The regulatory environment does not pause for your business calendar. We stay ahead of it.
Companies operating in Panama function within a layered framework of commercial law, administrative regulation, and public procurement rules. Licenses, permits, regulatory authorizations, and administrative proceedings are not background noise — they determine what a business can do, how fast it can grow, and what it costs when something goes wrong. At Chanis, we advise companies on the commercial and administrative law that governs their daily operations, and on the regulatory strategy that positions them to move efficiently within it.
- Commercial Law & Trade
- Administrative Law & Regulatory
- Administrative Proceedings & Appeals
- Regulatory Compliance Programs
Commercial and regulatory counsel for companies operating in Panama’s administrative environment.
COMMERCIAL LAW & TRADE
The Código de Comercio governs the commercial relationships of companies operating in Panama — from commercial agency to distribution, from factoring to commercial credit. We advise on the legal structure of commercial operations and the instruments that make them work.
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- Commercial agency and distribution structuring
- Commercial guarantees and credit documentation
- Panama-specific regulatory requirements for commercial operations
- Consumer protection compliance under ACODECO regulations
- Commercial instruments — letters of credit, factoring, commercial paper
- Franchise agreements and commercial licensing
- Commercial registry filings and authorizations
- Anti-competitive practices and competition law compliance
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW & REGULATORY
Companies in Panama regularly interact with public institutions for permits, authorizations, licenses, and regulatory approvals. That interaction is a legal process, not just an administrative formality. We advise on the rights and obligations of companies in regulatory proceedings and represent them before government institutions.
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- Regulatory authorization and license applications
- Administrative representation before government agencies
- Coordination with public entities on compliance matters
- Regulatory change analysis and impact assessment
- Regulatory strategy for businesses in regulated sectors
- Sanction defense and mitigation in administrative proceedings
- Industrial and commercial operating permit management
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Companies participating in Panama’s government procurement market — through Panamá Compra and institutional contracting — operate under a specific legal framework with strict procedural requirements. We advise on procurement strategy, bid preparation, contract compliance, and challenge proceedings.
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- Government contract structuring and bid support
- Contract performance, variation claims, and change orders
- Administrative remedies and procurement litigation
- Subcontractor compliance and due diligence
- Panamá Compra compliance and vendor registration
- Challenge proceedings before the Tribunal Administrativo de Contrataciones Públicas
- Joint venture structuring for procurement consortia
- Government contract termination and dispute management
REGULATED INDUSTRY LICENSING
Certain industries in Panama require specific licenses or authorizations from sector regulators — financial services, insurance, telecommunications, energy, transportation, healthcare. We advise companies entering regulated sectors on the licensing process and ongoing compliance obligations.
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- Sector-specific licensing requirements and procedures
- License maintenance, renewal, and modification
- Ongoing regulatory compliance calendar management
- Regulatory filing and reporting obligations
- License transfer in M&A and restructuring contexts
- New entrant regulatory strategy for foreign companies
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS & APPEALS
When companies face adverse administrative decisions — revocations, sanctions, permit denials — the response must be prompt and strategically constructed. Administrative law in Panama establishes specific timelines and procedural requirements that do not wait.
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- First-instance administrative responses and reconsideración
- Review before the Tribunal Administrativo de Contrataciones Públicas
- Precautionary measures in administrative proceedings
- Administrative appeal proceedings (apelación)
- Judicial review before the Sala Tercera of the Supreme Court
- Amparo de garantías in constitutional administrative matters
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS
Regulatory risk is operational risk. Companies with proactive compliance programs identify exposure earlier, manage it more efficiently, and engage regulators from a position of strength. We design and implement regulatory compliance frameworks calibrated to the specific sector and risk profile of each client.
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- Regulatory risk mapping and compliance gap analysis
- Regulatory filing and reporting calendar management
- Periodic review and update of compliance documentation
- Compliance program design and implementation
- Internal compliance training for operational teams
- Pre-audit readiness assessments
TAX LITIGATION & CONTROVERSIES
When administrative resolution is not possible, tax disputes move to the Tribunal Administrativo Tributario and, on appeal, to the Sala Tercera of the Supreme Court. We represent companies in tax litigation with the same directness we bring to all advisory work.
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- Representation before the Tribunal Administrativo Tributario
- Judicial appeals before the Sala Tercera of the Supreme Court
- Strategic planning for tax controversies
- Tax amnesty and regularization programs
- Coordination with criminal defense counsel where warranted
- Expert witness and technical analysis in tax proceedings
Panama’s regulatory environment has been in continuous evolution — and the pace has not slowed.
The introduction of ACODECO’s consumer protection enforcement, the expansion of financial supervision, the modernization of government procurement, and successive regulatory reforms across sectors have all required companies to track a framework that moves independently of the business calendar. We advise on commercial and administrative law as ongoing counsel — not as a one-time engagement when a problem surfaces.
REGULATORY DEPTH
Familiarity with Panama’s public institutional framework
We know which institution governs which matter, how it processes applications, and how to engage effectively within it. That knowledge reduces time and cost.
INTEGRATED PRACTICE
Commercial and corporate work handled together
Regulatory authorization does not exist separately from corporate structure. When a licensing matter involves a transaction or a restructuring, the same team handles both.
RESPONSIVE COUNSEL
Administrative deadlines are not flexible
Administrative appeals have fixed timelines. Permit windows close. We respond to regulatory developments on the schedule they require — not when it is convenient.
Let’s talk about your matter.
Schedule a consultation with our team – a direct conversation about your business and what you need.
