Galindo, Arias & López (GALA)

RAMON RICARDO ARIAS PORRAS (Partner since 1998) Born in Panama City, Panama, on June 8, 1963. Education: Ecole des Roches, Verneuil-sur-Avre, France. (French Language and Civilization, 1981), Georgetown University (B.A., 1985), Tulane University Law School (J.D., 1989). Admitted to the Panamanian Bar (1991).

Private practice with GALINDO, ARIAS & LOPEZ since 1989, with emphasis on providing legal counsel and representation to multinational and large national corporations in the financial, air-transportation and commercial sectors, but also embracing companies serving public utilities in areas such as power generation, distribution facilities, and telecommunications. Commercial law, specializing in banking, contracts and financial law; Mr. Arias has led work teams in the most recent mergers and acquisition operations for national and foreign banks and corporations. He has also advised national and foreign clients in connection with the development and structuring of the main loan syndications and securitizations. In the field of commercial corporate law combined with his taxation law expertise, he has also played a key role in some of the main mergers and acquisition operations in Panama. It adds to his expertise his participation in several corporate and financial restructuring procedures, along with the design of tax planning strategies for these corporations. Member of the Application Commission seeking to have Panama City’s Old Quarter added to the World Heritage List, collaborated in drafting of call center legislation, founding member of Fundación Calicanto, and member ad-honorem of Panama's Ministry of Housing Advisory Committee on Urban Development. Mr. Arias has also participated recently in a pro bono transaction of the exchange "Debt for Nature", a novelty in the restructuring procedures in the region.