On March 5, 2025, the Legislative Assembly approved, in a second debate, bill number 23528, which explicitly regulates working from outside Costa Rica. According to the provisions of the approved draft law, working from abroad may be requested by the employer and will require the employee’s express consent; if the employee agrees, the employer must…
Category Archives: Blog
Banking & Finance, Blog, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Guatemala, News
BLP Advised on the First Public, Sustainable, and Dematerialized Bond Issued by a Financial Institution in Guatemala
07
Mar
Mar
BLP has advised BID Invest, Proparco, and LAGreen (through Finance in Motion) on the issuance of the first sustainable and dematerialized bond by Banco de América Central, S.A. (BAC Guatemala) to promote financial inclusion and environmental sustainability in Guatemala. The bond, valued at up to US$140 million with a term of up to five years,…
Banking & Finance, Blog, Costa Rica, News
BLP Advised on the First Public, Sustainable, and Dematerialized Bond Issued by a Financial Institution in Guatemala
07
Mar
Mar
In a significant move within the financial sector, BLP provided comprehensive legal counsel to Banco Davivienda during the acquisition and integration of Scotiabank’s operations in Costa Rica. This transaction, encompassing banking, insurance, and leasing businesses, highlights BLP’s expertise in navigating complex mergers and acquisitions in the region. This agreement is part of Davivienda’s strategic expansion…
Blog, Costa Rica, Cybersecurity & Data Protection, News
Artificial Intelligence and Technologies Promotion Law
07
Mar
Mar
On February 25, 2025, the Legislative Assembly enacted the Artificial Intelligence and Technologies Promotion (AI) Law. Its objective is to promote the development, research, and application of artificial intelligence in El Salvador, encouraging and promoting innovation while ensuring its responsible use to contribute to technological advancement and economic growth. The AI Law applies to all…
Blog, Costa Rica, Free Trade Zones, International Trade, News
New Customs Directive: Mandatory Validation for Trade Agreement Exemptions
05
Mar
Mar
On February 12, 2025, the General Directorate of Customs published Directive No. MH-DGA-DIR-0001-2025, issued on January 7, 2025, introducing key changes for customs procedures. This directive modifies the existing regulations by removing the last paragraph of Directive No. DIR-DGA-01-2021 and adding point vii), establishing a new requirement for the exemption of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)…
Blog, Costa Rica, Environment, Health & Safety, News
Obligations for the Management of Construction and Demolition Waste
04
Mar
Mar
Autor https://blplegal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Articulo-Hidrogeno-Verde_FOTO.png Luis Palacios Director Costa Rica E-mail The construction industry is one of the most environmentally impactful sectors worldwide, primarily due to the large volume of waste it generates. However, in Costa Rica, there has historically been a regulatory gap concerning the management of construction waste, as governmental oversight has traditionally been reserved for…
Banking & Finance, Blog, El Salvador, News, Regulatory Compliance, Prevention and Risk Management
Major Changes to El Salvador’s Bitcoin Law
27
Feb
Feb
On January 30, 2024, Legislative Decree No. 199 was published in the Official Gazette, introducing amendments to the Bitcoin Law (the “Reform”). The primary goal of the Reform is to enhance Bitcoin’s implementation in response to the people’s needs. The most significant amendments include: Legal Tender Status: References to Bitcoin as a legal tender have…
Blog, Costa Rica, Labor & Employment, News
Constitutional Chamber Expands Maternity Leave Rights in Same-Sex Parent Families in Costa Rica
27
Feb
Feb
The Constitutional Chamber, through ruling number 92412-2024, has resolved an action of unconstitutionality filed against Article 95 of the Labor Code and Article 41 of the Law on Public Employment. The ruling establishes that these articles violated the fundamental rights of equality and special protection of the family, women, and minors by not considering the…
Blog, Costa Rica, Energy & Infrastructure, News
Business Opportunity: New Call for 100 Megawatts of Private Solar Generation in Costa Rica
25
Feb
Feb
The Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE) has announced that in March 2025, it will launch a new call to incorporate 100 megawatts of private solar generation into the national electricity system. This initiative aims to strengthen the energy matrix and advance decarbonization and sustainability goals. The call will be exclusively open to solar projects…
Blog, Business Law, El Salvador, News, Regulatory Compliance, Prevention and Risk Management
New Guidelines in El Salvador for Foreign Investors
24
Feb
Feb
On February 14. 2025, Agreement No. 096 of the Attorney General Office was published in the Official Gazette No. 446, whereby the Guidelines for the Determination of Risk Categories for Clients to Facilitate la Opening of Bank Deposit Accounts and the Performance of Financing Transactions involving Foreign Investors and Salvadorans located abroad (“Guidelines”), which are…