Alfredo Guzmán Saladín and Alberto Reyes Báez, partners of Guzmán Ariza in the Dominican Republic, attended the Chambers Latin America Awards event in Miami, Florida. Guzmán Ariza is one of the “Top Ranked” law firms in the country, by the prestigious directory Chambers and Partners.
Guzmán Ariza Law Firm was recognized in the 2019 edition of IFLR1000, one of the world’s largest financial publishers, for its outstanding practice in Project development.
Partner Christoph Sieger was commemorated as a “Highly regarded” lawyer. It also highlights the partners Fabio Guzmán Saladín and Alberto Reyes as “Notable Practitioners”.
IFLR1000 is the only international legal directory focused on ranking law firms and lawyers on the basis financial and corporate transactional work. IFLR1000 has been researching legal markets for 29 years with an experienced research team based in London, New York and Hong Kong.
[November 2018]
The Dominican Republic law firm of Guzmán Ariza – the first and only national law firm in the Dominican Republic – is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Since 1927, Guzmán Ariza has focused on serving national and international businesses and individuals.
Fabio Guzmán Ariza, the firm’s managing partner, explained that the firm was started by his father, Antonio Guzmán, working solo in his home town of Salcedo, after graduating from the University of Santo Domingo Law School.
Now, Mr. Guzmán Ariza continued, the firm has seven fully-staffed offices strategically located in every major business and tourism center in the Dominican Republic and is “the only law firm in the Dominican Republic with a national reach.”
Mr. Guzmán Ariza added that the firm’s “commitment to the law and business principles, our responsiveness to clients, and our cost-effective practices have earned us the reputation within the international business community as a trusted and respected law firm that delivers results.” He stated, “We are honored to be celebrating our 90th anniversary with our clients, employees, partners, and friends.”
The law firm of Guzmán Ariza has more than 30 multilingual and multinational lawyers equipped to assist international investors across a wide variety of practice areas, including corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, banking, insurance and securities, taxation, intellectual property, litigation, real estate and condominium law, immigration, and family law.
After 90 years in the forefront, Mr. Guzmán Ariza said, the firm remains committed to assisting clients in an effective way in the time and at the place they need.
About Guzmán Ariza
Guzmán Ariza is the first and only national law firm in the Dominican Republic, with seven fully-staffed offices strategically located in Santo Domingo, Sosúa-Puerto Plata, Cabrera, Las Terrenas, Samaná, La Romana and Bávaro-Punta Cana.
The firm has been recognized as an outstanding Dominican law firm by Legal 500, Chambers and the International Financial Law Review, the premier guides to the world’s leading law firms.
In a conference hosted at the Casa de Campo Villa of Phyllis Berney, in the beautiful Barranca Este neighborhood, law firms Guzmán Ariza (based across the Dominican Republic, including La Romana), and Cantor & Webb P.A. (based in the United States) presented a conference on “Developments in U.S. and DR Tax, Estate Planning and Reporting Requirements”.
Details of the event from the Casa de CampoLiving: http://casadecampoliving.com/tax-guzman-ariza-cantor-webb/ magazine
November 2013
Time for Rental Reforms in the Caribbean’ New Study Released by the Global Property Guide
NewswireToday – /newswire/ – Makati City, Manila, Philippines, 06/02/2007 – In a study, the Global Property Guide examines the landlord and tenant systems of 19 Caribbean countries and territories in terms of rent control, security deposits and tenant eviction.
The Caribbean is a playground of the rich and famous. It is also seen as business-friendly. Perhaps surprising, then, that some Caribbean countries have strongly restrictive almost socialist-style housing market systems, with strict rent controls, and strong security for tenants.
In a study, the Global Property Guide examines the landlord and tenant systems of 19 Caribbean countries and territories in terms of rent control, security deposits and tenant eviction. With contributions from local law firms, each economy is rated as strongly pro-tenant, pro-tenant, neutral, pro-landlord or strongly pro-landlord.
The study notes that, against popular notions, a “pro-tenant” rental market is actually harmful to tenants in the long run. It discourages landlords from investing in new rental units, leading to less supply. As demand for rental units increases with population growth, shortages develop. Landlords lose the incentive to maintain and upgrade their rental units. The quality of the existing rental housing stock deteriorates.
The most restrictive rent control law in the Caribbean is enforced in the US Virgin Islands. For housing accommodations, the maximum rent ceiling is the rent in force and in effect on July 1, 1947. For buildings created and/or rented after July 1, 1947, the maximum rent allowed is the first rent charged for the unit.
In Jamaica, the Rent Assessment Board sets the rental for all commercial and residential premises. The annual rent ceiling is 7.5% of the assessed value of the premises.
In the Dominican Republic, there is universal rent control with the maximum monthly rent fixed at 1% of the value of the rental property, in effect, 12% annual rental returns.
Evicting tenants is a serious problem in some parts of the Caribbean. In the Dominican Republic, tenants get more or less perpetual security, notes law firm Guzman Ariza. Rental agreements normally last for three to six months. However, even if the contract has already expired, the tenant can continue living in the unit as long as rent is paid. If the landlord refuses to accept the rent, the tenant can simply deposit the amount Banco Agricola. The bank will hold the amount for the landlord and the tenant can stay in perpetuity.
The law in St. Vincent and the Grenadines also generously protects the tenant. Prior to eviction, the tenant is given at least six months to look for an alternative dwelling, according to law firm Knights Chambers.
The Global Property Guide’s view is that free rental markets, with adequate incentives for landlords, tend best to encourage the supply of rental housing. In the Caribbean, most housing projects focus on the direct provision of housing units with limited and, at times, dismal results. The misplaced focus on direct housing provision, long ago abandoned in Europe, is still in force in several countries.
By removing restrictions, most notably in the Dominican Republic and the US Virgin Islands, the rental market for local tenants could be developed, improving living standards.
About The Global Property Guide
The Global Property Guide is a research publication and website (globalpropertyguide.com) for the high net worth investor in residential property – providing information about the process and benefits of buying property in any country in the entire world.
Economics Team:
Prince Christian Cruz, Senior Economist
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Matthew Montagu-Pollock
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