The powerhouse environmental law team at BLP remains a market leader, employing a multidisciplinary approach to advise NGOs, financial institutions and household-name multinationals, such as Kraft Heinz, Uber and Amazon, across sectors ranging from food and beverages, tech, chemicals and infrastructure to tourism, real estate, medical devices, healthcare and manufacturing. The group’s comprehensive service covers environmental dispute resolution, compliance auditing and consulting, the proposing and drafting of new regulations, environmental planning related to tourist developments, laws and initiatives on conservation, public service network expansion and green finance. The team also acts for both public and private sector plaintiffs and defendants in environmental cases before the civil, criminal and administrative courts. The practice is led by Mauricio Salas, who brings over 30 years of experience to the team and who, in addition to environmental law, specialises in dispute resolution, and Andrea González, who brings strength to environmental compliance matters related to real estate and hospitality projects. Key support is provided by director Luis Palacios, who assists clients with litigation and with obtaining permits related to mining extraction and water concessions.

Formed by former COLBS Estudio Legal partner Javier Escalante after he and Sebastián Jiménez split their practices in September 2021, the team at Tactic Legal continues to grow, bringing strength to advising real estate developers, NGOs and multinational corporations across such sectors as manufacturing, food and beverages, building materials, agriculture and real estate on a wide range of environmental matters. These range from the regulations and permits required for water usage and management, tourism and development projects, and waste management and recycling to environmental conservation, regulatory compliance and litigation. The practice is headed by Javier Escalante, who draws on his background as a former trade negotiator and chief of staff in the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Trade, and director Fernanda Jiménez, who works regularly with such environmental authorities as the Ministry of Environment and Energy's water department, and who, along with Escalante, advises on environmental regulations and restrictions applicable to large-scale development projects.

Continuing to grow since its 2021 merger with firms in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, Alta Batalla utilises a multidisciplinary approach, integrating its environmental law practice with its infrastructure and projects, sustainability and natural resources practices, and coordinating with its trade and customs, public law and dispute resolution teams to advise financial institutions and major multinationals, such as Panasonic. The firm’s active client base spans sectors ranging from food, real estate, hospitality, agribusiness, chemicals and energy to mining, aviation, medical devices, electronics and manufacturing. The practice’s comprehensive service covers administrative procedures, permits, environmental legal compliance assessments, complex litigation, risk analysis and advice on industrial operations such as waste management, soils protection, sewage, energy consumption and emission control. The practice is headed by environmental law and natural sciences expert Raúl Guevara. Key support is provided by associate Adrián Vega, who specialises in due diligence and environmental compliance audits. Former Arias practice head Roberto Cordero joined the firm as senior counsel in August 2024, along with associate Marian Mora Murillo.

The environmental group at Arias employs regional strength to advise national and international corporates and developers on a wide spectrum of matters across the practice area. With a client base spanning such sectors as pharmaceuticals, education, construction, food and beverages, agriculture and chemicals, the firm’s full offering covers matters ranging from environmental litigation and alternative dispute resolution, expansion planning and legal permits and licences to ESG services, regulatory compliance, renewable projects and environmental due diligence. Carlos Ubico brings extensive experience in advising on matters involving project finance, public works concessions, administrative litigation and constitutional claims before the Costa Rican Constitutional Court. Key support is provided by senior counsel Luis Diego Obando, who has handled international environmental litigation before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

The environmental practice at EY Law Central America leverages its regional footprint and the expertise of its team to assist with construction and land planning developments, industrial plants and fruit plantations, and complex environmental litigation and procedural matters. The practice’s client roster includes such multinationals as Unilever and Abbott Medical, and spans the consumer goods, food, tobacco, electronics and healthcare sectors. The group’s comprehensive service extends to advice on sustainability, risk assessment strategies and support with the environmental health and safety aspects of M&A transactions. The practice is headed by managing partner Hernán Pacheco, who brings 25 years of transactional expertise. Key support is provided by manager Jéssica Castro, who advises on environmental regulatory issues, and who represents clients in administrative and judicial proceedings, and senior associate Károl Masís, who specialises in climate change and sustainability matters.