With ‘extensive experience and public recognition' across the key pillars of commercial, criminal, administrative and constitutional law, Alta QIL+4 Abogados combines a top-flight litigation practice with an impressive record in both local and international arbitration. Most notably, the team remains the first port of call for leading oil and gas, mining, electricity and renewable energy companies involved in high-profile energy disputes, including handling the defence of complex constitutional claims relating to hydroelectric and mining projects. Practice head Alejandro Solares Morales has an ‘excellent reputation' across the full spread of contentious matters; his recent caseload includes victories in two energy-related international arbitration claims. He is supported by seasoned senior lawyers Marcos Ibargüen, José Quiñones and Alejandro Cofiño, as well as a talented pool of juniors that includes senior associates Luis Pedro Martínez (a key contact for white-collar and financial crime cases) and Ignacio Grazioso (a specialist in arbitration) and associate Estuardo Marchena (who has notable expertise in energy disputes).

Dispute resolution powerhouse Carrillo & Asociados demonstrates strength across the full range of constitutional, civil and criminal litigation and arbitration matters, winning praise from clients for its ‘accurate, commercial, and relevant' advice. The firm has long been known for its expertise in constitutional and rule of law cases, and also has notable strong suits in financial, insurance, white-collar crime, bankruptcy and asset recovery litigation (including cases spanning multiple jurisdictions). At the helm, the ‘excellent‘ Rodrigo Callejas leads the strategic litigation practice, Luis Mazariegos heads the civil and constitutional litigation and labour departments, and Alfonso Carrillo lends his expertise on cross-border mandates. Ricardo Recinos, who takes the lead on arbitration and regulatory law matters, and Emanuel Callejas, who is the go-to practitioner for insolvency and asset recovery litigation, are other key names at top level. The enviably deep bench also includes Fernando Mendizábal, senior associates Leopoldo Zeissig and Mauricio Ordóñez, and associate Jennifer Bravo, all of whom are experts in criminal litigation.

Legalsa is particularly renowned for its prowess in the field of dispute resolution, with an ‘excellent, results-oriented' team which is skilled in civil, commercial, constitutional, criminal and administrative litigation, and national and international arbitration. Recently, the firm’s strength in high-profile corporate litigation has been reflected in its caseload, which includes a series of complex shareholder disputes involving major Guatemalan companies. In addition, the team is prolific in the defence of private individuals against claims of tax fraud, money laundering and other criminal offences. Former magistrate Henry Comte, who has a wealth of experience across the full spectrum of dispute resolution matters, heads the practice alongside Alejandro Penados, whose robust skill set includes shareholder disputes and IP litigation, and Marisol Fión, who has extensive experience in arbitration (both as counsel and as an arbitrator). At senior associate level, Andrés Dubón focuses on commercial disputes, while Julia González and Juan Carlos Alvizúrez are noted for their expertise in criminal litigation.

Aguilar Castillo Love is widely recognised for its strength in the field of arbitration, with a standout record in high-profile domestic proceedings in the energy sector, where the firm represents all three of Guatemala’s electricity distributors; the team is also skilled in international cases. The team’s expertise in energy-related disputes further extends to acting for major national and international energy companies in corporate, administrative and criminal litigation. Practice head René Vicente Rodríguez is skilled in civil and criminal litigation and arbitration across a wide range of industry segments, including construction, consumer goods, agribusiness and fintech (in addition to an active practice as an arbitrator). The team also leans on the experience of office managing partner Juan Carlos Castillo Chacón, who has an extensive arbitration practice, particularly in the energy sector, and Natalia Callejas Aquino.

Alegalis' active dispute resolution practice strikes a balance between civil and criminal litigation. The team wins praise for its ‘wide range of coverage and specialisation', but is particularly noted for its expertise in representing developer clients in the real estate sector, in line with the firm’s overall strength in this field. Another key pillar of the practice is criminal IP litigation, where the team frequently acts for leading international brands in anti-counterfeiting actions. Carlos Gustavo Palacios takes the lead in the full range of civil and commercial disputes, including debt recovery and foreclosure proceedings, while director Cristian Rojas heads the criminal side of the practice, with key expertise in criminal IP and property damage cases. Managing partner Juan Antonio Mazariegos also lends senior expertise to the team.

Praised for its ‘excellent leadership in the resolution of disputes', Arias fields a comprehensive practice spanning civil, commercial, administrative and constitutional litigation, frequently joining forces with the firm’s IP, tax and labour departments to handle significant contentious matters in these areas. Criminal cases form another key dimension of the practice; this is a specialist area for former assistant district attorney Mónica Medrano, who was promoted to special counsel in 2023, and has an excellent record in fraud and money laundering-related cases. On the arbitration front, the team is adept at handling both local and cross-border proceedings, drawing on the experience as an arbitrator of practice head Mario René Archila, whose three decades of practice run the gamut of dispute resolution matters. The capable pool of associates includes Karla Gómez, who specialises in labour litigation, and Alvaro Reyes, who acts alongside Archila on a wide range of commercial and administrative cases.

BLP expanded its dispute resolution practice considerably in 2023 with the arrival of director Fernando Zelada, a highly regarded litigator who has over three decades of experience in the field, with a significant focus on labour disputes, from Arias. As well as growing its portfolio of cases relating to social security, the firm is developing a niche strength in environmental litigation, and continues to act for leading national, regional and multinational companies in a wide array of civil, criminal, commercial and administrative cases. Rodolfo Salazar, who maintains a broad dispute resolution practice with a strong emphasis on energy and environmental cases, leads the team, which also includes associates Javier Chacón (a specialist in constitutional litigation) and Julio Luján (whose areas of expertise include white-collar crime, IP and tax cases).

Consortium Legal wins high praise from clients for its ‘great reputation' across the full spectrum of civil and criminal litigation. Under the leadership of the ‘spectacular' Elías Arriaza, the civil department covers all forms of commercial, constitutional and administrative disputes, acting for leading domestic and international clients from the telecoms, insurance, banking and pharmaceutical sectors. In addition, Arriaza is frequently called upon to handle arbitration, particularly international proceedings. The firm also has a thriving criminal law practice, with a notable strong suit in defending clients in cases relating to environmental offences. Lionel Aguilar and Astrid Domínguez, both of whom also advise on compliance and risk mitigation, take the lead in this area. Senior associate Erick Efrén Pérez and associate Luis Pedro Rayo provide capable support in civil cases.

Highlighted for its ‘capacity for analysis, personalised service, knowledge and experience', Mayora & Mayora, S.C. fields a diverse dispute resolution practice encompassing civil, commercial, constitutional, criminal and administrative litigation, as well as arbitration. In particular, the team draws on the firm’s expertise in the energy sector to represent major power companies in various disputes, in addition to joining up with the employment department to act for leading local and international clients in labour litigation. Paola Galich, who has a strong all-round litigation practice, leads the team, with support from regional managing partner Eduardo Mayora, senior associates José Ramos (an expert in civil, commercial and criminal litigation) and Byron Deulofeu (whose areas of strength include healthcare disputes), and associate Martin Chávez (who focuses on labour and administrative litigation).

A. D. Sosa & Soto is adept at handling the full range of civil, commercial and constitutional litigation in Guatemala (as well as in cross-border claims), and has recently established an active practice focused on tax disputes. Director Daniel Marroquín is a key contact in the team, with a strong record in constitutional litigation, as well as white-collar crime and IP cases. Director David Barrientos takes the lead on the criminal litigation front, supported by associate Javier Estrada, while associates Andrés Calvo and Luis Pedro Guerra are the names to note for inheritance and tax disputes, respectively. Juan Sebastián Soto, Carlos Rafael Pellecer and veteran litigator Rodolfo Sosa also oversee the practice. Since the conclusion of research, the firm has merged into Costa Rica's Tactic Legal (by which name it is now known), as part of the development of a regional firm which also has offices in El Salvador and Honduras.

Thanks to the ‘extensive experience’ of founding partner Francisco Chávez Bosque and the ‘excellent’ Rodolfo Alegría, who joined from Carrillo & Asociados in August 2020 and March 2022, respectively, boutique firm Estudio Chávez Bosque S.A. is skilled in a broad array of civil, commercial and constitutional disputes. Tax litigation (including both criminal and administrative cases) is one of the key pillars of the practice, and recently the team has also played a prominent role in complex shareholder disputes and arbitration proceedings in the energy sector. ‘Very respected in the legal and financial fields’, Chávez Bosque is particularly renowned for his expertise in constitutional litigation, while Alegría focuses on tax and energy-related cases.

Dentons' litigation practice handles a steady stream of civil, commercial, administrative and criminal cases for leading Guatemalan and multinational companies, with notable strong suits in the mining, energy and banking sectors. The team has recently represented clients in high-profile IP and real estate-related disputes before the Constitutional Court, drawing on director Paola Haase's stellar experience in constitutional litigation, and also has a thriving debt recovery practice. Haase, whose recent caseload also includes commercial arbitration, leads the team, supported by office managing partner Luis Abundio Maldonado and directors Andrea Jarquín and Gabriela Gándara in energy and IP disputes, respectively.

García-Merlos & Asociados wins high praise from clients as Guatemala’s ‘premier boutique white-collar crime firm', with ‘unparalleled expertise and depth of knowledge' in defending high-profile clients, ranging from individuals to multinational companies, in such cases. The team’s caseload spans claims relating to tax evasion, embezzlement, money laundering, electoral offences and environmental crimes, as well as criminal charges stemming from medical negligence. Practice head Julio Roberto García-Merlos has a ‘sterling reputation' for representing clients in the full range of white-collar crime litigation, alongside a talented pool of associates that includes Andrea Cabrera (a specialist in environmental and IP cases), Vivian Díaz and Gabriel Chávez.

‘An excellent firm with great leaders', GT Legal has built a robust dispute resolution practice since its establishment in 2019 by former Palomo Abogados partner Juan José Porras Castillo. The team is skilled in civil, commercial, administrative and constitutional litigation, with a solid recent track record in cases in the energy sector. Another notable area of expertise is in criminal tax and anti-counterfeiting cases. Porras Castillo has a wealth of experience in disputes across a range of sectors in Guatemala, counting the country’s Chamber of Industry among his clients. Director Mario Guadrón is also a key contact, particularly for IP, tax and commercial disputes.

Lex Atlas' dispute resolution team attracts praise for its ‘deep knowledge of the law', with a diverse practice that takes in civil, white-collar and environmental crime, and unfair competition, labour and tax litigation. In particular, the team has an excellent recent record in constitutional actions, representing clients from the energy, real estate and telecoms sectors, among others. The practice benefits from the ‘extensive knowledge and experience' of managing partner Ignacio Andrade Aycinena, particularly in disputes in the telecoms industry. The sizeable team also includes Dinora Ceijas and Luis Enrique Solares (who are experts in tax and labour litigation, respectively), senior associate Evelyn Chavarria and associate Lester Meda.