The corporate team at regional powerhouse Arias remains a market leader, bringing expertise to advising financial institutions and major multinationals involved in high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions. The practice’s broad client base spans sectors ranging from telecoms, software, construction and insurance to tech, finance, manufacturing and chemicals. The team is jointly headed by chairman Armando Arias; El Salvador co-managing partners Lilian Arias, who draws on over 30 years of experience in the corporate space, and M&A authority Roberta Gallardo, who brings strength to such day-to-day matters as corporate governance and regulatory issues; Ana Mercedes López, who provides expertise in major transactions and restructurings; energy sector specialists Luisa Rivas and Carolina Lazo; finance law expert Mario Lozano; and seasoned litigator and arbitrator Fernando Montano. Key support is provided by senior counsels Adán Araujo, who handles project development, finance, M&A and risk mitigation, and Ernesto Sánchez, who manages matters in such sectors as banking, retail and aviation, and senior associates Rafael Burgos, who handles deal negotiations, contract drafting and the structuring of collaterals, and Julissa Castro, who conducts due diligence and corporate investigations.

Consortium Legal continues to be a leader in the marketplace, drawing on the combined bench strength of locations in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua to advise domestic and multinational corporations (including Amazon, AB InBev and Walmart), insurers and financial institutions involved in complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions. With an active roster spanning sectors ranging from telecoms, food and beverages, and retail to tech, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and real estate, the team’s comprehensive service covers incorporations, asset purchase agreements, due diligence processes, M&A, licensing issues and corporate governance. The practice is led by a five-strong group composed of El Salvador managing partner and M&A authority Oscar Samour; Diego Martín, who utilises over 20 years of experience advising clients in the infrastructure, insurance and tech sectors and managing the tax aspects of corporate transactions; Maria Alejandra Tulipano, who specialises in assisting private and public companies with strategic regional expansion, public tenders and concession contracts; and two newly promoted partners (as of September 2023): Fidel Márquez, who advises on M&A, corporate governance, and the sale and purchases of assets; and Felipe Aragón, who, in addition to major transactions, advises on regulated sector issues. Other key figures include senior associates Millie Miranda, who brings IP expertise, and Gustavo Vega, who handles complex matters involving foreign investment and international trade (both of whom were promoted in 2024), and associate Ana Cristina Flores.

The Dentons corporate practice in El Salvador continues to strengthen its regional footprint, advising financial institutions and well-known domestic and multinational corporates (including Shell, Starbucks, United Airlines, Amazon and TikTok) involved in high-value, cross-border transactions. The team’s active client base spans sectors ranging from telecoms, beverages, tech, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals to manufacturing, aviations, fintech and hospitality. The practice’s comprehensive skill set covers M&A, restructuring, market expansion, corporate governance, and complex service and distributorship agreements. The team is headed by transactional expert Daniel Martínez, who draws on over 20 years in the corporate arena. Other names to note are Ricardo Milla, who specialises in company formations and due diligence processes, and senior associate David Aguilar, who brings strength to regulatory matters and public procurement processes.

Powered by the bench strength of 11 offices in nine countries across Latin America, Aguilar Castillo Love advises a client roster of financial institutions and household-name multinationals (including Coca-Cola) involved in high-value, multi-jurisdictional transactions. Displaying expertise across such sectors as tech, food and beverages, energy, pharmaceuticals and financial services, the team’s comprehensive skill set covers joint ventures, divestments, spin-offs and M&A, as well as regulatory compliance, customs tariffs and labour contracts. The practice is led by El Salvador managing partner and M&A expert Esteban Agüero Guier and Flor De María Cortez, who utilises experience handling foreign investment, free trade zone and compliance matters, and brings strength to advising clients in the renewable energy and cryptocurrency spaces. Key support is provided by of counsel Lorena Madrid, whose practice encompasses antitrust, sanitary registrations and intellectual property matters, and Bryan Guevara López, who specialises in industrial sector matters.

The Salvadoran business law practice at BLP channels the bench strength of locations across Central America (in Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala) to advise major multinationals (including RadioShack, Starlink and Google), banks and financial institutions, development agencies and insurers on day-to-day matters and complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions, covering such sectors as food, pharmaceuticals, energy, retail, telecoms, tech and financial services. The team’s comprehensive service encompasses M&A, restructurings, contract drafting and negotiation, due diligence, regulatory compliance and corporate governance. The practice is led by M&A authority Zygmunt Brett, who draws on 20 years of experience in the practice area. Mariana Nóchez displays expertise in transactional matters, as well as in due diligence and regulatory processes. Other key figures include directors José Góchez, a specialist in the telecoms and aviation sectors, seasoned litigator Luis Vega, public law expert Fernando Farrar and Claudia Meléndez, who has complementary expertise in environmental and health and safety issues, and associates Julio Meléndez and Linda Cuellar.

The team at CENTRAL LAW El Salvador harnesses the combined bench strength of offices in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic to advise domestic and multinational corporates on day-to-day matters and market expansion strategies involving complex, cross-border transactions. With an active client base spanning sectors from energy, fitness and banking to construction, retail and tech, the practice’s full service covers M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, the incorporation of international entities, free trade zone mandates, corporate governance and tax planning. The practice is led by founding partner Piero Rusconi Gutiérrez, who also heads the dispute resolution department; energy and infrastructure expert Piero Rusconi Bolaños, who draws on over 20 years of experience; IP department co-head Sandra Cabezas; senior associate Francisco Murillo, who focuses on corporate and banking law; and associate Fernando Argumedo, a specialist in new technologies. Associate Mauricio Guardado, who was appointed Salvadoran litigation practice head in September 2023, having joined from Lexincorp, also provides support.

The Salvadoran team at García & Bodán harnesses the bench strength of the firm’s other locations in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to advise insurers and domestic and multinational companies (including Stanley, Black and Decker) across such sectors as aviation, education, retail, telecoms, food and beverages, healthcare and financial services. The group’s comprehensive offering covers day-to-day corporate matters, as well as the incorporation of companies in El Salvador, the expansion of operations and M&A. Newly promoted Salvadoran managing partner (as of April 2024) and regional labour head Oscar Torres leads the team, bringing expertise in multi-jurisdictional deal. Tax practice head Mauricio Orellana utilises extensive experience in handling transfer prices and customs issues. Key transactional support is provided by senior associate David Claros, and associates Rodrigo Benítez, who specialises in assisting with project due diligence and the constitution, dissolution and liquidation of companies, and Guisela Rodas, who handles the regularisation and adaptation of corporate governance.

The corporate team at LatinAlliance El Salvador pairs a multidisciplinary approach with the bench strength of the firm’s offices in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala to advise domestic and multinational banks and corporations on day-to-day and transactional matters, across such sectors as retail, pharmaceuticals, food, telecoms, construction and healthcare. The practice is headed by Michelle Sutter, a specialist in telecoms and compliance matters, and firm founding and managing partner José Adolfo Torres, both of whom handle complex, cross-border M&A. Key support is provided by senior associate Norma Villalobos, who brings expertise to due diligence processes and labour matters.

The Salvadoran corporate and M&A team at Lexincorp draws on the bench strength of offices spanning Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua to advise domestic and multinational corporates across the energy, banking, retail and food sectors on a wide range of corporate matters. The practice is headed by transactional specialist Antonio Guirola, who routinely assists clients with market entry and incorporation, and managing partner Enrique Escobar, who provides expertise in matters involving corporate governance and the energy sector. Another key name is Adriana Portillo, who brings strength to joint ventures, M&A and consultations on tax incentives.

The Salvadoran team at Mayora & Mayora, S.C. coordinates with teams in Honduras and Guatemala to advise financial institutions and domestic and multinational corporates (including Neoen and Telus), across such sectors as pharmaceuticals, energy, telecoms, energy and financial services, on a wide range of corporate matters. The group’s full offering extends to M&A, restructurings, corporate governance, share purchase agreements, foreign entity registration, due diligence and regulatory compliance. The practice is led by experienced senior partner Manuel Telles, who heads the El Salvador office and brings strength to major cross-border transactions, as well as business creation and incorporation. Other key figures include of counsel Lorena Villacorta, a specialist in international trade and foreign investment, and senior associates Jennifer Rodríguez, who excels in banking law matters, and Andrea Cuellar, who provides expertise in matters involving real estate clients, shopping centres and laboratories.

The multidisciplinary team at one-stop-shop domestic firm Romero Pineda draws on expertise in corporate, commercial and banking issues to assist regional and multinational corporations with market expansion and multi-jurisdictional M&A. The practice’s client base spans sectors ranging from aviation, manufacturing, banking and finance, consumer goods and retail to hospitality, energy, NGOs and real estate. The practice is led by firm VP and managing partner José Roberto Romero, who utilises decades of experience in the handling of corporate structuring and cross-border transactions, and corporate, banking and international practice manager Rodolfo Ramírez. Key support is provided by associate Antonio Peralta, who, in addition to transactional matters, advises on the classification and renewal of non-domiciled entities before public bodies.

The experienced team at Torres Legal brings strength to advising financial institutions, multinational corporates, foreign investment companies and financial conglomerates, across sectors ranging from agriculture, real estate, and food and beverages to aviation, construction and fintech, involved in cross-border M&A transactions. The practice provides a comprehensive service, assisting with day-to-day corporate procedures, market expansion, finance, risk mitigation, tax advice, and labour and immigration matters. The team is headed by corporate governance and transactional expert Annette Herrera, who joined from Consortium Legal in October 2023, and labour risk prevention specialist Raquel Santos. Founding partner Héctor Torres draws on decades of experience advising on corporate finance matters. Another key figure is associate Adalicia Torres, who heads the firm’s tax and compliance practice.