Corporate powerhouse Aguilar Castillo Love leverages the firm’s extensive network (with offices throughout Central America as well as in Bolivia, Ecuador, Panama and Paraguay) and close links with international firms to advise on a wide array of multi-jurisdictional M&A, including regional deals. The team acts for a growing roster of multinational clients, as well as major local companies, demonstrating particular strength in the energy, technology (including fintech) and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, the broad practice covers corporate restructurings, the establishment of operations in Honduras, and related commercial and antitrust issues. The firm fields a sizeable four-partner team, headed by office managing partner Enrique Rodríguez Burchard, who has considerable experience in M&A, and Juan José Alcerro Milla, the leader of the firm’s antitrust and fintech and start-up groups. Carolina Aguirre Larios and Victor Alejandro Martínez, who has complementary tax expertise, are other names to note, alongside a deep bench of associates, including Ondina María Santos and Leonel Contreras. The firm also has an active D&I initiative, Proyectos ACL Mujeres, which promotes the participation of women in business, including through its pro bono work.

Regional heavyweight Consortium Legal houses a comprehensive corporate practice in Honduras, based in offices in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, with wide-ranging expertise spanning M&A, corporate reorganisations and commercial issues. Taking advantage of the firm’s presence throughout Central America, the team is particularly active in advising multinational clients across sectors including retail, finance, technology and manufacturing, and is also well versed in multi-jurisdictional M&A, acting on both the buyer and seller side. Further strengths include advising on compliance with anti-money laundering regulations and the structuring of cross-border agency, franchise and distribution agreements. The team is led by José Rafael Rivera, whose broad practice encompasses the acquisition of companies in Honduras and Central America more widely, and José Ramón Paz Morales, who is commended for his experience in cross-border M&A, corporate reorganisations and capital markets transactions. José Ramón Paz Padilla, the managing partner and co-founder of the Honduras office, lends further expertise to the practice. As a member of the Central American Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (INTEGRARSE), the firm also promotes various sustainability programmes in the region.

Following its merger with firms in Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica in May 2021, Alta Melara & Asociados benefits from a regional presence which makes it a strong choice for multinational and multilatina clients. Winning high praise for its ‘outstanding knowledge‘ and ‘experience and professionalism‘, the corporate team frequently joins up with its counterparts in Central America to advise on regional M&A, in addition to assisting international companies with local transactions and incorporations in Honduras, with expertise in a wide range of sectors, from banking and telecoms to energy and call centre services. The full-service firm also offers complementary advice on antitrust, regulatory and tax issues, and has a growing focus on labour matters. Office managing partner Oscar Melara, who is commended for his ‘second to none‘ client service, leads the compact team, ably supported by senior associate Andrea Idiáquez, whose practice focuses on highly regulated sectors such as banking (particularly fintech) and telecoms.

With offices in Tegucigalpa and the industrial hub of San Pedro Sula, Arias has a strong platform in Honduras, which combines with its broad regional network to allow the firm to advise both domestic and multinational clients on the full spectrum of corporate work. The team of ‘excellent advisers‘ routinely handles cross-border matters, including M&A, with notable recent activity in the renewable energy and mining sectors, and also has a busy antitrust practice, where senior associate Antonio Montes is the key contact for pre-merger notification processes. Honduras managing partner Evangelina Lardizábal is frequently sought after for her experience in multi-jurisdictional M&A, as well as related tax issues; she leads the team with Mario Agüero, a go-to specialist in the structuring of local business operations for international companies. Associate Rodolfo Salgado also provides capable support.

BLP‘s star continues to rise in Honduras, with its corporate practice rapidly establishing an impressive track record in advising Fortune 500 companies and handling high-profile, cross-border M&A, drawing on the firm’s region-wide network and two offices in the jurisdiction for support. Singled out as ‘the gold standard‘ for ‘the communication, ability of the team and understanding of the client’s business‘, the team is also experienced in joint ventures and corporate restructurings, and is highly active in the energy sector, reflecting the wider firm’s expertise in this space. José Miguel Álvarez, who is hailed as a ‘titan of corporate law‘, oversees the practice alongside Karla Aguilar, a renowned specialist in the energy and environmental spheres. The talented cohort of junior lawyers includes director Roy Zavala, who has a focus on antitrust matters; senior associate Rafael Chicas, an expert in the energy sector; and associate Ivis Alvarado. The firm has also introduced an Innovation Commission with the aim of implementing new technologies to support clients.

The corporate practice at García & Bodán, which is highlighted as ‘one of the most prestigious firms‘ in Honduras, has robust experience in complex cross-border transactions, frequently teaming up with the firm’s offices throughout Central America on regional deals. The department is well versed in corporate matters across the full range of industry segments, but has a particular emphasis on heavily regulated sectors including energy, infrastructure, insurance and telecoms, with growing strength in the fintech space. Office managing partner Vanessa Oquelí ‘brings a lot of experience‘, particularly in M&A and related tax matters. Other key names include Godofredo Siercke, a specialist in the energy sector, and capable senior associates Gabriela Aguirre, Astrid Villeda and San Pedro Sula-based Melissa Ayala, who contribute complementary tax, real estate and labour expertise.

Well-established domestic firm Gufa Law brings strong experience in the Honduran market when advising an extensive roster of multinationals on the full range of corporate mandates, from day-to-day operations and governance issues to M&A and related antitrust and regulatory matters. Recognised for its robust capabilities in the energy sector, the team is also sought after for its expertise in multi-jurisdictional transactions, including M&A and global restructurings, benefitting from close connections to a number of major international firms. Managing partner Mauricio Villeda Jr steers the practice and is commended for his strength in foreign investment, M&A and commercial contracts. Julia Sandoval, who focuses on cross-border transactions and taxation, and Javier López are the names to note at associate level, while co-founding partner Mauricio Villeda Bermúdez remains a key figure in the team.

One of the oldest firms in Honduras, López Rodezno & Asociados combines its nearly six decades of experience in the local market with close links to international firms, established through its membership of Club de Abogados Iberoamérica (an association of law firms across Latin America, Europe and Asia), to advise on the full scope of corporate matters. Operating from offices in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, the firm handles M&A and commercial issues, as well as the financial, taxation and real estate aspects of corporate deals. The widely recognised René López Rodezno leads the department, while banking and finance specialist Jorge López Loewenberg is also noted.

Singled out by clients as ‘not only knowledgeable but honest and forthcoming’, the Honduran team at Mayora & Mayora, S.C. taps into the wider regional firm’s strength in the corporate and M&A field to handle a growing range of transactional, commercial and compliance-related mandates. Odín Guillén Leiva oversees the firm’s offices in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula (where it recently expanded into new premises) and frequently takes the lead on domestic M&A and day-to-day advisory matters, in addition to joining up with the firm’s Guatemalan and Salvadoran practices on cross-border transactions. He is supported by senior associates Iván Flores and San Pedro Sula-based Andrea Tercero, and associates Daniel Fléfil and Andrea Pereira. Moreover, in March 2023 the firm hired counsel Roy Millares from Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (BCIE), both broadening its service offering and allowing the opening of its third local office, in Roatan, in September 2023.

CENTRAL LAW fields an active corporate team from its office in the industrial centre of San Pedro Sula, which also benefits from the support of the firm’s branch in Tegucigalpa and broad network across the region, putting it in prime position to advise Central and Latin American clients on their establishment in Honduras. In addition, the team assists with day-to-day governance and regulatory and contractual matters. Honduras managing partner J. Humberto Medina Alva focuses his practice on foreign investment and M&A, while senior associate Patricia Mejía assists with administrative law issues. Claribel Medina de León co-heads the practice from Tegucigalpa, where senior associate Marcela Aguilar is also a key contract for corporate and regulatory advice. Since research concluded, the firm has hired Jorge Romero as a senior associate in the San Pedro Sula office, where he focuses on administrative, customs and tax law - effective as of September 2023.

Dentons‘s corporate practice takes advantage of the firm’s extensive regional and global footprint to advise a host of multinationals on their operations in Honduras. In addition to assisting with day-to-day corporate and compliance issues, the team has a strong recent record in multi-jurisdictional M&A and the incorporation of businesses in the country. Office managing partner Arturo Zacapa is widely recognised for his IP expertise, but also has considerable strength in foreign direct investment matters. The practice also benefits from the wealth of experience of Gustavo Zacapa and the support of senior counsel Humberto Salgado, a specialist in corporate and labour law.

Spanish firm ECIJA has established a strong platform in Latin America – and has continued in expansion mode, most recently formalising a strategic alliance with Taylor Wessing LLP in March 2023 – which makes it a strong choice for multinationals seeking advice on their operations in Honduras. The firm, which has two offices in the country, frequently assists companies with their expansion in Central America, as well as handling restructurings, capital raises (and related regulatory approvals), and distribution and licensing matters. Honduras managing partner Roberto Williams shares leadership of the team with the highly experienced Rosalinda Cruz Sequeira. Jorge Arturo Reina provides support, alongside business manager Daniel Williams and associate Guillermo Matamoros. The firm’s ECIJA Tech offering, which assists companies with digitising their legal departments, is also an asset for clients.

Latamlex / Matamoros Batson y Asociados has a wide-ranging corporate offering, spanning M&A, commercial contracts, company incorporations, restructurings, joint ventures and franchising matters. As part of an alliance of Central American firms, the Honduras team is also well versed in regional transactions. Senior partner Dennis Matamoros Batson plays a leading role on corporate and M&A mandates; his extensive practice also encompasses consumer protection, antitrust, tax and insurance matters. Manuela Bueso is another key practitioner in the team, with experience in the M&A, energy and hydrocarbons, and commercial fields.

The corporate team at regional firm Lexincorp draws on the wider firm’s signature strength in public-private partnership law and the energy and infrastructure spaces to handle a steady stream of corporate and commercial mandates relating to the construction of major projects. In addition, the department is routinely active in the establishment of companies in Honduras, benefitting from a presence in both Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. Engels Zelaya, who is skilled in corporate matters in the public and energy sectors, leads the experienced team, which also includes Honduras managing partner Benito Zelaya; Nora Amaya, whose practice spans company incorporations, corporate governance and commercial contracts; and San Pedro Sula office head Sylvia Zelaya.