The Employment Law Alliance (ELA), the world’s largest network of labor, employment and immigration lawyers, has added BLP, Posse Herrera Ruiz and Rodrigo Elias & Medrano as member law firms for Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua), Colombia and Peru, respectively.
“Latin America is a key driver of our interconnected global economy, and these three firms ensure that multi-jurisdictional companies have broad access to ‘best-in-class’ legal resources throughout this region,” said Employment Law Alliance CEO Stephen J. Hirschfeld. “Our consistent goal is to offer employers unparalleled employment law advice and resources, creating the flexibility and peace-of-mind to expand and do business around the world.”
BLP is a Costa Rica-based, 100 attorney firm founded in 2003 with offices in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and soon Guatemala. With 16 practice areas, including labor and employment, the firm is listed in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, among other guides. Latin Lawyer praised BLP for “[having] a reputation for being a game changer, both in its approach to law and its social conscience – which is reflected in the firm’s admirable pro bono efforts.” The firm’s Labor and Employment department offers a range of services to employers in industries such as agriculture, hospitality and manufacturing and on matters including executive compensation and benefits, regulatory concerns, litigation, planning and structuring advice and corporate policies.
“We are honored to be part of the ELA family. As a firm, we pride ourselves on being true business partners with our clients, invested in their success,” said Labor and Employment department head Randall González. “The ELA’s dynamic – where every firm is committed to excellence and collaborating with fellow members – squares with our mission, and the organization’s worldwide reach greatly enhances our client offerings.”
Posse Herrera Ruiz, with roots dating back to 1927, is a 120-attorney firm with offices in Barranquilla, Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia. Chambers and Partners has honored the firm with its “Colombian Law Firm of the Year” award three of the past six years. During that span, Posse Herrera Ruiz has also been selected by the legal guide for a “Client Service Excelece Award.” Latin Lawyer, including the firm in its rankings, editorialized, “Posse Herrera Ruiz is one of the five or six firms across Latin America we would never even consider changing.” The firm’s Labor & Immigration department, one of 12 practices offered by the firm, provides legal advice and assistance on labor and employment matters to local and multinational employers on matters involving labor and social security law and regulations, compliance, labor due diligences, labor litigation and administrative hearings, compensation plans and management of expatriate staff.
“Simply put, there is no legal network like the ELA. Its reach and singular focus on helping employers worldwide with labor, employment and immigration matters set it apart,” said Partner Carolina Camacho. “We are pleased to be able to – overnight – offer global services and we are eager to help ELA clients looking to enter or expand in Colombia.”
Rodrigo Elias & Medrano is a 150-attorney firm based in Lima, Peru with 27 practice areas, including Labor. Listed in Chambers and Partners, the firm has also been selected as “Firm of the Year” for Peru 11 times since 2006, including in 2016, by Who’s Who Legal. Its labor practice advises clients on matters including hiring and subcontracting of personnel, immigration, collective bargaining, workforce reductions, labor taxation, and workplace safety compliance.
“As a firm, we take great pride foremost in providing our clients with superior service. In doing so, we have been fortunate enough to build a strong profile in the legal community as highlighted by numerous favorable rankings and awards,” said José Balta, head of the Labor practice area. “We are excited to be a part of the ELA, a legal network whose members have been honored with a similarly remarkable set of accolades in their respective countries and worldwide.”
About the Employment Law Alliance:
The Employment Law Alliance is the world's largest network of labor, employment and immigration lawyers. With specialists in more than 135 countries, all 50 states and each Canadian province, the ELA provides multi-state and multi-national companies with seamless and cost-effective services worldwide.