The powerhouse real estate and hospitality group at BLP remains a market leader, employing regional bench strength and a multi-disciplinary approach to advise national and multinational developers, including construction companies, lenders, private and institutional investors, landlords, tenants, and other major corporates involved large-scale projects and high-value transactions. Headed by founding partner Luis M Castro, the group’s comprehensive service includes assistance with the acquisition, development, financing, sale and leasing of properties, contract negotiations and structuring, day-to-day operations, tax planning, free trade zone matters and due diligence. Eduardo Calderón, the former president of the Bar Association of Costa Rica, brings over 20 years of experience to projects in the country’s coastal and urban areas, providing key support along with Anneth Jiménez, an expert in construction and operation contracts; Andrea González, who handles free trade zone matters; hospitality sector and regulatory compliance adviser Juan Carlos Tristán; director and development strategist Catalina Soto; and senior associate and complex transaction specialist Karla González. Newly appointed special counsel José María Pacheco, who has experience managing large-scale real estate and hotel developments, joined the team from Sfera Legal in August 2022. Since publication the firm has opened a fourth office in Costa Rica, located in Marina Flamingo on the country's northwestern coast - effective as of January 2023.

In addition to advising multinational corporates, asset managers and hospitality chains on the implementation of long-term projects and large-scale developments, the market-leading team at EY Law Central America integrates multiple lines of service to assist with tax planning, investment banking, due diligence and exit strategies. The March 2022 opening of a Pacific Coast office in the Guanacaste province has also expanded the firm’s reach in the ever-growing tourist market. The team is led by real estate and hospitality practice head Alejandro Antillón, who guides clients through the entire project life cycle (from planning to regulatory compliance and operation matters), along with Arturo Apéstegui, who brings extensive experience in development finance and cross-border M&A. The team is supported by senior manager Álvaro Leiva, an expert in tourist real estate law, and senior associate Monserrat Alvarado, who specialises in condominium regulations.

With five offices across Costa Rica, as well as branches in New York and throughout Central America, the real estate team at Sfera Legal remains a force in the market, leveraging deep bench strength and the experience of its multidisciplinary team to advise individual investors and local and multinational corporates involved in high-value, cross-border transactions and developments. Providing a comprehensive service, the group assists with private finance, international tax structures and representation in court and arbitration proceedings. The team is headed by founding partners Rafael E. Cañas, who has 25 years of experience in the practice area, and Robert van der Putten, a seasoned negotiator of shareholder and development agreements, along with Jose Pablo Arce, an expert in shoreline concession zones. Backed by experienced arbitration specialist Fabiola Soler, foreign investment specialists Roberto Castillo and Ismene Arroyo, and associate and firm pro bono leader Alejandra Salazar , the team’s clients include tourism, real estate, tech and medical device companies.

The real estate team at regional firm Consortium Legal delivers a comprehensive service to national and international developers, private investment vehicles, individuals and household-name corporates, including Walmart, Maersk and Cemex, involved in complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions. Rolando Laclé Zúñiga, who has over 30 years of foreign investment experience, heads the team, along with Juan Manuel Cordero, who assists clients with land acquisitions and the obtainment of concessions, and David Reuben, who lends expertise to project structuring and partnership agreements. Key support is provided by senior associates Marcela Alfaro, who specialises in energy sector matters, and Daniel Rojas , who was promoted in June 2021. The firm expanded its Costa Rican presence in January 2022 with the addition of a second office in the province of Guanacaste, on the country’s northwestern Pacific coast.

The experienced team at Dentons Muñoz utilises the bench strength of its regional network of seven offices in six countries and its bespoke Dentons Direct cloud system (which streamlines case tracking) to advise developers, private equity firms, real estate funds and major multinational corporates, including LL Bean and Western Union, involved in the sale and purchase of real estate and the financing and development of real estate projects. In addition, the practice’s full service extends to regulatory compliance, construction matters, and related tax issues and litigation, and provides sector-specific services targeted to the agribusiness and hospitality sectors. Managing partner and team leader Eduardo Zúñiga has experience in the negotiation of hotel management agreements and assists clients with urban developments, gated communities and beachfront resorts. The practice is supported by senior associate Andrea Castro , who conducts extensive project due diligence, and associate Pamela Contreras, who specialises in the negotiation and structuring of real estate contracts. Founding partner Pedro Muñoz has re-joined the firm after finishing his term as Congressman of the Costa Rican National Congress in May 2022.

With three offices across Costa Rica, located in Flamingo and Guanacaste, and branches in 17 countries spanning Central America, Europe and Asia, the real estate group at ECIJA channels its global strength to assist national and multinational developers, investors and corporates with the financing and construction of projects including luxury resorts and hotels, residential communities and hydroelectric plants. The practice is headed by Guillermo Zúñiga, a specialist in advising government agencies and private organisations on major renewable energy projects. Corporate affairs specialist Ana Cristina Mora provides key support at the associate level.

The multidisciplinary real estate practice at regional firm Arias coordinates with its tax and free trade zone teams to advise developers and national and multinational corporates on high-value transactions involving the expansion of their facilities in Costa Rica and individual investors seeking access to the second-home market. In addition, the practice’s comprehensive service covers the negotiation and drafting of share purchase, lease and services agreements, construction contracts, concession rights, mortgages, and due diligence and title verification. The group is headed by former consul for the Costa Rican Consulate General in New York Carlos Camacho, who has expertise in developments and acquisition projects, along with experienced regulatory adviser Vicente Lines and tech sector specialist Luis Diego Castro. Supported by senior counsel Vivian Gazel, real estate consultant Edmond Macluf and associate Fredrick Schiebel , the group’s client base spans such sectors as tech, agriculture, retail and consumer goods.

Collaborating with its environmental department and a network of engineers, topographers and consultants, the team at Facio & Cañas provides a one-stop shop for realtors, developers, construction companies and multinational corporates involved in major real estate projects and transactions. The practice is headed by Sergio Solera, who is experienced in advising individual buyers entering the second-home market and companies acquiring hotels and ongoing concerns, and Francisco Rucavado, who conducts extensive due diligence and advises on project development and day-to-day matters. Other services include transaction structuring and negotiation and consultations on free trade zone regimes. Added value arrived with two new senior associates in June and December of 2021 – Mariela Solano (from Vector Legal) and Marco Castegnaro  (from Invicta).

Formed by former COLBS Estudio Legal partner Javier Escalante after he and Sebastián Jiménez split their practices in September 2021, Tactic Estudio Legal has extensive experience in the planning, development and execution of large and small-scale real estate projects in the coastal and urban areas of Costa Rica. Escalante leads the team, which assists holding companies, overseas investors and major multinationals such as LafargeHolcim with environmental issues, sale and purchase agreements, and the processing of concession permits in the Maritime Terrestrial Zone. Key support is provided by a team of associates who followed Escalante to the firm, including Andrés Herrera, real estate regulatory adviser Margarita Sandí and Karla Villalobos, a specialist in commercial, service and lease agreements.

Advising multinational corporates involved in high-value, cross-border transactions, the experienced real estate team at regional law firm Aguilar Castillo Love provides support on due diligence processes and the investment, financing and disposal of real estate assets. The practice’s client base spans the hospitality, manufacturing and retail industries. Founding partner John Aguilar Osborne and Alvaro Aguilar are the key contacts.

The real estate practice at COLBS Estudio Legal, led by founding partner and transactional strategist Sebastián Jiménez, has experience of advising developers, realtors and multinational corporates on project acquisition, leasing, construction and finance.

Lang & Asociados draws on the combined strength of its real estate and corporate practices to assist major multinationals (such as Smart Fit and Microsoft) seeking to implement their operations in the Costa Rican market. Headed by Henry Lang, the practice’s comprehensive service includes advice on finance, permits, regulatory compliance, the negotiation and drafting of lease agreements, construction contracts, free trade zone projects, and land and municipal taxes. Supported at the associate level by free trade zone regime specialists Milena Jaikel and Juan Carlos Cersosimo, the team’s client roster spans the software, food, medical, fitness and digital services sectors.

Zürcher, Odio & Raven advises local and international developers and corporates on such matters as urban planning, permits, projects in the life sciences sector, real estate-related tax matters, acquisitions, condominiums, and the structuring and implementation of real estate transactions. Alberto Raven Odio is the key contact.