Latin America Collection

Nicaragua's legal system is based on civil law with the Supreme
Court to review administrative acts.
If you plan to start a business here, or buy/sell property, you will
definitely need the services of a good attorney.
Your lawyer can help you understand the complexities of the
Nicaraguan legal system, help you to navigate government
bureaucracy, and assist you in any other legal matters that may
arise.
If you are not fully bilingual, be sure to choose a lawyer who is.
It is also a good idea to find a lawyer with a bilingual assistant or
secretary, for moments when the attorney is not in the office or
dealing with another matter.
Ask other expats around town to recommend a lawyer. Certain
lawyers are very competent and thorough, but painfully slow.
Others are quicker, but can be sloppy. Many attorneys specialize
in certain areas of the law, due to their areas of expertise or
because of personal contacts they have to help them facilitate
paperwork and procedures quickly.


If you are starting up a business, ask other reputable Nicaraguan
or expat entrepreneurs which attorney they used. If you are
buying or selling a property, ask someone with previous
experience, or ask a real-estate agency to recommend a lawyer. If
using an in-house real-estate agent, you are well advised to get a
second opinion from an independent lawyer.
Stay on top of your lawyer to make sure things get done on time.
Make regular appearances at the office to make your face seen
and check on progress.
Some lawyers will ask for half the payment up front, which
usually prods them into action. But don't necessarily assume that
things are getting done in your absence. Be a presence.
Before hiring a lawyer, find out what their office hours and
availability are. One of the best lawyers in Granada, for example,
works bizarre hours through the night and is virtually absent
from the office during daylight hours.
Make sure you have your lawyer's office and cell phone numbers
in case you need him or her in an emergency. If your lawyer is
always in meetings or out of the office, this is a sign your work
is probably being neglected and you have chosen the wrong
lawyer.
You may need a specialist to deal with your specific case. Some
people find it's a good idea to have several lawyers for precisely
this reason.
It is also important to note that Nicaragua's judicial system is,
unfortunately, still politically charged, with nearly 8 out of 10
lower judgeships occupied by Sandinista judges. This might be
something you want to keep in mind before hiring a lawyer.
What is your lawyer's political affiliation? A lawyer who was


hiding out in Miami during the revolution might have a different
relationship with judges than a Sandinista lawyer.
Take your time and look around when you are trying to find an
attorney. This should be fairly easy since we have included a list
from which to choose. But remember to inquirer others about
your potential lawyer's reputation, work methods, rates and
integrity.
If you find yourself in a jam before finding a lawyer, contact the
American Embassy for assistance or see the list at the end of this
section.
Lawyer's fees, or honorarios, vary. Just because a lawyer is
expensive doesn't mean he or she is efficient. Likewise, you
shouldn't select an attorney only because his or her fees are low.
We recommend purchasing a copy of, Diccionario de Términos
Jurídicos
by Enrique Alcazar. It is a complete English/Spanish
dictionary of legal terms.
The following is an alphabetic list of English-speaking,
Managua-based lawyers and public notaries listed on the U.S.
Embassy website. The Embassy includes a disclaimer saying it
does not guarantee the professional ability or integrity of any of
them. (the asterisk following some of the names indicates that
attorney has his or her signature at the U.S. Consulate,
facilitating the authentication of local documents for use in the
United States).


· Gloria ALVARADO and Associates
Industrial Property Law, Commercial Law, Banking Law,
International Law/Foreign Investment, Privatization, Real
Estate, Labor Law, Environmental Law, Commercial Litigation
Del Lacmiel, 5c. Arriba, 300 mts a la Derecha, No. 75
Tel: 505-277-4028, 278-7708; Fax: 505-278-7491
mailto:alvasoc@ns.tmx.com.ni
Website: N/A
· Guy Jose BENDAÑA-Guerrero and Associates
Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Law, Chemical Patents,
License Negotiation, Industry Models, Trademarks, Patents,
Pharmaceutical Patents, and General Intellectual Property
Practice.
Porton Antiguo Hospital El Retiro, 120 mts. al Lago
Tel: 505-266-5696, 266-5697; Fax: 505-266-8863
mailto:guybengu@ibw.com.ni
Website: http://www.guybendana.com.ni
· Francisco José BOZA Páiz and Associates (*)
Business, Fiscal and Banking Law
Parque las Madres 1 c. al Lago, Casa No. 1603
Tel: 505-266-8860; Tel: 276-0004 Ext. 15800;
Fax: 505-266-2374
E-Mail: N/A
Website: N/A
· Carrion, Somarriba & Asociados., Fernando R
Somarriba de Valery
Corporate, Commercial, Banking Laws, Foreign Investments,
Patents, Trademark Laws.
Colonial Los Robles # 45
Del Hotel Colón 2 1/2 c. al Sur
Apartado Postal 2422


Tel: 505-267-1020, 267-2003; Fax: 505-267-1005
mailto:carmonal@tmx.com.ni
· García & Bodan Abogados y Notarios Públicos
General Manager, Terencio García
Corporate Law, Finance
Del Restaurante "La Marsaillaise" 1/2 c al Sur. No. L-15
Apartado Postal 2536, Managua
Tel: 505-270-5008; Fax: 505-278-0928
mailto:terencio@garciabodan.com.ni
Website:http://www.garciabodan.com.ni
· Grupo Legis
Banking, Judicial, Corporate, Property, Tax and Public Law,
Associate to Martinez and Gutierrez in Miami, Florida
Ministerio de Defensa, 1 c. Oeste y 30 vrs. Norte #422,
Apartado Postal 6208, Managua
Tel: 505-222-4694, 222-2187; Fax: 505-222-2098
mailto:Legis@ibw.com.ni
Website: N/A
· LÓPEZ Argüello & Associates
Patent and Trade Marks, Foreign Investment, Banking,
Customs, Foreign Trade, Real State Corporations,
Administrative, Commercial, Civil, Labor and Tax Law, Oil and
Mineral, Agency and Distribution Agreements, Insurance,
Litigation and Arbitration
Canal 2, 300 vrs al Oeste, 25 mts al Sur
Tel: 505-266-0803, 268-3070; Fax: 505-268-0017
mailto:gla@lopezarguello-asoc.com
Website: N/A
· Alvaro MARTINEZ Cuenca, Doctor in Law


Corporate Law, Trademarks and Patents, Litigation, Expertise
in Negotiations
Centro Comercial San Francisco, H-5
Tel: 505-2771032, Fax: 505-278-0330,
Cellular: 505-884-4224
mailto:amc@datatex.com.ni
Website: N/A
· Mauricio MARTÍNEZ Espinoza
Civil and Criminal Law
Altamira D'este, de la Farmacia 5ta. Avenida 1c. Sur y 1c.
arriba , #644
Tel: 505-277-4195; Cellular 505-885-8004
E-mail: N/A
Website: N/A
· Juan Alvaro MUNGUIA A.,
Luis Chávez Escoto and Associates
Banking and Securities Law, General Corp., Commercial Law,
Leasing & Project Finance, Foreign Investment, Mergers &
Acquisitions, Private & Administrative Law,
Telecommunications, Mining/Oil/Gas, Environmental,
Intellectual Property and Technology Law, Labor Law,
Litigation and Arbitration/Bankruptcy/Product Liability,
Pharmaceutical, General Insurance, Aviation & Shipping Law,
Taxation and Customs Law, Real Estate Law
Portón Hospital El Retiro, 1c al lago, 1c arriba, 1/2 c lago
Tel: 505-266-7102, 266-1211; Fax: 505-266-4156
mailto:jmunguia@ibw.com.ni
Website: N/A


· Taboada & Asociados, José Evenor Taboada
Bank and Finance, Corporate Law, Commercial Law, Foreign
Investment, Natural Resources, Tourism, Mining, Patents,
Civil Law, Distribution and Representation Contracts .
Del Hospital Militar 1 cuadra al Lago
Tel: 505-254-5454; Fax: 505-254-5295
mailto:info@taboadayasociados.com ;
mailto:jetaboada@taboadalaw.com
Web Site: http://www.taboadayasociados.com
Courtesy of U.S. Embassy Managua Econ/Commercial Section
Home Page: http://managua.usembassy.gov/wwwhe19.html
In Granada, we recommend the following lawyers:
Ernesto Zambrana (tel. 552-2433)
Israel Cortez (tel. 552-6253)
Humberto Arana (tel. 552-4147)