Panama’s Effio Montgomery & Bloise launches

Founded by attorneys Chris Effio, Alex Montgomery, and Jorge Bloise Iglesias, the firm combines expertise in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, estate planning, regulatory law, intellectual property, and project financing, offering tailored legal solutions for local and international clients.

EMB is distinguished by its strategic and multidisciplinary approach to key areas of business law, including corporate and corporate governance, commercial and contract law, estate planning, special investment regimes, real estate law, project financing, intellectual property, and regulatory law.

“EMB’s vision is to provide sophisticated legal advice with highly personalized service. The firm combines a deep understanding of the Panamanian market with solid international experience and practice, adhering to the highest professional standards, to support its clients in strategic decisions and the structuring of complex transactions,” said Chris Effio, founding partner of the firm.

Effio is recognized by prestigious international legal directories and has extensive experience advising companies, investors, and business families on corporate transactions and complex estate structures.

For his part, Alex Montgomery, co-founding partner, leads the firm’s commercial and real estate practice. His expertise focuses on business structuring, investments, and corporate financing, as well as providing strategic advice to domestic and international companies operating in or seeking to establish themselves in Panama.

“Panama continues to establish itself as an investment and business hub in the region. Our goal is to support companies and investors with legal counsel that combines technical rigor with strategic vision,” Montgomery noted.

The founding team also includes Jorge Bloise Iglesias, a specialist in intellectual property, civil law, regulation, and data protection, who is currently on leave from the practice of law during the 2024–2029 constitutional term. Bloise has experience in intellectual property, life sciences, legal research, regulatory processes, advising on the protection of intangible assets, and estate planning.

The firm advises multinational companies, international investors, and high-net-worth private clients, with a particular focus on investment structuring, cross-border corporate transactions, and strategic projects in Panama.

In addition to its legal practice, EMB maintains an active commitment to pro bono initiatives and social responsibility projects, focused on strengthening access to justice and supporting causes that benefit the community.