ALVARO JAVIER AGUILAR ALFU. (TEP)
Partner

Graduated in 1991 from the University Santa Maria La Antigua as Licentiate in Law and Political Science, Mr. Aguilar earned in 1992 a masters degree (LL.M.) in International Legal Studies with concentration in International Trade and Banking, at the Washington College of Law, The American University. In addition, he took courses in International Corporate Law at Widener University / Université de Geneve, Switzerland.

After working as legal assistant with Panama business law firm, Mr. Aguilar served as administrative intern of the Administrative Tribunal of the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C. He later worked as attorney with a Panama commercial law firm.

As attorney, Mr. Aguilar has worked in the drafting of commercial, mortgage and banking contracts; negotiation and drafting of joint venture and real estate agreements; conducting of due diligence research for transactions; provided legal advice for privatisations and international business and corporate law matters in general.

Mr. Aguilar advises clients in Europe and the Americas on asset protection matters, using the advantages provide by corporations, trusts and private interest foundations in Panama, British Virgin Islands and other jurisdictions. Said advice is provided in communication with the client and with strict attention to the needs for confidentiality and time/cost efficiency.

In novel areas of Law, Mr. Aguilar is involved in negotiation and drafting of software licensing agreements for businesses and advises information technology start-ups which use the advantages of Panama legislation in call centers and electronic transfer of funds. He has also made presentations on Tax Aspects of Transactions on the Internet. Mr. Aguilar is also involved in trademark, patent and copyright litigation and registration procedures, as well as coordination of trademark registrations throughout Latin America.

Mr. Aguilar served as Secretary of International Relations of the Board of Directors of the Panama Bar Association, which allowed him to serve as one of the representatives of the Bar advising the Panamanian government in the negotiations of the Services and Investment chapters of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), where he has served as member of the Law & Taxation, Trade & Investment, and chair of the Information Technology Committee. Mr. Aguilar is a founding member of the Panamanian Association of Law and New Technologies (APANDETEC), formed by attorneys who specialize in Tech Law, and also served as Treasurer of the Board of Directors. He has represented his firm before the International Lawyers Association and on a his personal time has served in the board of directors of the Association of Chinese-Panamanian Professionals (APROCHIPA) and several non-profit institutions. He has been a member of the International Bar Association and is currently full member of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP).

Mr. Aguilar has delivered presentations on Securitization and Estate Planning Trusts at the New York State Bar Association meetings in Santiago de Chile, Lima and Singapore. He is an associate (non-practising) member of the New York State Bar Association and Panama Country Co-Chair of its International Law & Practice Section.

He is the author of:
* Enforcement of International Property Protection between Mexico and the United States (Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, Vol. V, No. 1, 1994).
* Panama Section of "International Intellectual Property Law" (John Wiley & Sons, 1995).
* Panama Section of "Int'l Taxation of Low-Tax Transactions" (BNAI, 1996).
* Panama Section of "International Banking Law and Regulation" (Oceana, 2000).
* Panama Section of "Legal Systems of the World" (ABC-Clio, 2002).
* Panama Section of "Private Foundations World Survey" (OUP, 2013).
* Articles on Latin American business law in “Latin American Law and Business Report” , “Inter-American Trade Report”, “Trust and Trustees Journal”.
and manages his blog http://www.alvaroaguilar.net on Panama legal news.

Mr. Aguilar's biography is included in the Corporate Tax section of Who's Who Legal 2006 and 2007. He has been selected by the Central American business publication CAPITAL FINANCIERO as one of the "40 under 40" as acknowledgement to his achievements as a young legal professional.

A Certified Public Translator in English and Spanish, Mr. Aguilar also speaks French and has an understanding of Portuguese.

Areas of Practice: Asset Protection; Banking Law; Business Law; Telecommunications Law; Offshore Company Law; Corporate Law; E-Commerce; Intellectual Property; International Business Law; International Finance; International Trade; Internet Law; Patents; Real Estate.