Member Profiles

Flavio Dario Espinal is managing partner and founder of FDE Legal, a law firm offering a wide range of legal services in the Dominican Republic. With over 40 years of experience, he concentrates his legal practice in corporate and business law, administrative law, constitutional law, financial and banking law, regulation and compliance, corporate governance, and foreign investment, and alternative dispute resolution. Dr. Espinal has served as legal counsel to the President (2016-2020), Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United States (2004-2009) and Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the Organization of American States (OAS) (1996-2000). In his professional career he has combined private law practice with consulting and national and international public service. He has also worked both in private practice and public service in the preparation and drafting of legislation, regulations, international agreements and reports on relevant legal issues. Flavio Darío Espinal was a member of the commission of jurists appointed by the Executive Branch to draft the preliminary draft that served as the basis for the 2010 Constitution, as well as the commission of jurists appointed to draft a set of laws to complement said Constitution. The prestigious governmental positions and appointments in which he has served have had a significant influence in the development and modernization of the legal system of the Dominican Republic. He has been one of the most influential and respected law professors in the country and is a prolific writer with numerous articles and books, with a regular presence in the country's media with important analyses and opinions on local and international legal, political and economic issues. He obtained his law degree (summa cum laude) from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), Dominican Republic, an M.A. in Government from the University of Essex, England, and a PhD in Government from the University of Virginia. He is founder member and member of the Board of Directors of Fundación Institucionalidad y Justicia (FINJUS), the leading non-governmental institution in the Dominican Republic for judicial and institutional reform; as well as member of the International Advisory Counsel (IAC) of Global Americans.

Founding partner of the firm. Sara V. Sicard specializes in the practice of commercial and corporate law, shipping and maritime law, banking law, real estate law and foreing investment, among other areas. Sara V. Sicard received a law degree from the University Pedro Henriquez Ureña (UNPHU) in 1990, Cum Laude. She obtained in 1992 a Masters in International Business Law with a focus on International Business (graduated with merit) from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, England. She obtained her license to practice law in the Dominican courts in 1993. She is a member of the following institutions: the Dominican Republic Lawyers Association, Inc., Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Marítimo (institution of which she is former Vice-president) and Association of graduates of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Sara Sicard is an active participant in the review of bills that impact the maritime and shipping sector. RAFUL SICARD POLANCO & FERNANDEZ ‘RSPF’ was founded in 2003 with the primary goal of providing its clients with a legal service of the highest quality with a personalised touch. The firm is made up of four partners and ten associate attorneys. It is a vanguard firm, able to manage basic as well as complex legal transactions, litigations and legal counsel in general, with the same ease, effectiveness and professionalism. This is a full service law firm with a ‘boutique’ perspective where members of staff are able to work in five languages (Spanish, English, French, German and Portuguese). RSPF stands out in the local market for the quality of its work as well as its continuous striving for the highest ethical standards. In addition to the usual work done by law firms in the Dominican Republic, RSPF has throughout its 15 years of incorporation been able to develop a niche and special recognition in specific industry sectors such as transportation (with special emphasis in aviation and maritime matters), telecommunications, energy, labour, tax, business, finance and securities. RSPF is also proud to have strategic alliances with lawyers from Central America and the United States.

As a law practitioner, Mr. Guzmán-Ariza has long and in-depth experience in servicing the needs of the international investor in the Dominican Republic, especially in the areas of Civil Law and Real Estate Law. Currently, Mr. Guzmán-Ariza is arbitrator at the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce and at the Santiago Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic.

Professional Profile More than 17 years of experience advising the most important real estate projects and developers in the northeastern Dominican Republic: Las Terrenas, Samaná, Nagua, Rincón and Las Galeras. Expert in condominium matters. Expert in assisting real estate investors in relocating in the Dominican Republic. Former President of the Las Terrenas Bar Association. Founding member of the Samaná Chamber of Commerce. Highly committed to pro bono work. Practice Areas Real Estate and Condominium Law Litigation Tourism and Hospitality Notary Publications “La exigencia de una asamblea para autorizar la venta de un inmueble por una sociedad presidencialista”. Gaceta Judicial, núm. 254 (enero 2008), p. 53. “La función calificadora del registrador de títulos y su incidencia en el principio de publicidad”. Gaceta Judicial, núm. 373 (abril 2018). “Alcance del papel activo del juez en el proceso de saneamiento”. Gaceta Judicial, núm. 378 (septiembre 2018), pp. 50-54. “El régimen de la unanimidad en las asambleas de condominio y su incidencia en la vida condominal”. Compilación de estudios legales 2020 de AbogadosSDQ (agosto 2020). Education Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, LL. M., Real Estate Law, 2020. Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), Magister, 2011. Universidad Católica Nordestana, LL. B., magna cum laude, 2003. Recognitions and Memberships Ranked as a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 Latin America survey. Founding member of the Samaná Chamber of Commerce. Former President of the Las Terrenas Bar Association. Member of the Dominican Bar Association. Member of the Dominican Association of Notaries. Member of the International Union of Notaries (UINL). Member of the board of the Samaná Association of Notaries. Member of the International Union of Latin Notaries (UINL). Member of the board of directors of the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation. Member of the board of directors of the SDR Foundation. Member of the board of directors of the Samaná Smiles Foundation. Member of the management committee of the French School of Las Terrenas Théodore Chassériau. Languages Spanish English French Italian

Founding partner of the firm. Sara V. Sicard specializes in the practice of commercial and corporate law, shipping and maritime law, banking law, real estate law and foreing investment, among other areas. Sara V. Sicard received a law degree from the University Pedro Henriquez Ureña (UNPHU) in 1990, Cum Laude. She obtained in 1992 a Masters in International Business Law with a focus on International Business (graduated with merit) from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, England. She obtained her license to practice law in the Dominican courts in 1993. She is a member of the following institutions: the Dominican Republic Lawyers Association, Inc., Instituto Iberoamericano de Derecho Marítimo (institution of which she is former Vice-president) and Association of graduates of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Sara Sicard is an active participant in the review of bills that impact the maritime and shipping sector. RAFUL SICARD POLANCO & FERNANDEZ ‘RSPF’ was founded in 2003 with the primary goal of providing its clients with a legal service of the highest quality with a personalised touch. The firm is made up of four partners and ten associate attorneys. It is a vanguard firm, able to manage basic as well as complex legal transactions, litigations and legal counsel in general, with the same ease, effectiveness and professionalism. This is a full service law firm with a ‘boutique’ perspective where members of staff are able to work in five languages (Spanish, English, French, German and Portuguese). RSPF stands out in the local market for the quality of its work as well as its continuous striving for the highest ethical standards. In addition to the usual work done by law firms in the Dominican Republic, RSPF has throughout its 15 years of incorporation been able to develop a niche and special recognition in specific industry sectors such as transportation (with special emphasis in aviation and maritime matters), telecommunications, energy, labour, tax, business, finance and securities. RSPF is also proud to have strategic alliances with lawyers from Central America and the United States.