legal aspects of doing business in s latin america
TRANSCRIPT
LEGAL ASPECTSOF DOING BUSINESS IN
LATIN AMERICA
Second Edition
S"
DENNIS CAMPBELLGeneral Editor
CHRISTIAN CAMPBELLEditor
JURIS
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Table of Contents
Argentina
General Introduction ARG-1
Establishment of Enterprises ARG-2
Acquisition of Enterprises ARG-6
Acquisition of Realty ARG-8
Taxation ARG-9
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AnguillaIntroduction AIA-1
Establishment of Enterprises AIA-2
Acquisition of Enterprises AIA-6
Acquisition of Realty AIA-9
Taxation AIA-11
Customs Regulation A1A-13 5"
Currency Regulation, Capital and Profit Transfer, and Investment &
Incentives AIA-16 S
Competition Law AIA-18
Intellectual Property Protection AIA-21
Employment Law AIA-24
Banking Law AlA-27
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LEGAL ASPECTS OF DOING BUSINESS IN LATIN AMERICA
Argentina(continued)
Customs Regulation ARG-11
Currency Regulation, Capital and Profit Transfer, InvestmentIncentives ARG-12
Competition Law ARG-14
Intellectual Property Protection ARG-17
Employment Law ARG-19
Banking Law ARG-20
Insurance Law ARG-23
The BahamasIntroduction BHS-1
Establishment of Enterprises BHS-3
Acquisition of Enterprises BHS-4
Acquisition of Realty BHS-6
Taxation BHS-11
Customs Regulation BHS-15
Currency Regulation, Capital and Profit Transfer, and InvestmentIncentives BHS-16
Intellectual Property Protection BHS-17
Employment Law BHS-19
Banking Law BHS-23
Conclusion BHS-24
BarbadosIntroduction BRB-1
Establishment of Enterprises BRB-2
Taxation BRB-16
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Barbados(continued)
Customs Regulations BRB-22
Currency Regulations and Investment Incentives BRB-24
Agency, Distributorship, and Franchising BRB-25
Competition Law BRB-29
Consumer Protection and Product Liability BRB-30
Intellectual Property Protection BRB-34
Employment Law BRB-40
Shipping Law BRB-46
Banking Law BRB-48
BermudaIntroduction BER-1
Professional Services BER-4
International Business Vehicles BER-6
Typical International Business Transactions BER-12
Insurance and Reinsurance Companies BER-19
Bermuda Aircraft Registry BER-22
Intellectual Property BER-24
Commerce BER-25
Performing Arts BER-26
Property Transactions BER-27
Foreign Investment BER-27
Bolivia
Introduction BOL-1
Codes and Main Legislation BOL-9
Establishments and Corporations BOL-19
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Bolivia(continued)
Reorganization and Bankruptcy BOL-25
Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, and Checks BOL-27
Conciliation and Arbitration BOL-31
Investment Incentives, Competition Laws BOL-32
Intellectual Property Protection BOL-33
Banking Law BOL-36
Taxation BOL-40
Environmental Legislation BOL-43
Customs Regulations BOL-43
Labor Laws and Social Security BOL-44
Other Relevant Civil and Commercial Law Issues BOL-48
Courts and Judicial Organization BOL-49
Criminal Code BOL-52
BrazilIntroduction BRA-1
Establishment of Enterprises BRA-6
Forms of Investment BRA-13
Acquisition of Real Estate BRA-16
Foreign Trade and Currency Exchange BRA-18
Labor Law BRA-20
Taxation BRA-24
Legal Framework for Foreign Investment BRA-42
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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|British Virgin IslandsIntroduction BVI-1
Taxation BVI-7
Customs Regulation BVI-8
Currency Regulation Capital and Profit Transfer, Investment BVI-13
Competition Laws BVI-15
Intellectual Property Protection B VI-16 •§
Labor Law BVI-20 |
Banking BVI-23
Cayman IslandsCurrent Climate for Foreign Business CAY-1
The Legal System CAY-3 jr
Form of Enterprise for the Foreign Business Interest CAY-5 g.
Land CAY-13 f
Off-Shore Business CAY-17
Regulation of Foreign Business CAY-42
Local Business CAY-43
Regulatory Environment CAY-44
Labor Aspects CAY-48 gc
Chile s
Introduction CHL-1
Types of Business Organizations CHL-5 ^ ^
Foreign Exchange Regime CHL-9
Regime on Exports CHL-12
Labor Law CHL-15 ?
Social Security CHL-20 |
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ColombiaIntroduction COL-1
Legal System COL-2
Establishing a Business COL-3
Commercial Entities COL-5
Business Entities Liquidation & Arrangements with Creditors...COL-9
Regulation on Foreign Investment COL-16
Exchange Regulations COL-18
Imports and Exports COL-20
Contracts COL-21
Civil and Commercial Guarantees COL-31
State Contracts COL-32
Project Finance COL-38
Capital Markets COL-43
Taxes COL-46
Social and Labor Legislation COL-53
Environmental Law COL-62
Telecommunications COL-66
Intellectual Property Rights COL-69
Mergers and Acquisitions COL-76
Costa RicaIntroduction CRI-1
Establishment of Enterprises CRI-2
Taxation CRI-7
Industrial Incentives CRI-9
Currency Exchange Regulations CRI-10
Legal Residence CRI-H
Banking Law CRI-11
TABLE OF CONTENTS VII
Dominican RepublicIntroduction DOM-1
Establishment of Enterprises DOM-1
Acquisition of Realty DOM-8
Taxation DOM-10
Distributorship DOM-16
Customs Regulations DOM-21
Currency Regulations, Capital and Profit Transfer, and InvestmentIncentives DOM-23
Competition Law DOM-28
Intellectual Property Protection DOM-29
Employment Law DOM-36
Banking Law DOM-40
EcuadorIntroduction ECU-1
Incentives for Production ECU-5
Obligations and Contracts ECU-10
Agency ECU-11
Commercial Activities ECU-12
Trademarks ECU-14
Patents on Inventions ECU-14
Price and Quality Control ECU-15
Commercial Companies ECU-15
Taxes ECU-23
Administration of Justice ECU-27
Labor Law ECU-31
Alienship, Migration and Diplomacy ECU-36
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£1 SalvadorIntroduction ESL-1
Business Organizations ESL-3
Contracts and Secured Transactions ESL-11
Property and Secured Interests ESL-12
Currency Control Regulations ESL-13
Import and Export ESL-13
Immigration ESL-15
Antitrust ESL-17
Foreign Investment ESL-19
Taxation ESL-20
Bankruptcy ESL-22
Employment ESL-23
Environmental Law ESL-31
Fishing Rights ESL-31
Financial System ESL-32
Energy and Telecommunications Laws ESL-34
Alien Acquisition of Real Estate ESL-35
Agency and Distribution ESL-35
Transportation Law ESL-38
Intellectual Property ESL-41
Dispute Resolution ESL-46
GuatemalaIntroduction GTM-1
Establishment of Enterprises GTM-1
Acquisition of Enterprises GTM-6
Acquisition of Realty GTM-8
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Guatemala |(continued) *
Taxation GTM-10
Customs Regulation GTM-13
Currency Regulations, Capital and Profit Transfer, and InvestmentIncentives GTM-15
Competition Law GTM-19
Intellectual Property Protection GTM-20 «gD
Employment Law GTM-22 o
Banking Law GTM-26
Guyana ^ -*-Guyana in Profile GUY-1
The Legal System GUY-3 jf
The Court System GUY-4 \
International Relations GUY-4 I
The Economy GUY-5
Investment Framework GUY-10
Starting Up a Business GUY-13
Taxation GUY-18
Employment Law GUY-21 •
Intellectual Property Protection GUY-23 \
Appendix I GUY-24 S
Appendix II GUY-25
Appendix III GUY-27
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HondurasIntroduction HND-1
Establishment of Enterprises HND-2
Acquisition of Enterprises HND-6
Acquisition of Realty HND-8
Taxation HND-10
Customs Regulation HND-13
Currency Regulations, Capital and Profit Transfer, and InvestmentIncentives HND-15
Competition Law HND-17
Intellectual Property Protection HND-18
Employment Law HND-20
Banking Law HND-27
JamaicaIntroduction JAM-1
Establishment of Enterprises JAM-2
Banking Law JAM-12
Taxation JAM-15
Customs Regulation JAM-19
Investment JAM-21
Antitrust Law JAM-22
Intellectual Property Law JAM-25
Conclusion JAM-30
MexicoIntroduction MEX-1
Establishment of Enterprises MEX-2
Acquisition of Enterprises MEX-5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IMexico E
(continued)
Acquisition of Realty MEX-9
Taxation MEX-11
Customs Regulation MEX-16
Competition Law MEX-20
Currency Regulation, Capital and Profit Transfer, and Foreign >
Investment MEX-25 "8
Intellectual Property Law MEX-29 g'
Employment Law MEX-34
Litigation and Arbitration MEX-38
Conclusion MEX-41
NicaraguaIntroduction NIC-1
Establishment of Enterprises NIC-2
Acquisition of Enterprises NIC-6
Acquisition of Real Estate NIC-7
Taxation NIC-7
Customs Regulation NIC-9
Capital and Profit Transfer and Investment Incentives NIC-12
Competition Law NIC-14
Intellectual Property Law NIC-17
Employment Law NIC-19
Banking Law NIC-25
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PanamaIntroduction PAN-1
Investment Principles and General Considerations PAN-3
Investment Framework PAN-5
Direct Sales PAN-8
Purchase by a Foreign Corporation of Business in Panama PAN-9
Incorporation PAN-11
Tax PAN-17
Antitrust, Consumer Protection, and Unfair Trade Practices PAN-24
Intellectual Property PAN-26
Employment Law PAN-29
ParaguayIntroduction PAR-1
Forms of Enterprise PAR-1
Banking PAR-5
Labor Law PAR-6
Social Security PAR-8
Taxes PAR-8
Investment Incentives PAR-12
Aliens PAR-13
Foreign Exchange PAR-13
Law of Contracts PAR-13
Judiciary Power PAR-14
TABLE OF CONTENTS x l j |
Peru IIntroduction PER-1
Legal System PER-1
Establishing a Business PER-2 ^
Foreign Investments PER-5
Imports and Exports PER-10
Contracts PER-11 j?
Securing Performance of Obligations PER-13 a
Concession Contracts and Public Services PER-14
Banking Regulations PER-15
Tax Regime PER-16
Social and Labor Legislation PER-18
Competition, Antitrust, and Unfair Competition Law PER-20 H
Intellectual Property PER-21 *9
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Trinidad and Tobago 5
Introduction TTO-1
Investment Principles and General Considerations TTO-2 *-—"""
Forms of Direct Investment TTO-8
Establishment of Enterprises TTO-10 w
mAcquisition of Enterprises TTO-13 g*
aAcquisition of Real Estate TTO-15 2Agency, Distributorship, Leasing, and Franchise
Arrangements TTO-18
Taxation TTO-20 i * - *
Customs Regulation TTO-25
Investment Incentives TTO-28 £Investor Protection in Bankruptcy Proceedings TTO-30 §
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Trinidad and Tobago(continued)
Intellectual Property Protection TTO-32
Labor Law TTO-36
Appendix: Useful Contact Information TTO-39
The Turks and Caicos IslandsIntroduction TC-1
Forms of Business Enterprise TC-5
Banks and Banking TC-14
Insurance TC-15
Intellectual Property TC-16
Business and Residence Requirements TC-16
Land Purchases TC-16
Customs, Foreign Trade, and Currency Exchange TC-17
Labor TC-17
Taxation TC-19
United States Virgin IslandsIntroduction USV-1
Government and Business USV-2
The Economy USV-2
The Legal System USV-3
Business Organizations USV-3
Taxation USV-6
Special Business Incentives USV-14
Appendix USV-17
TABLE OF CONTENTS x v
iUruguay s
Introduction URU-I I
Labor Legislation URU-2 j
Social Security URU-2
Expatriates URU-3
Types of Companies URU-3
Corporations URU-3 £°!5
Branches URU-6 S5'
Limited Liability Companies URU-7
Other Types of Companies URU-9
Foreign Investment URU-10
Promotional Program URU-10
Free Zones URU-109ft
Exchange Control URU-10 w
Taxes URU-11 g
VenezuelaIntroduction VEN-1
Foreign Investments VEN-4
Debt for Equity Swaps VEN-7 as
Transfer of Technology VEN-8 STe
Exclusion from Application of Foreign Investment and Transfer *of Technology Regulations VEN-11
Corporate Aspects VEN-11
Labor Law VEN-11 ^ ^
Taxation VEN-13
Foreign Trade VEN-16 9
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