Carbon neutral firm Santroni Parsons specialises in environmental law and regulatory matters. The firm is extremely active in the tourism sector, standing out for its advice on the environmental compliance of high-profile investment projects in this area, and counts numerous major hotel groups among its clients. Areas of expertise include environmental feasibility studies, investment strategies and the processing of environmental permits and licences. Founding partner Romina Santroni concentrates her practice on areas such as complex environmental permits, social conflicts, land use and planning, resort development and special tax regimes. She leads the team with Guily Shemer, the managing director of the firm’s Punta Cana desk, who has expertise in environmental law, urban law and tourism.
Environment in Dominican Republic
Santroni Parsons
Responsables de la pratique:
Romina Santroni; Guily Shemer
Les références
‘This firm is a boutique for environmental issues. What makes it unique is its straightforward approach, immediate responses and direct contact with the client, in addition to its obvious mastery of environmental issues. They provide excellent service with very competitive prices. The youth of the team is surprising as they are extremely well trained and professional.‘
‘Romina Santroni and Guily Shemer have a lot of knowledge about environmental issues as well as a practical way of applying it to complex processes.‘
Principaux clients
Moon Palace Resorts – Macao Alto Resort I & II and Ciudad Palace
Amanera Resort – Playa Grande Project
Playa Grande Golf and Ocean Club
Hotel Real Intercontinental Santo Domingo
Hotel Casas Del XVI – Grupo Inicia
Hacienda Samana Bay
Hotel Quality Santo Domingo
DP World
Murales
WCG Energy
Gerdau Metaldom
Costa Blanca
Best in Pro Group
GWR Greenwood Residences
Grupo Noval
Grupo Pedralbes
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Moon Palace Resorts – Macao Alto Resort I & II and Ciudad Palace on the development of a tourist project in an environmentally sensitive area.
- Assisted Playa Grande Golf and Ocean Club with all issues related to real estate transactions, including environmental compliance, permits and plans, sustainability strategies, governmental relations, land use and regulatory matters.
- Advised DP World Caucedo on an environmental impact assessment which resulted in the approval of an environmental permit for the expansion of the port.
DMK Abogados
DMK Abogados has a strong reputation for handling environmental matters in the Dominican Republic and is highly experienced in all stages of project development, from obtaining environmental permits and licences to advising on environmental management agreements and negotiating with public authorities in relation to resort developments. The team frequently acts for well-known hotel chains, with an emphasis on advising US hospitality groups. Practice head Enrique De Marchena is a key name for environmental issues relating to foreign investment, particularly in the tourism sector, as well as for contentious and regulatory compliance issues. Versatile senior associate Cinthya Pérez Mateo provides capable support in environmental matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Enrique De Marchena
Principaux clients
SenatorHotels and Resort
Corporación Aeroportuaria Del Este (CAE)
Sol Meliá International
Marriott International
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Corporacion Aeroportuaria del Este (CAE) in an administrative appeal over the Bavaro International Airport construction project.
- Advised Senator Hotel & Resort on a range of environmental matters, including in relation to a dispute over a neighbouring property.
- Advised Sol Meliá International Hotels on the renewal of tourism and environmental permits.
Guzmán Ariza
Guzmán Ariza‘s main focus lies on the environmental aspects of real estate and tourism projects, but other sector strengths for the team include the hospitality, construction and entertainment industries. The team’s workload spans sustainability and environmental impact assessments, compliance, permitting issues, and environmental disputes. Giselle Pérez Reyes oversees the team and utilises her significant regulatory expertise to advise on large-scale energy, hydrocarbon, tourism and real estate projects. Corporate department chair Fabio Guzmán Saladín and real estate and tourism specialist Alfredo Guzmán Saladín are also key contacts.
Responsables de la pratique:
Giselle Pérez Reyes
Principaux clients
Club Mediterranée (Club Med)
Anex Tours
12Tree Finance
Noval
Viva Wyndham Resorts
Ani Villas
Dream City
Athelia Blue Finance
Knauf GIPS
Nader Enterprises
Jason Sees
Levitals Grupo Inversor
Potentia Renewables (Emerald Solar Energy)
Pro Miches
Rizek Group
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted Club Med with obtaining the necessary permits and environmental licences for the construction of a five-star hotel on beachfront land in Miches.
- Advised Anex Tours on obtaining the environmental licence for the construction of a mega-project in the Macao-Punta Cana area.
- Assisted 12Tree Finance, a German asset manager and operator active in sustainable forestry and agroforestry projects, with regulatory compliance and environmental issues related to possible greenfield and brownfield opportunities in the Dominican cacao-growing industry.
Headrick Rizik Alvarez & Fernández
Headrick Rizik Alvarez & Fernández is well known for its advice on compliance with environmental regulation in the Dominican Republic, including carrying out impact studies for industrial and tourist projects. Julio Camejo is the key contact for environment-related litigation.
Pellerano Nadal
Pellerano Nadal has a strong track record of handling environmental compliance matters relating to projects and transactions in the real estate, mining and energy sectors, among others. The team is also adept at handling environmental litigation; its recent highlights include representing a local mining company in a dispute over environmental damage in the area. Gustavo Mena, who has extensive experience in environmental law (including acting as an expert in international arbitration cases), heads the practice. Senior associate and regulatory expert B Génesis Rodríguez frequently advises on environmental services, management and compliance. Managing partner Luis Rafael Pellerano lends senior expertise to the team.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gustavo Mena
Principaux clients
Barrick Gold Corporation
Belfond Enterprise (Pederson and Partners)
MK Inc of the Palm Beaches
New Fortress Energy
IMCD Group
J. Fortuna Constructores
Dominicana de Cales (DOCALSA)
Goldquest
Kinnox
Apache
Compañía de Electricidad San Pedro de Macorís (CESPM) – Energas
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted Compañía de Electricidad San Pedro de Macorís (CESPM) – Energas with the environmental aspects of its participation in a tender for the building and operation of an LNG plant in the port of Manzanillo.
- Assisted IMCD Group with the environmental compliance assessment relating to its acquisitions of Andes Chemical and Quelaris International.
- Assisted Ayesa Ingeniería y Arquitectura with environmental issues relating to its possible entry to the Dominican market.
Ulises Cabrera
Ulises Cabrera's environmental practice was bolstered significantly at senior level with the promotion to the partnership of Heiddy Moronta in April 2022; she brings to bear two decades of experience in the environmental aspects of foreign investments and project finance (and in 2023 was also appointed as coordinator of the firm's environment and sustainability committee). Moronta co-heads the team alongside managing partner José Cruz Campillo, who is well versed in environmental issues relating to corporate transactions. Founding partner Ulises Cabrera contributes significant regulatory expertise to the group.
Responsables de la pratique:
José Cruz Campillo; Heiddy Moronta
Les références
‘José Cruz Campillo is distinguished by always providing a personalised service and is extremely timely and assertive in his advice and assistance with the implementation of our action plans.‘
‘What stands out is the quality and timing of their responses, while also being in depth.‘
Principaux clients
Gildan Activewear Properties
Knight Piésold Consultores
Cardinal Health D.R. 203 II
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Gildan Activewear Properties before the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources to obtain the amendment of its environmental permit, in particular relating to the water discharge parameters for conductivity levels to be applied to Gildan.
- Assisted Knight Piésold Consultores with the renewal of permits granted by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources to its environmental consultants, as well as the renewal of Knight Piésold Consultores’s registration as an authorised consulting firm.
- Represented Cardinal Health D.R. 203 II before the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources to seek the renewal of its environmental permit as well as the issuance of a duplicate due to the loss of the original permit.