The administrative law team at BKM | Berkemeyer has extensive experience providing legal advice on infrastructure projects, primarily in the road, transportation, energy and sanitation sectors. The firm demonstrates expertise in public private partnerships, advising the private investor on the project finance aspect of the first PPP in Paraguay. The group is also made up of public procurement experts, with experience in government tenders, from medical supplies and management software to traditional public works tenders. The team is co-led by Hugo Berkemeyer, whose main focus is investments and the set-up of corporate structures. He leads the team alongside Martín Carlevaro, who has extensive experience advising on infrastructure projects, project finance, public contracts and regulatory issues. At the associate level, Adriana Ocampos has experience advising on PPP and turnkey projects, and Dahiana Acosta has a thorough knowledge of international public tenders and public contracts. Vivian Maldonado and Milena Sljivich are also names to note.
Administrative law in Paraguay
BKM | Berkemeyer
Responsables de la pratique:
Hugo Berkemeyer; Martín Carlevaro
Les références
‘The lawyers have vast experience in administrative law, having practiced in public institutions, which makes them familiar with how public institutions work. It is an interdisciplinary team that works well together advising on cases.’
‘Adriana Ocampos has extensive doctrinal and jurisprudential knowledge in the application of local law and administrative procedures, and good precision when writing letters.‘
‘Dahiana Acosta is good at advising on public tenders and administrative procedures.’
Principaux clients
Rutas del Este
Sacyr Concesiones
Consorcio Corredor Vial Bioceanico
Itacamba Cemento
Somarco Paraguay
Sacyr Construcción Paraguay
Enpasa Paraguay
Consorcio Asi Paraguay
Acciona Agua Sucursal Paraguay
Consorcio Rutas 2 y 7
Stiler
Consorcio DC Stiler
Información de Negocios y Procesos (INP)
Ocho A
BTD
Soundata
Prourbe Medios
Queiroz Galvao
Mota Engil
NeoGreen
Siemens
Rieder & Cia.
JCDecaux
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Rutas del Este on regulatory and administrative law matters during the concession term, including the negotiation of amendments to the PPP contract.
- Assisted Consorcio Corredor Vial Bioceanico and sponsors with negotiations with public sector officials and all regulatory and administrative law matters during the construction phase.
- Advised Acciona Agua on the construction and operation of Bella Vista water treatment plant in Asunción.
Parquet & Asociados
Parquet & Asociados specialises in administrative law, with a team that has helped a number of institutions to find solutions to various challenges within the public sector. The team advises public authorities, public and private institutions and multinational companies looking to enter into relations with the public sector. The firm is actively involved in the drafting of bills and reform legislation, as well as laws, decrees and resolutions for various public institutions. The group has experience in infrastructure, in the presentation of PPP by private initiative to the Paraguayan state. The team is led by Javier Parquet Villagra, who has worked extensively with the Paraguayan state and collaborated on the drafting of various statutes and laws. Lucas Corrales specialises in administrative law and has also advised several entities of the Paraguayan state. Associate David Dominguez assists with drafting and advising on major projects, including PPP.
Responsables de la pratique:
Javier Parquet Villagra
Les références
‘The firm compares in terms of people, billing and collaboration.’
‘Javier Parquet has a detailed knowledge of the legislation, a lot of experience and is adept at negotiating.‘
‘Lucas Corrales demonstrates knowledge and organisation in the procedural part.’
Principaux clients
Ministry of Finance
Ferrocarriles del Paraguay (FEPASA)
Banco Nacional de Fomento (BNF)
Agencia Financiera de Desarrollo (AFD)
Camara Paraguaya de Desarrolladores Inmobiliarios (Capadei)
Altamira Group
Congress of Paraguay
Gambling – B-Gaming Consortium
National Secretary of Sports / Paraguayan Olympic Committee
Secretaria Nacional de Turismo
Fundación Parque Tecnológico Itaipú – Paraguay (FPTI)
Lindea
Principaux dossiers
- Provides daily advice to the Ministry of Finance regarding administrative law matters, and has been appointed as the local counsel for the issuer consistently since 2013, providing legal counsel to the Republic of Paraguay.
- Drafted the Administrative Procedures Act, which aims to regulate the legal regime of administrative acts and administrative procedure, in order to make it possible to carry out administrative procedures and actions by electronic means.
- Advised the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and the National Secretary of Sports on the realisation of the XII South American Games Asuncion 2022.
Ferrere
The team at Ferrere advises clients on all aspects of administrative law and also offers a specific public procurement practice. Clients come from a wide range of sectors, including energy, construction and pharmaceuticals, advising private companies, as well as public entities. The team handles a variety matters, from preparing private initiative proposals for public concessions and competitive bid processes, to designing and negotiating strategies for agreements with the state. The firm also represents clients in administrative litigation and other disputes. The team consists of experts in challenge and guarantee instruments, administrative appeals, actions for unconstitutionality, relief and other effective protections. Practice co-head Carlos Codas leads judicial processes, focusing on commercial and administrative litigation, and leads the team alongside associate Maurizio De Oliveira, who specialises in administrative and regulatory law, administrative disputes and disciplinary procedures and inquiries. Fellow associate Dario Capurro leads the firm’s public procurement practice, advising clients on all kinds of tenders and other procedures involving contracts with government entities.
Responsables de la pratique:
Carlos Codas; Maurizio De Oliveira
Les références
‘Immediate communication of the status of files.’
‘Personalised and cordial attention.’
‘A very competent office that responds to queries quickly and with technical quality. It is a proactive office and supports our company in the search for creative solutions aligned with the business.’
Principaux clients
Mare
TK Elevator
Electropar
Air Liquide
Sika
Farmacéutica Paraguaya (Fapasa)
Cementos Artigas
Castleton Commodities
Siemens
Logicalis
Global Exchange
Equifax
Regional Seguros
La Independencia de Seguros
El Sol del Paraguay Compañía de Seguros y Reaseguros
Banco Itaú
Credicentro
Financiera Solar
Moderna
UENO
Solventa
Terminal Occidental
Marfrig Global Foods
Industrias Citrícolas del Paraguay
Casa Boller
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Terminal Occidental on its approval as the first free trade zone in services in Paraguay.
- Assisted Financiera UENO with obtaining authorisation from the Paraguayan Central Bank to change its license and operate as a bank in the Paraguayan market.
- Acted for TK Elevator on several summaries before the public procurement national directorate.
Vouga Abogados
Vouga Abogados advises national and international clients on complex procedures before public authorities. The firm acts as legal counsel to public entities and international institutions in the drafting of bills and regulations, and is often retained to advise public offices on the development of new regulations. The team works with international clients in highly-regulated areas, such as mining, agribusiness and health. A strong administrative litigation team regularly assists clients with administrative contentious procedures at both the administrative and judicial stages. The team is led by four lawyers; Rodolfo Guillermo Vouga, Rodrigo Fernández, Mirtha Dos Santos and senior associate Manuel Acevedo. Fernández has dealt with a range of administrative law cases, particularly in regulated business sectors such as oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and food and tobacco. Acevedo is engaged in complex procedures and negotiations with public offices. Associate Silvia Benítez has extensive experience in administrative and civil litigation, and represents clients in both administrative and court proceedings. Since publication, Acevedo has been raised to the partnership - effective as of February 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Rodrigo Fernández
Les références
‘Vouga has an in-depth understanding of our company’s corporate structure and subsequent mining exploration business, providing legal counsel, assistance in setting up branches, and tax declaration requirements. Vouga has been entrusted with assisting the mining area’s legal advisors and collecting related materials. The firm has established a good communication channel with the company’s operators and other service providers.’
‘Estudio Vouga offers comprehensive quality legal advice, with trained, responsible and committed professionals. We have always received efficient, fast advice that meets our needs. We trust the work of the firm and we highlight the quality of the lawyers and the personalised attention we receive, which is precisely what makes Estudio Vouga one of the most prestigious and recognised firms in Paraguay. We noticed a very good organisation, with defined teams that work collaboratively. The lawyers specialising in our matters acted immediately and gave us a clear overview of the situation, with clear suggestions and recommendations for the course to follow.’
‘Silvia Benítez provides personalised, efficient, fast advice, demonstrating solidity and knowledge on the subject, giving us her vision and suggestions for the course to follow in the most convenient way for the company. Mirtha Dos Santos, who is the partner of the litigation department, is also supporting this issue due to the magnitude of the issues discussed.’
Principaux clients
Paracel
CPC Corporation Taiwán
Quincy Energy
Centelsa
World Bank Group
Prosegur
Iridium Satellite
Nextar (Petrobas)
Paresa (Coca Cola)
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
Principaux dossiers
- Advised pulp mill project Paracel on the obtention of an electricity cogeneration license.
- Acted for a European multinational client in proceedings involving three public offices regarding payment of indispensable services rendered to government during Covid-19 pandemic.
- Advised the Ministry of Industry and Commerce on the elaboration of regulations needed to implement the law regarding a new form of business entity named Empresa por Acciones Simplificadas (EAS).