Profile
Luis Palacios, Director of BLP in Venezuela, has more than 10 years of experience in the practice areas of natural resources, mining, energy, ESG, and anti-corruption compliance. He has advised multinational corporations, investors, and international financial institutions in highly regulated industries, combining his legal background with technical expertise as a certified auditor under ISO and OSHAS standards in environmental protection, carbon neutrality, anti-corruption, and occupational health. His practice includes leading environmental, mining, and regulatory due diligence processes in M&A transactions and project financing; designing and implementing anti-corruption programs and regulatory risk matrices aligned with OECD, FCPA, and UK Bribery Act standards; assessing environmental liabilities; and structuring sustainability projects, including license applications and the issuance of carbon credits. He also has experience in environmental, criminal, and administrative litigation. He joined BLP in 2017 as an associate.
- Environment, Health & Safety
- Mining
Education
- Master’s degree in Environmental Law, Natural Resources and Energy (Environmental Ambassador Award), Lewis & Clark University, United States, 2021.
- Law degree, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica, 2018.
- Law degree, Universidad Metropolitana, Caracas, Venezuela, 2016.
Languages
- Spanish
- English
- Venezuelan Costa Rican Chamber of Entrepreneurs: Founding member and Treasurer
- International Bar Association: Member
- Global life science ingredients distributor Acquires DIVSA in Central America. BLP advised Barentz International on the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Distribuciones Industriales Variadas, S.A. (DIVSA) in a significant transaction involving eight jurisdictions.
- Cementos Progreso is expanding its presence in Central America. BLP has advised Cementos Progreso Holdings, S.L. on the $335 million acquisition of assets from Cemex, S.A.B of C.V. in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The acquisition includes a cement plant, a cement mill, various ready-mix concrete plants, an aggregates quarry, and distribution centers in Costa Rica and El Salvador.
- Laboratorios Saval’s entry into the pharmaceutical market in Costa Rica. BLP advised Saval throughout the acquisition process of Laboratorios Stein’s operations in Costa Rica, including the performance of due diligence, the structuring of the transaction, the negotiation of the purchase agreement and ancillary contracts, and the entry of Saval into the Costa Rican market through the obtention of the applicable permits and the hiring of 170 employees.
- BLP advised the largest chemical producer in the world. BLP advised BASF in obtaining the necessary permits and concessions to use natural resources to establish plantations.
- BLP advised Gencom, the main developer of the Golfo de Papagayo Touristic Project, which is the most important and ambitious project in Central America. BLP advised on the compliance of high environmental standards during the construction of the Ritz Carlton, which will be the first 7-star hotel in Latin America.
- BLP provides regular legal advice to PepsiCo in its operations in Costa Rica on the environmental regulatory compliance of its operating plants in the country.
- BLP advised Guatemalan company Cementos Progreso on the acquisition of all of CEMEX’s operations, performing due diligence that involved analysis of the largest portfolio of mining operations in the country. BLP continues to advise Cementos Progreso on access to the country’s mining natural resources to ensure legal and environmentally sound operations.