The powerhouse real estate and hospitality group at BLP remains a market leader, drawing on the deep bench strength of offices in San José, Puntarenas, Guanacaste and Marina Flamingo, in addition to branches across Latin America and Europe, to advise national and multinational developers, construction companies, lenders, private and institutional investors, landlords, tenants, and other major corporates (in such sectors as healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality and medical devices) involved in large-scale projects and high-value, cross-border transactions. The firm’s comprehensive services range from day-to-day operations, tax planning, free trade zone matters and due diligence to assistance with acquisitions, development, financing, sales, leasing, contract negotiations and structuring. Practice area authority Luis M Castro leads the team. Other to note include Eduardo Calderón, the former president of the Bar Association of Costa Rica, who brings over 20 years of experience to projects in the country’s coastal and urban areas; Anneth Jiménez, an expert in construction and operation contracts and due diligence in property purchases; Andrea González, a specialist in free trade zone matters; Juan Carlos Tristán, who assists with regulatory compliance and hospitality sector matters; and directors Catalina Soto, a development strategist, Karla González, a key advisor on complex transactions, and Fernando Shum.

The market-leading team at regional firm EY Law Central America leverages the bench strength of eight offices in seven countries to advise multinational corporates, asset managers and hospitality chains on the implementation of long-term projects and large-scale developments, and assists clients with related due diligences, tax planning and exit strategies. The practice is headed by managing partner Alejandro Antillón, an authority in transactional, financing, regulatory and operational matters. Other key figures include Arturo Apéstegui, who brings over 20 years’ experience in real estate finance; senior managers Ana Sáenz and Carlos Jiménez; and manager Monserrat Alvarado, a specialist in condominium regulations.

The team at Consortium Legal leverages the deep bench strength of offices in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua to advise private investors, international developers and multinational corporates in the retail, hospitality, construction and shipping sectors, including Maersk and Walmart, on day-to-day matters and in high-value, multi-jurisdictional real estate transactions. The firm’s full skill set covers matters ranging from due diligence and regulatory compliance to sales and purchases, M&A, asset purchases, bulk sales and free trade zone issues. ​​The practice is headed by Juan Manuel Cordero, who specialises in the constitution and modification of condominium regimes, leases, the sale and purchase of hotels, and related antitrust filings; and David Reuben, who handles complex real estate acquisitions and concessions. Seasoned litigator Rolando Laclé Zuñiga brings over three decades of foreign investment experience. Other key figures include senior associates Marcela Alfaro, who brings expertise to energy sector matters, and Daniel Rojas, who advises on the sale and purchase of residential, commercial and mixed-use real estate projects.

Dentons channels the bench strength of its regional network of seven offices in six countries to advise developers, private equity firms, real estate funds and multinational corporates across such sectors as hospitality, software and IT on the sale and purchase of real estate and the financing and development of real estate projects. The practice’s comprehensive offering extends to construction matters, regulatory compliance, related tax issues and litigation. The practice is headed by managing partner Eduardo Zúñiga, who brings experience in the structuring of projects, environmental issues, and the negotiation of hotel management agreements, and assists clients in relation to urban developments, gated communities and beachfront resorts. Other key figures include Anna Karina Jiménez, who draws on a background as counsel for the Parliament of Costa Rican; senior associate Montserrat Ortega, a real estate compliance specialist; and associate Pamela Contreras, who assists with construction agreements, lease contracts, and property development and administration agreements.

The team at ECIJA draws on the bench strength of its March 2023 alliance with Taylor Wessing LLP and offices throughout Europe and Latin America, to advise national and multinational developers, investors and corporates, across such sectors as energy and hospitality, on the financing and construction of projects including resorts and residential communities. The practice’s full offering covers matters ranging from acquisitions of assets, construction agreements, concession processes and environmental matters to the obtaining of financing facilities and setting up property in a condominium regime. The practice is headed by Guillermo Zúñiga, who brings decades of experience to assisting with complex real estate projects and transactions involving concessions in the Maritime Zone, protected areas, condominiums and luxury hotels. Other key figures include Mercedes Sancho, who utilises a background as a real estate, tourism and luxury development in-house counsel, and associate Ana Cristina Mora, who assists with due diligence procedures on properties, procedures to obtain transaction permits and the creation of investment vehicles.

The real estate practice at Arias employs regional strength and a multidisciplinary approach, coordinating with its tax and free trade zone teams to advise private investors, developers, and national and multinational corporates (including 3M and Accenture) across such sectors as consumer goods, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and tech on high-value transactions involving the expansion of their facilities in Costa Rica. The firm’s full practice covers the negotiation and drafting of share purchase agreements and construction contracts, concession rights, lease and services agreements, mortgages, title verification and due diligence. The practice is headed by former consul for the Costa Rican Consulate General in New York Carlos Camacho, who brings expertise to developments and acquisition projects, and regional managing partner and experienced regulatory adviser Vicente Lines, who draws on over 20 years of transactional experience. Other key figures include senior counsels Vivian Gazel and Rolando García.

Strengthened by the 2023 opening of two new offices in Puntarenas and Guanacaste, the real estate practice at Facio & Cañas coordinates with its environmental practice and its network of engineers, topographers and consultants to provide a one-stop shop for realtors, developers, construction companies and multinational corporates across the hospitality and tourism sectors involved in major real estate projects and transactions. The practice’s full offering extends to transactional structuring, due diligence, permitting and negotiation, and consultations on free trade zone regimes. The team is led by Sergio Solera, an expert in advising companies in major acquistions, and Francisco Rucavado, who advises on project development, project finance, construction and risk management. Senior associate Marco Castegnaro assists individual clients with the purchase of properties in Costa Rica.

Tactic Legal, formed by former COLBS Estudio Legal partner Javier Escalante after he and Sebastián Jiménez split their practices in September 2021, leverages the experience of its team to advise holding companies, overseas investors, real estate companies, and domestic and multinational corporations from the retail, medical devices and agricultural sectors on the planning, development and execution of large and small-scale real estate projects in the coastal and urban areas of Costa Rica. The practice’s comprehensive service covers such matters as the sale and purchase of properties, the structuring of complex infrastructure projects, leasing and rental agreements, and the analysis and execution of complex registration and cadastral issues. The team is headed by Escalante, an experienced trade negotiator who has served as both Consul General of Costa Rica in Singapore and Ambassador of Costa Rica in Qatar, who brings expertise to advising on complex, cross-border operations, and international relations expert Álvaro Cedeño, the former Ambassador of Costa Rica in Japan from 2011 to 2014. Another name to note is director Andrés Herrera, who assists with clients’ day-to-day operations and the structuring of complex transactions. Since the conclusion of research, the firm has merged with Guatemala's A. D. Sosa & Soto and rebranded as Tactic Legal as part of an ongoing process to become a regional player; the new entity also has offices in El Salvador and Honduras.

COLBS Estudio Legal leverages the experience of its team to advise developers, private investors, architecture studios, engineering companies, realtors and trustees involved in the acquisition, leasing, finance, construction and operation of large-scale real estate projects. The firm’s full offering extends to trust funds, escrow agreements and advice on related environmental regulations and tax laws. The practice is headed by Sebastián Jiménez, who brings extensive experience in the practice area, from assisting with complex lease negotiations and protocols for multiple transfers of real estate to compliance advisory work for architecture and engineering firms. Other key figures include experienced litigator and arbitrator Edwin Rojas, who assists private financial companies with structuring loans to finance new business ventures and to fund acquisitions.

Lang & Asociados harnesses on the combined strength of its real estate and corporate practices to advise developers and major multinationals (such as Smart Fit and Microsoft) across the software, medical devices, life sciences, telecoms, education and fitness sectors on establishing operations in the Costa Rican market. The practice’s comprehensive service covers the permitting and implementation of free trade zone projects, and matters involving real estate finance, regulatory compliance, the negotiation and drafting of lease agreements, construction contracts, and land and municipal taxes. Headed by foreign investment expert Henry Lang, who draws on over 30 years of experience, the team is supported by associates Milena Jaikel and Juan Carlos Cersosimo, who specialise in advising on free zone matters.

With offices in San José and the popular tourist area of Guanacaste, the real estate group at Quatro Legal acts for international developers, property management companies and private individuals in a wide range of real estate matters. These include the negotiation and closing of leases, purchases and sales of commercial or personal properties, representation at closings, permitting and licensing for the building and development of real estate projects and business operations, due diligence services, construction and zoning regulations, and luxury tax appraisal. The practice is headed by founding partner and practice area expert Gonzalo José Rojas. Key support is provided by senior associate Sonia Aragón and associate Maria Fernanda Baudrit.