Four practice areas. One way of working.
Every matter begins the same way. We read what you have, tell you where you stand, and put the proposed course in writing. You decide whether to proceed.
Real estateBuying property, with your own lawyer
The contract you are asked to sign was written by the seller's lawyer. Before you pay, we confirm who really owns the land, whether the project has its building permits, and how each clause would hold up if it ever reached a judge. Then we negotiate what has to change, and see the purchase through until the property is registered in your name.
Buying property →Due diligence →LitigationLawsuits, debt recovery & disputes
A contract that was not honored, money that was not returned, a judgment that has to be enforced, a claim brought against you. We represent foreign clients before the Dominican courts in civil and commercial disputes of every kind. Every case starts with a written legal opinion on where you stand and a formal demand that puts the other side on record; we negotiate where a settlement can be had, and litigate where it cannot.
Civil litigation →Disputes with developers →Personal injuryInjured at a resort, hotel or excursion
Evidence in a resort disappears fast: the video is overwritten, the staff roster changes, the incident report is rewritten. Within days we identify the company that actually runs the property and its insurer, serve a formal notice requiring them to preserve the evidence, and build the claim under Dominican law, for the injured guest directly.
Injured in the DR →Inheritance & familyInheritance, estates & family matters
A will written abroad does not, by itself, transfer Dominican property. The estate has to be declared, the inheritance tax settled and the title transferred here, within deadlines that start running on the day of death. We establish who the heirs are, handle the filing and the tax, and register the property in their names, wherever they live. We also handle prenuptial agreements, ownership between spouses, divorce and the division of assets.
Inheriting property →Family law →You always know what happens next.
Pick your situation and see the stages a matter like yours moves through, with the time each usually takes in practice. Estimates, not promises; the courts set their own pace, and we tell you when they change it.
Local counsel. Direct access.
One attorney responsible for your matter
You know who is handling it and how to reach them directly. You deal with me directly, from Punta Cana, wherever you live.
Within 24 hours
You hear back within 24 hours, even when the answer is only when the answer will come.
In writing, before we start
Every engagement opens with a written proposal. You will never pay for work you did not agree to.
Your language, and the court's
Advice and reports in English, Spanish or French. Court documents in Spanish, as the law requires. Anything you sign, in both languages side by side.
We report. You decide.
A due-diligence report tells you what we found and what we propose. Whether to buy, pay or settle remains your call.
The truth about the courts
Dominican litigation takes time. We tell you how much, and we never promise a result we cannot control.
“I was discouraged about investing in the DR because of what I had heard. The clear and honest manner in which he handled a potential transaction convinced me that I should invest.”
“A great help to my case regarding a lease issue in Vista Cana. Great communication and a great work ethic. I would definitely recommend him as your lawyer in Punta Cana.”
“Communicative and attentive. He had our best interest at heart and we were pleased with the overall experience.”
“We've used them multiple times for various real estate related issues and we could not have asked for better outcomes. If we ever need an attorney in the DR again, it will be with Esteban.”
“I needed some documents in a rush for the sale of a property back home and they got everything done perfectly and expeditiously. I highly recommend Esteban and the staff.”
“The clear, honest guidance made a complex cross-border matter feel manageable from start to finish.”
Ten years in the courts of the east. A firm built around the client abroad.
Tell us what happened, or what you plan to do.
Send the contract, the reservation or the incident report. Within 24 hours you will have our reading of it and a proposed course of action, in writing. Flat fees, quoted upfront. The first case review is free.