Next Generation Partners

Firms To Watch: Dispute resolution

The team at boutique San José firm Hulbert Volio Abogados brings strength to acting for domestic and regional corporates and private individuals involved in a wide range of disputes, from complex collection processes to breach of contract claims, across the tourism, real estate, construction, banking and energy sectors.

Dispute resolution in Costa Rica

Alta Batalla

Following its merger with firms in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras in May 2021 into one regional firm, Alta Batalla remains a leader in the practice space, representing public figures, banks and major multinational corporates, such as Philip Morris, involved in high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes. With a client portfolio spanning the energy, banking, tobacco, transport, real estate and telecoms sectors, the team’s comprehensive service extends to conflict prevention, commercial and investment arbitrations, contentious-administrative litigation and criminal litigation, as well as disputes related to tax, labour, energy and the environment. The team is led by Róger Guevara, who acts in white-collar crime cases and for both plaintiffs and defendants in cases related to insurance claims, product liability and breach of contract, and Mariela Martínez, who was appointed to practice co-head in June 2022 and who brings expertise to disputes involving tort law, real estate projects and consumer rights. Other key figures include the vastly experienced Alejandro Batalla, senior associate Felipe Riveros, who acts for domestic and international clients in complex arbitration proceedings, and associate Sophia Villalta, who brings experience in civil liability, in addition to claims involving tourism developments and concessions.

Responsables de la pratique:

Róger Guevara; Mariela Martínez


Les références

The team handles the matter with attention to detail.

The best thing about this team is that it is very business-oriented. They are always looking for creative ways to help the business and are experts at reassuring their clients in difficult situations.

Róger Guevara is the best Costa Rican lawyer – charisma, knowledge of the law, and no fear of rolling up his sleeves to work hard to reach a result.

Principaux clients

Grupo Castro-UMCA


One Sports Costa Rica


Isaac Goeta (BSD Siete Siete Cero)


LAFISE Seguros


Centro APE-LAC


Banco Lafise


Mediterranean Shipping Company


Philip Morris Costa Rica


Hidroeléctrica San Lorenzo (Grupo Cuerva)


Daikin Industries/Daikin Applied Latin America


Principaux dossiers


  • Representing Banco LAFISE Costa Rica and other banks of the group (Banco LAFISE Panama and Banco LAFISE Bancentro) in various legal proceedings and arbitrations related to disputes arising from the real estate crisis.
  • Successfully advised Grupo Cuerva, a Spanish company in the business of the generation, distribution and commercialisation of energy, in the granting of an interim injunction in the insolvency proceeding filed by Grupo Saret, in which it is claiming the enforcement of two international ICC awards issued in Panama.
  • Advised Philip Morris in a judicial case involving a major distributor of its products in the country.

BLP

Employing the combined bench strength of offices in San José, Puntarenas and Guanacaste, in addition to branches across Latin America and Europe, BLP remains a market leader, representing such household-name multinationals as Pfizer, Kraft Heinz and Uber involved in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes. With an active client base spanning sectors ranging from food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and telecoms to e-commerce, hospitality, medical devices and tech, the team’s full service covers international litigation and arbitration related to administrative concession rights, as well as claims involving distribution, unfair competition, fraud and real estate and construction matters. The team is led by seasoned litigator Mauricio Salas, who brings over 25 years of experience in the legal profession. Other key figures include experienced arbitrator Luis Ortiz; criminal expert Alejandro Rojas, who was promoted to partner in April 2023; and senior associate Robert Morales, who proves expertise in administrative law matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Mauricio Salas


Les références

They cover a wide variety of areas with respect to dispute resolution. They have expert litigators in very different fields – in other firms there are strong litigators in one field or two, but this firm covers a very wide variety of practice areas in dispute resolution in particular. They are very responsible and can be entrusted with a case for years, which is what cases take to process here. Technical excellence and responsive service.

Mauricio Salas has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law (and other subjects). He is a well-known professor, but also has a very straightforward and common-sense approach to addressing the cases we have presented to him. Alejandro Rojas is an excellent choice in criminal law cases, and a great complement to Mauricio’s practice. An honest and capable trial lawyer. Robert Morales is also excellent.

I think the focus and analysis they give to the possible options to resolve disputes is important. The monitoring of cases is effective and that helps to make decisions with the best information available.

Principaux clients

Pfizer


Kraft Heinz


Uber Technologies


Gencom Group


Grupo Pelón


Medtronic


Axiom


Chiquita Brands International


DEMASA


Millicom (DBA Tigo)


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Kraft Heinz in various distribution lawsuits.
  • Advised Uber in a lawsuit filed by the National Federation of Taxi Cooperatives (FENACOTAXI) and various municipal taxi cooperatives in Costa Rica.
  • Advising investment firm Gencom Group in civil and criminal proceedings to safeguard its real estate, economic, and administrative concession rights in Costa Rica.

Facio & Cañas

Bolstered by the March 2023 opening of two new offices in Puntarenas and Guanacaste, the multidisciplinary team at Facio & Cañas remains a leader in the market, bringing strength to representing public figures and household-name multinationals such as Coca-Cola FEMSA, Oracle, Sony Music and Peugeot involved in high-stakes criminal, administrative, civil and commercial litigation and arbitration. With a client base spanning such sectors as sports, real estate, education, hospitality, energy, telecoms, aviation, entertainment and food and beverages, the group’s full service covers matters ranging from defamation and breach of contract claims to cases involving intellectual property rights and the termination of distribution agreements. The team is headed by seasoned litigator Federico Torrealba and Carlos Oreamuno, an expert in international commercial distribution disputes. Other key figures include experienced arbitrator Gianna Cersosimo, a specialist in anti-piracy cases, and senior associate Adelita Olivares and associate Ana Guillén, who in addition to civil matters, have handled complex criminal proceedings representing victims of economic-property crime.

Responsables de la pratique:

Federico Torrealba; Carlos Oreamuno


Principaux clients

Coca Cola FEMSA


Oracle


Warner Music


Sony Music


Universal Music


UST (formerly UST Global)


Peugeot Automobiles


Aercaribe – Aerolínea del Caribe & Latinoamericana de Aviación


Tous


Acino Pharma


Agencia Datsun


Dover Luxembourg Services


Zimmer Biomed


Lanco & Harris Manufacturing Corporation and Lanco Paints


Grupo Corporativo Saret


BIA Foods


Principaux dossiers


  • Representing Grupo Saret in insolvency proceedings.
  • Acting for the three captains of the Costa Rican national football team in criminal and civil defamation lawsuits brought against two former FIFA officials.
  • Representing Peugeot Automobiles in a dispute resulting from the termination of a distribution agreement governed by the Sales Representative Act.

Aguilar Castillo Love

The dispute resolution team at Aguilar Castillo Love leverages the bench strength of nine offices throughout the region to represent public figures (including former Costa Rican president Carlos Alvarado Quesada) and such major multinationals as Synthes (Johnson & Johnson), DHL and Hewlett Packard in high-stakes domestic and multi-jurisdictional disputes. Acting in matters ranging from international arbitration and distribution contract disputes to white-collar criminal proceedings, the firm’s broad client base spans the energy, government, healthcare, tech, logistics, food and beverages, media and financial services sectors. The practice is led by seasoned international investment arbitrator Esteban Agüero Guier, who heads the dispute resolution group, and Rodolfo Brenes Vargas, who leads the team’s corporate crime, anti-corruption investigations and compliance work. Other key figures include alternative dispute resolution expert Tatiana Rojas Hernández; Laura Rodríguez Amador, who brings experience in handling disputes in the telecoms sector, and who was promoted to partner in September 2022; and associate Sergio Herra Rodríguez, a specialist in white-collar crime.

Responsables de la pratique:

Esteban Agüero Guier; Rodolfo Brenes Vargas


Les références

The team knows the technical terms but is also sensitive about business issues and its ethical standards are aligned with ours.

Principaux clients

Hydro China


VWR Avantor


Synthes (Johnson & Johnson)


Carlos Alvarado Quesada


Corteva Agriscience


Quimicas Mundiales


BaumInvest


Hewlett Packard


DHL


Cargill


Fidelity National Financial


Pueblo Mar


Televisora de Costa Rica (TELETICA)


Principaux dossiers


  • Representing HydroChina in bringing a lawsuit against a former commercial partner arising from the construction of a cancelled hydropower project.
  • Providing a criminal defence to the former President of Costa Rica in two high-profile cases, currently being investigated by the Head of the Prosecution’s Office in Costa Rica and being held at the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court.
  • Representing Synthes (Johnson & Johnson) in administrative litigation against the Costa Rican social security entity (Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social), the Comptroller General’s Office and against a local distributor of medical devices over the existence of multiple defects in the public bidding process in the orthopaedics area by Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social.

Dentons

The Costa Rican team at Dentons utilises the combined bench strength offices in Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, and its bespoke Dentons Direct cloud system (which streamlines case tracking), to represent multinational financial institutions and corporates including Bayer and Schneider Electric in a wide range of complex, cross-border disputes. With an active client base spanning sectors ranging from energy, pharmaceuticals and logistics to financial services, pharmaceuticals and construction, the practice’s comprehensive offering covers such matters as commercial litigation and arbitration, environmental law, insurance litigation, collection actions, and restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings. The team is led by experienced litigator and arbitrator Roy Herrera, a member of the board of directors for the Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration of the Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce. The group is supported by senior associate Aracelly López, who performs due diligences on litigation proceedings for companies involved in multi-jurisdictional M&A, and associate Johann Montero Brenes, who specialises in labour and employment matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Roy Herrera


Les références

Affordability and availability. Knowledge of the environment in which they operate.

Availability and technical knowledge.

Here in Costa Rica the team is very professional and accessible. Their availability to take the time to explain matters to the client is a strength compared to other firms.

Principaux clients

Bayer


Eurocenter


Belize Bank


Maccaferri


Agroganadera Pinilla


Global Power Generation


Schneider Electric


Firmenich


Mediterranean Shipping Company


Latam Logistic


ECIJA

With offices in 17 countries spanning Central America, Europe and Asia, the dispute resolution practice at ECIJA pairs global bench strength with the experience of its team to represent private investors and major multinational corporates such as Sanofi and Pfizer involved in high-value, cross-border disputes, across sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals, energy and government to software, health and insurance. The team’s comprehensive service extends to complex commercial litigation, arbitration, and tax and administrative proceedings, as well as debt collection matters. The team is headed by Mauricio París, an expert in the enforcement, recognition and annulment of arbitration awards who brings expertise in the tech and pharmaceutical sectors, and Mariela Hernández, who handles consumer law matters. Other key figures include Arturo Guerrero, who launched the firm’s insolvency practice in Costa Rica, and who was appointed to partner in June 2022, and associate Mauricio Rapso, who will re-join the firm in September 2023 after studying abroad. Associate and family law specialist Andrea Rodríguez arrived in October 2022 from in house.

Responsables de la pratique:

Mauricio París; Mariela Hernández


Les références

Mauricio París is outstanding. He has an excellent combination of pragmatism with academic knowledge. He is very attentive, diligent and efficient.

Very good customer service.

Creative solutions and attention to detail.

Principaux clients

Pfizer


Sanofi


Pedidos Ya


Herbalife


Union Fenosa Generadora La Joya


Ghella


Rapi Credit


Indrive


ITCA (Software License Compliance Solutions)


Principaux dossiers


  • Representing a Latin American State before the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica in a proceeding for the annulment of an investment arbitration award, in a dispute of more than $100m.
  • Represented Sanofi in a dispute with a former distributor, allowing the company to recover debts nearing $1m.
  • Represented Herbalife in a proceeding against the State that reversed an administrative sanction.

Arias

The experienced team at regional firm Arias brings strength to representing major multinational corporates such as Pfizer in diverse range of dispute resolution matters.  The firm’s comprehensive service ranges from litigation prevention, commercial disputes and white-collar criminal cases to complex distribution matters, fraud and debt collection proceedings, and disputes related to intellectual property and environmental law. The team is led by Víctor Manuel Garita, an expert in arbitration related to concession disputes, construction and distribution contracts; and senior counsels German Rojas, an experienced civil litigator, and Abraham Balzer, a specialist in civil liability, consumer rights and class actions.

Responsables de la pratique:

Víctor Manuel Garita; German Rojas; Abraham Balzer


Les références

This practice has very intelligent, highly experienced lawyers who also form a very good team that complements each other. What makes this dispute resolution practice different is that the different members of the team know about topics as diverse as the civil process itself, corporate, banking, commercial law, securities and relevant topics of criminal law. Finding a practice with such a wealth of accumulated knowledge is very difficult.

The team is led by Víctor Manuel Garita, who has a great capacity to develop applicable strategies and the theory of the case. His knowledge of both commercial and banking law and litigation distinguish him.

Abraham Balzer is extremely diligent, responds and attends to the client’s needs immediately, and has great capacity in procedural law.

Principaux clients

Pfizer


Desarrollos Hotelers Guanacaste


Essity


Ulatina


FIFCO


Hencorp


Artavia & Barrantes Abogados

The experienced dispute resolution team at Artavia & Barrantes Abogados provides a comprehensive service, handling litigation, arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Sergio Artavia is the key contact. Co-founder Jaime Barrantes Gamboa departed in August 2021 to form ABCQ Legal.

BG&A Abogados Corporativos

The team at BG&A Abogados Corporativos represents entrepreneurs, local corporates and multinationals, including Office Depot, Telefónica and Sherman Williams, in complex negotiation and mediation proceedings, and in administrative and civil litigation. With a broad client base spanning such sectors as education, sports, retail, construction, telecoms and fitness, the practice’s full service covers matters ranging from debt collections and evictions to labour disputes and lawsuits for reputational damage.  The team is led by founding partner and veteran litigator Benjamín Gutiérrez and supported by senior associate Gabriela Monge, a specialist in education law, and associates Nicole Damha, an expert in labour litigation, and Christopher Rojas, who handles civil, administrative and intellectual property matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Benjamín Gutiérrez


Les références

Its office is modern in its operation and incorporates technological elements to facilitate work with clients. The legal knowledge of its lawyers is deep and they work as a team in a highly coordinated manner.

Benjamín Gutiérrez is an outstanding lawyer. He has a great knowledge of the law, and he handles the issues skillfully. He is able to explain very complex legal issues in a simple way.

I believe that the team’s approach makes a difference and makes the client feel secure.

Principaux clients

Office Depot


Universidad Internacional Sek


Colegio Internacional Sek


Colegio Internacional Eiris


Colegio Internacional de Levante


Hotel Planas


International Education Systems


Boca Ratón Preparatory School


Panamá Preparatory School


Tiempo Libre Tilisa


Uniformes Designs


Unión Española


Grupo Creativo Diseño y Construcción


Seper


Iunit


Sherwin Williams


Mexichem


Grupo Sur


Telefónica (Movistar)


Banco Nacional de Costa Rica


Nexsys Centroamérica


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting in lawsuit against Amazon Prime Video for reputational damage brought by SEK International University and Spanish businessman Jorge Segovia Bonet, after the premiere of the series “El Presidente”.
  • Representing Productos de Concreto in a claim initiated for the collection of amounts owed under a bill of exchange drawn in favour of the company.
  • Represented a private individual in proceedings before the contentious-administrative court against the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS).

Consortium Legal

With offices in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua, the team at Consortium Legal leverages deep bench strength across the region to represent national and multinational corporates and financial institutions involved in high-stakes civil and commercial litigation and arbitration, across the banking, beauty, retail, agriculture, building materials, energy, tourism and hospitality sectors. The team is headed by veteran litigator Rolando Laclé Zuñiga (who brings over 30 years of experience); José Pablo Valverde, who handles matters involving damages claims, breaches of contract, and construction and financial disputes; and Andrés Martínez, a specialist in international arbitration and judicial litigation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Rolando Laclé Zúñiga; José Pablo Valverde; Andrés Martínez


Principaux clients

Banco Davivienda


Scotiabank de Costa Rica


Del Monte International


Asociación Conservacionista Monterverde


Banco BAC San José


Grupo Barceló


Villas Playa Sámara


Grupo Cuestamoras


Tecnoramos


EY Law Central America

The litigation group at EY Law Central America leverages the bench strength of eight offices in seven countries (including the March 2022 opening of a Pacific Coast office in the Guanacaste province) to act for major multinationals in a diverse range of disputes. The practice’s full service covers distribution cases involving the modification, termination or restructuring of contracts, due diligence processes and pre-litigation advice. Experienced litigator and senior manager Allan Hernández and managing partner Hernán Pacheco are the key contacts.

Sfera Legal

The multidisciplinary litigation and arbitration team at Sfera Legal employs the deep bench strength of its five Costa Rican offices and regional network to assist international corporates involved in high-value, cross-border disputes. The team’s comprehensive service covers contentious matters involving construction, investments, franchise and private contractual agreements, financing and real estate developments. Founding partner Robert Van Der Putten and seasoned negotiator José Schroeder are the key contacts.

Tactic Estudio Legal

Tactic Estudio Legal, formed by former COLBS Estudio Legal partner Javier Escalante after he and Sebastián Jiménez split their practices in September 2021, represents private individuals, NGOs and major multinationals involved in complex domestic and multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration, across such sectors as food and beverages, real estate, financial services and security. The team is led by Escalante, a seasoned trade negotiator who has served as both Consul General of Costa Rica in Singapore and Ambassador of Costa Rica in Qatar. The team is supported at the associate level by experienced litigator and banking and finance specialist Daniela Alvarado, who followed Escalante from his previous firm, and Fernanda Jiménez, an environmental law expert who handles complex regulatory and legal analysis. It was bolstered further by the August 2022 arrival of senior associates Jean Carlo Díaz, who joined from independent practice and who brings strength in administrative disputes, Eric Morales-Matarrita, who served previously in the Costa Rican Judicial Branch, and experienced former in-house counsel Sylvia Clark-Escalante, who handles complex corporate disputes.

Responsables de la pratique:

Javier Escalante


Les références

Serious, committed, educated lawyers who search for unique alternatives.

Principaux clients

Grupo Jumex


Comercializadora Eloro


Jumex


Hermosa Oceanfront Development


Condominio Bahía Encantada


Financiera Brunca


Kommuna


Detergentes y Jabones (DEJA)


Condominio Diamante del Sol


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for Financiera Brunca in all judicial collection processes.
  • Represented Grupo Jumex, Comercializadora Eloro and Jumex in a dispute concerning the termination of a distribution agreement with another company in Costa Rica.
  • Represented Hermosa Oceanfront Developments in seeking the cancellation of an overlapping title to land acquired by the client before the Civil Court of Puntarenas.

COLBS Estudio Legal

The dispute resolution practice at COLBS Estudio Legal leverages the experience of its team to advise domestic and multinational corporates across the tourism, hospitality, real estate, construction and pharmaceuticals sectors on diverse range of disputes. The group’s comprehensive service covers both litigation and arbitration, including commercial and civil litigation, as well as mediation and negotiation. The team is led by founding partner and veteran litigator Sebastián Jiménez, who brings strength to matters involving civil liability, real estate issues, contract breaches and public law, and associate Edwin Rojas, who specialises in arbitration procedures and banking and finance-related cases.

Responsables de la pratique:

Sebastián Jiménez; Edwin Rojas


Les références

Personalised service. Prompt attention to queries. Clear breakdown of costs. Prompt resolutions and legal advice. Extensive explanations of the issues.

The organisational climate is exceptional. The office staff is impeccable, as well as the facilities and the service. Respect and excellent verbal and non-verbal communication.

Excellent team with knowledge in the areas of social and legal governance. Excellent advice and accompaniment through the procedures.

Principaux clients

Hotel y Club Punta Leona


Progreso Desarrollo Empresarial Prodesa


Fondo de Inversión Inmobiliario Vista


Andorra Euroinvestments


Lapas Nitrógeno Siete


Montes de Oro Marbella


Kingstown Consulting


Samaúma Brands


Electricidad y Control Industrial Vargas y Smith


Swisscore Group


Principaux dossiers


  • Acted for Hotel y Club Punta Leona in a claim against the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, the national healthcare provider, to request the annulment of a series of wrongfully assigned debts, amounting to $1.5m.
  • Filed for Vista Real Estate Investment Fund 17 different eviction processes, and representing the client in disputes with unrelated tenants of different office and commercial premises in San José.
  • Successful secured settlements in the majority of 20 cases against LAPAS Nitrógeno Siete, a development company with a completely sold but uncompleted real estate project experiencing difficulty with environmental licences and permits.

Nassar Abogados

The dispute resolution practice at Nassar Abogados leverages regional strength and the experience of its team to advise major multinationals involved in multi-jurisdictional arbitration and civil, commercial and administrative litigation. The group’s comprehensive service covers matters ranging from risk management and distribution disputes to contract termination and personal injury. Senior partner Tomás Nassar P., a veteran litigator and transport sector authority, and Henry Rodríguez, a specialist in complex negotiations and international finance, are the key contacts.

Oller Abogados

The litigation and arbitration team at Oller Abogados acts for national and multinational corporates across such sectors as sports, tech, manufacturing, real estate, insurance and construction in such disputes as debt recovery actions, arbitration proceedings, evictions and breach of contract claims. The team is led by three senior partners: corporate practice director Pedro Oller, who handles both domestic and international arbitrations; litigation practice director Ricardo Vargas, who is experienced in tax disputes; and public law practice head Roberto Esquivel, who specialises in procurement processes. Associate Carlos Arias brings strength to labour matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Pedro Oller; Ricardo Vargas; Roberto Esquivel


Principaux clients

Feilo Sylvania


Centro de Redes y Cables Eléctricos


Inversiones Rodríguez Fairen


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for Inversiones Rodriguz Fairean in an eviction involving a sports chain retailer.
  • Acting for Feilo Sylvania in the enforcement of a credit supported by a mortgage.
  • Acting for Centro de Redes y Cables Eléctricos in a collection action.