulation (Â ANRSÂ ) of the Ministry of Health (Â MINSAÂ ) of Nicaragua has been updating its regulatory framework for the registration, importation, distribution and commercialization of regulated products. These updates have great impact and relevance for natural persons, legal entities, national and foreign […]
AN INNOVATIVE PROCEDURAL FIGURE INTRODUCED BY THE NEW CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE OF PANAMA.  Yuri Moreno and Mario Herrera, lawyers at ARIAS Panama who are experts in Litigation,  share with us this article on the “Disclosure of Evidenceâ€, known as “Discovery†in Anglo-Saxon Law; a novel figure that has been introduced in the new Civil Procedure Code, […]
September 2024 | Nicaragua. The recognition of the legal protection of innovative pharmaceutical products is and has been a matter of great importance for the health sector and the pharmaceutical industry, due to the relevance of adequate legal protection of research and development activities to generate a growing incentive in the industry that allows the […]
The Impact of the New Labor Inspection Protocol in Honduras. Valerya Theodoracopoulos, a Honduran lawyer and expert in Labor Law with Arias, shares with us this article on how the country has taken a step towards reducing the gender inequality gap in the workplace by approving and implementing the new Labor Inspection Protocol, specifically focused […]
With increasing information and education about environmental issues, people are more aware of the negative impacts their actions have on the environment, from pollution to deforestation and climate change. People are beginning to understand how their individual choices, both what they consume and how they consume it, can affect the environment in the long term. […]
The impact of the New Labor Inspection Protocol in Honduras. Valerya Theodoracopoulos, lawyer in Honduras and expert in Labor Law, shares with us this article on how the country has taken a step towards reducing the gender inequality gap in the workplace by approving and implementing the new Labor Inspection Protocol, specifically focused on […]
With the increase in information and education about environmental issues, people are more aware of the negative impacts their actions have on the environment, from pollution to deforestation and climate change. People are beginning to understand how their individual choices, both what they consume and how they consume it, can affect the environment in the […]
A Beneficial Relationship for Companies The relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Compliance, specifically in the anti-corruption field, represents an area of great interest and rapid evolution, whose potential benefits are being missed by the vast majority of companies in the region. Corruption is a global problem from which our region is not exempt. For […]
Who can use the Olympic properties and how? The Olympic Games, held every four years, constitute a global phenomenon in international sports that have gradually built a portfolio of intellectual property rights over the years. The most iconic is undoubtedly the five interlocking rings logo, but it is not the only one. The most recent […]
Unemployment figures in Panama have increased alarmingly, which is why the newly inaugurated Government of Panama has launched an aggressive program through which a 2019 Law is regulated, which at the time created the “Learning by Doing” project without major impact on the offer of first jobs for young people in the private sector. Thus, […]
Rodolfo Salgado, lawyer in Honduras and expert in Commercial Law, shares this article with us on the Ministry of Finance’s adjustment to the Production and Consumption Tax by five-point nineteen percent (5.19%) in accordance with the year-to-year variation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2023. The Ministry of Finance, through Agreement No. 218-2024, dated […]
Ximena Tercero, tax expert in Guatemala, shares her perspective on the consequences of the punitive actions announced by the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT) on May 21, 2024, regarding taxpayers who issue to Final Consumers (C/F invoices). In 2023, the Value Added Tax Law Regulations and the FEL system were amended to restrict the issuance […]
Investment Companies, also known as Investment Funds, are usually an attractive alternative for those people who do not have the necessary capital to start in the world of investments. Specifically, investment funds work because an administrator consolidates the money of several people to invest it in a basket of different assets, thus allowing investors to obtain […]
The National Congress approved a ban on the sale of energy drinks to people under the age of 18. This law was approved on April 25 of this year, with the aim of protecting the life and health of minors in Honduras. The Law will establish regulations for the sale of all those beverages that […]
What is the executive process? In Panama, the so-called “executive process†is a type of judicial procedure that is used to enforce an obligation that is supported by an executive title. In accordance with the provisions of article 1612 of the Judicial Code of Panama (CJP), compliance with clear and enforceable obligations that are recorded […]
Through notice 059-03-2024 issued on March 12, 2024, the Tax Authority of Nicaragua (DGI) has announced the option to obtain tax documents through the document printing module, which is accessible via the “electronic tax window” (VET). The documents available for issuance include the Tax ID, registration certificate, and proof of definitive registration. Taxpayers affiliated with […]
Historically, invoices have been a key element to keep control of commercial operations, both for the tax authorities in each country and for the merchants and/or consumers of a product or service. In this changing and globalized world, it is almost impossible for technology not to have an impact in all fields of daily life, […]
Our lawyers in Panama, MarÃa Cristina Fábrega and Issa RodrÃguez, experts in immigration matters, share this article with us about the modifications made to the Permanent Residence Permit as a Qualified Investor, which will come into effect this year. Executive Decree 722 of October 15, 2020, which creates the subcategory of Permanent Resident as a […]
On February 15th, 2024, the Congress of the Republic approved in third reading the bill for a new consumer protection law (hereinafter, the “Billâ€). If approved, this initiative would repeal the current regulations on this subject and introduce different provisions aimed at protecting consumer rights. The law in force today (Law for the Protection of […]
In recent decades, wind energy has played a fundamental role in the challenge of diversifying Nicaragua’s energy matrix, representing approximately 12.68% of the nominal installed capacity (i.e. 186.20 MW) in our country, as established in the Electricity Generation Expansion Plan, published by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) for the period 2019-2033. Despite this, […]
The LEGISLATIVE DECREE 7-2024, published in La Gaceta, No. 36,463, on February 17, 2024., containing the Amnesty of the Honduran Institute of Social Security (IHSS), grants the benefit of Amnesty for the payment of surcharges, fines, and interests on debts originated by non-payment of employer and worker contributions to said Institute, left unpaid by the […]
On February 1st, 2024, Law 419/2024 (hereinafter “the Lawâ€) was issued, “which regulates medicines and other human health products and the public procurement of medicines, other human health products, health supplies, medical devices and equipment, and dictates other provisions.†This law regulates, in general, the manufacture, quality control, sanitary registration, importation, marketing, distribution, acquisition, and information and […]
Do you, as shareholders of a company, have a customized instrument that reflects and supports how you wish and have agreed to manage your company? In general, agreements of this nature respond to a private contract through which shareholders, freely and in protection of their best interests, foresee and establish from basic elements of the […]
On November 9th , 2023, in use of her faculties, the Director of the National Health Regulation Authority (hereinafter “ANRS†by its abbreviation in Spanish), approved the Regulation for the withdrawal from the market, final disposal of products regulated by the ANRS and management of substandard and falsification products; which would have a transitory period […]
On February 01, 2024, the National Congress of Honduras, through Legislative Decree number 61-2023 published in the Official Gazette La Gaceta under number 36,449, approved and granted significant assistance to alleviate the financial burden of companies and citizens who owe payments to the National Electric Power Company [Empresa Nacional de EnergÃa Eléctrica (ENEE)]. This benefit […]
By means of Legislative Decree No. 923, dated January 3, 2024, which was published in the Official Gazette No. 6, dated January 10, 2024, and which became effective 8 days after its publication, amendments to the Hydrocarbons Law were approved, which in turn was published in the Official Gazette No. 52 of March 17, 1981; […]
This law, as can be seen from its own explanatory statement contained in the initiative 5544, aims to update Guatemalan legislation dating back to 1970, providing an adequate legal framework that regulates everything related to credit cards in national practice, as a fundamental instrument in commercial and credit operations; particularly, as an instrument that allows […]
DECREE ON THE IMPORTATION OF MEDICINES COMES INTO FORCE FOR PARALLEL IMPORTATION OR BY A THIRD PARTY NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE HOLDER OF THE MEDICATION IN COSTA RICA Today , December 12, 2022, Executive Decree No. 43657-S enters into force , which  was published on August 19, 2022 in the Official Gazette La Gaceta. What does this regulation look […]
The Costa Rican State needs to go to the debt markets each year to finance approximately half of its budget. To obtain them, there are two financing channels: the internal debt market… Written by: Diego Gallegos Partner diego.gallegos@ariaslaw.com Read more
In our business environment, when talking about “Compliance” or regulatory compliance, there is a general belief that it is only about the Prevention of Money Laundering (PLA), or about anti-corruption issues; but that approach is limited. “Compliance” also applies to other areas such as antitrust activities, personal data protection and compliance with environmental regulations, as well as […]
On November 22 of this year, the piece of correspondence was submitted to the Legislative Assembly in relation to the Bill called the Digital Assets Issuance Law (hereinafter the “Project”). Said Project has entered the process of discussion by the Economic Commission of the Legislative Assembly, with the purpose of establishing a legal framework that grants […]
President Rodrigo Chaves and his Ministers of the Presidency, Public Safety, Health, Agriculture and Livestock promoted file No. 23383, with the initial text of the draft CANNABIS CONTROL AND REGULATION LAW FOR RECREATIONAL USE, which seeks to regulate the use, production, distribution, sale and possession of psychoactive cannabis for recreational use in the adult population. Additionally, […]
By Law 316/2022 Panama makes compulsory the filing of an Affidavit containing any relationship linked to the provider of the public function, paid or not, that could generate a potential conflict of interest. This includes personal, family and even donors that may influence decisions related to the position or that could end in a lack […]
Companies have the opportunity to invest resources in reforestation and forest conservation and obtain significant benefits in return. Among these benefits could be highlighted the following at a commercial level: the addition of value to their products and / or services, opening of new lines of business that can satisfy an increasingly growing and exigent […]
On September 30, 2022, the Constitutional Chamber issued a ruling of unconstitutionality for total omission by not regulating the reinstatement measure for the dismissed pregnant woman, an omission that according to the plaintiffs violates the implicit mandate contained in articles 2 paragraph 1, 42 paragraph 1, 50 and 65 of the Constitution, which recognize, among others, […]
AMENDMENTS TO VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) REGULATION IN ORDER TO ISSUE INVOICES AS “FINAL CONSUMER†Oct/2022 Through Government Agreement No. 245-2022, published on October 14th, 2022, in the Official Gazette, amends Article 30 of Value Added Tax Regulation (Government Agreement No. 5-2013), which imposes a new threshold to issue invoices as “Final Consumer†(C.F.) to […]
NOTES ON THE PROCESSES FOR PURCHASING MEDICINES IN THE CCSS IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEW GENERAL LAW OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN COSTA RICA A new General Law on Public Procurement in Costa Rica will enter into force on December 1, 2022, along with its Regulations. One of the great milestones of this new contracting […]
The entry into force of the Insolvency Law, Decree 8-2022 of the Congress of the Republic, on September 6, 2022 implies a total change in the Guatemalan regulation regarding the insolvency and bankruptcy of individual and legal persons, whether they are merchants or No. Read more
APPROVAL OF THE LOVE TURNED INTO FOOD LAW FOR THE PROMOTION, PROTECTION AND SUPPORT OF BREASTFEEDING On September 27, 2022, the Legislative Assembly approved the “Love Turned into Food Law for the Promotion, Protection and Support of Breastfeeding”, whose purpose is to guarantee the right of all girls and boys to breastfeed, through the adoption […]
On November 5, 2021, WIPO Standard ST.26 was approved. This Standard defines the nucleotide and amino acid sequence disclosures in a patent application required to be included in a sequence listing, the manner in which those disclosures are to be represented, and the Document Type Definition (DTD) for a sequence listing in XML (Extensible Markup […]
As of June 2022, the Costa Rican Antitrust Authority (“COPROCOMâ€) implements the Leniency Program. This Program grants incentives to individuals and companies that participate in practices related to horizontal restraints, so they disclose these practices to COPROCOM. The persons or entities that participate in this Program can obtain an exemption of 20% and up to […]
In recent days, the Insurance Superintendency of Panama approved Rule No. 02 of 2022, which regulates the use of electronic signatures in the documentation related to the insurance sector. This legislation came into effect on July 20, 2022. Read more
Decree 27-2022 of the Congress of the Republic, Law of Preferential Interest Rate for the Access to Social Housing, has as an object aiding Guatemalan families to acquire their first house. For such purpose, a subsidy has been established by the State of Guatemala to the interest rates for the acquisition of houses characterized as […]
On July 26, 2022, the “Law 1097 Law of the Nicaraguan Legal Digest on Business, Industry and Commerce†was published in issue number 137 of The Gazette Official Daily, with the purpose of strengthening the legal security and regulatory uniformity in the business sector. The Digest compiles ordered lists of the legal norms in force; […]
EL SALVADOR – THE CONGRESS APPROVES AMENDMENT TO THE LABOR CODE TO ESTABLISH AS OBLIGATION THE REGISTRATION OF TEMPORARY AND TRIAL PERIOD WORKERS TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY REGIME On July 19, 2022, the Congress approved amending article 29 of the Labor Code, incorporating section 10th), which states that employers have the obligation to enroll their […]
By Presidential Decree No. 04-2022, published in La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 35 of the twenty-second of February of the year two thousand and twenty-two, the National Climate Change Policy (the “Policy”) was approved. Among others, the Policy reinforces policies and lines of action to promote comprehensively and effectively the management of climate change at […]
What is the nature of the maritime zone regime in Costa Rica? The maritime terrestrial area in Costa Rica is the first 200 meters measured horizontally from the high tide line. The maritime zone includes islands, pinnacles of rock, mangroves, estuaries, and any small natural formation that overcomes the level of the ocean. This zone consists of […]
Electronic commerce has revolutionized the way of doing business today, both for the commercialization of goods and for the provision of services, allowing the entrepreneur to position himself in the market, interact with users without having a physical presence and offer goods and services internationally. , thus creating a new panorama in commercial relations. However, despite […]
GENERAL CONCEPTS ABOUT TRADEMARKS The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) defines the concept of intellectual property (IP) as the creations of the intellect: ranging from works of art to inventions, computer programs, trademarks and other commercial signs. [1] Being an extremely comprehensive concept, we will focus this article specifically on a well-known intellectual property right: trademarks, specifically […]
REGULATORY GUIDE TO ACQUIRE AN ESTABLISHMENT ALREADY IN OPERATION: IDENTIFICATION AND TRANSFER OF PERMITS To acquire and maintain a commercial, industrial or service establishment in operation, the transfer of permits, licenses and other regulatory requirements must be managed before various public institutions. In order to avoid delays in the start of operations and even potential sanctions, […]
On February 14, 2022, Law No. 284 of 2022 (“Law 284â€) was enacted, repealing Law No. 31 of 2010 and becoming the governing provision of the horizontal property (“PH†as per its acronym in Spanish) regime. Although Law 284 does not represent a substantial modification of the existing regime and it follows to a great […]
In 2021 and so far this year, there has been an increase in investments on construction projects in El Salvador. From a legal standpoint, this constitutes a challenge to the construction industry due to the high level of disputes and conflicts that usually arise between contractors and owners. These conflicts generally occur when the contracts […]
In accordance with a study carried out by the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations (CIAT) between 2019 and 2020, certain countries in Latin America (Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the Dominican Republic) were not able to collect from 227 to 255.4 million US dollars on taxes derived from the lack of […]
In accordance with the last modification of the Statutes of the Patent Law in 2014, among other relevant changes in the form and substance of patentability examinations, the formal possibility of requesting an interview with the examiner was established. Although it is true that before said modification of the statutes, the interviews with the examiners […]
Law 81/2019 on the Protection of Personal Data in Panama exempts from its scope of application, those procedures that are expressly regulated by special laws or by the regulations that develop them. However, the provisions and postulates on the protection of personal data contained in Law 81/2019 and Executive Decree 285/2021 are only minimum standards, […]
In the context of Data Privacy, consent is associated with the right of the content of informative self-determination, which gives special interest to the development of rules of security of processing, transparency and information of the person, so that said interest, according to the criteria of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, […]
Guatemala´s Constitutional Courts are being negligent; constantly violating the rights of their citizens. It´s important to know that anyone can report any violations since it´s established in the law that Courts… Continue reading
Here are some recommendations for multinational companies to follow which shall help reduce the risk of suffering cyberattacks. yberattacks are constantly increasing in number and complexity; and this does not seem to change for 2022. This has led to many regulators to start working on introducing (or have introduced) new laws focused on both cybersecurity […]
IS MY COMPANY OBLIGED TO COMPLY WITH THIS NEW LAW? The General Law of Water Resources (“Law”) approved by the Legislative Assembly on December 21, 2021 after almost six months of discussion and revision of the project presented by the Minister of Environment to the Assembly on June 18, 2021. The Law was published […]
The future of Contracting: What are Smart Contracts? Recently, technological advances have increased exponentially. With each passing year, new programs and devices invented transform the status quo of various activities and professions, which is no exception for the hiring area. From time immemorial, people have entered into contracts to regulate transactions with each other, whether […]
Law 81/2019 on the Protection of Personal Data in Panama exempts from its scope of application, those procedures that are expressly regulated by special laws or by the regulations that develop them. However, the provisions and postulates on the protection of personal data contained in Law 81/2019 and Executive Decree 285/2021 are only minimum standards, […]
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have proven to be an effective tool for strengthening public policies, since they not only make possible the mobilization of resources from the private sector, both in financial and information terms, but it also allows bothsectors to align and integrate their efforts to the proper implementation of policies. Intellectual property is no […]
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance through Ministerial Agreement 206-2021 approves the new Regulations for Clinical Trials in Humans, which are effective from October 30, 2021. Ministerial Agreement 299-2019 of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, Regulations for the Regulation of Clinical Trials in Humans, is repealed. This Regulation aims to […]
On November 24, 2021, the decree “Procedure for simplified health registration by notification, health registration, registration recognitions, raw materials, control and surveillance of processed foods and low-risk cosmetics”, number 43291-S, was published in the Official Newspaper La Gaceta, aiming to implement a new mechanism for simplified registration by notification. The new mechanism will allow the […]
Sometimes the definition or meaning of expert, profession or professional varies from region to region around the world. Patent professionals in the United States can be divided into two main groups, patent agents and patent attorneys. But what happens when we try to match these professionals with their counterparts in other geographic sections? Latin America is one of […]
Today, October 11, the President of the Republic and the Minister of Health signed Executive Decree number 43249-S which establishes the obligation for Public Sector workers to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus and also empowers Private Sector employers to establish in their internal policies said vaccination as mandatory for their collaborators, in order to […]
¿QUÉ DEBE SABER? La incursión en internet y en nuevas tecnologÃas a inicios de los noventa, implicó para muchos empresarios un cambio en su modelo de negocio para adaptarse a las nuevas necesidades de los consumidores y usuarios. Históricamente el comercio electrónico se denominó “intercambio electrónico de informacionesâ€, conocido como EDI (electronic data interchange) por […]
Press Releases
Arias is pleased to announce its role as local counsel in Costa Rica and Honduras to FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, in financing Volcafe, a leading global green coffee merchant, up to 23 million US dollars. The financing will support the working capital needed to source and commerce coffee. Our team assisted FMO in structuring the […]
December 2024 | El Salvador We are pleased to announce that Dr. F. Armando Arias, Chairman of ARIAS, has been recognized as one of the Most Admired Business Leaders in Central America , according to Estrategia y Negocios  magazine in its 299th issue. This prestigious group includes strategists and business leaders whose actions have a […]
At the Chambers Latin America Awards November 2024 | El Salvador We are proud to announce that ARIAS has been recognized as firm of the year at the prestigious Chambers and Partners Latin America Awards 2024, accolades that highlight excellence and leadership in the legal field worldwide. The ceremony took place on November 22, 2024, […]
We are proudly celebrating 82 years of ARIAS, a journey filled with achievements, milestones that have shaped our history, and a steadfast commitment to supporting you every step of the way into the future. Our firm was founded in 1942 by Dr. Francisco Armando Arias Sr. in El Salvador, with a vision rooted in the […]
We are pleased to announce that ARIAS served as legal counsel to International Finance Corporation (IFC), member of the World Bank Group in a strategic $150 million financing operation granted to Grupo Ransa. This transaction, which spanned multiple jurisdictions across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), will support Grupo Ransa in expanding and consolidating its […]
ARIAS is pleased to invite you to their upcoming Tax Week 2024, taking place from November 4th to 8th. Throughout this week, ARIAS’ tax experts, alongside renowned international guests, will dive into the main topic: “Tax Trends in the Region 2024”. This is a great opportunity to explore the latest challenges and insights on fiscal […]
In the acquisition of 100% of Cemex’s operations in Guatemala. We are pleased to announce that ARIAS served as legal counsel to Holcim in the acquisition of 100% of Cemex’s operations in Guatemala, from the due diligence phase through to the completion of the transaction. This acquisition not only strengthens Holcim’s presence in the country […]
5th Factor – Psychosocial Risks Date: Wednesday, September 25 Time: 10:00 a.m. | Costa Rica  Via: ZOOM (Please note the webinar will be held in Spanish) Psychosocial risks are the invisible enemy that can destroy your team, reduce profitability, and disrupt operations. How can we prevent them within companies and manage these risks to […]
We are proud to announce that The Cyrus Vance Center has honored ARIAS for its exemplary pro-bono work in the Familias Unidas initiative. Through this program, we provide legal counsel to migrants in the United States with family members in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras who are facing immigration challenges. We are deeply grateful […]
July 2024 | Guatemala. The Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (Bladex) has successfully concluded the granting of a syndicated loan totaling US$100 million to Banco Promerica, S.A. During this transaction, ARIAS served as the legal advisor in Guatemala for Bladex. The financing, led by Bladex as lender, arranger, bookrunner, and administrative agent, involved the […]
We are proud to announce that ARIAS has been included in the Organizational Culture: Top 100 Regional Leading Companies ranking in SUMMA Magazine’s 361st edition. This recognition places ARIAS among the 100 leading companies in Central America and the 15 best companies in El Salvador in terms of organizational culture. What makes us stand out? At ARIAS, we believe that our […]
ARIAS´s Costa Rican IP operations are now directed by Cynthia Wo-Ching, expert attorney with over 20 years of experience in the field. Cynthia Wo-Ching is a long-standing ally of ARIAS, having been part of their Costa Rica team at the beginning of her career. Regional IP Partners Morena Zavaleta and Andrey Dorado referred to her: […]
ARIAS is pleased to recount the role played as local counsel in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama to Banco Santander and Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior (Bladex) in the financing and refinancing resulting from the merger of Ransa with Transportes Centroamericanos del Futuro (TCF). Through the transaction, Ransa merged it with […]
Guatemala, June 10, 2024 We are proud to announce that Ivón Hernández, Director of Intellectual Property at ARIAS Guatemala, has been promoted to Partner. At ARIAS, our vision as a law firm is to establish ourselves as strategic partners to our clients through our team of experts. For this reason, we are dedicated to identifying […]
We are pleased to announce that ARIAS is a GOLD sponsor at the upcoming Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI) Seminar in La Antigua, Guatemala, “Coexistence or Collision? Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”. We invite you to register for the seminar where, together with leading academics, jurists, industry leaders and experts, […]
It is with great pride that we inform you that in the twenty-fifth year since the awards began, IFLR has revealed the list of nominees for the prestigious IFLR Americas Awards 2024. We are pleased to announce that we are on the shortlist in three important categories: • Firm of the Year in Central America […]
Arias was founded in 1943 by Dr. Francisco Armando Arias in El Salvador. Fifty years later, we managed to be the first legal firm to establish the regional expansion model in Central America under the leadership of Dr. Francisco Armando Arias Rivera, son. In 1996 we began the path to establish the first legal firm […]
The Latin America Corporate Counsel (LACCA) has released the latest edition of LACCA Approved, bringing together some of the region’s top private practice lawyers who have been personally recommended by LACCA members, the leading general counsels from around the region. The Central American region has one of the most competitive legal environments, at Arias we […]
The INTERNATIONAL TAX REVIEW recently delivered the 2021 awards on tax and tax planning issues, in this award the notable achievements and developments by professionals specialized in international tax from the North American, Central American and South American region during a period of 12 months and We are pleased to announce that on this occasion […]