When a dispute requires formal resolution, the lawyers who know your business are best placed to defend it.
Most legal problems begin as business problems. A counterparty that does not perform. A contract that became a liability. A regulatory action that requires a response. When disputes escalate to formal proceedings — before courts, arbitral tribunals, or government institutions — the lawyers who built your corporate structure and negotiated your contracts are better positioned to defend your interests than ones encountering the matter for the first time. At Chanis, commercial dispute resolution is an extension of the advisory relationship — not a separate engagement handed to a different team.
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Disputes
- Arbitration & ADR
- Administrative & Regulatory Proceedings
Commercial dispute resolution handled by the lawyers who know your business.
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
Commercial disputes in Panama are resolved through civil and commercial courts under the Código Judicial. We represent companies in first-instance proceedings, appeals, and the full range of civil and commercial actions — from contract enforcement to tortious liability to injunctive relief.
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- Contract enforcement and breach of contract actions
- Injunctive relief and precautionary measures (medidas cautelares)
- Defense of commercial claims and counterclaims (reconvención)
- Cassation and constitutional review before the Supreme Court
- Declaratory proceedings and judicial interpretation
- Collections litigation and enforcement of judicial judgments
- Appeals before the Superior Tribunals
- Summary proceedings for urgent commercial matters
CORPORATE DISPUTES
Shareholder disputes, director liability, corporate decision challenges, and post-M&A disagreements require both legal precision and corporate knowledge. We represent companies and individuals in corporate disputes — as claimants and as respondents — understanding the structure from the inside.
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- Shareholder disputes and minority shareholder protection
- Challenges to corporate decisions and resolutions
- Corporate dissolution and liquidation disputes
- Breach of shareholder agreement claims
- Director and officer liability proceedings
- Post-acquisition disputes, indemnification, and warranty claims
- Oppression remedies and equitable corporate relief
- Joint venture and partnership dissolution proceedings
DEBT RECOVERY & ENFORCEMENT
Recovering commercial debt in Panama requires understanding both the legal instruments available and the enforcement mechanisms that make them effective. We advise creditors on recovery strategy and represent them from first demand through to enforcement.
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- Commercial debt recovery proceedings
- Attachment proceedings and asset freezes (secuestro, embargo)
- Cross-border enforcement strategy
- Guarantee enforcement — personal guarantees and collateral
- Enforcement of promissory notes and negotiable instruments
- Judgment enforcement and asset recovery
- Insolvency and restructuring creditor representation
- Pre-litigation recovery strategy and demand management
WHITE COLLAR & REGULATORY INVESTIGATIONS
Companies and their officers facing criminal investigations, regulatory inquiries, or government enforcement actions require immediate, experienced legal response. We represent clients in white collar criminal matters and regulatory investigations — from first contact through resolution.
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- Criminal defense in commercial and financial crimes
- Representation in government enforcement proceedings
- Asset protection strategies in connection with criminal proceedings
- Board-level crisis management in regulatory investigations
- Internal investigation management and legal privilege
- Deferred prosecution and settlement negotiations
- Coordination with criminal defense counsel on complex matters
- Cross-border cooperation and mutual legal assistance (MLAT) matters
ARBITRATION & ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Commercial contracts increasingly include arbitration clauses — domestic and international. Panama’s CECAP and CIAC administer a significant volume of commercial arbitrations. We represent clients in arbitration proceedings and advise on dispute resolution clause design before disputes arise.
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- International and domestic commercial arbitration
- Arbitration clause design and pre-dispute risk structuring
- Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in Panama
- Investment treaty arbitration — Panama BIT framework
- CECAP, CIAC, ICC, ICSID, and ad hoc arbitration proceedings
- Emergency arbitrator proceedings and interim measures
- Mediation and structured negotiation in commercial disputes
- Multi-party and multi-contract dispute management
ADMINISTRATIVE & REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS
Disputes with government institutions — license revocations, contract terminations, regulatory sanctions — are resolved through administrative proceedings with their own procedural logic. We represent companies before regulators and in judicial review before the Sala Tercera.
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- Administrative appeals and reconsideration proceedings
- Judicial review of administrative decisions — Sala Tercera
- Sanctions defense and regulatory penalty mitigation
- Representation before sector regulators under investigation
- Government contract termination disputes
- Administrative injunctive relief and suspensive effects
Commercial litigation is a continuation of business strategy by other means.
Understanding what the company is trying to protect — and what outcome actually serves its interests — is the judgment that shapes how we handle disputes. We have practiced through the full lifecycle of commercial matters in Panama: from structure through transaction, from contract through dispute. That continuity is what we bring to every proceeding. Litigation is not a different practice area to us. It is a different phase of the same matter.
ADVISORY CONTINUITY
The lawyers who structured the deal handle the dispute
When the relationship began as a corporate or transactional matter, we already know the structure, the contracts, and the context. There is no learning curve at the moment of maximum urgency.
COMMERCIAL JUDGMENT
Strategy, not just process
Litigation is an instrument for achieving business outcomes. We advise on litigation strategy as part of the broader commercial situation — not as a procedural exercise.
FULL SPECTRUM
Courts, arbitration, and administrative tribunals
Whatever forum the dispute requires — civil court, arbitral tribunal, or administrative body — the approach is the same: prepared, direct, and focused on outcome.
Let’s talk about your matter.
Schedule a consultation with our team – a direct conversation about your business and what you need.
