Category: News

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, September 29, 2025 – Guzmán Ariza proudly announces the appointment of our co-managing partner Fabio Guzmán Saladín as Chair of SCG Legal’s 2026 Board of Directors.

The new leadership, elected at SCG’s Annual Meeting on September 18 in Austin, Texas will be tasked with advancing the network’s global growth, enhancing member benefits, and strengthening the organization’s influence worldwide.

Guzmán Saladín, who previously served as Vice Chair of the Board, is a widely respected leader in international corporate and business law. He brings more than two decades of experience advising multinational companies, investors, and institutions on cross-border transactions and regulatory matters.

“I am honored to take on the role of Chair after serving as Vice Chair, and I am grateful for the trust my colleagues have placed in me,” said Guzmán Saladín. “SCG Legal’s strength lies in its ability to connect top-tier independent firms across jurisdictions, delivering seamless service to clients while fostering meaningful collaboration among our members. I look forward to working with our Board and member firms to further innovation, expand opportunities, and reinforce our position as a trusted global network.”

Alina Gorokhovsky, CEO of SCG Legal said “Our 2026 Board brings together a wealth of experience and vision, positioning SCG Legal for continued growth and innovation in an ever-evolving legal and public policy landscape, I look forward to working with this exceptional group of leaders and am confident they will further global collaboration and deliver increased value for our members, clients, and communities.”

This appointment reflects SCG Legal’s continued commitment to diversity of leadership and global collaboration.

About SCG Legal

SCG Legal, founded in 1989, is a worldwide network of 125 independent law and lobbying firms, 80% of which are Chambers-ranked, with Chambers-ranked attorneys in the balance. The network spans more than 65 countries, including every U.S. state capital and Washington, DC, serving clients in major commercial centers and political hubs worldwide. Chambers Global Guide has recognized SCG Legal as a Global Elite network. SCG Legal firms are united by a culture of premier legal practices and industry leadership; a commitment to client service, diversity, and inclusion; and a dedication to transparency, innovation, and fair billing practices. For more information, please visit scglegal.com.

About Guzmán Ariza

Established in 1927, Guzmán Ariza is the largest law firm in the Dominican Republic, with ten strategically located offices nationwide. We provide a full range of legal services through a multilingual team of experts. Throughout nearly 100 years of legal practice, Guzmán Ariza has built a reputation in the local and international business communities as a reliable and respected firm known for delivering results.

For more information regarding this press release, please contact George Taveras, Marketing Director at gtaveras@drlawyer.com, +1.809.255.0980 or visit www.drlawyer.com.

 

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, September 1, 2025 – Guzmán Ariza, Attorneys at Law, proudly announces the appointment of our partner, Fabio J. Guzmán Saladín, as Co-Managing Partner. He will work alongside Fabio J. Guzmán Ariza, the current Managing Partner, in leading the firm through a two-year transition period that will culminate in 2027, the year of the firm’s centennial. At the conclusion of this transition, Fabio J. Guzmán Saladín will assume the sole position of Managing Partner, while Fabio J. Guzmán Ariza will become Chairman of the Board.

This carefully planned succession underscores the firm’s commitment to continuity, generational leadership, and the values of excellence, innovation, and client service that have defined Guzmán Ariza for nearly a century.

Leadership Experience and Credentials

With over a decade of experience leading the firm’s Corporate Law practice, Fabio Guzmán Saladín has successfully guided complex transactions in mergers and acquisitions, project finance, capital markets, and financial restructurings. His vision and responsiveness have been key to positioning Guzmán Ariza as a trusted advisor to both international investors and leading Dominican companies.

He is consistently recognized by leading global legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500, IFLR, and Latin Lawyer, which rank Guzmán Ariza among the top firms in Corporate and Commercial Law, Real Estate and Tourism, Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Finance, and Tax Law. Beyond his legal practice, Fabio has served as President of the Dominican-German Chamber of Commerce and the EuroChamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic, acts as an arbitrator of the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce, and remains actively engaged in both national and international business organizations and legal networks.

Fabio graduated summa cum laude from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in 2007, earned an MBA from IE Business School in Madrid in 2008, and is fluent in English, Spanish, and German.

A Century of Excellence

This leadership transition marks a milestone in the institutional development of Guzmán Ariza, reaffirming the solid trajectory built under the stewardship of Don Fabio J. Guzmán Ariza, who has guided the firm to become the largest law firm in the Dominican Republic. The combination of his strategic vision with the fresh perspective of Fabio Guzmán Saladín ensures that Guzmán Ariza will maintain its leading position in the Dominican legal market while embarking on its second century with renewed strength and purpose.

About Guzmán Ariza

Established in 1927, Guzmán Ariza is the largest law firm in the Dominican Republic, with ten strategically located offices nationwide. We provide a full range of legal services through a multilingual team of experts.

Throughout nearly 100 years of legal practice, Guzmán Ariza has built a reputation in the local and international business communities as a reliable and respected firm known for delivering results.

Our partner, Giselle Perez Reyes, took part in the first meeting of the Working Group for the Sargassum Valuation Plan in the Dominican Republic. This is a joint effort between the Government of the Dominican Republic and the European Union, with the aim of providing a platform to foster the development of sustainable sargassum value chains in a collective and interconnected manner.

The event brought together key stakeholders to identify solutions to facilitate investment and public-private cooperation.

Our partners, Fabio Guzmán Saladín and Alberto Reyes Báez, took part in the Latin American Summit hosted by the New York City Bar Association on June 10 and 11. The event brought together prominent law firms, advisors, professionals, academics, and diplomats from the United States and Latin America.

Alberto Reyes served as a panelist on the topic “Regulatory Compliance in the U.S. and Latin America in a New Political Era,” where he shared strategic insights on how legal and compliance teams can adapt to evolving regulatory frameworks and the dynamics of cross-border compliance.

Partners Rhadaisis Espinal and Marianne Olivares successfully took part in SIMA 2025, an international real estate event held in May 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

This event brings together the best international offerings in the real estate sector and is attended by experts in the areas of investment and finance, legal services, builders, and brokers, among others. For a week, our partners exhausted a tight schedule of meetings, courses, and events geared towards the industry.

A delegation of New York City lawyers visited the Dominican Republic from May 8 to 10, 2025, engaging in a busy schedule with officials, business leaders, and local law firms.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, May 8, 2025 – Guzmán Ariza hosted a delegation from the New York City Bar Association during their visit to the country in May, organizing two important panels in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.

The mission aimed to establish lasting professional connections with the commercial, legal, and governmental sectors, promote trade, and position New York not only as a financial market but also as a strategic hub for conflict resolution and business development in the region.

In Santo Domingo, the firm sponsored a specialized panel on “New York as a Venue for International Dispute Resolution,” featuring prominent local and international jurists, held on Thursday, May 8.

In Punta Cana, on Saturday, May 10, 2025, the panel titled “Doing Business in New York from Legal, Commercial, and Compliance Perspectives” was held, showcasing best practices, regulatory requirements, and specific opportunities for Dominican companies interested in expanding into the New York market.

The delegation was led by William Hochul, First Gentleman of New York and partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell; Landon Dais, New York State Assemblyman; Saso Kraner, partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell; Michael Fernández and Ivory Bishop, partners at Cozen O’Connor; Alexis Colón, manager at Colón & Partners; and Peter Fox, partner at Scoolidge, Peters, Russotti & Fox.

Additionally, José Arvelo, legal advisor at Covington & Burling; Jessenia Vazcones from Sompo Japan Insurance of America; Chris Pioch from Christopher Pioch & Associates; Peggy McGuinness, professor at St. John’s University; Rafael Carmona del Rosal, director at the American Arbitration Association; Joanne Saint-Louis, director at JAMS Alternative Dispute Resolution; and Jaime Chávez Alor, director at the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice.

About Guzmán Ariza 

Established in 1927, Guzmán Ariza is the largest law firm in the Dominican Republic, with ten strategically located offices nationwide. We provide a full range of legal services through a multilingual team of experts.

Throughout nearly 100 years of legal practice, Guzmán Ariza has built a reputation in the local and international business communities as a reliable and respected firm known for delivering results.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 5, 2025 – Guzmán Ariza is pleased to announce its role in advising Creative Foam Corporation on the successful acquisition of AccuMED Holdings Corp., including its Dominican branch operating as a free zone. This cross-border transaction involved complex legal, regulatory, and compliance considerations, requiring careful coordination across multiple jurisdictions.

This strategic acquisition represents a significant advancement in Creative Foam’s mission to enhance its capabilities and broaden its impact within the healthcare and medical device sectors. “We remain focused on the continued growth of our Medical Division, both organically and through acquisition, and believe AccuMED is a highly strategic fit,” said Koen Devits, President and CEO of Creative Foam. “The acquisition of AccuMED not only expands our Medical Division’s customer base and combined capabilities but enhances our ability to serve customers looking to near-shore programs with low-cost country manufacturing.”

As part of our advisory role, the firm provided strategic legal guidance on the structure of the acquisition, ensuring compliance with Dominican legal and regulatory frameworks while optimizing operational and regulatory efficiencies; assisted in the drafting, negotiation, and finalization of the Securities Purchase Agreement (SPA) and related ancillary agreements governing the acquisition, as they pertained to the Dominican Republic. This transaction was led by partners Fabio Guzmán Saladín, chair of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate practice at the firm, and Pamela Benzán Arbaje.

About Creative Foam

Creative Foam is a manufacturer and supplier of custom-engineered die-cut, formed foam, nonwoven and multi-material component solutions to the transportation, medical, and Industrial markets. Creative Foam was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Fenton, Mich. Its 12 facilities across North America, including in Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, Ohio, Washington Tennessee, and Mexico, feature over one million square feet of production space.

About AccuMED

AccuMED is a Dominican Republic based medical device contract manufacturer. The Company produces a variety of textile-based medical products and components, including respiratory headgears, compression wraps, drainage bags, and patient handling solutions, among others.

About Guzmán Ariza 

Established in 1927, Guzmán Ariza is the largest law firm in the Dominican Republic, with ten strategically located offices nationwide. We provide a full range of legal services through a multilingual team of experts.

Throughout nearly 100 years of legal practice, Guzmán Ariza has built a reputation in the local and international business communities as a reliable and respected firm known for delivering results.

Santo Domingo – March 19, 2025 – Guzmán Ariza, representing former Major League Baseball player Stanley Javier, has achieved a significant legal victory. The Eighth Criminal Chamber of the National District has absolved Javier of all criminal and civil liability, after being accused of fraud by French citizen Monique Choupault De Lengaine.

The complaint was related to alleged real estate fraud in an equestrian residential project located in Santo Domingo Oeste.

Javier, accompanied by his legal team, announced the favorable ruling on Wednesday afternoon. His defender, Noé Abreu, described the accusations as unfounded and highlighted that the court dismissed the theory presented by the complainant.

The complaint alleged that, through the company Ciudad Deportiva 11 de Enero, the former player had sold Choupault a plot of 9,000 square meters, which was later replaced by another of smaller size and without the promised amenities. However, the court dismissed these allegations.

Following the verdict, Javier expressed his satisfaction and stated that his track record of seriousness and commitment could not be tarnished by these accusations. He also thanked the media for helping to spread the truth and clear his name.

About Stanley Javier

Stanley Javier had a 17-year career in Major League Baseball, playing for teams such as the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Seattle Mariners. He was a World Series champion in 1989 with the Athletics. In the Dominican Republic, he played his entire career with the Águilas Cibaeñas, winning four championships. He currently serves as an advisor to the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (Lidom).

About Guzmán Ariza

Established in 1927, Guzmán Ariza is the largest law firm in the Dominican Republic, with ten strategically located offices nationwide. We provide a full range of legal services through a multilingual team of experts.

Throughout nearly 100 years of legal practice, Guzmán Ariza has built a reputation in the local and international business communities as a reliable and respected firm known for delivering results.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, March 18, 2025 – Guzmán Ariza expresses its deep gratitude to the Dominican judiciary and all institutions involved in the Joshua Steven Riibe case for recognizing and upholding the rule of law and ensuring respect for his fundamental rights as a foreign citizen in the Dominican Republic.

From the outset, our firm was retained by the Riibe family to defend his fundamental rights and ensure compliance with due process as established in Article 69 of the Dominican Constitution.

We sincerely appreciate the cooperation provided by the U.S. Embassy’s Consular Agency in Bávaro, which has supported the family throughout this process. As a leading firm assisting foreign clients in the country, Guzmán Ariza reaffirms its commitment to defending due process and protecting the fundamental rights of all individuals in the Dominican Republic, both citizens and foreign nationals. We firmly believe in the importance of preserving the rule of law, not only as an essential principle of justice but also as a cornerstone of trust in our institutions and the image of our valued tourism industry.

We acknowledge the professional and courteous treatment afforded to our client by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, despite the irregular restrictions placed upon him.

Finally, we extend our heartfelt solidarity to the family of Sudiksha Konanki during these difficult times, joining in the collective hope for her safe return as soon as possible.

UPDATE – March 28, 2025

As scheduled at the hearing on March 18, Judge Edwin Rijo of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance of La Altagracia today issued the full written sentence detailing the legal reasoning behind his decision to grant the habeas corpus motion filed by Guzmán Ariza on behalf of Joshua Steven Riibe, officially concluding the case.

It is important to note that, in cases of this nature, the detailed judgment containing the court’s legal reasoning, as presented today, does not constitute a new decision. The original ruling announced at the conclusion of the hearing on March 18 was immediately valid and enforceable.

The Court ordered Mr. Riibe’s immediate release because he was unlawfully detained surpassing the maximum period of 48 hours permitted under the Constitution of the Dominican Republic and the Dominican Code of Criminal Procedure. According to these provisions, the Public Prosecutor’s Office is required to file formal charges within forty-eight hours following an arrest or detention.

Our firm remains committed to upholding due process and the constitutional guarantees established under Article 69 of our Constitution. This ruling reinforces these fundamental principles and strengthens confidence in the justice system of the Dominican Republic.

This favorable outcome was achieved through the dedication and tireless efforts of our legal team, comprised of firm partners Alfredo Guzmán-Saladín and Rhadaisis Espinal, Criminal Law Of Counsel Beatriz Santana and associate attorneys Helen Peralta and Esteban Sánchez.

Guzmán Ariza remains steadfast in its commitment to defending the rule of law, ensuring nationals and foreign citizens alike can trust in the protection of their fundamental rights in the Dominican Republic.

About Guzmán Ariza, Attorneys at Law and Consultants

Established in 1927, Guzmán Ariza is the largest law firm in the Dominican Republic, with ten strategically located offices nationwide. We provide a full range of legal services through a multilingual team of experts.

Throughout nearly 100 years of legal practice, Guzmán Ariza has built a reputation in the local and international business communities as a reliable and respected firm known for delivering results.

In a global context of high volatility and liquidity restrictions, the Dominican Republic has maintained the lowest country risk indicator in Latin America, standing out as a safe investment destination. According to JP Morgan’s EMBI indicator, the Dominican Republic’s country risk improved from 530 basis points in March 2022 to 200 basis points in February 2025, its lowest historical level. This reflects the recognition of the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals.

Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI) in Various Latam Countries (2022 – 2025)

JPMorgan Chase

Additionally, the Dominican Republic is the only Central American country with a positive risk rating outlook according to Fitch Ratings. Foreign direct investment has exceeded 4 billion dollars in the last three years, with expectations to reach 4.7 billion dollars by the end of 2025. Economic dynamism is also seen in remittances, tourism, and exports, which totaled more than 43 billion dollars in 2024.

Despite the appreciation of the dollar and high interest rates in the United States, the Dominican economy grew by 5.0% in 2024, with an inflation rate of 3.35% and an unemployment rate of 4.8%. The nominal GDP reached 124.5 billion dollars, positioning the country as the seventh largest economy in the region. Growth projections for 2025 are 4.5%, surpassing the Latin American average.

The Dominican financial sector is healthy and well-capitalized, with no evidence of significant macro-financial risks in the short term. There are opportunities to expand nearshoring and diversify exports, which would contribute to exchange rate stability.

Source: https://www.bancentral.gov.do/a/d/6160-la-economia-dominicana-frente-al-nuevo-escenario-internacional?s=08

February 2025