Arturo Gerbaud de la Guardia
Partner
Contact Details
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Panama, Panama
Arturo Gerbaud de la Guardia is the managing partner of Alcogal and a highly regarded lawyer in banking, finance, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions. He has led numerous complex and high-value transactions, advising financial institutions, multinational companies, and regional groups on sophisticated financing structures and corporate deals.
His career spans both the private and public sectors, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of regulatory and financial frameworks. He has served as President of Latinex Holdings, S.A., the Latin American Stock Exchange, and the Central Latinoamericana de Valores. He was also a director of the Superintendency of Banks of Panama from 2003 to 2019 and participated in the drafting of Panama’s Securities Law.
Arturo has been consistently ranked at the highest levels by leading international legal publications such as Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500, and IFLR1000, where he is recognized as a leading practitioner in banking and finance. He is widely regarded as a reference lawyer in the Panamanian legal market, known for his practical approach and deep regulatory insight.
Among the most notable transactions in which he has acted as lead counsel are advising Banco Comercial de Panamá (Bancomer) in its merger with Banco General; advising Banistmo in its acquisition by HSBC Asia Holdings BV in a transaction valued at approximately USD 1.77 billion; advising AES Panama Generation Holdings in a USD 1.38 billion bond issuance in both local and international markets (Rule 144A and Regulation S), which at the time was the largest debt issuance in Central America and the Caribbean; advising in transactions involving Bancolombia and Grupo Calleja; and representing The Bank of Nova Scotia in its strategic integration transaction with Grupo Davivienda across Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia.
Personal Achievements
Accolades




Focus Areas
- Banking and Finance
- Capital Markets
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Practice Areas
Practice Areas
Experience
Education
Languages
- Spanish
- English
Bar Admission
- 1986, Panama
Memberships
- Presidential High Level Commission for the Modernization of the Capital Markets
- Drafter, Securities Law of Panama
- Director, Superintendency of Banks of Panama (2003-2019)
- Director and President, Central Latinoamericana de Valores, S.A.
- Director and President, Latinex Holdings, Inc.
- Director and President, Bolsa Latinoamericana de Valores, S.A. (Latinex)
- Panama Bar Association
- Director, Soluciones de Microfinanzas S.A. (Microserfín)
Representative Transactions
We are proud to announce that we have supported our client, The Bank of Nova Scotia, in the successful closing of the integration of its operations in Colombia, Costa Rica,...
Capital MarketsAlcogal advises BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan in Mobiliare LatAm’s landmark USD 500 million international issuanceAlcogal advised BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan in Mobiliare LatAm's inaugural USD 500 million senior bond issuance due 2032, issued under Rule 144A/Reg S — the largest issuance by a...
BankingAlcogal acted as Panamanian legal advisor to Bank of America Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Jefferies in Bladex’s first international AT1 bond issuance for USD 200 million.We acted as Panamanian legal advisors in Bladex’s first international AT1 bond issuance, which reached an amount of USD 200 million and received strong interest from international investors. The transaction...
Alcogal advised on the structuring of financing for Grupo Nutresa in Colombia, a transaction valued at USD 2 billion. Grupo Nutresa is one of the leading food conglomerates in Latin...
BankingWe acted as legal counsel for The Bank of Nova Scotia.We acted as legal counsel for The Bank of Nova Scotia in the recent transaction involving the transfer of its banking operations in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama to Banco...
Capital MarketsAlcogal advised Grupo Bancolombia and a bank syndicate"Alcogal served as legal advisor to a bank syndicate in the historic acquisition of Grupo Éxito by Grupo Calleja. Our firm played an essential role providing expertise and specialized advisory...
"Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee (Alcogal) advised Multibank, Inc. with the registration of subordinated corporate bonds for USD100 M. Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee (Alcogal) represented Multibank, Inc. (the “Issuer”) (i) with...
Capital MarketsAlcogal advised Banco General, S.A., as arranger, in connection with the registration of the common shares of Supermercados Xtra, S.A.Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee (Alcogal) advised Banco General, S.A., as arranger, in connection with (i) the registration of the common shares of Supermercados Xtra, S.A. with the Superintendence of...
Capital MarketsAlcogal advised Banco General, S.A., as arranger, in connection with the registration of the common shares of Supermercados Xtra, S.A.Alcogal advised Banco General, S.A., as arranger, in connection with (i) the registration of the common shares of Supermercados Xtra, S.A. with the Superintendence of Capital Markets (SCM) and their...
Alcogal advised Grupo Aval in its corporate reorganization process. This reorganization resulted in the spinoff of a 75% equity stake in its indirect subsidiary BAC Holding International Corp. (BHI), in...
Capital MarketsAlcogal advised on the public offering and bond issuance of Fountain Hydro Power Corp.Alcogal advised Fountain Hydro Power Corp., as Issuer, in connection with a USD110 million corporate bonds issuance registered by the Superintendency of Capital Markets and listed in Latinex, issued for...
Capital MarketsAlcogal advises G.B. Group Corporation in the exchange process of Series A and Series B cumulative preferred shares and issuance and placement of Serie C preferred sharesAlcogal acted as legal counsel to G.B. Group Corporation (holding company of Global Bank Corporation) in (i) the exchange process of Series A and Series B cumulative preferred shares without...
We advised Banco General S.A. as arranger, in connection with the amendment to certain terms and conditions of a USD250,000,000 corporate bonds issuance that Supermercados XTRA, S.A. has registered with...
TransactionsAlcogal assisted the initial purchasers in connection with the USD380 million bond issuance by San Miguel Industrias PET S.A. and NG PET R&P Latin America S.A.We assisted Citigroup, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, and Santander, as initial purchasers, on matters of Panamanian law, in the issuance of 3.5% secured senior notes due in 2028 for a...