LEGAL SERVICES
2011-2012, the Association’s board is presided by Jazmina Rovi (Morgan & Morgan), vice president: lawyer Jorge Loaiza III (Arias, Fabrega & Fabrega), secretary lawyer Belisario Porras (Patton, Moreno & Asvat) and accompanied by lawyer Ana Lorena Morales (Fabrega, Molino & Mulino), lawyer. Alexis V. Herrera (Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman) and Gicela Kinkead.
The PMLA has been a leading participant in the discussions held between the private and the public sector on the reforms to four main maritime laws that were approved by the National Assembly in the third quarter of 2008. The reforms, which entered into force in August 2008 and February 2009, were: Replacement of Second Book of the 1917 Commercial Code of Panama with the Maritime Commercial Law [law 55 of August 6, 2008], a general port law [law 56 of August 6, 2009] on future
I
t has been 30 years since the establishment of Patton, Moreno & Asvat (PMA). ‘We founded the firm in 1981 with two partners and a secretary, in a 50sq mtr office. But it grew rapidly because we offered an excellent service,’ says Ebrahim Asvat. Today the firm Patton, Moreno & Asvat is characterised for being a firm that offers legal services of the highest quality and for truly committing to its clients around the world.
The firm has expanded rapidly since 1985 when the original partners, decided to incorporate ‘new talents’ and make them partners while at the same time, growing beyond borders. In 1986 Brett Patton opened the first office abroad in London, on Bond Street in the heart of the ‘city’. There is an office in British Virgin Islands (since 1988); the Bahamas (1994); Uruguay (2002); Belize (2005); and Anguilla (2007) and the latest addition in Hong Kong (2009). PMA became one of the first
Panamanian firms to be present in the UK and straightaway ‘this made a difference, brought us more clients because we knew the dual legal systems and delivered immediately in spite of the six-hour time difference,’ says Brett Patton. ‘That became our main trademark.’ In the early 1990s came another significant date for PMA with a trend of mergers, acquisitions and privatisations that created a new corporate business which has developed constantly ever since, leading the firm to engage an important staff of lawyers. To date the firm has nine partners, 12 lawyers and
82 Patton, Moreno & Asvat’s nine partners
more than 80 employees in its Panama offices in Costa del Este, Panama City. In addition to traditional legal services, in 1997 the firm acquired Assets Trusts and Corporate Services, the first fiduciary and trust company licenced in Panama. In 2008, ACE Fund Services Inc. was created in BVI, as well as HPA Lawyers, a local law firm in alliance with the PMA Group and diversified ‘the products needed by our clients,’ says Asvat.
A large part of the firm’s business and expertise deals with financing ship ownership, international banking and aircraft. It has a strong Latin American focus, and given that many members of staff are trilingual, the practice forms a natural bridge between clients in Europe, Asia and the US. PMA strongly believes in the constant update and international projection of its lawyers and personnel, promoting their participation in local and international conferences and seminars. Besides Brett Patton and Ebrahim
Asvat, the firm includes seven other partners: Maria de Lourdes Marengo, Maria Teresa Diaz, Enrique Jelenszky, Francisco Martinelli, Belisario Porras, Evans Gonzalez Moreno and Ivette Martinez. The vision of the next generation is ‘to be looking for specialised professionals in segments of major growth in Panama and the region as we want to expand in sectors where we are not and be more present in Asia and Latin America,’ says Martinelli. Many years have passed since the firm’s first ship registration of the tuna vessel Sea Chase, in 1981, which began a long and successful venture into maritime and corporate law, litigations, offshore services, financing and counseling. At the beginning of the 21st century, PMA is a thriving company, innovative and competitive, with a motivated human resource, identified and committed to the highest standards of quality and service, striving to provide security and maintain the loyalty of its customers.
PANAMA MARITIME REVIEW 2011/12
national and international port concessions, a new merchant marine Law [Law 57, of August 6, 2008] and reforms to the Code of Maritime Procedures [Law 12 of January 23, 2009].
Several issues remain on the PMLA priority list, says its President lawyer Jazmina Rovi, a partner in the firm Morgan & Morgan. The most important is the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006, which was ratified by Panama last year. Panama has established the tripartite Maritime Labour Commission formed by the State (AMP), employers (Panama Chamber of Shipping) and employees (represented by the ITF) of the maritime sector and rules and regulations have been approved by the tripartite commission. The AMP through its general directorates of merchant marine and seafarers has delegated part of the implementation of the MLC2006 to the
Patton, Moreno & Asvat (PMA)
Class Societies and Recognised Organisations (ROs). Both Class Societies and ROs are training local technicians for the voluntary certification and guidance to the ship owners before the issuance of certifications required by the Convention. Following contacts with the PMLA, the AMP established a specialised team to handle queries on MLC2006 by contacting via:
mlc@segumar.com. Merchant Marine Circular No. 227 released on July 2011 informs Panama Registry users of the stage of adaptation of Panama local regulations to the requirements of MLC 2006 and provides guidelines on the application of the convention. The AMP stresses that shipowner and seafarer representatives have been present at all times during this adaptation process and that, accordingly, Panama will not be required to consult the Special Tripartite Committee once MLC 2006 comes into force as required by
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