Juan Pablo Carrasco de Groote

Partner at CENTRAL LAW in Guatemala. Graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Guatemala, and holds an MSc in Mercantile and Competitiveness Law from USAC/CIG.

Mr. Carrasco de Groote has continued his legal studies and obtained various specializations, including Arbitration Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution at Loyola University; a Specialization in International Mergers & Acquisitions at the College of Law of England & Wales; an Executive Program in Legal Issues of International Business Law at Georgetown University Law Center/INCAE; and a Specialization in Advanced Negotiation, Deal Design & Implementation at Harvard Law School.

He is the Head of the Foreign Investment Department at the firm and specializes in M&A, Natural Resources (Mining, Oil & Gas), Energy, International Arbitration, and Corporate Law. Juan Pablo is recognized as a leader in the field by Chambers Latin America, Chambers Global, IFLR 1000, IFLR Energy & Infrastructure, and Legal 500. He has also been acknowledged as a leading expert in Foreign Investment advice by Corp Intl.

He currently serves as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Guatemala (AMCHAM) and Vice President of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce of Latin America (AACCLA). He is also a member of the Guatemalan Bar Association, the Inter-American Bar Association, the Energy & Infrastructure Analysis Center, and the American Bar Association (ABA).

Professional highlights:

• Advised and led the local strategy in investment and acquisition projects in multiple mining and energy sectors, including nickel, silver, gold, antimony, and petroleum in Guatemala and Central America.
• Acted as lead local counsel in international arbitrations, including the first-ever DR-CAFTA Investor vs State dispute in Washington, D.C., which was ruled and executed in favor of the investor.
• Led multiple strategic and large investments, M&A, and real estate transactions involving natural resources companies, foreign governments, and multinationals.
• Managed multiple complex commercial transactions between multinationals, national entities, and individuals.

Practice Areas:

• Arbitration and Litigation
• International Commerce
• Corporate Law
• Energy, Mining, and Infrastructure
• Food Industry