Galindo, Arias & López, is a Panamanian full-service law firm with a 50-year tradition of excellence and a commitment to provide legal services of the highest quality and ethical standards. The firm has built long-term relationships with a high-profile, local and international client base with business interest in Panama and abroad. GALA stands out due to its expertise in complex regulatory issues, local and cross-border transactions, complex asset and project financing transactions from highly regulated industries and a stellar dispute resolution track record, servicing clients throughout Panama’s key business sectors: aviation, energy, telecommunications, banking, finance, infrastructure, real estate, transportation and logistics, tourism and commerce.
Main areas of practice
Banking, Insurance and Capital Markets: The firm has a long and impressive trajectory in the Panamanian market and boasts one of the largest banking and finance teams in Panama. The team focuses on project finance, financial services regulatory advice, day-to-day advice to full licensed banks and financial institutions. GALA’s expertise also includes high-end financing for precedent-setting energy and natural resources projects, as well as advice on growing areas such as aviation finance. GALA’s robust capital market practice handles a diversified portfolio of domestic, regional and international clients mostly from highly regulated industries, on complex and innovative security offerings and regulatory compliance.
Corporate and M&A: The firm advises on domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and reorganisations. GALA has been involved in many of the region’s most significant M&A transactions, including the acquisition of Cable Onda, S A by Millicom International Cellular, SA, Panavicola, SA by Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), the acquisition of Grupo Machetazo by Grupo Mays, the strategic alliance between Copa Airlines and United Airlines and the sale by Goldwind International Penonome, Sarl of its equity interest in the first wind farm in Panama.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution: The firm has a long-standing and highly accomplished litigation practice. GALA’s litigation attorneys have successfully argued on behalf of clients in a broad range of industries, including energy sector leaders Petroterminal de Panamá and Naturgy Panama.
Most recent achievements include advising the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)’s international legal team on issues of Panamanian law in the ACP’s recent arbitration victory over the contractor responsible for the Panama Canal Expansion Project.
Project and Asset Finance: GALA has offered legal counsel on innovative finance structures to acquire assets and develop some of the largest projects in Panamanian history. Among the most notable transactions are advising the (1) Panama Canal Authority’s international team on the financing of the US$5.25 B Panama Canal Expansion Project, (2) developers and financial institutions in financing energy projects of multiple technologies, including hydro, thermal and natural gas generation, the first wind and solar farms in the Republic of Panama, and the (3) construction and redeployment, and expansion of the trans-isthmian pipeline.
Real Estate: The practice focuses on complex real estate development projects, zoning and condominium (horizontal property regime) incorporation and other regulatory matters. The team is actively involved in advising the developer of the 1,400-hectare project known as Ciudad Costa Verde in all legal aspects, including regulatory, transactional and tax matters.
Tax (local and international): The firm advises clients on the tax implications arising from cross-border transactions and structuring, guiding them on the best way to manage available tax incentives and regimes, including the application of double tax conventions. GALA also represents its clients before the Tax Administration and the Administrative Tax Court in complex litigation cases, including transfer pricing and cross-border investment.
GALA complements its portfolio with experienced legal professionals in practice areas such as aviation, data protection and security, intellectual property, government contracts and public procurement, labour and immigration, and regulatory. All services are delivered in compliance with our core values: excellence, integrity, respect, loyalty, empathy and confidentiality.
Federico Boyd Ave, 51st Street
Scotia Plaza, Floors 6, 9, 10 and 11
PO Box 0816-03356, Panama City
Panama
Tel: +507 303 0303
Fax: +507 303 0434
www.gala.com.pa
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