Rita de la Guardia is a partner at Alcogal whose practice focuses on banking and finance, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions. She has extensive experience advising financial institutions, multinational companies, and regional groups on complex transactions, both local and cross-border, combining strong technical expertise with a practical, execution-oriented approach.

She is admitted to practice law in both Panama and New York, allowing her to provide legal advice with an international perspective and a deep understanding of cross-border regulatory frameworks.
Rita is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the International Bar Association (IBA). She also serves on the board of Women in the Profession (WIP) Panama, where she actively promotes initiatives aimed at advancing gender equality within the legal profession.

Her work has been recognized by leading international legal publications. Chambers and Partners ranks her for her practice in banking and finance, while The Legal 500 highlights her technical strength and strategic approach to complex transactions. IFLR1000 also recognizes her as a leading lawyer in financial and corporate law, reflecting her strong reputation among clients and peers.

She has been involved in several significant transactions, including advising AES Panama Generation Holdings, S.R.L. on a corporate bond issuance of up to USD 1.4 billion; participating in the financing of Panama’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) project for Gas Natural Atlántico and Costa Norte LNG Terminal; advising Grupo Aval on the acquisition of Multi Financial Group Inc.; assisting Cable & Wireless Panamá and Liberty Latin America in the acquisition of Claro Panamá; and representing The Bank of Nova Scotia in the consolidation of its banking operations in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama into Banco Davivienda.