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Guzmán Ariza takes part in the first meeting of the working group for the sargassum valuation plan in the Dominican Republic

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.

Guzmán Ariza Participates in the First Latin American Summit of the New York City Bar Association

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.

Guzmán Ariza Attends SIMA 2025 in Madrid, Spain

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.

Guzmán Ariza and the New York City Bar Association Host Events in the Dominican Republic

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.

Guzmán Ariza Advises Creative Foam on Successful Acquisition of AccuMED

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.

Guzmán Ariza Defends Stanley Javier in Real Estate Fraud Case

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.

Court Grants Habeas Corpus to Joshua Steven Riibe

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.

The Dominican Republic: A Safe Investment Destination

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

Chambers Global 2025

We are proud announce that Guzman Ariza has been recognized by Chambers and Partners in the 2025 Global Guide as a top-ranked Dominican firm in three of our core areas of practice: Corporate and Commercial, Real Estate & Tourism and Dispute Resolution. Their editorial review highlights:

  • Guzmán Ariza boasts a powerhouse practice group in Real Estate & Tourism, with a longstanding tradition of advising on complex real estate transactions and the development of tourism projects. Its strong team of highly experienced lawyers stands out for the lawyers’ breadth of expertise, which ranges from counselling hotel groups on day-to-day operations to project financing and land and asset acquisition deals. Guzmán Ariza provides further counsel on permitting and licences, as well as environmental compliance. The team at Guzmán Ariza is trustworthy, responsible and has vast legal expertise. They have a thorough understanding of the international landscape, handling a wide range of foreign clients. Senior statesperson Fabio Guzmán Ariza is regarded as a highly experienced and respected real estate practitioner. He is a well-known academic and prominent figure in the legal area of real estate and tourism. Julio Brea-Guzmán has a strong track record of assisting with real estate transactions in the tourism sector. He is the head of the firm’s real estate department for the Puerto Plata-Sosúa-Cabrera area. He is characterised by his focus and sharp mind. He has exceptional management skills and a special ability to instill confidence in the client. Partner Alfredo Guzmán-Saladín boasts expertise advising key clients in the real estate and tourism sphere.
  • Our noteworthy corporate and commercial practice, handling company incorporations, restructuring and M&A transactions, in addition to corporate and acquisition finance. The team also advises on free trade zone regulations and the tax implications of transactions. Fabio Guzmán Saladín and Alfredo Guzmán Saladín are key client contacts at the firm.
  • Our experienced dispute resolution team that is usually found representing real estate developers, as well as tourism and hospitality clients, in civil and commercial litigation, in addition to bankruptcy proceedings. Notable partner Alberto Reyes continues to garner praise from interviewees for his work handling corporate disputes. Alberto Reyes understands international disputes and the timelines required. He is very responsive and has a thorough understanding of how the legal system works.

Fabio Guzmán Saladín and Pamela Benzán Arbaje Participate in the 2nd Edition of GRR LIVE: Restructuring in the Americas

Our partners Fabio Guzmán Saladín and Pamela Benzán Arbaje took part in the second edition of GRR Live: Restructuring in the Americas held at the offices of Gibson Dunn in New York City. This conference aims to bring together leading speakers and delegates from the international insolvency and restructuring circuit, including lawyers, insolvency administrators, restructuring and recovery advisors, bankers, investors, consultants, and judges, to discuss and analyze the latest developments in the Americas.

Pamela Benzán Arbaje served as moderator for the panel “The Globalization of Liability Management Exercises,” which included participants Scott Greenberg from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Sinjini Saha from Milbank LLP, Eric Vanderpoel from Kroll, Vincent Vroom from Loyens & Loeff, and Guilherme Vaz Leal da Costa from Pinheiro Guimarães.