Hernan Pacheco Orfila

Head of the Corporate and Business Law Division

PRACTICE AREAS: Corporate and Commercial Law, with an emphasis on Mergers & Acquisitions; Public Procurement; Dispute Resolution.

Mr Pacheco Orfila is widely recognised for his work representing domestic and foreign clients in Costa Rica and across borders in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, project finance, agency, distribution and franchise agreements, tenders and private concession programmes. Listed in Chambers Latin America 2010 in Band 1 – Leader in his field – in the Corporate/Business/M&A category.

EDUCATION: Universidad Autónoma de Centro América, Bachelor of Laws, Cumm Laude Probatus, Costa Rica, 1984; Universidad Autónoma de Centro América, Licentiate in Laws, Cumm Laude Probatus, Costa Rica, 1986; Notary Public, 1986; University of Hull, England, LL.M., 1988; Harvard University, P.I.L., 1992.

CONFERENCES: Mr Pacheco Orfila has spoken at numerous legal and business organisations worldwide, including Forbes Magazine and Council of the Americas; The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce; Forbes Magazine Worldwide Infrastructure Partnerships; The New York State Bar Association; Stewart Title; the Investment Chapter under DR-CAFTA; and ALI-ABA, on topics related to trade and investment, infrastructure development, government concessions and private concession programmes, franchising, distribution and agency representation, and dispute resolution.

PUBLICATIONS: Among the most prestigious publications for which Mr Pacheco Orfila has written articles are Latinfinance; Forbes Magazine; IBA; Practicum (NYSBA); and ALI-ABA.

MEMBERSHIPS: Colegio de Abogados de Costa Rica; International Bar Association; New York State Bar Association; Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce (Secretary of the Board 1997-1998, Vice-President 1999 - 2004; President 2005-2007); International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (CICA) (Director 1999-2000, President 2001-2003); Board of Directors of the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Private Business Associations UCCAEP (2009-); Board of Governors of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America (AACCLA) (2009).

PERSONAL: Representative of the business sector on the National Competitiveness Council (2003); Coordinator of the business sector on the Inter-Chamber Commission for the analysis of the tax reform bill (2003); Coordinator of the business sector on the Inter-Chamber Commission for the analysis of the Insurance Bill (2003- ); Vice-President of the Humberto Pacheco Coto Foundation (2oo9)