The Guatemalan office of Consortium Legal boasts a high-calibre, broad service offering, within which some practices particularly stand out. The office’s banking and finance prowess continues to attract some of the world’s biggest banks. A formidable corporate and M&A division complements this department, along with a capable capital markets team.
Consortium Legal’s strong transactional capabilities have seen it working on several big-ticket finance deals. The firm has also seen a surge in fintech work, especially when it comes to clients seeking counsel on legislative and regulatory developments in this arena, as well as data protection matters. Its expertise across non-transactional areas is also demonstrable, with clients confidently turning here for compliance advice, while the tax and IP departments are noted too and regularly sought out by start-ups. Meanwhile, the firm reports increased mandates for the litigation and arbitration departments, as well as the labour group.
According to in-house counsel research conducted by LACCA, the Latin American Corporate Counsel Association, which is affiliated to Latin Lawyer, Consortium Legal – across Central America – represents 13 of the 100 biggest companies in Latin America, positioning it among the three most popular Central American firms among these clients.
One of the original leading Central American law firms, Consortium Legal continually strives to keep its offices in step. As part of the firm's growth strategy and commitment to diversity, the Guatemalan office recently promoted a female partner, boosting its compliance and criminal law departments. The group continues aiming for further integration between its offices by engaging in regional practice areas. A regional managing director works hard to improve corporate governance and coordination of deals, and to fortify the commercial and cultural links between all outposts.
Consortium Legal’s leadership acknowledges the importance of technology and its impact on making processes more effective and cost efficient. As part of its efforts here, it recently implemented a new tool enabling finance clients to review their legal matters digitally and on an ongoing basis. A new time-management system has also been introduced across all six offices, to help lawyers maintain a healthy work-life balance.
The firm has not only been investing in technological resources, but also in human talent. In recent years resources have been allocated to training lawyers, not just to further their legal knowledge, but to enhance their industry know-how, including business development and economics components. Lately, Consortium Legal has focused on nurturing the culture of its firm to best support lawyers and clients. This has consisted of introducing methods such as cultural mapping to monitor client needs at every stage of their journey at the firm, and cultivate interpersonal relationships between lawyers and clients. Such initiatives are indicative of the firm’s wider philosophy of always prioritising client satisfaction.
Management
Regional managing director Valeria Di Palma coordinates the offices and works on office integration between the five jurisdictions. She reports to the board and the executive committee, which is represented by several partners from each country. In Guatemala, Alfredo Rodríguez, Lionel Aguilar, Álvaro Castellanos, Rafael Alvarado, Olga María Meléndez and Ninoshka Urrutía share the local management. Álvaro Castellanos is also the regional president of Consortium Legal.
Offices
Consortium Legal is a regional firm that has eight offices spread across Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The Guatemalan office is in the country’s capital.
Alliances & networks
The firm is a member of the World Services Group, the State Capital Global Law Firm Group, the International Bar Association and the American Bar Association.