Home | Ward International Lawyers Panamá

Karina Y. Serrano Álvarez

Legal Assistant

Contact:

Phone: (507) 6137-4538

Email: kserrano@wardintlawyers.com

A graduate of the Faculty of Tourism Business Administration at Universidad Católica Santa María la Antigua, Karina has extensive experience in the business world. She has worked with internationally renowned companies in the field of sales, logistics and customer service. These experiences allowed her to develop her interpersonal skills in the world of business and entrepreneurship. She was selected in 2018 from among numerous participants to be part of the Voces Vitales’ female empowerment program. In this she had the opportunity to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge within the world of entrepreneurship.

Areas of Practices

Sales.
Negotiation.
Customer Service.
Logistics.
Entrepreneurship.

Honors

Chapter of honor Sigma Lambda of the Faculty of Administration of Tourism Companies USMA
Chapter of honor Sigma Lambda of the Faculty of Law of the University of Panama.

Languages

Spanish.
English.

John Robert Ward Ábrego

Founding Partner

Contact:

Phone: (507) 6698 9569

Email: jward@wardintlawyers.com

John has extensive experience, working in companies, law firms and different types of businesses both in Panama and in Germany, often in management positions. He has been a founding partner of ventures aimed at the area of legal technology such as LegalTech.

Education

Degree in Law and Political Science, Universidad Católica Santa María la Antigua. (Panama)
Bachelor of International Business, Universidad Católica Santa María la Antigua (Panama)

Practices Areas

Commercial Law.
Corporate Law.
Maritime Law.
Contracts.
Mediation.
Negotiation.
Business Consulting.

Associations

Member of the Panama National Bar Association.

Languages

Spanish.
English.
German.

Corporate Services

1) Societies

Corporate Solutions:

Constitution of societies.
Preparation of minutes of reforms to the articles of incorporation.
Constitution of private interest foundations.
Acts of amendments to the founding pact.
Opening of bank accounts
Estate planning.
Fusions and acquisitions.
Commercial contracts.
Horizontal Property.

2) Negotiations and commercial mediation

Commercial mediation is a practical way to resolve conflicts between clients and suppliers or service providers. It is a practical alternative to costly legal disputes; instead the parties, through collaborative negotiation that seeks the benefit of all, manage to reduce or eliminate unnecessary financial sacrifices and develop sustainable solutions.

3) Business Labour Solutions

Drafting of Employment Contracts
Organisation of Payroll
Calculation of Labour Benefits
Registration with Social Security.
Preparation of Internal Work Regulations.
Termination of Labour Relationship.
Representation in Individual and Collective Conciliations .
Labor Litigation.
Negotiation of Conventions Collective.
Answer to Request Sheets.

Jose Alberto Quiel

Founding Partner

Contact:

Phone: (507) 6412-1022

Email: jquiel@wardintlawyers.com

Jose has worked in prestigious firms in the city and different government entities. He is recognised for providing comprehensive business advice on labour and corporate issues, for which he usually manages migration and relocation solutions for clients or companies that wish to establish themselves in Panama.

Education

Degree in Law and Political Science, Universidad Católica Santa María la Antigua (Panama).
Diploma in Business Administration, University of Louisville. (United States)
Master in Maritime Law and Maritime Business and Port Management (SHIPPING BUSINESS), Polytechnic University of Catalonia. (Spain)
Postgraduate in Legal Practice with specialization in Commercial and Labor Law, Illustrious Bar Association of Barcelona ICAB. (Spain)
Diploma in Labor Law, Universidad Interamericana de Panamá. (Panama)

Practices Areas

Labor Law.
Maritime Law.
Corporate Law.
Immigration Law.
Real Estate.

Associations

National Bar Association of Panama.
Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE).

Languages

Spanish.
English.

Litigations & Administrative Process

1) Litigation and Maritime Arbitration

The main focus of our firm centres around Panama’s strategic geographical position, as well as the logistical advantages that it offers to international trade. This represents an annual maritime movement of more than 12,000 ships that cross the territorial waters of the country. Due to this, we see many kinds of disputes that we handle with a variety of services such as arbitration, mediation and litigation. In each process, we ensure that we find and provide the best possible alternatives within the legal system, always with a view to safeguarding the interests of our clients.

2) Civil and Labor Litigation

We offer the best advice in civil litigation with practical and efficient strategies for the legal processes that this branch of private law comprises. It includes civil marriages, as well as divorces, wills, the sale of properties, and different contracts among others.

Regarding labour regulation, Panama has recognised the right of workers as a protective principle, safeguarding the realisation of universal values and social justice. Our clients, whether they are companies or workers, will always find in us a team dedicated to providing them with the best quality service in all labour litigation.

At Ward International Lawyers, we have a track record of excellence with extensive experience in the practice of Law that allows us to guarantee comprehensive solutions to our clients.

3) Administrative processes

As a firm, we collectively have vast experience in the field of Administrative Law. We have worked with government entities, which has provided us with unmatched experience in an area of practice characterised by handling special laws and procedures.

Relocation

We focus on two areas of practice taking into account our privileged geographical position in Panama.

Migration
Real Estate

This service is aimed at both individuals and companies that, whether for work or personal reasons, decide to change their place of residence to Panama. This includes not only managing the migratory relocation process of the individual but also of the dependent family members who are to accompany them. In turn, we ensure that advice is offered to them in an area appropriate to their particular needs and capabilities.

Visas
Naturalisation
Labour Migration.
Investment Advisory
Real estate

Maritime Services

The history of Panama revolved around its geographic location long before the construction of the Panama Canal. For centuries, its position in the center of the western hemisphere has made the Isthmus of Panama a meeting point for the world’s commerce and maritime activity. Today its privileged location, dollarised economy and logistical advances maintain the country as one of the most attractive for doing business globally. For this reason Ward International Lawyers focuses on providing specialised services in Maritime Law including:

Flagging of ships.
Registration of title to the property of the ship.
Advice on naval financing and mortgage registration.
Procedure for obtaining a marine license
Port concessions and procedures for obtaining an operating license
- Licence of operation
- Tracing
Procedure to obtain and endorse a marine license.