Lucas A. GUZMÁN LÓPEZ

Lucas A. GUZMÁN LÓPEZ previously lead the litigation department of one of the biggest firms in the country and left in February 2018 to start GMA. He currently leads the litigation practice and complements corporate and other practices. Continues to be active in litigation and has a strong academic presence nationwide, particularly in arbitration, bankruptcy, constitutional matters, private international relationships, and especially in civil and commercial litigation.

Lucas focuses his practice in arbitration and general litigation, especially corporate, contractual, and civil rights litigation. Has advised and represented diverse clients, ranging from multinational corporations, important local entities, and individuals, in all economic industries, from aviation, banking, energy, insurance, telecommunications, to real estate.

ACADEMIC 

1. PhD candidate, “Universidad Externado de Colombia” and “Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra” (“PUCMM”, Santo Domingo, since 2017 – expectation of presentation of PhD thesis in 2022)
2. Specialist in Constitutional Law, “Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha” (“UCLM”, Toledo, 2009)
3. Master’s Degree in Civil Procedure Law, PUCMM (Santo Domingo, 2008)
4. Law Degree, PUCMM (Santo Domingo, 2006) 

PROFESSIONAL

1. Founding partner, “GUZMÁN & MOLINA, ABOGADOS” (Santo Domingo, since 2018)
2. Eligible member, Collegiate Bodies of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (“INDOTEL”, Santo Domingo, since 2018)
3. Legal Interpreter of the Dominican Republic, English language (since 2018)
4. Eligible arbitrator, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santiago (since 2016)
5. Eligible arbitrator (ordinary and sports lists), Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo (since 2014)

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

1. Representation of one of the main Dominican poultry producers, obtaining, among other satisfactory results, the first annulment of an arbitral award in the history of the Dominican Republic
2. Representation of one of the main Dominican banks in a wide range of litigation, including real estate foreclosure procedures and collection complaints, as well as defense of actions of all sorts, especially in matters of civil liability, third party embargoes, employment and real estate issues
3. Defense of one of the most important telecommunications companies in the world in various civil and administrative complains, with emphasis on data protection, antitrust law and civil liability
4. Representation and defense of one of the main producers of bottles in the world in the recognition and enforcement in the Dominican Republic of several arbitral awards rendered in the framework of an important international arbitration
5. Representation of one of the leading luxury real estate projects in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic in commercial and labor actions, obtaining, among many judicial achievements, the substitution of various millionaire third-party foreclosures for less invasive collaterals and the subsequent acquittal in collections complaints filed against it
6. Representation and defense of one of the main Dominican electric power generating companies in several civil and municipal matters
7. Assistance to one of the leading Dominican telecommunications companies in the domestic phase of the first bankruptcy proceeding successfully carried out over a local company in a Federal Court of the Unites States of America
8. Defense of one of the main power generation companies of the Dominican Republic in the local phase of an international arbitration against a major energy distribution company, in which it was obtained an opinion for lack of jurisdiction from a Dominican center of arbitration
9. Defense of a major real estate developer in several real estate actions filed against it for alleged adjoining plots of great tourist impact
10. Representation and defense of the trustee of a succession in the recognition and enforcement in the Dominican Republic of a foreign judgment that acknowledged ownership over a property that was later the subject of a real estate complaint resulting from a fraudulent purchase, which in turn caused the dismissal of the Public Notary as a result of a disciplinary complaint for malpractice
11. Defense of the world’s leading banking entity in a constitutional remedy to protect civil rights in the course of a major public bid to obtain technological equipment in various municipalities
12. Defense of the governing body and several franchises of professional baseball of the United States of America in civil and labor complaints
13. Defense of one of the world’s leading airlines in miscellaneous civil and criminal actions, particularly in matters of civil liability and consumer-protection law
14. Defense of the founding shareholders of a renewable energy company in a controversy of corporate nature against its partners
15. Participation as sole arbitrator, chief arbitrator and co-arbitrator in institutional and ad-hoc arbitration proceedings in the fields of commercial and sports law
16. Obtained discharges in criminal economic cases of high impact prosecutions in matters such as intellectual property, environment, money laundering and discrimination
17. Judicial representation of builders and owners of constructions due to conflicts arising from brokerage contracts
18. Defense of grantors and concessionaires in important commercial disputes for distribution contracts under Law 173 of 1966, of protection to agents-importers of merchandises and products
19. Defense and representation of various consortiums of condominium owners in controversies with recalcitrant condominium owners
20. Representation of important foreign banks and debtors in foreclosure proceedings in real estate, furniture and macro furniture assets, such as vessels

TEACHING

 University: 

1. Professor of “Civil Procedure Law”, “Arbitration” and “Civil Practice”, PUCMM (Santo Domingo, since 2010)
2. Professor of “Civil Procedure Law” and “Bankruptcy”, “Universidad Iberoamericana” (“UNIBE”, Santo Domingo, since 2015)
3. Professor of “Foreclosure Proceedings of Movable Property”, “Ancillary Motions in Civil Procedure”, “Injunctions and Urgent Proceedings”, “Civil Procedure”, “Legal Research Techniques”, “Commercial Arbitration and Dispute Resolution” and “Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitration and Foreign Awards”, masters programs in PUCMM and “Universidad Rey Juan Carlos” of Spain (Santo Domingo and Santiago, since 2011)
4. Professor in the areas of Private Law and Public Law, National School of the Judiciary (Santo Domingo, since 2017)
5. Previous professor of “Civil Procedure Law”, “Universidad Católica Santo Domingo” (2007 – 2009)

Speaking engagements. Speaker in diploma courses and seminars on topics focused on the following subjects:

1. Alternative Dispute Resolution
2. Arbitration
3. Bankruptcy
4. Civil and Commercial Litigation
5. Civil Liability
6. Constitutional Law and Constitutional Procedural Law
7. Foreclosure Proceedings
8. Private International Law
9. Public Notary Law
10. Derecho deportivo

In the following institutions:

1. Association of Commercial Banks of the Dominican Republic,
2. Center for Conciliation and Arbitration of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa (Honduras)
3. Center for Conciliation and Arbitration of the Chamber of Commerce of Costa Rica (San José)
4. Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic)
5. Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santiago (Dominican Republic)
6. Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution of the Chamber of Commerce and Production of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
7. Bar Association of the Dominican Republic (Santiago)
8. Committee of Law Students of PUCMM (Santo Domingo and Santiago)
9. Dominican Olympic Committee (Santo Domingo)
10. “Data Cursos Gaceta Judicial” (Santo Domingo)
11. “Fundación Global, Democracia & Desarrollo” (“FUNGLODE”, Santo Domingo)
12. “Fundación Institucionalidad y Justicia” (“FINJUS”, Santo Domingo)
13. “Fundación Justicia Sana” (“FUNJUSA”, Higüey)
14. Pellerano & Herrera Foundation (Santo Domingo)
15. OMG Institute (Santo Domingo)
16. International Law Students Association, PUCMM chapter (ILSA PUCMM, Santo Domingo)
17. Group of Law Students of UNIBE (Santo Domingo)