January 19, 2023
The XIV edition of the International Arbitration Congress hosted by ICC Costa Rica will take place in San José on February 8, 9 and 10, 2023. BTA Legal is one of the sponsors. Topics discussed throughout the conference will cover arbitration and commercial mediation. There will also be a workshop with case studies. More information here:
December 19, 2022
Under Costa Rican law, the competition commission (COPROCOM) must be notified of mergers above certain thresholds prior to execution of the transaction. In regulations submitted for public consultation until January 13th, 2023, the COPROCOM is proposing updated merger control filing fees of CR₡4.513.268 (approx. US$7,500.) for phase 1 review and CR₡9.026.535 (approx. US$15,000) for phase 2 review of merger notifications. The proposed flat fees do not take turnover or assets involved in the transaction into account. Mergers in the telecom sector are not subject to thresholds and must be always notified to the telecom superintendence (SUTEL), which is the competition authority for the telecom sector. The proposed COPROCOM regulations are available here (beginning on page 87):
November 23, 2022
Our partner Alan Thompson participated today as a guest panelist in the First International Seminar on Digital Markets and Competition, organized by the General Secretariat of the Andean Community based in Lima, Peru. Alan’s presentation dealt with consumer welfare as an objective of Competition Law and challenges posed by the digital economy in the context of regional integration schemes.
October 28, 2022
Our partner Alberto Fernández López was recently appointed by ICC Costa Rica as a member of the global ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR. This commission is made up of approximately 1,000 members from more than 92 countries comprising lawyers, in-house counsel, arbitrators, mediators, law professors and experts in various dispute resolution fields.
October 3, 2022
Last week on “Economy and Society,” a television program sponsored by the University of Costa Rica and hosted by economist Juan Rafael Vargas, our partner Alan Thompson spoke about past efforts to implement competition/antitrust laws in Costa Rica and the main challenges ahead, including the role of the competition authority (COPROCOM). Viviana Blanco, current president of the board of commissioners of COPROCOM, was also a guest in the program.
August 29, 2022
Chambers Latin America 2023 recognizes our partner, Alan Thompson, as one of the top lawyers in the field of Competition/Antitrust in Costa Rica. According to the publication: “Alan Thompson is active within the Costa Rican competition and antitrust arena, and is well regarded by market commentators. A pleased client states: ’Alan Thompson is a professional with vast experience and commitment, with recognised and comprehensive expertise. We have always been very satisfied with his work.’”
August 29, 2022
Chambers Latin America 2023 recognizes our partner, Alberto Fernández López, as one of the “Most in Demand Arbitrators” in Costa Rica. According to the publication: “Alberto Fernández López is highly recognised for his activity as an arbitrator in relevant Costa Rican and international proceedings. He is endorsed by an onlooker who affirms: ’Alberto Fernández Lopez is a leader in the arbitration field, and he is one of the most outstanding practitioners.’”
July 21, 2022
“Towards public policies in favor of competition and consumer protection” was published by Academia de Centroamérica and Lead University in San José, Costa Rica. Our partner Alan Thompson edited the anthology and authored a chapter on competition law and consumer welfare. The publication is available here:
July 11, 2022
The topic of dispute boards has gained great relevance in alternative dispute resolution and construction contracts. Our partner Alberto Fernández López will participate as one the main speakers in the forum “Implementation of dispute boards in Costa Rica in light of the new Public Procurement Law”, hosted by the Costa Rican Bar Association on July 14th .
June 20, 2022
The effectiveness of government price controls in Costa Rica has been widely discussed in recent years. In 2020, ceilings were set on loan rates, regulations on rice prices are under review, and there is talk of regulating prices in the pharmaceutical market. Are government price controls appropriate? What does our competition law say? Our partner Alan Thompson discusses in this week’s edition of El Financiero. Available at the following links: