Transactional powerhouse Alta QIL+4 Abogados leverages its full-service model and the support of offices in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Honduras to advise on big-ticket domestic and cross-border M&A deals, along with the full spread of related tax, labour and environmental issues. Acting for an array of local, regional and international companies and financial institutions, the team is also well equipped to advise on corporate structuring, joint ventures, and compliance and corporate governance matters. Managing partner Marcos Ibargüen, who is noted for his expertise in Guatemala’s newly enacted competition law, and pro bono practice head María Isabel Luján lead the six-partner team, which also includes Andrés Lowenthal, a go-to adviser to companies and investment funds in the US and Latin America; compliance practice head José Quiñones; Alejandro Cofiño, who contributes additional energy and finance expertise; and Melissa Echeverría, who is skilled in M&A and private wealth matters. Of counsel Santiago Granados, a contact for cross-border transactions, and senior associate Ignacio Grazioso provide key support.

Combining 'technical expertise with solid regulatory knowledge', Arias's corporate team remains a preferred choice to advise prominent international clients on investments in Central America, working closely with foreign law firms and its network of offices in the region to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional deals, although it is also frequently active in domestic M&A. The broad practice further extends to company formation, joint ventures and strategic alliances, corporate governance and regulatory compliance matters. Luis Pedro Del Valle, who is well versed in local and international M&A, corporate restructuring and venture capital transactions, leads the team. The practice also benefits from the input of an impressive group of junior lawyers, including Cindy Arrivillaga, a director; Jorge Ordoñez and Florencio Gramajo, both of whom were promoted to senior counsel in January 2025 and are recognised for their strengths in the real estate sector; senior associate Francisco Zuluaga; and associate Andrés Marroquín.

Highlighted for its ‘deep understanding of the business environment‘, BLP fields a comprehensive corporate practice, which encompasses M&A, corporate restructurings, joint ventures, corporate governance and regulatory issues, with strengths in the pharmaceuticals, technology and finance sectors, among others. The team is particularly distinguished by its skill in multi-jurisdictional mandates, joining up with the firm’s offices across Central America to advise high-profile multinational clients on their entry to the Guatemalan market and expansion in the region. Luis Ruiz, who advises local and international clients on corporate law, distribution and agency agreements, and foreign investments, and is singled out for his ‘enviable knowledge of the local market‘, leads the team with Jorge Luis Arenales, whose extensive experience and strong international profile enable him to play a key role in cross-border transactions. The strong cohort of senior associates includes Anneliss Wohlers, who is particularly active in advising clients in highly regulated sectors, and Ana Ávila.

Widely considered a market leader, Consortium Legal remains a strong performer in high-profile domestic and cross-border M&A deals, leveraging the firm’s full-service offering and extensive network in Central America to advise on all aspects of transactions, from due diligence through to related tax, labour and IP issues. Other core areas of expertise include joint ventures, strategic alliances, corporate finance and regulatory compliance. The ‘highly knowledgeable’ Sofía Escribá heads the M&A side of the practice, acting for an impressive roster of local, regional and international clients (including prominent family businesses), while ‘trusted advisor’ Alfredo Rodríguez oversees the corporate tax division of the practice. Other key names at the senior level include Salvador Del Valle, who focuses on corporate matters in regulated sectors; María Fernanda Morales, who takes the lead on day-to-day corporate matters, including company incorporations and corporate governance; and Álvaro Castellanos, who is highly regarded for his foreign investment expertise. Senior associate Camilo Peña is also noted.

Mayora & Mayora, S.C. houses a full-service corporate and M&A practice, which covers the full spectrum of transactional, commercial and compliance matters, as well as tapping into the wider firm’s offering to provide support with related financial, tax, administrative and labour issues. The firm’s regional presence, with additional offices in Honduras and El Salvador, stands it in good stead to act for prominent regional and international clients on cross-border mandates, including M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and the establishment of local subsidiaries in Guatemala, with particularly strong recent activity in the energy and hotel sectors. Claudia Pereira, who has an impressive track record of advising multinationals on financial, corporate and commercial matters, oversees the practice, supported by a deep bench, which includes Carlos Ortega, who was promoted to the partnership in August 2025, and is experienced in both national and international M&A, and senior associates María de la Concepción Villeda, Ana Cristina Garita and Sheyla Vargas. Regional managing partner Eduardo Mayora also lends senior expertise to the team.

Aguilar Castillo Love has a stellar record in advising multinationals with a presence in Guatemala, acting for household names from across the pharmaceuticals, technology, food and beverages, hospitality and consumer goods sectors, among others. The team particularly stands out for its capabilities in cross-border M&A, drawing on the support of offices throughout Central America (as well as additional branches in Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay), but its practice also extends to joint ventures, corporate restructurings, commercial contracts and compliance issues. Juan Carlos Castillo Chacón, a sought-after adviser for clients ranging from major international companies to local family-owned businesses, leads the practice with Natalia Callejas Aquino, whose broad practice takes in M&A, restructurings and corporate compliance. Associates Rudy Villatoro and Fernanda Narvaez are also noted.

Full-service domestic firm Legalsa is well equipped to handle a wide array of transactional, commercial and compliance matters, with a diverse client base that ranges from foreign investors to local businesses. The team has a strong track record in cross-border transactions, including M&A and joint ventures, in addition to advising on the launch and expansion of businesses in Guatemala. In particular, the firm is recognised for its niche expertise in advising prominent domestic family-owned groups on succession planning and governance issues, and assisting start-ups in the food and technology sectors. Founding partner David Font, who has notable strengths in foreign investment matters, leads the team with recently appointed managing partner Johann Hartleben, a key name for complex M&A transactions. Senior associates Mónica Linares and Andrés Dubón provide key support.

Tactic Legal is the latest firm in Central America to provide clients with a region-wide offering, following the merger of the Costa Rican firm of the same name with Guatemala’s AD Sosa & Soto (the new outfit also has offices in Honduras and El Salvador). The corporate practice advises large national and international companies on all aspects of their operations in Guatemala, including franchising, distribution and licensing agreements, corporate governance and compliance issues, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, and domestic and cross-border M&A. The experienced leadership team is made up of Juan Sebastián Soto, who is skilled in advising on international transactions and commercial agreements, Einar Klanderud and Carlos Rafael Pellecer. Jacqueline Soto and Daniela Salas Vásquez provide key support at the associate level.

Highlighted for its ‘experience in regional corporate issues’, the team at Carrillo & Asociados is well versed in advising local businesses and multinationals on domestic and cross-border transactions, in addition to international commercial contracts, corporate governance and compliance projects. In line with the wider firm’s expertise in litigation, the team also has strength in corporate disputes. The practice is headed up by the US-based Alfonso Carrillo and Guatemala-based Sara Santacruz, who also leads the firm’s newly formed fintech and venture capital groups, and is noted for her additional strength in competition and labour law. Senior associate Juan Francisco Sandoval, who oversees the notarial practice, is another key contact.

Regional firm Central Law serves as a ‘trusted legal ally in Guatemala’ for a host of major international companies, advising on the full spread of corporate matters affecting their operations in the country and across Central America. The team is well versed in domestic and cross-border M&A deals, joint ventures and corporate restructurings, as well as the incorporation of local subsidiaries, commercial agreements, and compliance and regulatory issues. Juan Pablo Carrasco de Groote leads the practice, drawing on extensive experience in foreign investment, with an emphasis on the energy and natural resources sectors, and international department director Verónica González is also noted.

Since its formation in 2020, boutique firm Estudio Chávez Bosque S.A. has established a strong track record in advising local and regional companies on all manner of corporate law matters in the Guatemalan market. The team is frequently called upon to assist with M&A, shareholder conflicts, commercial contracts and compliance for large corporate groups, as well as advising prominent high-net-worth families on estate planning and governance matters. The key names in the partner-only practice are Mélida Pineda, who routinely advises on M&A, corporate governance and compliance; Rodolfo Alegría, who focuses on transactional work and is known for his in-depth expertise in the energy sector; and Carolina Flores, a go-to for commercial and real estate projects.

Highlighted for its 'understanding of the corporate world', finance and corporate law boutique Clarity Law continues to gain traction in the mid-market space. As a member of the Alliott Global Alliance, the team enjoys close links to international law firms, enabling it to play a key role in cross-border transactions, and it frequently advises foreign companies on the acquisition of target companies in Guatemala and elsewhere in Latin America. The firm also assists both local and international clients with commercial contracts and compliance projects, as well as related tax and immigration law issues. José Augusto Toledo, who is highly experienced in M&A, leads the team with compliance specialist Ligia Salazar. Associate Georgina Jiménez is skilled in franchising matters.

Global firm Dentons is well positioned to advise local and international companies on transactional and regulatory matters in Guatemala, with a broad practice that spans M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. The team, which has a particularly strong presence in highly regulated sectors including energy, oil and gas, mining and telecoms, is also singled out for its expertise in compliance; practice director Andrea Jarquín frequently advises on the implementation of corporate compliance programmes, internal investigations and ESG due diligence, in addition to labour and energy matters. Office managing partner Luis Abundio Maldonado, who has extensive experience in M&A and foreign investments, is another name to note.

Clients of the ‘excellent’ corporate team at Palomo Abogados benefit from its robust domestic experience and its international connections, thanks to its alliance with global firm Kennedys. While the practice is best known for its strong offerings in the insurance and maritime sectors, its client roster also includes local and international names from across the financial, pharmaceuticals, technology and automotive industries, among others. The team routinely advises on the incorporation and expansion of business ventures in Guatemala, in addition to free trade zone issues, commercial contracts and compliance. Héctor Palomo, a key figure for foreign investment matters, and maritime and insurance law specialist Federico Palomo oversee the practice. At the associate level, regulatory practice director Mónica Rodríguez and Gustavo Fernández are also noted.

The 'solid' corporate team at Alegalis draws on the firm's membership of regional legal alliance LEGIC and the support of its representative office in Hong Kong to take on both domestic and cross-border mandates. Demonstrating particular strength in the real estate and financial industries, the group assists with M&A, corporate structuring, and free trade zone and compliance issues, and also has a dedicated practice focused on advising local start-ups. Director Mildred Almengor Roca, who has notable expertise in commercial and tax matters, leads the team, while founding partner Juan Antonio Mazariegos brings significant experience in advising multinational clients.

The corporate team at Deloitte Legal Guatemala is well equipped to advise multinational clients on M&A transactions and investments in the Central American market, tapping into the resources of the wider consultancy firm to further assist with related tax, labour, immigration and compliance issues. At the head of the practice, Ruby Asturias has a wealth of expertise in M&A, foreign investment and capital raisings, with a strong emphasis on the infrastructure sector. Senior lawyers Allan Jeancarlo Morales (who provides additional support with labour and immigration matters) and Iosif Sosa are also noted.

The legal arm of the global consultancy firm, EY Law Central America stands out for its ability to provide region-wide corporate support to international companies from across the consumer products, retail, financial services, pharmaceuticals, construction and hospitality sectors. The team assists with M&A, company incorporations, commercial contracts and compliance matters, in addition to related tax, IP and labour law issues. Latin America North managing partner Hernán Pacheco, Alejandro Antillón and Fernando Vargas oversee the practice from Costa Rica, while the key contacts in the Guatemalan office are senior manager Ginny Castillo and manager Elmer Vargas.

'Showing expertise in local requirements that is particularly helpful for global and multinational companies looking to enter or expand into the region', the Guatemalan branch of GarciaBodan draws on the strength of its network of offices in Central America to handle domestic and multi-jurisdictional mandates. Core areas of activity include the setting up and structuring of companies in the local market, in addition to regional M&A, and compliance and regulatory issues. Managing partner Carlos Téllez, who divides his time between Guatemala and Nicaragua, leads the team alongside senior associate Paúl Rodríguez, who focuses on corporate and environmental matters. Senior associate Andrés Cofiño also provides support.

With a focus on corporate, international trade, insurance and regulatory matters, boutique firm GT Legal advises both local and international clients across the pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, textiles, banking, mining and energy sectors. The team frequently assists clients with M&A and expansion in the Central American market, as well as corporate structuring and compliance issues. The highly experienced Juan José Porras Castillo leads the team jointly with director Juan José Porras Ramírez, who has notable expertise in corporate governance and also heads up a firm-wide initiative to advise start-ups.

Combining 'agility, deep technical knowledge and a practical approach', LegalPlus is recognised for its niche expertise in the venture capital and private equity space. The firm is highly skilled in advising investors and start-ups in the technology sector on equity financing rounds and corporate structuring, with a strong emphasis on the fintech, healthtech and insurtech fields. Managing partner Álvaro Hurtado, a key name for local and international venture capital transactions, leads the team with associates Juan Andrés Campos, a specialist in advising technology and clean energy start-ups, Pamela Rodas, and US-based of counsel Mauricio Duarte.

Led by experienced managing partner Ignacio Andrade Aycinena, who is particularly well known for his expertise in the real estate and telecoms sectors, the Guatemalan office of regional firm Lex Atlas has strong capabilities in both domestic and cross-border corporate matters. The team regularly advises on M&A, company incorporations, corporate governance and restructurings, acting for a broad client base, which ranges from large regional corporations to family-owned businesses. Alejandro Solares Solares, an expert in corporate law, real estate and estate planning, and associates Claudia Pontaza, Lester Meda and Carlos Gándara are the other key names to note.

Domestic firm Nexus Legal maintains a broad corporate practice, covering M&A, corporate restructurings and regulatory advice, and it has also developed its expertise in the venture capital and private equity spheres. The team advises a diverse client base of investors, funds, family offices, start-ups and large corporations, with notable strengths in the agribusiness, manufacturing, real estate and technology sectors. The practice is led by founding partners Jorge Luis Rodas, whose areas of focus include cross-border transactions and joint ventures, corporate governance and compliance issues, and Jonathan Yarhi, a key contact for capital markets and private equity matters.