Baker & McKenzie, S.C.‘s employment and compensation team has a strong track record in aiding clients with a wide variety of services, including handling employee mobility issues and the employment aspects of cross-border reorganisations, as well as employment litigation. The labour practice group is led by Carlos Felce, who was recently named co-managing partner of the Caracas office. Among the other key team members, Gabriel De Jesús specialises in employment litigation; senior associate Johana De La Rosa is particularly experienced in advising on compensation and benefits, alongside restructurings and terminations; and associates Daniel Fragiel and Sebastián Nastari provide strong support.

The labour and employment team at Dentons handles a broad spread of domestic and international matters. Managing partner and practice head Juan Carlos Pró-Rísquez specialises in advising on labour and employment matters within the oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries, among others, and has defended clients against various lawsuits brought by employees, while co-head Yanet Aguiar is well versed in assisting multinational companies in employment matters and labour litigation. Esther Cecilia Blondet also handles employment litigation and has participated in union-related procedures as well as advising employees on collective bargaining agreements. Eirys Mata Marcano has broad experience of assisting with cases relating to occupational illnesses and accidents and of counsel Victor Duran focuses on litigation.

Lega assists clients with individual and collective labour matters, as well as social security issues, with key areas of focus including advising on recruitment and talent retention processes, executive compensation, labour audits, reduction of workforce and project negotiations. The firm’s clientele includes high-profile names from the oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries, among others, which benefit from the firm’s membership of the Employment Law Alliance. John Tucker-Barboza specialises in executive compensation and litigation regarding special compensation packages, as well as workforce restructuring and cross-border employment issues, while Carlos Alberto Henríquez handles negotiations and litigation, and María Elena Subero is experienced in downsizing processes and negotiations with unions. Isabel Pestana is another key name from the firm.

The department of labour and employment law at Altum Abogados, S.C. handles a steady stream of matters, including hirings, terminations, compensation and benefits of employees, for clients in sectors including production, manufacturing, professional services and pharmaceuticals. The team is also highly experienced in representing clients in health and safety inspections and labour audits. Mariana Roso leads the practice and has advised multinational and local companies on employment matters including audits and compensation packages. Martha Cohen provides support with regulatory issues.

D'Empaire handles a diverse range of employment services, including labour issues connected to business transactions, audits and due diligence, with recent experience of advising major multinational clients on the labour aspects of the restructuring and buyout of their Venezuelan operations. On the contentious side, team members are also skilled in labour litigation, the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and labour conflict management. Alejandro Disilvestro, who is well versed in collective contract negotiations and in working with labour unions, and Victorino Márquez lead the team, while Biba Arciniegas, a frequent advisor on termination of employment, severance and equity incentive agreements, and associate Aixa Añez are other key names from the firm.

InterJuris Abogados provides a full-service labour and employment offering, ranging from general advice on labour matters to labour litigation. Spread across Caracas, Miami and Madrid, the team is able to advise major global clients with regards to employment matters that affect their operations in Venezuela, with team members also handling compensation plans for high-level employees remunerated in foreign currencies. Angel Meléndez Cardoza heads the practice and advises local and multinational companies, particularly on the labour aspects of M&A. Senior associates Daniela Urdaneta and Danielis Toro, who frequently provide support in both judicial and administrative labour proceedings, are also noted.

LABOR – Gestión de Gente specialises in labour law, with a wide-ranging practice that spans labour strategy, downsizing, rightsizing and job restructurings, collective suspensions and modifications of employment, and the implementing of virtual and remote working. Carlos Rivera leads the practice, bringing to bear extensive experience in labour disputes, payroll restructuring, and downsizing and rightsizing processes, among other matters. Other key contacts from the firm include Pedro Uriola, whose areas of expertise include social security issues and collective bargaining procedures, and associate Jesús Milano.

Mendoza, Palacios, Acedo, Borjas, Paez Pumar & Cia. handles a wide range of work, from general labour assistance and labour due diligence to labour litigation. Esteban Palacios, Alfonso Graterol and María Del Carmen López provide day-to-day employment advice to an array of international clients, while Diego Lepervanche is particularly skilled in conducting labour due diligence on target companies in relation to M&A. On the litigation front, the firm has represented both domestic and international clients before the courts of all levels; Rosemary Thomas is particularly experienced in handling cassation proceedings before the Social and Civil Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice in Venezuela. Associate Sobella Gómez is well versed in labour laws and procedures, as well as labour litigation.

Ponte Andrade & Casanova provides a full-service employment offering to local companies as well as multinational corporations and their local subsidiaries. In particular, the firm has a strong track record in occupational health and safety matters, having assisted with the drafting of related legislation. Other notable areas of strength include litigation, where the firm is active in employment, health and safety, and social security disputes. Ignacio Andrade Monagas advises multinational and local clients on a range of employment matters in Venezuela and Latin America, while Francisco Casanova Sanjurjo handles social security and occupational health and safety matters. Ignacio Ponte Brandt's expertise lies in employment litigation. Associate Fanduar Boada is a key presence in employment litigation.

Led by labour law specialist Oscar Ignacio Torres, the team at Travieso Evans Arria Rengel & Paz offers clients a broad range of services, including representation in various judicial and administrative labour matters, as well as collective and individual negotiations. The team acts for clients ranging from multinationals and their Venezuelan subsidiaries to small local businesses. Hernando Barboza Russian has experience in labour litigation, including in cases before the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice, and Pedro Garroni Requesens provides assistance in health and safety matters. Yeoshua Bograd Lamberti has expertise in collective bargaining, while associate Gustavo Urbano is experienced in matters related to health and safety at work and safety inspections.

ESCG Abogados S.C.'s labour and employment practice is led by Andrés Carrasquero Stolk, who is well regarded for his strength in designing and implementing compensation and benefits policies, as well as advising on staff restructurings, labour audits and benefits policies. Core sectors of expertise include food and drink, charities and software. Associate Karla Sáez Rodríguez specialises in both judicial and administrative labour proceedings.

The labour department at Jurado Blanco & Aguirre (JBA Legal) provides general labour advisory services as well as representing clients in litigation and negotiations (including individual and collective agreements), and assisting with the prevention of risks. Simón Jurado-Blanco focuses on labour law and social security matters, with a particular emphasis on the negotiation of contract terminations, while Alexis Aguirre Sánchez has expertise in collective bargaining. Zuleima Espinel handles administrative and judicial labour proceedings, and Mayralejandra Pérez is also experienced in the implementation of policies on personnel recruitment, employment benefits and human resources.