- Managing Partner: José Roberto Romero
- Senior Partner: Roberto Romero Pineda, Mario Ayala, Carlos Castillo, Roberto Flores, Marcela Mancíá, Antonio Méndez, Roxana Romero, Freddy Zometa
- Number of partners: 9
- Number of other lawyers: 17
THE FIRM:
Romero Pineda & Asociados provides a full range of legal services to international, regional and local businesses. The firm is organised in four primary divisions, banking, corporate, intellectual property and litigation, which work collaboratively to assure a comprehensive perspective and specific expertise. Founded in 1978 by Dr Roberto Romero Pineda, superior legal knowledge, excellent skills, responsive client service have always been absolute priorities of the firm. Romero Pineda is also committed to cutting through red tape to deliver results, while maintaining the highest ethical standards. As the firmhas grown, these values have been instilled in its professionals and several years ago,Romero Pineda expanded from its family roots to become an institutional partnership. Romero Pineda is the exclusive Salvadoran member in five of the world's leading legal and business networks: Lex Mundi, Terralex, The Bomchil Group,World Services Group and the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance. Each has stringent performance standards and provides Romero Pineda with access tolegal experts around the world.
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Corporate: The firm advises domestic, regional and multinational entities on the establishment, diversification and expansion of commercial operations, including business structure,mergers and acquisitions, contracts, free trade zone projects, due diligence, labour relations, immigration and foreign investment registration.
Banking & Finance: Romero Pineda's Banking Division provides specialised legal services to domestic and international banking and financial institutions regarding the establishment and development of operations in El Salvador and Central America. The firm has expertise and experience handling such matters as incorporation of new banks; secured, unsecured transactions and collateral; syndicated loans; acquisition of local banks; cross-border loan transactions; and due diligence investigations.
Tax Law: Romero Pineda's tax law specialists advise local and foreign clients on general and industry-specific issues, including the creation of structures to minimise tax liability; tax effects of financing by international lenders; taxes on mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures involving local and international companies; and tax implications of insurance policy sales in El Salvador.
Mergers & Acquisitions: Romero Pineda's corporate lawyers counsel public and private companies on options for amalgamations, joint ventures, strategic alliances and substantial equity investments. They also facilitate negotiations and prepare documents.
Aviation: The firm has specific industry experience assisting both passenger and cargo airlines in the business and regulatory aspects of operations, ranging from the acquisition of operating permits to authorisation for changes in schedules and new routes.
Intellectual Property: The firm's IP Division helps clients identify, secure, assert and defend all aspects of their intellectual property rights in trademarks, copyright, patents, domain names and trade secrets. In addition to IP administration, Romero Pineda's lawyers have been recognised for their transactional experience involving IP, such as acquisitions, sales, technology transfers, e-commerce, licences and franchising. The group also prosecutes the health/sanitary registrations required for health, personal care and food products.With the Litigation Division, the firm has unequalled capability in IP conflicts, disputes and enforcement.
Anti-Counterfeiting & Piracy: The firm's specialised Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Team works with clients to manage and implement their strategies and enforcement programs, including monitoring procedures, border enforcement measures and litigation.
Litigation: The Litigation Division is experienced in all types of commercial disputes and is equipped to handle complex cases involving multinational parties. The firm has a demonstrated record of success at the trial and appellate levels, and is also experienced in negotiating settlements. Several of the firm's lawyers are certified mediators and arbitrators.
Franchising & Licensing: Romero Pineda assists clients in expanding their businesses through licensing, franchising and distribution arrangements. The firmhas helped international franchisors to conform their agreements and operations to local requirements.
INTERNATIONAL WORK: Romero Pineda has a wide range of international and multinational clients. It has extensive experience handling legal issues for leading corporations and has been responsible for matters in such diverse areas of practice as mergers and acquisitions, financing, licensure and regulatory approvals, taxes, commercial disputes and litigation, franchising and distributorships, intellectual property protection and enforcement.
LANGUAGES: English, French and Spanish.
CLIENTS: Romero Pineda's clients include both public and private sectors. As a good corporate citizen, the firm provides pro bono services to local NGOs.The firm represents clients from industries and sectors including apparel; banking and financial; computer and software; cosmetics and personal care; e-commerce; food and beverage; manufacturing; non-profit; pharmaceutical; publishing; sports and entertainment; telecommunications; and transportation.
CONTACTS
Banking: Roxana Romero
Corporate: Freddy Zometa
Intellectual Property: Marcela Mancía
Litigation: Carlos Castillo