Castillo y Castillo‘s real estate and tourism team is particularly active in advising major hospitality companies and hotel chains, such as Best Hotels. The firm’s workload is principally focused on regulatory matters, as well as licensing and permitting issues. Clients also turn to the firm for advice on financing transactions in the real estate and tourism industries. The team is overseen by Práxedes J. Castillo Báez and senior associate Maria Portes, whose standout work includes assisting clients with the purchase of land, construction issues, and licensing and permits for the operations of hotels.

DMK Abogados has a long history of assisting key businesses in the tourism sector in the Dominican Republic, including Marriott International, the largest hotel company in the world. The group is able to advise on franchising and employment issues, litigation and tax incentives for tourism matters. Enrique De Marchena, whose ‘knowledge, communication, and availability‘ is highlighted, oversees the team, and is an expert in advising international clients looking to invest into the Dominican tourism industry. Patricia Read Schott is key to the group’s advice on real estate developments, and counts many companies in the hospitality industry as clients.

Guzmán Ariza fields a broad real estate and tourism practice, ranging from advice on day-to-day permitting and licensing issues to project financing in the tourism sector and corporate transactions involving multinational hotel chains. Another notable area of expertise is the development of real estate and condominium projects, along with matters relating to luxury second homes and large agricultural properties. The group’s practice heads are managing partner Fabio J Guzmán Ariza, Alfredo Guzmán Saladín, Julio Brea Guzmán, Rubén García, César Calderón, and Marianne Olivares; they are based across the firm's office in Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Puerta Plata, La Romana and Samaná, enabling the team to advise on real estate and tourism matters throughout the country.

In addition to advising on real estate transactions and leasing agreements for major clients in the sports industry, ECIJA DVMS has been particularly active in advising on the development of large-scale projects in the tourism industry. Gabriel Dejarden and Polibio Valenzuela head up the team, which is well versed in advising on matters in the key tourist locations of Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Samaná. Elsewhere in the team, Christian Molina is a go-to practitioner when it comes to the development of hotels and other real estate.

Headrick Rizik Alvarez & Fernández is noted for its transactional work in the real estate space, including financial transactions in the sector. The group has been engaged to advise on real estate purchases, construction agreements, permitting and other issues relating to some of the country’s most significant tourism developments; in particular, it has continued to advise on the development of the Playa Grande Golf Resort in the north of the country. Jaime Senior runs the team and is a key contact for the group’s advice on investments in tourism and industrial free zones. Founding partners Mary Fernández and Marisol Vicens are also significant team members when it comes to assisting tourism and real estate companies looking to invest in the Dominican Republic. César Ledesma is a key name to note at associate level.

OMG stands out for its advice on mixed-use tourism developments, with expertise spanning from planning and land zoning to construction agreements, licensing and permitting, and the sale of resort properties. Its diverse client base includes national and international real estate developers, investment funds and hotel chains. At the helm is Esperanza Cabral, who has experience in high-end real estate transactions. Director Patricia Losada is notable for her advice on tourist developments, drawing on past experience at a major promotor of sustainable tourim, as well as for her expertise in zoning and regularisation.

Alburquerque Abogados – Consultores, which is praised for its ‘knowledge and skill’, houses a multidisciplinary team which advises on the structuring of tourism and real estate projects, due diligence for the purchase of real estate, and obtaining flight permits and tourism permits, as well as assisting foreign investors in the tourism industry. José Manuel Alburquerque Prieto, Laura Polanco Coste and Gina Hernández Vólquez lead the team, the latter of whom stands out for her work assisting clients with acquisitions in the tourism industry.

Jiménez Peña counts large international hotel chains such as Marriott International among its key clients, frequently assisting with hotel reformations and developments, in addition to acting for financial institutions, funds and investors in the real estate and tourism sectors. The group's expertise ranges across the full spectrum of real estate matters, from the acquisition of real estate assets (such as hotels and shopping centres) to the development of commercial and luxury residential projects. Group leader Luis Julio Jiménez, the firm’s founding partner, has a strong track record of advising major hotel clients. Elsewhere, Jennifer Beauchamps is a key adviser to financial institutions in the tourism sector.

Pellerano Nadal is particularly skilled in advising on environmental issues in the real estate and tourism sectors, but its broad practice covers a wide range of matters, including real estate acquisitions, project financing for hotel developments and regulatory advice to major airlines. Managing partner Luis Rafael Pellerano stands out for his land acquisition work; he leads the team alongside Marielle Garrigó, and Urania Paulino, who frequently advises key players in the aviation industry.

Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti‘s practice is well known for advising on real estate acquisitions, real estate financing (including mortgages and other securities), and due diligence and title searches, and frequently acts for individuals wishing to invest in the Dominican Republic. Practice head Román Medina Diplán is based in Puerto Plata, a popular tourist area in the country, and so is well placed to advise leading real estate developers on the construction of real estate and tourist projects. José Maldonado Stark is also a key team member.

Squire Patton Boggs‘ group has a strong presence in matters related to the aviation sector, utilising Rhina Martínez Brea‘s expertise in this area. More generally, the team’s offering spans high-end developments in the tourism sector, and real estate financing and acquisitions, in addition to regulatory advice, with notable clients including major airlines and energy companies. Brea leads the team together with Santo Domingo office managing partner Alejandro Peña-Prieto, who is active in the real estate and hospitality sectors.

Ulises Cabrera has experience of handling litigation in the real estate sector, and also frequently advises on tourist developments, environmental and permitting issues, and real estate due diligence and acquisitions. Jeanny Aristy Santana, who was promoted to partner in January 2024 and stands out for her ‘theoretical and technical knowledge in real estate matters‘, leads the team alongside Ulises Cabrera, a veteran adviser on private and government projects, and Leslie Cabrera, who is key to the group’s advice on the acquisition of land for tourist developments.

Estrella & Tupete specialises in the tourism and real estate sectors, with the majority of its clientele comprising of hotels. The team is frequently engaged to advise clients on obtaining the required regulatory authorisations, environmental licences or tax exemptions for tourist projects. The duo running the team are managing partner Guillermo Estrella and Miguelina Quezada de Tupete.

Pereyra & Asociados is often engaged to advise on in real estate financing matters, and international banks such as Bank of Nova Scotia form a significant part of the group’s client roster. At the helm is Luis Miguel Pereyra, an experienced practitioner who ‘always conducts a thorough analysis‘, and Emma Mejía Batlle, who is key to the group's transactional work in the sector, as well as regularly advising clients on obtaining the necessary permits.

QA Legal‘s practitioners frequently assist clients with corporate matters in the tourism sector, as well as real estate development and financing matters. Areas of expertise range from the hotels and residential developments to mixed-use projects and shopping centres. Practice head José Quiroz has a strong knowledge of these areas, particularly in advising foreign investors on the development of projects in the Dominican Republic. Director Viclenny Liriano is also a key contact.

Santroni Parsons, which specialises in the real estate and tourism spheres, is highly proficient in advising hotel and companies seeking to invest in the Dominican Republic’s tourism industry, often assisting with tax matters and environmental permits. Romina Santroni, Guily Shemer and director Patricia Bengoa are the trio leading the team; Shemer in particular is a go-to practitioner for the development of sustainable real estate projects.

Wendy Marte Abogados is adept at advising clients on the required permits for their activities in the tourism industry, such as permits for hotel operations. The team also routinely advises on the sale and acquisition of residential properties, franchising agreements in the hospitality sector, and the structuring and development of major real estate projects. Founding partner and practice head Wendy Marte is a specialist in the tourism sector, regularly advising on tax exemptions available for developments in this arena.