Ricardo Duarte Jiménez

Ricardo Alfredo Duarte Jiménez is the Managing Partner of Lex Atlas in Honduras.

Ricardo’s career focuses on corporate transactional advisory. He has extensive experience in corporate law, primarily in areas such as corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, distribution law, financial law, and he is also noted for his participation in both national and international arbitration processes.

Throughout his professional practice, he has advised several multinational companies on mergers and acquisitions projects. Ricardo Duarte is recognized for his extensive experience in advising large companies with interests in Central America, particularly in Honduras.

Prior to joining Lex Atlas as a partner, Ricardo served as partner and head of the labor practice at García & Bodán (2006 – January 2022).

 

Practice Areas

  • Corporate – Commercial
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Real Estate
  • Financial
  • Arbitration Disputes
  • Labor

Recognitions

  • Corporativo y M&A, Best Lawyers, 2019-2021.
  • Corporativo/M&A, LACCA Approved, 2017-2021.
  • Corporativo/Comercial, Chambers Latin America, 2020-2021.
  • Financiero y Corporativo, IFLR1000, 2016-2019 
  • Competencia, Who’s Who Legal Central America, 2018-2019
  • Corporativo, Financiero, Competencia, Who’s Who Legal Central America, 2016.

Outstanding Experience

  • Advisory to a non-profit social investment fund focusing on microfinance and the development of growing agricultural small businesses, recommending legal structures and vehicles to enable proper project financing and ensure success.
  • Advisory to one of the largest and most successful hotel chains in the region on securing a loan to finance the consolidation and expansion of the client’s operations in the region. 
  • Advisory to a leading company in the retail sale of furniture and appliances, in capitalizing over USD 14 million in retained earnings.
  • Advisory on the merger by absorption in Honduras of the companies of one of the most renowned global firms in fuels, lubricants, and other petroleum products.
  • Advisory in the due diligence process for six renewable energy companies in Honduras to establish the legal basis and feasibility for purchase options.
  • Advisory to a Mexican dairy company on the acquisition of assets from a major dairy marketing company in Honduras.
  • Advisory to the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Honduras on all sovereign bond issuances to date, exceeding USD 1 billion.
  • Advisory to one of the largest global retail companies on purchasing real estate across Honduras for the installation of its stores.
  • Advisory to a multinational leader in the insurance industry on corporate, labor, and regulatory matters before the Central Bank of Honduras and the National Banking and Insurance Commission.

Education

  • Diploma in National Defense – College of National Defense of the Republic of Honduras and the U.S. Hemispheric Defense Studies Center, Washington, D.C., November 2004.
  • Law Degree – National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), 1999.
  • Authorized to practice as an Attorney since 1999.