Johann Hartleben

Partner

Email
johann.hartleben@legalsa.com

Languages
Spanish, English, and German

Practice Areas
Real Estate, Foreign Investment, Corporate / M&A, Startups LEGALSA, Estate Planning, Banking and Finance

Team
LEGALSA Guatemala

Practice and Professional Life

Attorney and Notary with extensive knowledge and experience in corporate law and designing corporate structures in local and international jurisdictions. Has experience in designing corporate governance and shareholder agreements. Advised domestic and foreign clients on local and international business transactions, as well as their structuring. Provided legal advice on mergers and acquisitions and due diligence processes. Experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, typical and atypical, in Spanish and English languages. Legal advisory services to real estate developers and real estate projects, both residential and commercial. Advised societies in internal conflict situations. Additionally provided legal assistance for aircraft acquisition and registration. Recently provided legal advice to entrepreneurs and startups through Startups Legalsa, which provides legal advice to entrepreneurs.

Education

- Master of Laws (LLM) in American Law with a concentration in International Business from Boston University (2015).

- Bachelor's Degree in Legal and Social Sciences, Attorney and Notary from Universidad Francisco Marroquín (2012).

- Legal English Course from the University of Southern California (2012).

Awards and honours

- Next Generation Partner - Nivel 1 en Derecho Corporativo por Legal 500 Latin America 2024.
- ⁠ Recommended Lawyer - Band 4 in Corporate/M&A and Band 2 in Real Estate in Chambers & Partners 2025.

Memberships

- College of Attorneys and Notaries

- International Bar Association

- American Bar Association

 

 

IMPORTANT MATTERS:

 

- Provided legal advice on the structuring and acquisition of a logistics and storage service provider company in one of the most important industrial zones in Guatemala, for a total amount of US$25 million.

 

- Provided legal advice on the sale of the largest money transfer and remittances operation in Guatemala to a Mexican entrepreneur group for a total amount of US$35 million.

 

- Participated in the process of due diligence and negotiation of respective contracts for the acquisition of a telephone company in Guatemala for a total amount of US$333 million.

 

- Provided legal advice to Guatemalan entrepreneurs in their expansion and opening of commercial operations within the United States and other countries in Latin America, leading and coordinating with law firms in different jurisdictions.

 

- Provided legal advice on various real estate transactions, especially in the acquisition of shopping centers and commercial properties worth US$10 million.

Our Services

Practice Areas

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Arbitration

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LEGALSA has a team of experts in arbitration with diverse backgrounds: arbitrators, litigators with ample experience representing claimants and respondents, expert advisors in international disputes, and academic coaches to winning teams at prestigious international moot court competitions.

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Administrative Law

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LEGALSA advises, assists and represents clients in government procurement and concessions, including preparation of bids and technical proposals  for government tenders, review and negotiation of contractual terms, legal  management of contracts and defense in related contentious administrative, civil and criminal proceedings.

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Banking and Finance

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LEGALSA provides comprehensive legal counsel and services to domestic and international banks and financial institutions. We represent borrowers, lenders and facilitators in all types of credit facilities, including syndicated loans, lease contracts, secured and unsecured loans and lines of credit.

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Constitutional Law

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LEGALSA advises and represents clients in strategic filing of writs of amparo and claims of constitutional violations, in relation to ongoing disputes.

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Corporate / M&A

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LEGALSA advises  and assists clients on corporate, commercial, regulatory, tax, contractual  and governance issues for new and established companies, both domestic and international, particularly in the sectors of banking and finance, food and beverage, call centers, maritime services, technology, telecommunications, energy and agroindustry.

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Tax Law

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LEGALSA advises, assists and represents clients in government procurement and concessions, including preparation of bids and technical proposals for government tenders, review and negotiation of contractual terms, legal management of contracts and defense in related contentious administrative, civil and criminal proceedings.

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Real Estate

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LEGALSA counsels developers and promoters, buyers and sellers, landlords and renters of commercial, residential and tourism real estate projects, and provides comprehensive legal services, including procurement of permits, drafting of contracts, registration of titles, negotiation of transactions and corporate and tax structuring.

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Immigration Law

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LEGALSA provides its clients with services and assistance related to the migration status of their employees and collaborators, both nationally and internationally, thus facilitating their stay in the country, whether for work, business, or any other type of regulated residence according to the Migration Code. This includes obtaining temporary and permanent visas and residencies, as well as support in immigration regulations.

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Foreign Investment

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LEGALSA provides comprehensive legal advice and assistance to foreign individuals and companies interested in investing in new business ventures in Guatemala, whether through affiliates, branches, acquisitions, joint ventures or new legal vehicles.

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Estate Planning

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LEGALSA advises clients on the design and execution of tax planning for all types of businesses and corporate transactions. We have developed a specialized estate planning practice which helps our clients to prepare for a smooth succession and transmission of family wealth through the design, structuring and execution of tax-efficient and enforceable legal structures, vehicles and protocols.

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Intellectual Property and Technology

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LEGALSA manages all types of intellectual property issues, whether contentious or non-contentious. Our team is amply experienced in strategic management of international IP portfolios; procurement, maintenance, enforcement, purchase, sale, licensing and franchising of trademarks, patents, copyrights, designs and domains; IP litigation against unfair competition, counterfeiting, piracy and other infringements on IP rights, including unregistered IP.

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Privacy

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LEGALSA advises clients on issues of privacy and confidentiality, including best practices, design and implementation of privacy policies, procedures and notices, drafting of non-disclosure agreements and clauses, consent forms for the use of personal data, and consent management for the processing, use and domestic or international transfer of personal data bases.

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Dispute Resolution

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LEGALSA has one of Guatemala’s larger and more experienced teams of highly – qualified  specialists in dispute resolution. We are particularly effective in the management of highly complex, “bet the house” disputes, including civil, commercial and administrative litigation, arbitration, credit recovery, writs of amparo, extra – judicial negotiations and criminal proceedings.

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Startups LEGALSA

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At LEGALSA we have a division specialized in legal advice (mainly pro bono) for emerging ventures and new technology projects.