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Practice Areas

Banking and Finance

Obtain and maintain financial sector authorizations, and structure financing transactions.

What we do

We work with financial institutions and companies on obtaining the licenses, authorizations and registrations required before the Superintendency of Banks, the Superintendency of the Securities Market and the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, and on the financing transactions that sustain their activity.

Who it is for

Banks and financial institutions that establish or expand their license, broker-dealers and investment advisors, factoring and leasing companies, and companies that structure financings.

What it includes

  • Banking licenses
  • Broker-dealer and investment advisor licenses
  • Registration of investment companies
  • Individual licenses
  • Registration of public securities offerings
  • Authorizations and registrations for finance, factoring and leasing companies
  • Financings and guarantees
  • Opening of corporate and personal accounts

Lawyers in this practice

Our Latest Publications

Cryptoassets, Non-Custodial Platforms, and Legal Certainty in Panama: Scope and Limits of the Securities Market Law
Carlos Abrego Dávila Banking and Finance

Cryptoassets, Non-Custodial Platforms, and Legal Certainty in Panama: Scope and Limits of the Securities Market Law

Through Opinion No. 04-2025, Panama’s Superintendency of the Securities Market (SMV) addressed a regulatory inquiry concerning a non-custodial platform facilitating cryptocurrency exchanges. The SMV concluded that, under the specific business model examined, the exchange of native cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum does not constitute securities intermediation or another regulated securities market activity under Panamanian securities law. Accordingly, the platform does not require an SMV license or fall under its supervision, provided it operates strictly within the parameters assessed. The opinion does not extend to activities involving asset custody, investment services, derivatives, or other financial products, which require separate regulatory analysis.

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