Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramirez

Panama's strategic geographical location, together with its strong financial and service sector, dollarized economy, thriving real estate market, attractive legal regimes and incentives, and a public infrastructure investment plan supported with the country's investment grade, places Panama in a unique position with a world of opportunities for foreign and local businesses. Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramirez (AFRA) is your key to unlocking that potential through quality legal representation. We are an established law firm delivering reliable advice on the full range of legal matters that our clients face while operating their businesses and carrying out activities in Panama.

We strive on helping our clients reach their goals and navigate through complex legal and regulatory challenges. We focus on taking care of every legal, regulatory and administrative matter so that our clients are free to make the most out of their business.

Since our foundation back in 1965, we have evolved into a law firm with international projection. Today, we have more than 35 full time lawyers serving our clients, and an office staff in excess of 150 collaborators. Our 16 partners are highly regarded and prestigious individuals. All of our attorneys are focused on working in an environment of collaboration, commitment to our clients' goals, and empowerment to work doing the right thing, with integrity and responsibility.

Our team has a breadth of knowledge and experience that covers many other areas of the law. Whether you are dealing with legal questions from administrative and competition law, or employment and intellectual property matters, we have got an experienced and specialized attorney, ready to provide you with trustworthy legal advice.

Despite our impressive roster of international clients, individuals and locally based companies are also an important part of our clientele. We also have offices in the British Virgin Islands, where staff concentrates on our international corporate services.

While we are proud of our skills, others have sung our praises as well. The International Financial Law Review (IFLR) named AFRA Panama's National Law Firm of the Year (2018). Meanwhile, other prestigious publications such as Chambers and Partners, Latin Lawyer and Legal 500 recognize us as leaders in our field and commends us in various practice areas.
History Facts
1940s

Dr. Horacio Alfaro, a Panamanian lawyer, politician and diplomat, founded his own law practice in the 1940s. He was later joined by his son, Eduardo Alfaro.
1960s

In 1961, Alejandro Ferrer S. and Alfredo Ramirez joined the father-son team, forming the law firm of Alfaro, Ferrer & Ramirez (AFRA). In addition to practicing law, the firms' founding partners served important governmental appointments with agencies including the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Education.
1980s

In the 1980s, Enna Ferrer, Alfredo Ramirez Jr. and Rodrigo A. Moreno Jr. joined the law firm.
1990s

AFRA expanded its presence during the 1990's by establishing its first offices outside of Panama in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Aruba. The firm designated Luis R. L?pez Alfaro, a partner at AFRA, as the manager and operator of these offices.

1996 ? AFRA pioneers by representing Bellsouth in the privatization process of the first Band A cellular line in Panama. Bellsouth was awarded the process after a competitive bidding process.

1999 ? Partner Rodrigo Moreno Jr. is elected President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Panama (AmCham) and the United States ? Panama Business Council (USPA).
2000s

In 2000, AFRA left its original offices in Bella Vista, Panama City and relocated to a new building in Obarrio, in the heart of Panama City's banking center, where the firm remains today. AFRA's building features a comfortable, modern design and our offices feature state-of-the-art technology.

? Following a presidential appointment and ratification by the National Assembly, Partner Alfredo Ramirez Jr. is named member of the board of directors of the Panama Canal Authority for a ten year period.

? To support its growth, the firm named three new partners: Annette B?rcenas, Marissa Lasso de la Vega F. and Juan Gabriel Gonz?lez.
2010s

2012 ? Associate Narciso Arellano is appointed by the President of Panama as a member of the Presidential Commission in charge of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Panama.

2013 ? AFRA Trust is created.

2014 ? AFRA represents sellers in the purchase by the Government of Panama of the shares of Transporte Masivo de Panama, S.A., the private concessionaire that manages and operates the mass transit bus system for the Panama City Metropolitan Area.

2015 ? AFRA celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

2015 ? AFRA promotes to partnership 7 new partners (Francisco Iglesias, Katherine Aparicio, Carlos Ucar, Monique Ferrer, Roberto Harrington, Juan Antonio Alfaro and Alejandro Aleman).

2016 ? Partner Juan Gabriel Gonz?lez is elected President of APEDE for the year 2016-2017 (Panamanian Association of Business Executives).

2016 ? Partner Marissa Lasso de la Vega is elected President of the Board of Directors of APADEPI (Panamanian Association of Intellectual Property).
Now...

2018 ? AFRA promotes to partnership 2 new partners (Ricardo Moreno and Maria Alejandra Cargiulo).

2018 ? AFRA is awarded National Law Firm of the Year for Panama by IFLR.

Practice Areas	No. of Attorneys
Corporate	4
Corporate - Securities and Capital Markets	1
Finance - Banking	5
Immigration	2
IP	5
Labor & Employment	6
Litigation - General (consumer)	6
Litigation - Insurance	6
Other	3
Tax	2