Alejandro%252BCofin%2525CC%252583o.jpg

ALEJANDRO COFIÑO

email: acofino@altalegal.com
vcard
ESPAÑOL
ADMITTED    
Guatemala and New York
LANGUAGES
English and Spanish

Alejandro´s practice focuses on financing, foreign investment, banking, capital markets, commercial agreements, environmental compliance, international and cross-border agreements (Agency and Distribution), with special emphasis in different types of corporate finance, project finance, arbitration, mergers and acquisitions in commercial, industrial, banking, financial and energy sectors.

Alejandro has been involved in some of the most relevant financial transactions in Guatemala in the last few years, including 144 A / Regulation S private offerings in the international capital markets, power project financing, acquisition of companies in commercial, industrial, banking, financial and energy sectors and corporate financing to Guatemalan and Central American corporations.

As an attorney, Alejandro has significant experience structuring, coordinating and closing commercial and financial transactions involving different countries in Central America and in some cases Latin America, the Caribbean, and other jurisdictions.

Being admitted to practice in New York and having practiced in the United States a few years, Alejandro is familiar with the common law system, with agreements and cross-border transactions governed by foreign laws that involve foreign clients and international law firms and more generally with the legal American culture, methodology and work rhythm of such transactions.

Recently his practice has been enhanced with active participation in companies and banks’  mergers and acquisitions.

He has lead the legal due diligence, drafting, negotiating transaction documents and certification of compliance with conditions and requirements to close the transaction, including compliance with precedent or post-closing conditions, obtaining authorizations or approvals from authorities and/or regulators, and coordinating between seller and purchaser during the transition phase to take control.

In addition to his finance-related principal areas of practice, Alejandro handles environmental topics, including compliance and verification procedures and environmental due diligence, regulatory issues and international treaties on climate change and clean development mechanisms, including carbon markets, environmental services and REDD.

He has been advisor on environmental issues to the private sector, public authorities, governmental programs, multilateral agencies, non-profit organizations and NGOs. He is also an active and frequent arbitrator in national and international arbitration procedures.

Before QIL+4 Abogados, Alejandro was a founding partner of 4Abogados in 2011. He worked for a few years in Washington D.C. as legal advisor at the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC – member of the IDC Group) and also in a joint program between an international law firm and Conservation International (CI). He was an associate and partner at Consortium – Rodríguez, Archila, Castellanos, Solares & Aguilar S.C., and has been a professor of Commercial Law and Common Law System at several law schools in Guatemala. 

Alejandro is frequently invited to speak and join panels at seminars and meetings on topics related to his areas of practice, including subjects on entrepreneurship and young entrepreneurs.

 
 

EXPERIENCE


• Banking and institutional financing

  • Commercial and private banking, multilaterals, investment funds, financial institutions corporate loans, project finance, bridge and mezzanine loans bonds, notes and financial instrument offerings and securitizations in international capital markets

  • Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Development, construction and operation of power projects, with emphasis in the negotiation and closing of the financing

  • Due diligence and environmental compliance and international treaties, including climate change and clean development mechanisms

  • Emphasis on agency, distribution and negotiations

  • Arbitrator in commercial arbitration

 

EDUCATION


  • Masters in Law (LL.M.) University of Texas School of Law (with Honors) (2005)

  • Attorney and Notary Public, Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Guatemala (2000)

  • ADR and Negotiation Skills, Loyola University (with Honors)

 
 

MEMBER


• Guatemalan Bar Association

  • New York State Bar

  • Board member – Arbitration and Conciliation Center of the Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce (CENAC)

  • Former President, Energy Committee AmCHAM Guatemala

  • Project Finance Committee of the NYC Bar Association

  • International Bar Association

  • American Bar Association