- Senior Partners: Franklin Hoet-Linares, Fernando Peláez-Pier, Francisco Castillo-García, Román Duque-Corredor
- Managing Partner: Fernando Peláez-Pier
- Number of Partners worldwide: 11
- Number of other Lawyers worldwide: 33
THE FIRM: Hoet Peláez Castillo & Duque (HPCD) traces its origin to 1942 and is one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious full-service law firms in the country. HPCD is well-known for its corporate and intellectual property Practice, the latter being one of the largest in Venezuela.The scope of its client base is worldwide,with a broader base in the American,European and Asian continents. It serves many of Venezuela’s top-of-the-line private companies along with a large number of foreign companies operating in different commercial and industrial sectors as well as financial institutions doing business in Venezuela. The services rendered by the firm in addition to the areas of practice described herein below are: Telecommunications and Information Technology; Maritime,Aviation and Multimodal Insurance; Environmental Law; Pharmaceutical, Entertainment; Real Estate; Transportation (Aviation and Maritime); Consumer Protection;Registries and Notaries;Tourism; and Immigration.A good number of its lawyers have studied and worked abroad, giving them an international perspective on business and allowing HPCD to provide global counseling of quality and reliability,both to the firm’s local and international clients.
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Corporate / M&A: HPCD has assembled an excellent Corporate/M&A team to provide assistance in negotiations with both private and public sectors, in which the firmtakes part representing and providing legal advice to its clients; writing contracts or issuing opinions regarding contracts. This includes contract negotiations, legal audits, legal opinions and preparation of contracts related to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, privatisation, publicprivate partnership and project financing. Energy, Natural Resources, Utilities & Public Services: HPCD covers negotiations, preparation of contracts, opinions and due diligence regarding the exploitation of natural resources, utilities, as well as those matters related to the energy sector; oil, gas petro-chemical, mines, electricity, water, and all other natural resources and, those activities rendered by public or private entities under the regime of concessions, licenses or other public authorisations.
Trade, Investments, Finance & Competition: HPCD provides consultation on topics both national and international trade of goods and services as well as general investments and exchange control regulations; protection of investments, competition, unfair competition, international trade agreements and economic integration; the rules on protection of national production and matters regarding customs; financial, banking, and exchange control regulations.
Tax: HPCD’s tax lawyers are well integrated to its Corporate / M&A and Energy practice areas allowing a cost efficient transaction and day to day operations. They advise on direct and indirect taxes, both nationals and locals, disputed tax acts contained in the administrative and judicial.Preparation of tax planning projects, including the use of double taxation treaties, the rules for governing transfer pricing, customs duties and other aspects related to international trade. Audits to assess compliance with tax obligations.
Labour, Employment & Employee Benefits: HPCD provides assistance in labour relations, both individual and collective law, and social security. It includes collective bargaining agreements, international contracting, labour planning, special labour benefit programs including share option plans, housing policy and pension funds; notification of work hazards; service and security programs and occupational health at work, accidents at work.
Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution: HPCD’s attorneys have participated in all sorts of dispute resolutions, whether solved at Court, by administrative authorities or through alternative mechanisms, such as conciliation, mediation or arbitration. This area embraces litigation in matters of civil law, including commercial, competition, intellectual property, labor, tax, and insurance law, as well as the preparation and presentation of resources against acts of the public administration.
Patents, Trademarks & Copyright: HPCD has gathered lawyers, engineers and natural science professionals with technical specialisation training and sufficient experience in the Patent’s Office at the Intellectual Property Registry. HPCD takes full responsibility to safeguard the trademarks of its clients, all of which involves thorough studies in client’s needs. It provides services at the administrative and judicial levels: follow up to trademarks registration requests, commercial names, service trademarks and mottoes. The firm is also able to plan and protect the copyrights of its clients.When necessary Intellectual property lawyers work as a team with the litigators to solve all issues in relation to intellectual property infringement at court or even at the Supreme Court of Justice.
INTERNATIONAL WORK: Throughout the years, HPCD has represented international clients in major transactions and in their establishment in Venezuela and assisting them in the day to day activities.
CLIENTS: HPCD has the privilege to work with many world leading international companies, as well as with numerous Venezuelan and Latin American clients, covering all business sectors.