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BUFETE
BERROCAL
is a law firm of qualified attorneys dedicated
to providing personalized, efficient and high-quality service to its
clients.
Headquartered in Panama City, Republic of Panama, the law firm of BUFETE
BERROCAL has offices in Beirut, Lebanon and
important correspondent offices in the British Virgin Islands, Bahamas,
Aruba, Antigüa & Barbuda, Belize, Paragüay, Ireland, Miami, New York,
Geneva, Zurich, Milan, Moscow, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Nice,
Hamburg, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Santa
Fé de Bogotá, Caracas, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago de Chile
and Buenos Aires.
The law firm of BUFETE BERROCAL has attorneys whose combined
experience encompass a wide variety of domestic and international legal
areas, including corporate, banking, maritime, industrial property,
real estate, personal representation, general litigation and pro-bono
work.
Our principal offices are located:
Plaza Centro Building, Suite 8
Ricardo J. Alfaro Avenue and Friendship Road
P.O. Box 87-1664
Panama 7, Republic of Panama
Telephone: (507) 260-1097
Facsimile (507) 260-1098
berrocal@berrocal.com.pa
AREAS
OF PRACTICE
Offshore
Services/Private Foundations
Corporate
Banking
Maritime
Industrial
Property
Real Estate
Labor
Personal Representation
Litigation
Pro Bono Activities
Corporations,
private foundations and trusts
BUFETE BERROCAL specializes in the offshore service business
through the organization, creation and administration of corporations,
private foundations, trusts and estates in various jurisdictions, most
of which are organized in Panama, Lebanon, British Virgin Islands, Bahamas,
Aruba, Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Paragüay and Ireland. Our legal practice
is emphasized and strongly oriented to create and offer solutions, alternatives,
financial and fiscal strategies and planning on behalf of high net-worth
individuals and families, such as:
- Comprehensive capital, estate and asset management and planning at
short, medium and long terms, through the use of offshore corporations,
private foundations and/or trusts in Panama, Lebanon, the Caribbean
and Europe, designed to control real estate property and other assets
and reduce transfer taxes over several generations.
- Structuring of privately or family held businesses to reduce the risk
of potential liabilities of family business interests, secure future
control of assets within the family and at the same time, reduce transfer
taxes as well.
- Planning designed to provide continued and independent existence and
liquidity of an estate, after a principal owner's disability or death,
to support surviving spouse and/or family members, mitigate estate taxes
over property and facilitate or avoid unnecessary probate.
- Planning designed to provide an effective family asset management
and/or estate distribution vehicle during the lifetime ("inter- vivos")
and/or after the death ("post-mortem") of principal, through the creation
and organization of family held private foundations and trusts benefiting
both family members or charity.
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Corporate
The most significant portion of our law practice and international legal
services entails the assistance to local and international clients in
the organization of corporations inside and outside the Republic of
Panama, Lebanon, and throughout the Caribbean and Europe. As a result,
BUFETE BERROCAL provides numerous consultations associated with
the operation of different corporations from different jurisdictions,
operating both inside the Republic of Panama and abroad. Locally, the
law firm also serves as counsel to a number of corporate clients involving
public and private securities offerings, including the design of fiscal
strategies and compliance with regulatory and transactional matters
involving all kinds of securities required by the Securities Act of
Panama (Cabinet Decree No. 247 of 1970) and also, in connection with
reporting and filings before the National Securities Commission of Panama
in private placements and public securities offerings. Another portion
of our corporate practice includes counseling to our local corporate
clients in all facets of commercial transactions, the preparation of
a variety of commercial contracts, public and private agreements and
compliance with industrial and trade regulations. In addition, our services
in the corporate sector also include counseling to various domestic
airlines (passenger and cargo) which are part of a single economic group
in a number of situations, including aviation regulations, aircraft
security, aircraft acquisition and leasing, air transportation contracts,
route rights and commercial requirements.
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Banking
The attorneys of BUFETE BERROCAL can provide a variety of services
in the banking area, including the preparation of all facets of banking
contracts, counseling in international financial transactions, constitution
of trust funds, compliance with banking regulations and inter-bank agreements
and the organization and establishment of foreign and domestic banks
operating under General, International and/or Representation licenses.
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Maritime
Helping our clients to obtain the registration of a flag of convenience
for their vessels in the Republic of Panama and other convenient jurisdictions
is an important aspect of BUFETE BERROCAL's offshore services.
Our Maritime Law practice is rapidly growing as a result of the incentives
and positive new world policies of the DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF CONSULAR
AND SHIPPING AFFAIRS of the Republic of Panama towards the ever increasing
Panamanian Merchant Marine Fleet, extending from the registration of
vessels in the Panamanian Merchant Marine and other convenient jurisdictions
on behalf of international and domestic ship-owners, including the preparation,
registration and cancellation of ship mortgages, to litigation before
the Maritime Court in connection to maritime claims, liens and contracts.
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Industrial
Property
We have
maintained a very active practice in the registration of trade and service
marks, patents and copyrights on behalf of domestic and foreign manufacturers,
before the Ministry of Commerce and Industries of the Republic of Panama,
and all throughout Central and South America. As a result, we often
engage in litigation before the courts and administrative tribunals
defending marks, patents and copyrights and unfair competition infringements
on behalf of our clients. Our work also involves counseling on licensing
and/or transfer or acquisition of trade and service marks, patents and
copyrights, computer software, high technology developments and other
intellectual property rights.
Real
Estate
Real Estate law has always represented a substantial portion of BUFETE
BERROCAL's practice, and involves counseling on a variety of real
estate-related transactions, such as land use and zoning, land acquisitions
and development, construction, financing and leasing of all kinds of
real estate properties, from open land and farms, commercial and residential
projects and condominiums (office and residence) to shopping centers.
This includes the preparation and registration of options to buy, purchase
agreements, mortgages and condominium by-laws as well as compliance
with construction and condominium regulations, counseling on real estate
property taxes and the application of real estate financing techniques.
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Labor
Our labor specialist has a vast experience in a wide variety of labor-related
controversies, from the obtention of work permits, preparation of labor
contracts, internal corporate labor by-laws and negotiation of collective
agreements and claims before the labor administrative authorities, to
ordinary lawsuits, appellate work and extraordinary recourses before
the Supreme Court of Justice. Most of our everyday work involves permanent
counseling to employers, most of which are our corporate clients, in
different aspects, situations and controversies arising between them
and their employees and unions. The intricacies of Panama's labor legislation
has contributed to make this subject a specialized field of special
attention within our firm.
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Personal Representation
Personal representation is an important aspect of BUFETE BERROCAL's
practice, which is, as previously mentioned, emphasized and strongly
oriented to create and offer solutions, alternatives, financial and
fiscal strategies and planning on behalf of high net-worth individuals
and families.
Some of our services include:
* Comprehensive capital, estate and asset management and planning at
short, medium and long terms, through the use of offshore corporations,
private foundations and/or trusts in Panama, Lebanon, the Caribbean
and Europe, designed to control real estate property and other assets
and reduce transfer taxes over several generations.
* Structuring of privately or family held businesses to reduce the risk
of potential liabilities of family business interests, secure future
control of assets within the family and at the same time, reduce transfer
taxes as well.
* Planning designed to provide continued and independent existence and
liquidity of an estate, after a principal owner's disability or death,
to support surviving spouse and/or family members, mitigate estate taxes
over property and facilitate or avoid unnecessary probate.
* Planning designed to provide an effective family asset management
and/or estate distribution vehicle during the lifetime ("inter- vivos")
and/or after the death ("post-mortem") of principal, through the creation
and organization of family held private foundations and trusts benefiting
both family members or charity.
Other aspects of our practice representing individuals is dedicated
to counseling and helping clients in family law matters, including:
- pre-nuptial agreements,
- divorces,
- custody,
- adoptions,
- wills and probate proceedings.
Another good portion of our practice in this area is dedicated to the
securing of non-immigrant and immigrant visas and naturalizations
on behalf of foreign executives of our corporate clients, foreign investors,
scientists, religious workers, artists and athletes, as well as counseling
in compliance with immigration and tax regulations.
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Litigation
BUFETE BERROCAL is proud if its efficient, active and reliable
litigation department,which enjoys a very high degree of success. Originally
created to judicially support and assist most our corporate clients
against civil claims as a consequence of their business activities,
it is rapidly shifting from a traditionally defensive to a more active
and challenging roll, accepting to defend the interests of other corporations
and individuals with just and worthy claims. Our work involves trial
practice in municipal, circuit and superior courts, as well as the Supreme
Court of Justice. Although we believe the first duty of a responsible
litigator is to accomplish a client's needs without resorting to litigation,
BUFETE BERROCAL attorneys are experienced in a variety
of corporate, commercial, banking, contract, maritime, industrial property
(trademarks, patents and copyrights), unfair competition, civil and
family law litigation.
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Pro-Bono
Activities
The lawyers at BUFETE BERROCAL have always found the time and
effort to dedicate their knowledge and experience in helping and assisting
a good number of non-profit private organizations, most of which were
conceived and created by the firm as a result of the very active participation
of its members in charitable and socio-economic activities within the
community. Our dedication and work donation on behalf of these organizations
is unconditional and with no time limits. The Rotary
Club of Panama , The Gift of Life Foundation
, The Good Will Foundation , Sun
Rays Home Foundation , The National Association
for the Conservation of Nature (ANCON) , The Latin-American
Group for Professional Rehabilitation (GLARP) , The
Home Shelter Foundation , The Pro-Children
of Panama Foundation , are among the most significant organizations
that the firm represents and which maintain an open line and unlimited
access to our firm.
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BUFETE
BERROCAL ATTORNEYS' BIOGRAPHIES
Partners
Manuel Jose Berrocal Fabrega
Manuel Jose Berrocal Brostella
Associates
Raul Andrade Rodriguez
Federico Anguizola Garcia
MANUEL
JOSE BERROCAL FABREGA (Partner)
Born in Panama, Republic of Panama, September 21, 1932; admitted
to practice law in 1958, Republic of Panama.
EDUCATION: UNIVERSITY OF MADRID SCHOOL OF LAW, Madrid, Spain
(Law Degree, 1957).
OTHER EXPERIENCE: President, PANAMA REAL ESTATE OWNERS ASSOCIATION,
Panama, Republic of Panama, 1981-1983;
Minister, MINISTRY OF THE TREASURY, Panama, Republic of Panama, 1993-1994.
MEMBER: Panamanian Bar Association; The Panama Chamber of Commerce,
Industries and Agriculture; Panama Real Estate Owners Association; Panama
Business Executives Association; Rotary Club of Panama; Association
of the United States Army (AUSA).
LANGUAGES: Spanish and English.
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MANUEL
JOSE BERROCAL BROSTELLA (Partner)
Born in Panama, Republic of Panama, February 27, 1961; admitted to practice
law in 1984, Republic of Panama.
EDUCATION: SANTA MARIA LA ANTIGUA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Panama,
Republic of Panama (Law Degree, 1984);
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, New York, N.Y. (Master of Laws in
Comparative Jurisprudence, M.C.J., 1985);
UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA SCHOOL OF LAW, Barcelona, Spain (Doctorate Courses
in Commercial Law, 1986-1997).
AUTHOR: "Disolución y Liquidación de Sociedades Anónimas" (Winding?up
of Corporations), Thesis, 1984; Private Investment In Panama: a scheme
of the benefits, New York, N.Y., 1984; Reorganization As A Shield Against
Massive Tort Liability: a misuse, Graduation Paper, New York, N.Y.,
1985.
OTHER EXPERIENCE: Students' Representative, SANTA MARIA LA ANTIGUA
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW FACULTY BOARD, Panama, Republic of Panama,
1981-1983;
Legal Counsel, THE PANAMA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRIES AND AGRICULTURE,
Panama, Republic of Panama, 1987.
MEMBER: Panamanian Bar Association; American Bar Association;
Inter-American Bar Association; International Association of Lawyers
(UIA); International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA); The Panama
Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture; Rotary Club of Panama;
The Gift of Life Foundation; Association of the United States Army (AUSA).
LANGUAGES: Spanish and English.
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RAUL
ANDRADE RODRIGUEZ (Associate)
Born in San Felix, Province of Chiriquí, Republic of Panama, January
20, 1942; admitted to practice law in 1975, Republic of Panama.
EDUCATION: UNIVERSITY OF PANAMA SCHOOL OF LAW, Panama, Republic
of Panama (Law Degree, 1975);
Courses in Social Security, INTERAMERICAN CENTER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,
Mexico, 1972;
Conference on Professional Risks, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic,
1973;
Courses in Labor Administration, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 1974;
Conference on Social Security, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala
and Mexico, 1972-1975.
AUTHOR: LABOR ADMINISTRATION IN PANAMA, Thesis, 1975.
OTHER EXPERIENCE: Union Leader and Secretary, CHIRIQUI LAND COMPANY
LABOR UNION, Puerto Armuelles Division, Puerto Armuelles, Province of
Chiriquí, Republic of Panama, 1960-1971;
National Labor Representative, SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Panama, Republic of Panama, 1971-1975;
Public Defender, LABOR JURISDICTION, Provinces of Chiriquí and Bocas
del Toro, Republic of Panama, 1975-1977;
Administrative Judge, SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT, Panama, Republic of
Panama, 1977-1979;
Legal Counsel, SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT, Panama, Republic of Panama,
1979;
Secretary General, SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT, Panama, Republic of Panama,
1979-1981;
Legal Counsel, MUNICIPALITY OF CHIRIQUI GRANDE, Province of Chiriquí,
Republic of Panama, 1990-1993.
MEMBER: Panamanian Bar Association.
LANGUAGES: Spanish.
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FEDERICO
ANGUIZOLA GARCIA (Associate)
Born in David, Province of Chiriquí, Republic of Panama, April 30,
1965; admitted to practice law in 1998, Republic of Panama.
EDUCATION: SANTA MARIA LA ANTIGUA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Panama,
Republic of Panama (Law Degree, 1996).
AUTHOR: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW PROCESS FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS, Thesis, 1996.
OTHER EXPERIENCE: Clerk, THIRD CIRCUIT CRIMINAL COURT OF PANAMA,
Panama, Republic of Panama, 1985-1987;
Clerk, NINTH CIRCUIT CRIMINAL COURT OF PANAMA, Panama, Republic of Panama,
1987-1988;
Clerk, SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE, Panama, Republic of Panama, 1988-1996.
MEMBER: Panamanian Bar Association.
LANGUAGES: Spanish and English.
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Our
local partner in Beirut is NAJIB N. LYAN, Esq.
145 Habib Bacha El-Saad Street
P.O. Box 116-2116, Achrafieh
Beirut, LEBANON
Telephone (9611) 202-616
Facsimile (9611) 602-616
E-Mail: lyanlaw@dm.net.lb
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The
Rotary Club of Panama: A non-profit organization dedicated to serve
and support the community in all possible aspects through the occupation
of its members.
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The Gift of Life Foundation: A non-profit
organization dedicated to provide medical and surgical solutions to
indigent children with congenital heart disease, problems and defects,
through THE HUMANA HEART INSTITUTE, Louisville, Kentucky; UNIVERSITY
OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH, Galveston, Texas; and THE CHILDREN'S MEDICAL
LIFELINE OF THE NORTH SHORE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, Long Island, New York.
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The Good Will Foundation: A non-profit
organization dedicated to train physically impaired individuals in order
to incorporate them in the labor force of the country.
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Sun
Rays Home Foundation: A non-profit organization dedicated to provide
special education and shelter to mentally impaired individuals with
The Down Syndrome and Autism.
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The National Association for the Conservation
of Nature (ANCON): A non-profit organization dedicated to preserve
Panama's rain forests.
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The
Latin-American Group for Professional Rehabilitation (GLARPA): A
non-profit organization dedicated to integrate physically and mentally
impaired individuals with educational, occupational and socio-economic
limitations and problems into the community.
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The
Home Shelter Foundation: A non-profit organization dedicated to
provide shelter and food to abandoned children and indigent single pregnant
women and the placement of abandoned children in foster homes and handling
of adoptions.
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The
Pro-Children of Panama Foundation: A non-profit organization dedicated
to provide food to malnourished children through the establishment of
dining halls throughout the country.
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