Francisco Obando

Director

Profile

Francisco Obando is a Director of BLP in San José, Costa Rica, with more than 22 years of experience in Public Law, Administrative Contracting & Economic Regulation, Energy & Infrastructure and Telecommunications, Media & Technology. He specializes in complex administrative procedures, administrative litigation, constitutional, public-private partnerships, and municipal matters.

He has also participated in the direct legal advice of successful projects related to public infrastructure, including his work as Legal Director of the company in charge of the Interested Management Contract of the Juan Santamaría International Airport, as well as Legal Manager of the Concessionaire Company of the San José-Caldera Highway.

  • Public Law, Public Procurement & Regulation
  • Energy& Infrastructure
  • Telecommunications, Media and Technology

Education

  • Diploma in Economic Regulation and Competition, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain, 2016
  • Diploma in Business Administration for Lawyers, INCAE Business School, Costa Rica, 2012
  • Specialization in Regulation in Telecommunications, Universidad para la Cooperación Internacional, 2010
  • Master in Public Law, Universida de Costa Rica, 2009
  • Law degree with honors, Universidad de Costa Rica, Costa Rica, 2003

Languages

  • Spanish
  • English

  • Costa Rica Bar Association
  • Ibero-American Association for Regulation Studies

  • Permanent legal advisor to Globalvia on all matters related to the Concession Contract for Route 27 San José-Caldera, the country’s flagship road infrastructure project. Legal advice specialized in Public Law includes attention to administrative claims and administrative procedures before the National Concessions Council, arbitrations, and contentious administrative processes.
  • The first issuance of international and local bonds for infrastructure financing in Costa Rica. The BLP team advised Autopistas del Sol, a subsidiary of Globalvía, on issuing senior secured notes in international markets for $300 million and $50.75 million within local markets, the first time an infrastructure company has issued international and local bonds simultaneously in Costa Rica.
  • 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. The transaction bolsters Cementos Progreso’s expansion in Central America, consolidating operations in seven countries.
  • Infrastructure project financing and development BLP is public law counsel to The Central American Bank for Economic Integration – CABEI- (BCIE in Spanish) in a contract with the Costa Rica Government for financing, procurement, construction, lease, and transfer of government buildings.
  • BLP represents GRUMA DEMASA in a Sanction before the national competition authority; this is a much-followed case in the country.
  • Historical intervention in Costa Rica. As part of the BLP team, Francisco acted as expert legal advisor to the audit board of the National Institute for the Promotion of Cooperatives (INFOCOOP), being one of the only two such interventions in CR’s history.