Aguilar Castillo Love leverages the bench strength of 11 offices in nine countries across Latin America to advise a client roster of financial institutions and household-name multinationals (including Amazon, Meta and JP Morgan) involved in high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions, across sectors ranging from tech and telecoms to cryptocurrency and financial services. The practice is headed by office managing partner Esteban Agüero Guier and Flor De María Cortez, who brings expertise to fintech and structuring financing for clients in regulated industries, including for energy generation projects. Key support is provided by of counsel Lorena Madrid, who draws on experience in corporate, finance and compliance matters, and associate Bryan Guevara López.

The banking and finance team at regional firm Arias continues to be a leader in the Salvadoran marketplace, leveraging deep bench strength to advise major domestic and multinational banks and financial institutions (including Scotiabank, IDB Invest and Bank of America) involved in high-value, cross-border transactions. Displaying expertise in sectors ranging from food, banking, and oil and gas to logistics, cryptocurrency and energy, the practice’s comprehensive service covers asset securitisations, debt restructurings, loan agreements and project finance. The sizeable leadership group is made up of banking and finance authority Armando Arias; Lilian Arias, who draws on over 25 years of experience advising multinationals and financial institutions on the structuring of loans and guarantees; Roberta Gallardo, who brings extensive expertise to advising on credit and financing deals; Ana Mercedes López, a specialist in major project financings in sectors such as energy and aviation; Mario Lozano, a specialist in the fintech and cryptocurrency fields; Luisa Rivas, who handles the financing of major infrastructure projects and transactions in regulated industries; and free trade zone regime expert Carolina Lazo. Other key figures include senior counsels Ernesto Sánchez, who assists clients with credit agreements and stock and asset purchase agreements, and Adán Araujo, whose practice covers syndicated loans, securities and venture capital agreements, and senior associates Rafael Burgos, whose clients include major restaurant chains, and Julissa Castro, who displays strength in multi-jurisdictional financing operations.

The powerhouse banking and finance team at BLP remains a market leader, providing comprehensive transactional advice to major regional and international commercial banks and financial institutions (including IDB Invest and Deutsche Bank), multilateral agencies, private equity sponsors and multinational corporates across sectors ranging from manufacturing, retail and real estate to aviation and energy. The team’s full offering extends to credit restructurings, securitisations, loan agreements, bond issuances, regulatory compliance, and banking litigation and arbitration. The practice is headed by practice area expert Zygmunt Brett, who brings strength to capital markets matters. Mariana Nóchez, who displays expertise in complex, cross-border transactions, is another notable name at top level. Key support is provided by director José Góchez, who specialises in bond issuances, syndicated loans, project finance and buy-outs.

The banking and finance group at Consortium Legal harnesses the bench strength of offices in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua to assist a diverse client base of government agencies, major multinational businesses, banks and financial institutions (including Credit Suisse, Citibank and the Bank of Nova Scotia) involved in high-value, cross-border transactions. In addition, the practice provides comprehensive advisory services for regional crypto exchanges and fintech payment platforms on the structuring of their businesses. The practice is headed by Salvadoran office managing partner Oscar Samour, who brings over 20 years of experience to the team and is noted for his expertise in multi-jurisdictional deals. Felipe Aragón, who was promoted to partner in September 2023, specialises in financing structures and regulated sector matters. Key support is provided by senior associate Roberto Castro, who arrived in December 2023 from an in-house role at Banco Cuscatlán.

The Salvadoran team at Lexincorp coordinates with locations in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to advise domestic and multinational corporations and financial institutions (including banks and investment firms) on a diverse spectrum of matters across the practice area. The practice’s active client base spans the tech, financial services and cryptocurrency spaces. The team is led by managing partner Enrique Escobar, who draws on his background as a legal counsel for local banking entities, and junior partners Antonio Guirola, who manages the structuring and execution of international transactions, and Adriana Portillo, who specialises in tax incentives.

The Salvadoran banking and finance team at Mayora & Mayora, S.C. coordinates with the firm’s offices in Honduras and Guatemala to provide a comprehensive service to financial institutions, individual investors, funds and multinational corporations. With a client base spanning such sectors as banking, retail, energy and medical devices, the practice’s full offering covers matters involving foreign investment loans, derivatives, project finance, trusts, securities, day-to-day operations, and banking and finance regulatory compliance.  Senior partner and El Salvador office head Manuel Telles leads the team, drawing on decades of experience in leasing, securitisations, factoring, guarantees and the structuring of capital for individual and syndicated loans. Senior associate Jennifer Rodríguez brings strength to Rule 144A issuances, project finance, senior loan structures and banking regulations.

With its dedicated fintech practice and experienced team, Torres Legal provides domestic and multinational corporates, cryptocurrency exchanges, banks, stock exchanges and insurance companies with a full range of cryptocurrency-related services. The practice is headed by managing partner Héctor Torres, who brings expertise to securitisations, tokenisations and ICOs, alongside two new partners who joined in October 2023 from Consortium Legal - digital assets specialist Daniel Leiva and Annette Herrera, who draws on a background advising international businesses, financial institutions and corporate borrowers on matters ranging from syndicated lending and acquisition finance to equity and debt securities. Senior associate Andrea Gómez, who arrived in September 2023 from a government role, utilises experience in new technologies, advising on matters involving data protection, AI and blockchain. Key support is provided by associate Adalicia Torres, who heads the firm’s tax and compliance department.