September 24, 2020
Proposed regulations of the new competition law in Costa Rica (Law No. 9736) are submitted for public consultation for 15 working days starting from today. This law introduces major changes in institutional issues and in rules and procedures on merger control, investigation of monopolistic practices and sanctions. Access to the proposed regulations here:
August 31, 2020
“Arbitration Day 2020,” an international event organized by Costa Rican Young Arbitrators, takes place today. Our associate, Guillermo Zúñiga Saborío, will moderate the virtual inaugural panel entitled “Soft Law: Concept, features and scope.”
August 20, 2020
Our partner, Alberto Fernández López, is recognized in the 2020 edition of Who is Who Legal Central America for his extensive knowledge and experience in dispute resolution and construction law. According to the publication, Alberto “continues to impress clients and peers alike with his vast experience and knowledge of disputes and claims arising from the construction sector.”
August 4, 2020
“Absolute monopolistic practices in Costa Rican law and jurisprudence.” A legal article by our partner, Alan Thompson, included in the second edition of Lead University’s academic journal LOGOS (Vol. 1, No 2, pp. 52-65). In this article the author analyzes absolute monopolistic practices, known internationally as cartels, in the light of relevant OECD instruments, Costa Rican laws, and decisions of Costa Rican competition authorities and courts. Access to the digital edition of the journal here:
July 16, 2020
Pedro Caro de Sousa, an OECD expert, was the main speaker in the webinar “Competition in times of pandemic: the role of economic agents and authorities”, organized today by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Association of Professionals in Administrative Contracting. Our partner Alan Thompson participated as a guest commentator.
July 13, 2020
The Central Bank of Costa Rica has announced that it is considering opening lines of credit to banks and other financial intermediaries to finance companies affected by the pandemic. In an article in this week’s edition of El Financiero, our partner Alan Thompson discusses the legal feasibility of the proposal. The article is available here:
July 3, 2020
As of today, maximum interest rates apply to all types of loans in Costa Rica, as per amendments to the Law of Promotion of Competition and the Effective Defense of the Consumer introduced by Law # 9859 published on June 20, 2020. Charging interest rates above the legal maximum will constitute the crime of usury under the law. Most market interest rates for loans in Costa Rica are below the legal maximum, except in the case of credit cards and unregulated consumer loans. Here is the official notice of the Costa Rican Central Bank published today:
June 5, 2020
Following the adoption of Law No. 9736 on the Strengthening of Competition Authorities, Costa Rica begins the process of integrating the new top body of the Competition Commission (the “Coprocom”), a key issue in the country’s OECD accession process. The terms of the public contest to select new full time members were published today in the official journal “La Gaceta”. According to the law, the Government must make the appointments and send them for legislative ratification by 18 August 2020. See the terms of the public contest here (from page 12):
May 14, 2020
Our partner, Alberto Fernández López, participated today as a guest panelist in the webinar “Conciliation and Arbitration in the Region: Challenges and Opportunities in the face of Covid-19”, organized by the conciliation and arbitration centers of Central America and the Dominican Republic.
April 23, 2020
The Latin American Association of Construction Law (ALDEC) publishes in its April newsletter an article co-written by our partner, Alberto Fernández López, on FIDIC contracts, pricing in construction contracts and the use of dispute boards. The article is available here: