Aguilar Castillo Love wins strong praise for its ‘ability to propose creative and innovative solutions‘ to the full range of transactional and contentious tax matters, acting for leading regional and international players in the energy, mining, telecoms food and beverages and construction sectors. Drawing on the strength of the full-service firm’s corporate and litigation departments, the team is skilled in advising on the tax aspects of M&A and restructurings, and also has a stellar record of representing clients in high-stakes disputes with the Honduran tax authority (SAR), including handling a precedent-setting recent case relating to transfer pricing. Office managing partner Enrique Rodríguez Burchard and Juan José Alcerro Milla lead the team, with strengths in the tax structuring of corporate transactions and in tax litigation, respectively. Up-and-coming partner Victor Alejandro Martínez is also a key name, particularly for tax disputes.

BLP fields an impressively broad tax and customs practice, taking in tax consultancy, tax planning and litigation. The regional firm acts for a mix of leading local and international clients (including a growing number of European companies), with a particularly strong skill set in advising investors in the manufacturing and energy sectors on tax exemptions available under the current law in Honduras and incorporation into the country’s free trade zones. Tax litigation is also a key pillar of the practice; the team is frequently active in challenging decisions by the SAR and municipal authorities relating to fines and tax adjustments. In addition, the team advises on the tax aspects of M&A and restructurings. Lilian López and Jorge Brizuela, both founding members of the International Fiscal Association in Honduras, lead the practice. Associates Fernando Gómez and Norma Amador provide capable support.

Consortium Legal's ‘versatile‘ practice runs the gamut of tax matters, from tax compliance and exemptions to litigation before the SAR and the Ministry of Finance. Counting major local and multinational companies from the energy, retail, food and beverages, transport and banking sectors among its clients, the team is adept at advising on tax issues relating to corporate restructurings (including handling multi-jurisdictional mandates alongside the firm’s other regional offices) and the closure of operations. The firm also has a thriving tax disputes practice, with extensive experience in challenging decisions by the municipal and national tax authorities and a strong recent record in transfer pricing litigation. Practice head Armando Manzanares has a wealth of expertise in contentious and non-contentious tax matters, while Patricia Solórzano is another key name at top level. The strong cohort of junior lawyers includes senior associate Grossnie Velásquez and associate Aida Sierra.

Alta Melara & Asociados' strong presence in Central America, combined with its full-service model, positions it well to provide tax compliance and planning advice to a string of major local, regional and multinational corporations, with a notable strong suit in the automotive sector. The team routinely assists with the tax issues relating to M&A (including cross-border transactions), and advises clients in the free trade zone and tourism spheres on the tax exemptions available under Honduran law. Office managing partner Óscar Melara, who brings to bear extensive experience in corporate and tax matters, leads the team alongside Michael Rascoff. Senior associate Alejandra Suárez, who is highlighted for her ‘extraordinary‘ knowledge of the tax field, and accountant Marlyn Velásquez are also key contacts.

Arias draws on its extensive platform in Central America to advise large multinationals on the tax issues affecting their operations in Honduras, with a client base spanning the energy, textiles, pharmaceutical, construction, mining and energy industries. The comprehensive practice covers tax planning, compliance, customs and transfer pricing issues, and has a strong emphasis on assisting clients operating in free trade zones and in the energy and mining sectors on tax exemptions currently available under local law. The group is also highly experienced on the contentious side, frequently representing clients in disputes over tax adjustments imposed by the SAR. Honduras managing partner Evangelina Lardizábal, whose broad practice combines expertise in M&A, foreign investment, energy and tax law, leads the team.

Regional firm García & Bodán combines expertise in tax consultancy, tax planning and litigation to offer a complete service to multinational companies from the retail, insurance, aviation and BPO sectors, among others. The team is well versed in advising on the tax elements of M&A and spin-offs, as well as the tax incentives currently available to companies in Honduras’ free trade zones. The practice also assists with challenges to adjustments made by the national and municipal tax authorities. Honduras managing partner Vanessa Oquelí, whose practice includes advising on the tax structuring of M&A and investment plans, and Godofredo Siercke lead the team, ably supported by senior associate Gabriela Aguirre.

Demonstrating strength in the energy, logistics, pharmaceutical and transport sectors, among others, Gufa Law focuses its tax practice on advising predominantly international clients on tax issues affecting their day-to-day operations. The team also works alongside the full-service firm’s busy corporate department to advise on the tax due diligence and structuring of M&A transactions, and on the availability of tax exemptions under Honduras’ various special tax regimes, including for clients in free trade zones. Associate Julia Sandoval is the key figure in the practice, with notable recent experience in the tax aspects of M&A and restructurings. The practice also benefits from the expertise of managing partner Maurício Villeda Jr.

The tax practice at Central American firm Lexincorp focuses predominantly on advising large domestic and regional corporations on day-to-day tax and customs issues, with a diverse client base which covers the transport, telecoms, retail, real estate and consumer goods sectors. The team leverages the firm’s full-service model to assist the corporate department with the tax due diligence and planning of acquisitions, and is also active in representing clients in challenges to decisions taken by the SAR. Engels Zelaya and San Pedro Sula office head Sylvia Zelaya jointly lead the practice, while associate Nicole Fugón, who has notable past experience in the tax administration, is also noted.