María Alejandra is a Partner at the firm’s Banking and Finance Department.
She specializes in providing strategic advice to clients in the financial sector, including banks, brokerage houses, investment banks, investment advisors, and investment funds. Her practice focuses on capital markets, financial transactions, banking, securities regulation, corporate governance, and compliance.
Her practice focuses on capital markets, financial transactions, banking, securities regulation, corporate governance, and compliance.
María Alejandra is recognized for her outstanding performance in representing clients in both public and private securities offerings in Panama and cross-border transactions. She works closely with issuers and investment banks. Additionally, she is known for her expertise in the creation of investment funds, sustainable offerings and securitizations.
As an advisor to professional organizations in the securities market industry, she actively collaborates with local banking and securities regulators in the development of financial regulation.
- Counsel to Global Bank Corporation in the issuance of a US$250MM convertible subordinate and perpetual corporate bond program.
- Counsel to Global Bank Corporation in the acquisition of Banvivienda.
- Counsel to Banco Aliado, S.A. in the acquisition of Banco Panama.
- Counsel to IDB Invest as underwriter of a US$50MM private placement bond issued by Banistmo, a local bank, as the first social bond with a gender focus in Latin America. This financing was aimed exclusively to expand access to financing for women-led SMEs.
- Counsel to Global Valores, S.A. in the structuring and registration of its first public investment fund, Fondo Global de Inversiones, S.A. for 100MM shares.
- Counsel to AV Securities Inc. in the structuring and registration of its first public multi-class umbrella investment fund, AV Funds Inc., for US$400MM.
- Counsel to Lifeinvest Asset Management, S.A. in the structuring of the US$18MM multi-class umbrella private investment fund, Avila Recovery Fund.
- Counsel to Banesco Panama, S.A. in the issuance of a US$100MM public perpetual revolving corporate bond program.
- Counsel to Credicorp Bank, S.A. in the public securitization of its consumer loan portfolio for US$300MM.
- Counsel to Retail Centenario, S.A., on the restructuring of its US$230MM public revolving corporate bond program.
- Counsel to Banco Aliado, S.A. in the public offering of US$50MM preferred shares.
- Counsel to Grupo Aliado, S.A. in the public offering of US$75MM preferred shares.
- Counsel to Financiera El Sol, a Panamanian subsidiary of Caribbean Financial Group, in the issuance of a public revolving corporate bond program for US$50MM, backed by personal consumer loans, as part of a multinational financing structure of the CFG Group.
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Law and Political Science, magna cum laude, Universidad Católica Santa María la Antigua, 2005
- Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Corporate Law, New York University, School of Law, 2007.
- Postgraduate Degree, Volgestein Scholar, Professional Advanced Certificate in Law and Business, New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business, 2007
- Diploma in Fintech and Cryptoeconomics, Universidad Católica Santa María la Antigua, 2022.
Admissions
- Panamá, 2005
Acknowledgments
- Ranked by Chambers and Partners Latinamerica, Legal 500, and Latin Lawyer. She is described by clients as a “fantastic lawyer” and “one to watch”. Her expertise has gained her recognition in the Legal 500 as a leading next-generation lawyer in banking and finance.
- Magna Cum Laude honor, Universidad Católica Santa María la Antigua.
- Volgestein Scholar, New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business
Memberships
- Foundation WIP Panama (Women in the Profession) - Member of the Mentoring Committee
- Panama Corporate Governance Institute - Director and Secretary (2019-2020), Director and Vice President (2020-2021).
- Member of the Ethics Committee and Regulatory Committee (2020-2021)
- Panama Bar Association
- NYU Alumni Association.
Languages
- Spanish & English