The Legal 500 has released its 2017 Latin America Guide, recognizing Squire Patton Boggs as the "only US firm with significant presence in the Dominican Republic." The firm received high rankings in the practice areas of Corporate and Finance, Dispute Resolution and Real Estate and Tourism, with a number of "Leading Lawyers" and "Rising Stars" making this year's guide.
Ranked Tier 1 in Corporate and Finance, The Legal 500 remarks that Squire Patton Boggs' "key strengths are [in] M&A and a range of finance work." The guide recognizes the firm's "prompt, supportive, problem-solving" practice, highlighting the past year's major deals, including Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI’s US$533 million bond refinancing, as well as the strength of its civil aviation and energy capabilities. Leading Lawyers noted include Alejandro Peña-Prieto, Pedro Gamundi and Awilda Alcántara-Bourdier, with Rhina Martinez Brea named a Next Generation Lawyer.
The firm has been ranked Tier 2 in Dispute Resolution, marking the firm's debut in this category. Leading the "nine-strong team" is Pedro Gamundi (Leading Lawyer) and Carolina Soto Hernández (Next Generation Lawyer) who acted for Owens-Illinois Puerto Rico and Owens-Brockway Glass Container in a protracted dispute, and defended Diageo Dominicana against a US$17 million commercial damages claim. The work of Stephan Adell is also commended as an international arbitrator expert who splits his time between the Paris and Santo Domingo offices.
The Legal 500 guide ranked the firm in Tier 3 for Real Estate and Tourism. In addition to the firm's regulatory and transactional capability, the guide notes the team, led by Alejandro Peña-Prieto and Pedro Gamundi, is "adept at contentious work" having acted for Earthbound Holdings in an appellate claim regarding damages arising from the alleged breach of a lease agreement.
The recognition is the latest in a series of accolades the Santo Domingo office has earned over the past year. Squire Patton Boggs Peña Prieto Gamundi received the Dominican Republic Award for Client Service at the Chambers & Partners Latin America Awards celebrated in October 2016. Squire Patton Boggs is the first global firm to receive this award and the only full-service firm among the Amlaw 100 with a legal practice based in the Dominican Republic. The firm was also recognized by the 2017 edition of IFLR1000 and by leading Latin America business publication Latinvex as one of the top international law firms in Latin America.