Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega (ARIFA) is again ranked as a Tier 1 firm in Panama for Financial and Corporate law by IFLR1000 2012. The firm has held this highest ranking from the 1000 since 2003.

Peers commented on the quality of ARIFA’s lawyers: "A great firm" with "a lot of talent". The1000 singled out new partner Estif Aparicio: "He's practical, hands on," says one client. "He's the middle person that can break down the good things and the bad things to get the deal done."

IFLR1000 noted that ARIFA continues its impressive cross-border work in Latin America. They highlighted work from perennial top-rated partner Ricardo M. Arango:

[Partner] Ricardo M. Arango…represented the Bolsa de Valores de Panamá (Panama Stock Exchange) and Central Latinoamericana de Valores (Latin Clear)…where the two exchanges would become indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Latinex Holdings, a newly created corporation. In a separate matter, ARIFA advised Global Bank Corporation on a deal in which publicly listed preferred shares were exchanged for subordinated bonds. The public exchange offer was a first in the Panamanian market.

Clients also praised ARIFA: "They were really helpful,"  says one customer."Our clients congratulated us for [using] them - that's not easy."

ARIFA continues to be recognized by clients, peers and legal publishers as a leader in banking and capital markets. The firm has been awarded “Central American Law Firm of the Year” by International Financial Law Review every year from 2009 - 2011.

About IFLR1000
Compiled by a team of dedicated specialist legal journalists based in New York, London and Hong Kong, the IFLR1000 is the only publication of its kind to focus on the leading law firms for corporate finance worldwide. Rankings are based on the recommendations of in-house counsel at the world's most prominent financial institutions and companies, as well as the leading lawyers in each covered legal market.