Globalaw in the news. 

Welcome to the August Member Spotlight on Lexincorp, one ofGlobalaw's Latin America member firms. Lexincorp serves the Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica markets.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with partner PhilipAndré Sanchez. Lexincorp's history exemplifies the international ties of Globalawmember firms—for example, the history of Lexincorp's Costa Rica office. The Costa Rica office was founded by Philip's father, Dr.Arnolodo André, and it exemplifies the values of Globalaw for meeting international clients' needs by providing a stellar service enhanced by local connections and knowledge.

Dr. Arnoldo André earned his PhD in Hamburg, Germany, and in 1989 came back to Costa Rica to practice law. At the time there were fewer than 1000 lawyers in Costa Rica, few of whom understood the German language and culture.

Because of this, Dr. André developed a strong German client-base and ended up focusing his practice on foreign investment.

His firm, previously called André Tinoco & Asociados, became the bridge between both cultures – Costa Rica and Germany. He provided – as Lexincorp does today – local knowledge, connections, and legal know-how to investors from other countries. And the firm continues to provide this meaningful work. Dr. André is currently out of the office as he is serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs for the term 2022-2026.

In fact, Lexincorp continues to develop. Not only does it provide legal resources throughout multiple Central American countries, it has expanded its services to meet other needs for this same clientele. The office also created ATA Trust S.A., to provide escrow services and custody of funds for many foreign investors to use to facilitate sending investment funds, with a personalized and accessible team.

Today, Lexincorp is highly ranked among its peers – with top scores for client satisfaction. This is a direct result of Lexincorp’s approach to developing and nurturing client relationships. As Philip passionately said, “we speak in plural when we’re working with our clients.” The firm becomes a part of the client's team, and that specialized and focused relationship is one of their biggest advantages.

Coupled with their client-centric approach is their caring culture for their internal team – an approach that treats people with an understanding and appreciation of the necessity of a work/life balance.

Lawyers and staff can bring their children to the office. They can even bring their pets – the office has a dog park! The firm has taken several steps to help their professionals balance and integrate all the different aspects of their life. And by doing so, the firm has seen significant improvements in productivity.

Leaders at Lexincorp have a vision: a firm where every lawyer is passionate about the work that they are doing. This vision has drawn passionate young workers, and the client response has been overwhelmingly positive, with clients welcoming fresh perspectives to their teams with traditional values and the expertise of the senior counsels.

Recently, Lexincorp opened a branch in the Pacific Coast – Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa is a remote town in Puntarenas Providence, Costa Rica, and started as a remote fishing village. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people from the United States came to Santa Teresa and used it as a haven and place to escape. Tourism has become a significant economic driver in the area, with a related demand for legal services, often with very quick turn arounds as people are often only in town for a short amount of time. To meet that need, Lexincorp started a local office, to allow it to provide consistent, local client services in expedited time frames.

By the end of the interview, it was clear: Lexincorp not only serves an international market, but it also continues to look for ways to improve and expand those services, while remaining true to core Globalaw values.

The Philippines has long been considered the sick man of Asia. With repeated moves to open up its economy and liberalize industries in the name of development and foreign investments, the Public Service Act has finally been amended. This is the breakthrough that supposedly a lot of industries have been waiting for, the shipping industry included. This article aims to give a glimpse into what may lie ahead for shipping and its related businesses.

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Continuing with Globalaw’s 30th-anniversary celebration, the next member firm spotlight is Pelaghias, Christodoulou, Vrachas LLC from Cyprus. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of talking to managing partner Alexandra Pelaghias-Christodoulou.

As Alexandra started talking, it was palpable that the Firm is surrounded by the dense and rich history of Cyprus. The saying, “Scratch the soil anywhere in Cyprus, and you will find traces of its magnificent past”, is not an exaggeration. The island’s history is not confined to the ancient tombs or the oldest wine label; it’s entrenched in one of the most established and oldest law firms in Cyprus – Pelaghias. Alexandra proudly explained that the Firm celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2020. For over 100 years, Pelaghias has committed to build lasting relationships, both with their clients and firm members.

Alexandra explained that since they are not a big firm, they can strive to provide personal service to each client. As opposed to many larger firms, clients of Pelaghias not only know who their lawyer is but can speak to that lawyer anytime they need assistance. Their motto is personal service, and caring for their clients is paramount. A recent example? The firm advised a foreign tech company active in the power and telecommunications sector with revenues exceeding 1 billion euros. The company has physically relocated its headquarters to Cyprus, and Pelaghias assisted with its corporate restructuring and reorganization.

And it’s not surprising to find a company moving there. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and is between Europe and Eurasia, and Northern Africa and the Middle East. Its strategic position has led it to be among the most prosperous and educated countries in the Mediterranean region. In fact, it hosts several recognized universities that draw students from all over the world. Cyprus also has a friendly business environment. Pelaghias can help those who want to invest in the MENA region (Middle East, North Africa), since the Firm has strong relations with the region that partly operates under Sharia law. An increasing number of individuals are using Cyprus to invest in other jurisdictions that do not operate under a common law system.

As we neared the end of our time, I asked Alexandra how the Firm has pivoted to the changing technological innovations in the 21st century, especially Artificial Intelligence. Alexandra quickly responded that Pelaghias is becoming a regional hub for technology companies. They host the Reflect Festival, the largest Tech & Entrepreneurship event in Limassol. It has thousands of attendees per year – which is no simple feat for an island of 1,000,000. Alexandra also spearheaded the technology and AI department to ensure that the Firm stays relevant in its use of technology and AI to provide clients with excellent, personalized legal services. However, the increased emphasis on technology and AI results in organizations needing to deploy security protections – and Pelaghias has done just that. The firm will be certified by June with the following ISO modules:

• ISO 90001:2015 = Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• ISO 45001:2018 = Occupational Health & Safety System (OH&S)
• ISO 14001:2015 = Environmental Management System (EMS)
• ISO 27001:2022 = Information Security Management System (ISMS)

It is a great accomplishment for Pelaghias and rare for law firms to earn ISO certifications, another reason why Pelaghias is among the leading firms in their region.

The adage “the more things change, the more they stay the same” holds true for Pelaghias, a Cyprus law firm celebrating a 100-year tradition. They have and continue to assist companies and individuals with aviation, banking & finance, blockchain & technology, corporate and commercial, litigation, taxation, and much more. They’ve pivoted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the security awareness movement, while staying true to the values engrained in the firm’s leadership since it was founded in 1920 by John G. Pelaghias.

Visit www.pelaghiaslaw.com/ for more information.

Globalaw is kicking off its member spotlight series for its 30th Anniversary celebration. The first member firm, EMD, is from Malta. Recently, I had the pleasure of catching up with EMD's Pierre Mifsud and Lisa Vassallo. From the beginning, you could tell that EMD is a special place, with the kind of lawyers with whom we would all like to work. These are problem solvers committed to relationships, diversity, history and creativity.

As Lisa started talking, I could see the beautiful white tiled vault structure of their offices behind her - an office built into a historical building and located in Valletta, both the capital and one of the historical centres. Lisa's first words were about the clients who had just left - headed to a nearby restaurant to celebrate the project's successful conclusion, with which EMD was helping. EMD's pride in the relationships they build with clients was quickly apparent, as Lisa apologized for being a few minutes late as she'd had to beg off repeated lunch invitations and lots of hugs from that client to be able to make our meeting. As she spoke, the importance of EMD in their relationships with clients -their partnerships with those clients- was striking.

That focus on relationships goes beyond clients. EMD employs lawyers and staff from around the world and celebrates that diversity routinely. Whether through various lunches, where employees cook food to share from their native countries, or planned social events, the group is clearly based on relationships - relationships that allow firm members to work strategically across teams and provide the type of integration that makes legal advice seamless. EMD's substantive prowess is equally impressive. A recent example? Setting up a Ritz Carlton cruise line from scratch. Essentially, EMD has helped launch this entire operation: establishing physical offices for infrastructure support, financing and registering the vessels, providing corporate advice and assistance, drafting contracts, and developing key employment strategies, including work and residential permits. It is a multi-phased project; the first ship sailed last summer, with the next set to deliver in June of 2024 and with more ships to follow.

And they do so not just in Malta. Given Malta's strategic location between Africa and Europe, it should be no surprise that EMD's lawyers have strong ties in both locations. Recognized by many as an ideal entry point to the European Union, companies from Africa and the Americas find strategic value in locating here. And the opposite is equally true, with EU firms using Malta to be closer to North Africa. EMD is well positioned to assist these companies as they use Malta's strategic location to better connect with both jurisdictions.

While I'm on the call, I'm already considering when I could visit - both to see this incredible island and its history and also to connect with EMD. But Malta is much more than a tourist destination. Malta has a strong local industry that focuses on financial services, shipping, aircraft maintenance, aircraft registration, and pharma manufacturing. I asked Pierre, one of the founding members of the firm (which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2025), why pharma? When registering their patents, he explained that the major drug companies often skipped Malta as "unimportant." But that meant that Malta became quite significant - essentially the land of opportunities for the generic drug companies to come in, stockpile and manufacture. It became a key entry point for pharma manufacturing in the rest of the world and underscores how a small jurisdiction can become a critical opportunity.

As we neared the end of our time, I asked Pierre if he had any last words of advice for the business person who had not worked in Malta recently. Pierre quickly responded, tying together both the legal and practical advice for which EMD is recognized and pointing to Malta's increased focus on the substance of companies trying to claim Malta as their home. With tax, anti-money laundering, and increased expectations of substantial involvement, things like physical presence, employees, and local board involvement have become increasingly important. And EMD can help sort through all of those issues.

In fact, EMD's creativity has gone beyond just legal services in supporting its clients. It formed a technology company to assist with the implementation, configuration, and maintenance of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The company also developed its own software suite dealing with payroll and procurement, particularly for Libya (including the deductions and taxes that are required there).

Visit www.emd.com.mt/ to learn more.

Florida’s new law, the Conveyances to Foreign Entities Act (the "Act"), Sections 692.201 – 205, Florida Statutes, went into effect on July 1, 2023, and redefined the Florida real estate market for foreign purchasers from seven “countries of concern.” The Act requires those foreign purchasers to determine whether they are Foreign Principals prohibited from acquiring or owning real property in Florida, whether they are subject to registration requirements, or whether they are required to dispose of such real estate. Non-compliance renders the real property subject to forfeiture and sale of such real property (subject only to the rights and interests of bona fide lienholders) and risks daily fines of $1,000 and criminal penalties.

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Effective on January 1, 2024, the U.S. Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) will require “reporting companies” to disclose to the U.S. government’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) details of their “beneficial owners”.

With the CTA, Congress has passed one of the most significant and sweeping laws affecting LLCs and companies doing business in the United States – covering both domestic and foreign entities – in the most aggressive effort to date against illicit terrorist financing, fraud and money laundering.

This client alert discusses the CTA’s reach and exceptions and disclosure obligations, which are retroactive and go well beyond any disclosure previously expected.

Read the full article

Doing business in, or investing in, Australia may require an understanding of the goods and services tax regime (sometimes referred to as consumption tax, value added tax or goods and services tax). Here is a brief guide on GST in Australia for foreign businesses that may be about to do business, or invest, in Australia.

Read the full article by Ajay Ravi, McInnes Wilson Lawyers

Are you a New Zealand citizen (or member of a related entity) that has purchased residential-related property or land in New South Wales (NSW)? Are you a New Zealand citizen that is considering becoming an Australian citizen?

If so, there are certain new/revised measures and interpretations of the law and associated guidance which may have a significant impact on your Australian taxation position.

Read the full article

With effect from 1 January 2021, the FATA was amended to (among other things) introduce the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets. It was contemplated in the amendments to the FATA that the New Register would come into effect at a later time. That later time was 1 July 2023. [...]

Read the full article here

The Decree of September 29, 2023 of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy concludes the long and troubled regulatory process for the establishment of the Register of Beneficial Owners introduced by Legislative Decree no. 90 of May 25, 2017, implementing Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing.

Read the full article here

Effective January 11, 2024, Canada will join the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, also known as the Apostille Convention.

Read the full article

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) is not just a trend, it’s the new reality. Investors are putting their money where their values are, and ESG principles are leading the way. The pandemic, climate change, cyber incidents, supply chain challenges, economic disparities, and social justice movements have all accelerated this trend, and businesses need to take notice.

Read the full article from Georgia McNamara, Associate, McInnes Wilson Lawyers

Our member firm Mc Innes Wilson Lawyers has shared a testimonial on why being part of the Globalaw Community has enriched their network.

Click here to download and watch the video.

With 10 members operating across 19 jurisdictions, Globalaw’s growing network in Africa provides an effective platform to meet global client needs.

Check the 2023 Globalaw Africa Directory at this link.