Practice Expertise
- Business Law
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Real Estate & Hospitality
Areas of Practice
- Business Law
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Real Estate & Hospitality
Profile
Luis M. Castro, Partner at BLP, specializes in Business Law, Energy & Infrastructure, and Real Estate & Hospitality. With over 20 years of experience, he has led international transactions and worked on prominent real estate projects in Costa Rica. His vast experience includes project financing, infrastructure, and bidding procedures of national and worldwide significance. Recognized by legal publications like The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, Who’s Who Legal, and IFLR 1000, he is a member of several professional associations and served as President of YPO/WPO Costa Rica. He is also a member of UCCAEP’s Energy Committee. In 2003, he co-founded with colleague David Gutiérrez the first BLP office in Costa Rica.
Education
Diploma in Principles of Right of United States, Georgetown University, United States, 1997
LLM (Fulbright Scholar), Georgetown University, United States, 1997
Law degree, Universidad de Costa Rica, 1994
Areas of Practice
- Business Law
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Real Estate & Hospitality
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
Celsia sells part of its assets in Central America. BLP advised Celsia on selling certain generation assets in Costa Rica to EnfraGen, including the review and structure of local aspects under Costa Rican law and the review of the Stock Purchase Agreement and accessory documents.
Largest placement of green bonds by a 100% renewable energy company in Central America and the Caribbean. BLP Costa Rica advised Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC on Investment Energy Resources Limited’s $700 million issuance of Secured Notes with a Fixed Rate of 6.25% maturing in 2029.
Financing of Marina Flamingo in Costa Rica. BLP has advised both Banco BCT and Marina Flamingo Development Group on granting a syndicated loan for the development of Marina Flamingo, located in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The loan in tranches is intended for constructive financing of the project’s first stage.
Celsia sells part of its assets in Central America. BLP advised Celsia on the process of selling certain generation assets in Costa Rica to EnfraGen, including the review and structure of local aspects under Costa Rican law and the review of the Stock Purchase Agreement and accessory documents.
Financing for the construction of Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. BLP has advised as counsel for GENCOM and principal counsel for local banks, a $130 million financing package granted to GENCOM, financing that will fund the Reserve’s ongoing construction. BLP acted as Lead Local Counsel for GENCOM and Lead Local Counsel for BCT.
Cementos Progreso expansion in Central America. BLP has advised Cementos Progreso Holdings, S.L. on the $335 million acquisition of assets from Cemex, S.A.B of C.V. in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The acquisition includes a cement plant, a cement mill, various ready-mix concrete plants, an aggregates quarry, and distribution centers in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The transaction bolsters Cementos Progreso’s expansion in Central America, consolidating operations in seven countries.
Las Catalinas is a high-end master-planned new-urbanism beachfront development in Guanacaste. BLP monitors all legal aspects of the development of Las Catalinas, a 1000-acre car-free walkable beach community comprised of houses, shops, restaurants, small hotels and inns, pedestrian streets, plazas, parks, and recreational facilities. There are currently two boutique hotels in the project and several development sites.
Los Sueños Marina and Resort. BLP is the lead advisor to Los Sueños Marina and Resort, the primary resort and planned community in Costa Rica. This 1,100-acre project features a 200-room Marriott Hotel, an 18-hole golf course, and a marina with more than 200 berths.
Gencom Group’s legal counsel on the development of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve. BLP assists the client in developing the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, acting as local counsel in negotiating agreements with Marriott to operate the hotel resort and branded residences component under the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand. BLP assists the client in its development efforts, including supporting co-developer Athens Group in the entitlement process.
Guanacaste Development Group developing their second coastal real estate project. The client is developing their second coastal real estate project in Costa Rica, a Mixed-Use Real Estate Master Project named Costa Elena with high-end hotels, villas, and lots. For the development of the Project, BLP advised its client in all aspects of reorganization of its real estate investments (over 1,000 ha.) per a corporate reorganization and the constitution of the master condominium and the first phase of sub-condominiums, as well as the structuring of the sales packages and contracts for the first phase.
Professional Associations
Celsia sells part of its assets in Central America. BLP advised Celsia on selling certain generation assets in Costa Rica to EnfraGen, including the review and structure of local aspects under Costa Rican law and the review of the Stock Purchase Agreement and accessory documents.
Largest placement of green bonds by a 100% renewable energy company in Central America and the Caribbean. BLP Costa Rica advised Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC on Investment Energy Resources Limited’s $700 million issuance of Secured Notes with a Fixed Rate of 6.25% maturing in 2029.
Financing of Marina Flamingo in Costa Rica. BLP has advised both Banco BCT and Marina Flamingo Development Group on granting a syndicated loan for the development of Marina Flamingo, located in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The loan in tranches is intended for constructive financing of the project’s first stage.
Celsia sells part of its assets in Central America. BLP advised Celsia on the process of selling certain generation assets in Costa Rica to EnfraGen, including the review and structure of local aspects under Costa Rican law and the review of the Stock Purchase Agreement and accessory documents.
Financing for the construction of Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. BLP has advised as counsel for GENCOM and principal counsel for local banks, a $130 million financing package granted to GENCOM, financing that will fund the Reserve’s ongoing construction. BLP acted as Lead Local Counsel for GENCOM and Lead Local Counsel for BCT.
Cementos Progreso expansion in Central America. BLP has advised Cementos Progreso Holdings, S.L. on the $335 million acquisition of assets from Cemex, S.A.B of C.V. in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The acquisition includes a cement plant, a cement mill, various ready-mix concrete plants, an aggregates quarry, and distribution centers in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The transaction bolsters Cementos Progreso’s expansion in Central America, consolidating operations in seven countries.
Las Catalinas is a high-end master-planned new-urbanism beachfront development in Guanacaste. BLP monitors all legal aspects of the development of Las Catalinas, a 1000-acre car-free walkable beach community comprised of houses, shops, restaurants, small hotels and inns, pedestrian streets, plazas, parks, and recreational facilities. There are currently two boutique hotels in the project and several development sites.
Los Sueños Marina and Resort. BLP is the lead advisor to Los Sueños Marina and Resort, the primary resort and planned community in Costa Rica. This 1,100-acre project features a 200-room Marriott Hotel, an 18-hole golf course, and a marina with more than 200 berths.
Gencom Group’s legal counsel on the development of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve. BLP assists the client in developing the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, acting as local counsel in negotiating agreements with Marriott to operate the hotel resort and branded residences component under the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand. BLP assists the client in its development efforts, including supporting co-developer Athens Group in the entitlement process.
Guanacaste Development Group developing their second coastal real estate project. The client is developing their second coastal real estate project in Costa Rica, a Mixed-Use Real Estate Master Project named Costa Elena with high-end hotels, villas, and lots. For the development of the Project, BLP advised its client in all aspects of reorganization of its real estate investments (over 1,000 ha.) per a corporate reorganization and the constitution of the master condominium and the first phase of sub-condominiums, as well as the structuring of the sales packages and contracts for the first phase.
Professional Associations
- Young Presidents/World Presidents Organization (YOP/WPO) Costa Rica Section: Member and former President
- Asociación Yo Emprendedor: Board of Directors
- Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):?Member of the Energy Committee
- Costa Rican Association of International Law (ACODI):?Founding member
- International Bar Association (IBA): member
- Urban Land Institute:?Member
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