Latin Counsel | Javier Yap Endara

Javier Yap Endara

Partner

Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega

Javier Yap Endara joined the firm in 2014 and became a partner in 2023. He is an active member of the ARIFA Pro Bono and CSR Committee.
Mr. Yap Endara regularly advises clients on financing and M&A transactions, having participated in some of the largest and most relevant ones recently taking place in the country.
In the financing working group, he generally advises purchasers/lenders in cross-border financing arrangements, including the US$1 billion first international Reg. S/Rule 144A offering by Banco Nacional de Panama during the Covid-19 pandemic, the US$6 billion convertible note and common stock offering by Carnival Corporation, and the financing and refinancing of major infrastructure work, including local ports, airports and subways.

Banking and Finance
Mergers and Acquisitions

Master of Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford (2014) Chevening Scholar
Master of Laws in Commercial Law, University of Cambridge (2013) Santander Scholar and honorary Cambridge Trust Scholar
Bachelor of Laws (Licenciatura en Derecho y Ciencias Políticas), magna cum laude, Santa Maria la Antigua University (2011)

Liaison / President, Cambridge Society of Panama, the University of Cambridge Panama alumni association (2019-present)
Director of La Prensa, the largest circulation daily newspaper in Panama and newspaper of record (2018-2020)
Director of Panafintech, the main fintech advocacy group in Panama (2017 – 2020)
Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum (2012-2014)
Deputy Director at the Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua (2011)

Up-and-Coming lawyer, Corporate / M&A, Panama, Chambers Latin America (2023-2024)
Associate-to-Watch, Corporate / M&A, Panama, Chambers Global (2023)
Recommended corporate / M&A lawyer, Panama, Legal 500 Latin America (2021-2022)
Recommended banking and finance lawyer, Panama, Legal 500 Latin America (2017)

Smart contracts: legal issues and validity
Corporate Governance Global Practice Guide, Panama Chapter, Chambers and Partners (2019-2023)
Corporate M&A Guide, Panama Chapter, Chambers and Partners (2020-23)
Latin Lawyer Reference - Mergers & Acquisitions, Panama Chapter (2016-2020)
"Enhanced Credit Protection", IFLR Americas Regional Report (2016)