The fields of professional practice are grouped in the RASA organization in work or project teams, led by a member of the firm who is an expert in the particular field. This flexible organization allows for a permanent exchange of ideas and experiences and constant updating of legal information across the board among the members of the firm.



The services include the preparation of all documentation to establish domestic or offshore corporations; the processing of licenses or operation permits, including those needed for the air transportation of passengers and cargo; registrations under special incentive laws (tourism, banking, public issue of securities);
negotiation for administrative concessions and other contracts with the government; documentation to participate in public or private bids; structuring adequate mechanisms for investments with or without public offering of debentures: processing insurance contracts and counseling regarding the fulfillment of legal requirements; international and local arbitration and mediation.
The processing of petitions for concessions and licenses relative to Export Processing Zones (EPZ), should be especially noted since this legislation offers attractive fiscal and immigration incentives.
The recent anti-trust law should be mentioned as it is the result of the reorientation of the economy towards the global market. This law establishes competition, jurisdictions and procedures which are new to Panama law practitioners while RASA is in a position to apply them in favor of its clients.

Together with the client, this Group plans the best strategy for each litigation. The client's participation in the progress of his case is deemed essential in order to obtain the best possible result; consequently, his contribution throughout the process is required as a complement to the knowledge, experience and permanent updating of the members of the firm in matters of legislation, doctrine and jurisprudence.
This experienced Group practices before arbitration tribunals as well as in trial and appellate courts and the Supreme Court, in commercial (including banking and insurance), family, labor, civil and maritime causes. The Group is capable of practicing before the courts of the State of Florida and, through correspondent law firms, in several other national jurisdictions.

RASA represents its clients in police and criminal matters, especially violations involving financial matters. Denunciations and complaints are prepared and private accusations are drafted in order to closely assist the District Attorney in those criminal causes in which our clients may have special interest. Likewise RASA undertakes the criminal defense for its clients either in lower courts or in the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court.

The services include the registration of vessels and other maritime crafts in the Panama: merchant marine registry; charter, cargo and insurance contracts; advise in matters of mortgages and other types of financing and guaranties; counseling in matters of collisions, accidents and labor benefits in the maritime field; processing of legal attachments and legal causes before the Maritime Court.

The Group provides advise on all legal, reglamentary and fiscal aspects relative to the country's tourism plans, such as operation licenses; building, financing and development of hotels projects; negotiations with international hotel operators; negotiations for tourism concessions by government agencies such as the National Tourism Board and the Interoceanic Region Administration, as well as with suppliers, contractors, workers and local and foreign professionals.

Preservation of the environment, reforestation and its incentives, and development of the mining industry are matters of current concern which command the attention of the firm.
In that sense concessions are negotiated with the government; counsel is provided concerning the strategic planning for investments in this area; and petitions for tax exemptions are processed. Advise is also provided to the rest of the firm to alert about the legal implications of the environmental effects of other activities.

Both in the adequate planning of activities which result in taxable and non-taxable income, as well as in the representation of taxpayers before the tax authorities, the firm enjoys vast experience in regard to tax claims and planning; advises in the full use of tax incentives; integrates the opportunities found in the comparative tax legislation in order to be able to take full , advantage of the tax system of Panama which offers possibilities to anchor businesses with international ramifications; preparation of tenders for public and private bids; processing of licenses for the operation of casinos and gaming activities before the Gaming Board.

Since Panama is a banking center of acknowledged reputation, such as Hong Kong, London and New York, it is only fit that RASA should be capable of offering all legal services necessary to assist the activities of our clients who desire to take advantage of the banking center, either as active participants in the business (through local, international or representation licenses) or as depositors or clients.
The firm assists from the initial steps to obtain legal authorization by the Banking Commission, to counseling on daily operations, such as contracts, relations and other acts with legal impact.
In addition, services include petitions for operating licenses for j i financial and trust institutions. Mortgage contracts are drafted; and ad\ase on matters related to real property, lease backs and factorings.