GALA SERVICES (BVI) - Key Persons
Adán Arnulfo Arjona has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 2010, focusing his practice in the areas of Litigation & Dispute Resolution, and Regulatory.
Adán is an accredited arbitrator and is recognized before the Panamanian Center of Reconciliation and Arbitration (CECAP) and the Conflict Solution Center (CESCON).
In additional to his experience in the firm, he has also held the following positions:
Magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice, Judicial Authority of the Republic de Panama, 2000-2010.
President of the Supreme Court of Justice, 2002-2003.
In 2017, he was named by the President of the Republic of Panama as a member of the Commission for the Codification of Institutional Procedural Law.
EDUCATION
Postgraduate Studies in Consumer Law of the Court of Justice of the European Union and in Spanish Jurisprudence - University of Castile - La Mancha, Spain, 2018.
Postgraduate Studies in Specialization in New Scenarios of Civil Responsibility - University of Castile - La Mancha, Spain, 2017.
Postgraduate Studies in Negotiation and Mediation: Strategies and Practices for Management - University of Castile - La Mancha, Spain, 2016.
Postgraduate Studies Specialization in Civil Contractual and Extracontractual Responsibility - University of Castile, La Mancha, Spain, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015.
Diploma in de Postgraduate Studies in Human Rights and Fair Trial - University of Chile, Santiago de Chile, 2009.
Master of Firm Management and Administration - Higher Institute of Law and Economics, Madrid, Spain, 2008.
Diploma in Telecommunications in Regulation and Competition - Externado University of Colombia, 2006.
Executive Program in Legal Aspects of International Businesses - INCAE-Georgetown University, Nicaragua, 1999.
Specialization in Commercial Law - Externado University of Colombia, Colombia, 1996.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 1983.
Alfonso Arias began his private practice with Galindo, Arias & López in 1974. He specializes in Commercial Law with an emphasis in Corporate, Maritime Law, and Mergers & Acquisitions.
In addition, he holds the following positions:
Director, Cervecería Nacional.
Director, Refrescos Nacionales.
Chairman of the Board, MMC Panama, S.A.
Director and Executive Vice-President, Heurtematte & Arias, S.A.
Director, Aeroperas, S.A.
Andrés Sanjur has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 2016, specializing in the areas of Commercial, Banking, Insurance & Securities, and Project & Asset Financing, focusing his practice on M&A transactions.
Anna Cristina Valdés began her professional career at Galindo, Arias & López in 2009 and has been in private practice since 2013. Since then she has been outstanding in the area of National and International Tax, specializing in advising national and multinational businesses in the application of international conventions, tax litigation and consulting in obtaining tax residence certificates.
EDUCATION
Master of International Tax Law - University of Vienna, Austria, 2013.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 2012.
Beatriz Cabal joined the firm in 2008 and since then has focused her practice in the areas of Corporate and Commercial (Mergers and Acquisitions), Regulatory and Government Contracts and Public Procurement; specializing in the Telecommunications, Media and Technology, Energy, Retail and Wholesale, and Pharmaceutical industries.
In the Corporate and Commercial area, she routinely advises local and multinational companies in the start-up or deployment of their operations in Panama, which includes obtaining local permits, negotiating contracts, related accessory legal procedures and structuring the business through Panamanian companies.
Also within the Corporate and Commercial area, she specializes in local and international M&A transactions, representing buyers, sellers and targets in a wide range of industries. She leads and coordinates Due Diligence processes of companies established in the Republic of Panama, as well as negotiating and drafting contracts for the sale of shares, purchase and sale of assets and other related contracts in this matter.
Regarding the Regulatory area, she represents some of the main companies in the Telecommunications and Media (TV / Internet / Cellular), Energy and Pharmaceutical industries, in a multitude of regulatory procedures before different governmental entities, in addition to advising such clients on data protection and information and communication technologies.
Finally, with regards to the area of Government Contracts and Public Procurement, she regularly advises multinationals interested in participating in public procurements for large-scale public works in the Republic of Panama.
Beatriz regularly publishes legal articles and is a Member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA). In addition, she is an advisor to Thomson Reuters in matters of Data Privacy in Panama. She is also a certified Public Translator (Spanish-English).
EDUCATION
Master of Laws - National University of Singapore, Singapore, 2008.
Master of Laws and Global Economics, with a specialization in Trade Law between Asia and the United States - New York University, U.S., 2008.
Postgraduate Studies in Labor Law, Suma Cum Laude - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 2008.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science, Magna Cum Laude - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 2006.
Beatriz Galindo has been with the Subsidiary Services (BVI) LTD since 1989, working with an emphasis in Commercial Law.
At present she supervises the firm's department of foreign companies. She is a member of the American American Bar Association (ABA) and the New York State Bar Association.
Boris Chanis has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 1977, where he practiced privately focusing in the areas of Labor Law and Civil Litigation, with an emphasis on Commercial and Labor Litigation.
Boris represents both national and multinational companies advising them in matters related to hiring and discipline, wage practices, compensation, benefits and terminations. Boris has wide experience in procedures with the Social Security Administration and is an able litigant in the management of administrative, regulatory labor and commercial matters before Panamanian judicial bodies (courts, appeals courts and the Supreme Court of Justice as well as the Labor Authorities (labor conciliation board and labor courts). Additionally, he is one of the few experts in Panama in collective bargaining agreements and strikes.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science - University of Panama, Panama, 1977.
Communal Development and Syndicalism - Madison University, U.S., 1967.
Communal Development - Georgetown University, U.S., 1967.
Communal Development and Cooperative Movement - University of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, 1965.
Programs in Low Cost Housing - National University of Colombia, Colombia, 1965.
Carla López has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 1998. Her private has been focused in the areas of Commercial, Banking, Stock Market and Intellectual law. She is an expert in financial law and regulation, that has allowed her to advise both local and multinational businesses, as well as banking and financial institutions in the drafting of contracts for the issuance of securities and due diligence processes.
In the Intellectual Property area, Carla manages an important portfolio of trademarks in everything related to the application, registration and licensing.
EDUCATION
Specialization in Industrial Property and Copyright - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 1998.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 1998.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner of Galindo, Arias & López
Carlos L. López, founding Partner of Galindo, Arias & López, with more than 50 years of experience, specialized in Labor, Administrative, Procedural and Banking areas of law.
In addition to his experience in the firm, he also held the following positions:
Chair, Fifth Meeting of the Supreme Courts of Justice of Panama.
Magistrate, the Supreme Court of Justice of Panama 1990 - 1994.
President, Committee for the Administration of Justice of the Bar Association of Panama.
Member, Central American Court of Justice.
Principal Representative for Panama before the Expert Banking Law Attorneys Committee of the Latin American Federation of Banks. (FELABAN).
Vice-President, Panamanian Bar Association.
Claudia Juárez has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 2012. She began her private practice with the firm in 2015 concentrating in Regulatory matters, particularly those related to international trade, customs and aviation.
Recently, Claudia has represented clients' interests in negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between Panama and Korea, as well as the full integration of Panama into the Central American Economic Integration System.
EDUCATION
Master of Maritime Law - Tulane University, U.S., 2015.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science, Magna Cum Laude - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 2014.
Daniel E. Sessa has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 2015, beginning his private practice in 2019. He focuses his practice in the areas of Aeronautics and Commercial Law.
In the Aeronautics practice group, he has specialized in structuring the financing and acquisition of aircraft as well as the commercial and regulatory aspects of airlines and established aircraft maintenance shops or those looking to establish themselves in the Republic of Panama.
In the Commercial practice group, he is a member of the multidisciplined team that advises both national and multinational businesses in the many aspects to be considered in the management of their operations, including negotiations and out-of-court collections. In addition, he has managed due diligence processes, specifically for mergers and acquisitions within the telecommunications, energy, mass consumption and franchises.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science, Summa Cum Laude - Universidad Santa María La Antigua (USMA), Panama, 2019.
Master of International Relations - Florida State University, Panama, 2018.
Bachelor of International Relations - Florida State University, Panama, 2013.
Diego de la Guardia began his private practice at Galindo, Arias & López in 1975, where he has been recognized for a wide range of matters, from corporate law and project financing to solving the most complex controversies both judicial and in arbitration for both civil and commercial matters.
Currently he leads the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group. He advises clients in the telecommunications, construction, health and energy (generation and distributions) industries. He has been a founding partner of a number of energy generation businesses.
Diego de la Guardia currently holds the following positions:
Chairman of the Board, San Fernando Hospital Clinic S.A.
Director, Paso Ancho Hydro Power Corp.
Director, Diesel Engine Services, S.A.
Director, de Camilo A. Porras, S.A.
Director, Arrendadora Hospitalaria.
Director, Ferretería Industrial S.A.
Diego Herrera has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 1986 and has been recognized for his advice to both national and international businesses in the financial and industrial sectors, as well as telecommunications.
He led practice groups in mergers and acquisitions of both banks and multinational companies and participated in the consulting and restructuring of important banking syndicates and stock offerings. He has also played an important role in various processes of financial restructuring.
He led the practice group that advises the Panama Canal Authority in all legal aspects of the Canal expansion project and was a collaborator in the drafting of legislation enacted to promote Commercial Call Centers.
He has supported Pro Bono, a number of NGOs such as the Central American Leadership Initiative Foundation (CALI), Teach for Panama Foundation, the National Association for Nature Conservation (ANCON), the Bio Museum and the Glasswing (Crisálida) International Foundation).
Diego Herrera has also the following positions:
Fellow, Aspen Global Leadership Network of The Aspen Institute.
Secretary of the Board of Directors, National Association for Nature Conservation (ANCON).
Member of the Board of Directors, INCAE Business School.
Chairman of the National Committee INCAE Business School of Panama.
Member, Bio Museum Development Committee.
Co-Founder, Global Shapers Community in Panama an initiative of the World Economic Forum.
Co-Founder and Member of the Board of Directors, Venture Club, the first network of angel investors in Panama.
EDUCATION
Master of Business Administration, MBA - Central American Business Administration Institute (INCAE), Costa Rica, 1995.
Master of Laws (LLM) - Tulane University, U.S., 1993.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 1991.
Edgar Herrera has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 2004, specializing in domestic and international Tax Law. Prior to joining the firm, he was the Pro Bono Assistant of the Director General of Interior Trade in the Ministry of Trade and Industries of Panama.
His professional commitment led him to found the Panamanian Chapter of the International Fiscal Association (IFA), of which he is currently the President. In addition, he was the correspondent of the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation, based in The Netherlands.
Gabriela Vásquez joined Galindo, Arias & López in 2011. Throughout her career with the firm she has focused in the Labor and Immigration, and Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice groups.
In the Labor area she mainly advises national and multinational businesses regarding solutions to issues that include hiring, disciplinary measures, wages for labor and Social Security purposes, compensation and employment benefits, workdays, employee terminations, Internal Work Regulations. In addition, she assists businesses with respect to registrations before the Social Security Administration, as well as representation during administrative procedures and judicial labor matters.
Likewise, she provides on-site training about Panamanian labor legislation, including themes such as employment benefits, sexual harassment policies, employee termination procedures.
In the area of Litigation and Arbitration, she has experience in labor administrative litigation and civil procedures in Panama (Circuit Courts, Superior Court, Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice), as well as her experience in conflict resolution before the Labor Ministry of Panama.
EDUCATION
Master of Procedural Law, Summa Cum Laude - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 2013.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science, Cum Laude - Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 2010.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner of Galindo, Arias & López
Jaime Arias is a founding partner of Galindo, Arias & López. He specializes in Tax Law and Commercial Law with an emphasis in the Corporate and Banking areas.
He has been a Director of the General Investment Company, S.A., Copa Airlines, ASSA Insurance Company, Delta Petroleum, Televisora Nacional and Promed, S.A.
Javier Perez joined the firm in 2019 as part of the Labor and Immigration practice group.
He provides advice to companies on labor issues, specifically in matters related to internal work regulations, labor contracts, and employee terminations procedures, among others.
Additionally, he has experience in processes before the labor jurisdiction. He has participated in individual and collective mediations before the Labor Ministry of Panama, representing workers and companies.
Moreover, he assists in administrative processes before the Labor Ministry of Panama and the Social Security Administration, such as business registration, pension claims, among others.
EDUCATION
Master of Labor Law and Labor Relations, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain, 2019.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science, Cum Laude, Catholic University Santa María la Antigua (USMA), Panama, 2017.
Joaquín Sosa joined Galindo, Arias & López in 2019, as legal clerk, proving assistance in the areas of Real Estate, Intellectual Property and Corporate Law. As of 2022 he focuses his practice in Commercial Law, Intellectual Property and Tax Law.
Karen Barranco has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 2011. She focuses her practice in Administrative Law as part of the Litigation and Arbitration practice group.
EDUCATION
Master of Family, Child and Adolescence Law, University of Panama, Panama, 2016.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science, Columbus University, Panama, 2011.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner of Galindo, Arias & López
Mario Galindo is a founding partner of Galindo, Arias & López, with more than 50 years' Experience, specializing in the areas of Civil, Tax and Commercial Law, particularly in Company Law and Exchange Law.
He drafted the current law regarding financial leasing. His works about Constitutional Law, Exchange Law and Public Registry Law have been cited in a number of Supreme Court opinions.
Dr. Galindo also held the position of Professor of Commercial Law in the Catholic University of Santa María La Antigua (1967-1978).
In additional to his experience in the firm, he has also held the following positions:
Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority.
Board of Directors of the Permanent Court of Arbitration of La Haya.
Board of Directors of the Panamanian National Junta Council on Foreign Relations.
Presidential Advisor.
Minister of Finance and Treasury.
Review Commission of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Panama.
EDUCATION
Master of Laws (LLM) - Tulane University, U.S., 1962.
Bachelor of Laws., Magna Cum Laude, University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, 1960.
Bachelor of Specialized Study., Cum Laude, Georgetown University, U.S., 1956.
Ramón Ricardo Arias began his private practice at Galindo, Arias & López in 1989, specializing as a legal advisor to national and multinational businesses, especially in the financial, aviation, corporate, public services (electricity and telecommunications) sectors, demonstrating his wide experience in the areas of corporate and financial law.
Ramón Ricardo has led work groups in important mergers and acquisitions of banks and multinational corporations.
He was the President of the Panamanian Chapter of International Transparency and is a member of the Calicanto Foundation.
Raúl Alberto Morales joined Galindo, Arias & López in 2012, and since then has focused his practice in corporate, commercial, and intellectual property Law.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner of Galindo, Arias & López
Ricardo Alberto Arias is a founding partner of Galindo, Arias & López. He is expert in Administrative Law, International Public Law, Banking Law and Corporate Law.
He has held positions such as the Ambassador of Panama to the United Nations (2004), where he was a member of the Security Council (2006-2008), Minister of Foreign Relations (1998) and Ambassador of Panama in Washington, D.C. (1994).
In addition, Mr. Arias was a Founding Director and Ex-President of the Panamanian newspaper La Prensa and the Panamanian Stock Exchange.
Currently, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Banco General and a Director of Copa Airlines.
EDUCATION
Master of Laws, Yale University, U.S., 1965.
Bachelor of Laws, University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, 1964.
Bachelor of Specialized Studies, Georgetown, U.S., 1961.
Salomón J. Behar has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 1994, specializing his practice in the areas of Commercial and Corporate Law, Hospitality Law, Real Estate, Project Financing and Regulatory Law for the energy industry.
Selva Quintero has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 2001, practicing in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Regulatory groups.
As part of the Litigation and Arbitration team, she has specialized in procedural law (civil, constitutional and administrative), offering legal advice to multinationals that provide electrical and telecommunications services to the public, principally in procedures before the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP), and the Supreme Court of Justice the Supreme Court of Justice. She possesses vast experience in complex civil, commercial, executive and estate proceedings. She is expert in administrative litigation and constitutional procedures, in which she has obtained important rulings on the protection of historical heritage representing an NGO Calicanto Foundation.
As part of the Regulatory team, she regularly provides advice about administrative law and administrative litigation procedures related to regulatory subjects related to electricity and telecommunications as well as to the private sector.
Before joining the firm, she was an Assistant Public Defender ad-honorem (Supreme Court of Justice - 1999); Assistant Commissioner of Penitentiary Activity Coordination ad-honorem of the (Supreme Court of Justice - 1999) and Assistant to the President of the Supreme Court of Justice (1999-2001), assigned to the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, with respect to Administrative Litigation. Currently, in addition to her private practice at Galindo, Arias & López, she is a professor of Undergraduate and Graduate courses and facilitator of the Training Center of the Office of Administration.
She was a member of the codifying commission for the preparation of the draft of the Administrative Litigation Procedure Code, appointed by the President of the Republic.
EDUCATION
Master of Administrative Law, National University of Pilar, Paraguay (in progress).
Diploma in Administration Law and Public Administration, Institute of Studies and Legal Research, Nicaragua (in progress).
Master of Administrative Law, Latin University of Panama, 2010.
Specialization in Administrative Law, Latin University of Panama, 2009.
Postgraduate Studies in Higher Education, University of Panama, 2006.
Postgraduate Studies in Mediation, University of Panama, 2003.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science, Sigma Lambda Honors Chapter, University of Panama, 1998.
Tatiana González has been with Galindo, Arias & López since 2015, entering as an intern (Pasante) working in the Immigration area. Previously, she worked as a Legal Assistant supporting the Tax and Real Estate practice group. Currently, she is a member of the Litigation & Dispute Resolution group.
Her principal duties in the Real Estate area are title searches for condominium properties and drafting the public registry histories of the same. She also prepares and assembles documents for the incorporation of condominiums according to Horizontal Property (Condominium) Regulations, followed by incorporation applications, collaborating in the drafting of deeds, and preparing petitions for proceedings concerning certifications of assessed values.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science, Sigma Lambda - University of Panama, Panama, 2016.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner of Galindo, Arias & López
Tomás Herrera Díaz, founding partner of Galindo, Arias & López, specializes in the areas of Banking, Corporate and Arbitral Law. He has been recognized in top positions in the Panamanian banking world such as secretary and director. He was a professor in the Catholic University Santa Maria La Antigua for 25 years.
He has held the following positions:
Director, Toronto Dominion Bank of Panama, S.A.
Director/Secretary, Bacardí Centroamérica, S.A.
Director/Secretary, Compañía Panameña de Licores, S.A.
Deputy Director, Corporación Incem, S.A. and Cemento Panama, S.A.
Currently he is a Director of Compañía Panameña de Finanzas, S.A.; Inmobiliaria Incem, S.A.; and Compañía Minera Raura, S.A
EDUCATION
Specialization in Banking Disciplines, Faculty of Economics and Commerce - University of Rome, Rome, Italy, 1966.
Bachelor of Laws and Political Science, University of Panama, Panama, 1965.