The ‘outstanding’ corporate team at regional firm Aguilar Castillo Love is commended for its ability to advise leading multinationals on complex, high-value M&A deals in Costa Rica and throughout Central America, with a strong track record of working alongside international firms on cross-border transactions. Demonstrating strength across the food and beverages, tech, financial services, chemicals, manufacturing and, most notably, life sciences and healthcare sectors, the team also frequently assists with joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, spin-offs and the launch of new operations in the local market. Managing partner and practice head John Aguilar Quesada is often sought out to handle strategic, multi-jurisdictional mandates, while other key names at top level include Andrea Sáenz, a noted expert in free trade zone and competition law, Marco Solano Gómez, a go-to adviser on cross-border M&A, corporate restructurings and foreign investments into greenfield projects, Esteban Agüero Guier, who has expertise in corporate and regulatory matters, and compliance specialist Tatiana Rojas Hernández. Associate Carolina Kierzenson provides capable support across the board.

Lauded for its ability to ‘combine legal excellence with business acumen’, corporate heavyweight BLP leverages its full-service model and sizeable footprint in Central America to provide comprehensive support to prominent multinationals on big-ticket domestic and regional M&A, covering all aspects of the transaction from due diligence to antitrust and regulatory matters. Joint ventures, corporate restructurings, spin-offs and compliance issues are also core areas of expertise for the team, which acts for major players in the tech, agribusiness, telecoms and transport sectors, among others. The practice is headed by the ‘extremely creative’ David Gutiérrez, who enjoys a strong international profile (and also oversees the Madrid office), and Adriana Castro, who stands out for her expertise in cross-border transactions, with an emphasis on the telecoms, media and tech spheres. The enviably deep bench also includes Eduardo Calderón, a high-profile name for M&A, international transactions expert Luis M. Castro, Adelina Villalobos, a specialist in foreign direct investment projects and free trade zone matters, and directors Adriana Acuña and Elia Naranjo. Clients also benefit from project management and pricing tools introduced by the firm’s Innovation Commission.

Widely regarded as a leader in the corporate arena, Consortium Legal enjoys ‘deep knowledge of the local and regional markets’, taking advantage of its nine-office-strong presence in Central America and its close links with prestigious international firms to advise on some of the most high-profile M&A transactions in the region. Its comprehensive practice spans due diligence, compliance and regulatory matters, antitrust issues, joint ventures and strategic alliances. The firm acts for an impressive roster of multinational corporations, with notable strengths in the pharmaceuticals, medical devices, financial and tech sectors. A quartet of experienced partners steers the practice: Rolando Laclé Zúñiga, who was appointed firm president in July 2025 and who has a wealth of expertise in M&A, foreign investment and international trade; David Reuben, who co-heads the real estate practice and also excels in corporate transactions in the private equity and highly regulated sectors; Juan Manuel Godoy, a key name for multi-jurisdictional M&A and matters in the energy sector; and real estate department co-head Juan Manuel Cordero, who also contributes expertise in M&A in the sector. The firm is also recognised for its robust equal opportunities and sustainability and environmental policies.

Arias' 'combination of high-level technical skills with open and proactive communication allows for exceptional legal service’. The firm houses a full-service corporate and M&A practice which serves as a one-stop-shop for local, regional and international clients from across the food and beverages, telecoms, financial services, transport, logistics and pharmaceutical sectors, among others. Thanks to its extensive network in Central America and Panama, the team is well equipped to handle both local and regional M&A deals, while its experience also spans joint ventures, the launch of new operations in the Costa Rican market and, most notably, complex antitrust filings. Vicente Lines, who has longstanding expertise in M&A, heads the practice with Andrey Dorado, who is highlighted for his ‘in-depth knowledge’ and ‘ability to manage complex transnational negotiations’, as well as private equity and antitrust matters, and Melania Dittel, a specialist in corporate governance and advising family offices. The talented secondary line-up includes senior counsel Tracy Varela, who is skilled in cross-border M&A, and senior associates Arianne Silva and Sebastián Solano. The firm also demonstrates robust equal opportunities and corporate social responsibility credentials.

ECIJA is distinguished by its capabilities in cross-border matters, benefitting from the firm’s presence in multiple jurisdictions in Latin America and its recent alliance with Taylor Wessing LLP, which has strengthened its ability to advise key players in the digital economy. The team has an excellent record of advising prominent multinationals on M&A deals and the launch and reorganisation of their operations in the region, in addition to providing support with compliance issues and free trade zone matters. Practice head Guillermo Zúñiga, who is praised for his ‘in-depth knowledge of his field’, with complementary expertise in the real estate and renewable energy sectors, is a go-to adviser to foreign investors in Costa Rica. He is ably supported by energy sector specialist Mariela Hernández, Monserrat Soto Roig, who was promoted to partner in September 2024 and is skilled in the coordination of multi-jurisdictional projects, and senior associate Warren Corrales. Clients also benefit from the firm’s ECIJA Tech offering, which provides customised project management tools. The firm further strengthened its presence in Costa Rica in March 2025 through the incorporation of local boutique Acacia Legal, with experienced corporate practitioners Evelyn Galán and Elissa Stoffels joining as senior counsel.

EY Law Central America’s corporate practice continues to advise on a high volume of cross-border matters, drawing on its ability to join up with teams throughout the region as well as the resources of the wider professional services firm. ‘Well versed in issues in the region’, the team is frequently called upon to advise on multi-jurisdictional M&A (from legal, tax, financial and environmental due diligence through to post-acquisition integration), and also assists with corporate restructurings, joint ventures and day-to-day compliance and corporate governance matters. The practice is overseen by Hernán Pacheco, the firm’s managing partner for Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic, who is highly active in regional M&A deals; Fernando Vargas, whose areas of expertise include free trade zone, telecoms, media and technology matters; and senior manager Ana Sáenz, who routinely assists with M&A, joint ventures and foreign investments. The firm is also noted for its commitment to sustainability, having already become a carbon-negative organisation.

Dentons’ ‘responsive’ and ‘meticulous’ corporate team is strongly geared towards advising large multinational corporations on their expansion in Costa Rica and across Central America. Drawing on the support of its sizeable international network, the firm is well equipped to assist with all aspects of the launch of new operations in the Costa Rican market, as well as the cross-border acquisition of strategic targets. The practice also handles compliance, corporate governance and commercial issues. Eduardo Zúñiga, who is skilled in multi-jurisdictional transactions, leads the team with compliance specialist Tatiana Reuben. Director Pamela Contreras is also recommended. The firm also offers clients access to its technology platform, Dentons Direct, which assists with managing key documents and provides global training resources.

Facio & Cañas stands out for its robust experience in both domestic and regional M&A, handling all aspects of transactions from the initial due diligence through to post-merger consolidation, risk management and regulatory compliance. In addition, the team is well versed in assisting multinational clients with corporate restructurings and the establishment of subsidiaries in Costa Rica, and in providing support with free trade zone and corporate governance matters. Federico Rucavado, who is highlighted for his ‘excellent business and strategic vision’, with particular expertise in the free trade zone regime, leads the team alongside Carlos Oreamuno and Edgar Odio, who bring complementary skills in competition law to the table. Senior associate Mariela Solano provides key support on complex transactions.

Demonstrating ‘extensive knowledge of the field’, Lang & Asociados' corporate team is frequently sought out by large and medium-sized multinationals, with notable strong suits in the tech, medical devices, professional services and real estate sectors. In particular, the firm is noted for its ability to assist clients with setting up operations in Costa Rica’s free trade zone, including all permitting and regulatory issues, while its practice also extends to M&A and corporate structuring. There is ‘no better communicator’ than practice head Henry Lang, who is highly experienced in advising international clients on foreign investment projects. Milena Jaikel and Juan Carlos Cersosimo, both of whom are skilled in advising clients on all aspects of operations in the free trade zone, are other key names to note.

Benefitting from a regional presence following its merger with Guatemalan firm AD Sosa & Soto, Tactic Legal (which also has offices in Honduras and El Salvador) provides comprehensive corporate advisory services to an array of local and international clients. The team is well versed in corporate governance, commercial contracts, strategic corporate structuring and regulatory issues, in addition to handling M&A and company incorporations. Practice head Javier Escalante counts numerous multinationals among his clients, drawing on impressive experience as a trade negotiator and chief of staff at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, consul general in Singapore and ambassador to Qatar. Director Sylvia Clark Escalante, who advises on M&A, distribution agreements and franchising, is also recommended.

Zürcher, Odio & Raven's ‘extensive knowledge of the corporate landscape’ enables the firm to advise prominent international companies as well as key players in the local market, with particular strengths in the hospitality, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, retail and infrastructure sectors. Among its core areas of expertise, the team assists with M&A and corporate restructurings both in Costa Rica and across Central America, in addition to advising on day-to-day corporate governance and compliance. The highly experienced leadership group consists of Edgar Zürcher, Harry Zürcher, Alberto Raven Odio, Claudio Donato Monge and Douglas Soto, all of whom are recognised for their skill in complex cross-border deals, while other notable figures in the sizeable team include associates Claudio Donato López, a key adviser to multinational clients, Carla Baltodano, who has expertise in the free trade zone regime, and Felipe Saborío, a regulatory expert.

BG&A Abogados Corporativos is recognised for its niche strength in advising clients in the education sector, although the team also acts for key names from the banking, manufacturing, tech and construction industries. The group routinely provides advice on compliance with regulatory requirements, risk mitigation, the review of commercial contracts and corporate governance, in addition to M&A and the structuring and establishment of new operations in Costa Rica. Founding partner Benjamín Gutiérrez, who counts prominent domestic and international companies among his clients, leads the team, and is singled out for his ‘strong communication skills, strategic vision and knowledge of his field’. Senior associate Gabriela Monge provides capable support.

With a particularly strong presence in the real estate, hospitality, pharmaceuticals and fintech sectors, COLBS Estudio Legal advises a diverse domestic and multinational client base on corporate matters in Costa Rica. In addition to day-to-day corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, corporate governance and commercial contracts, the team is adept at assisting clients with launching operations in the local market. Managing partner Sebastián Jiménez, who combines expertise in corporate, financial and real estate law, oversees the practice. Edwin Rojas, who has notable strength in commercial disputes, and associate Dominick Delgado are also noted.