Ricardo Lombana is an attorney with significant experience in corporate and commercial matters, contracts, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, both local and international. He has extensive experience with legal issues related to media and communications (traditional and digital/internet), freedom of expression and information and journalism (Media Law).
During his career, he has had the opportunity to represent clients in all the various stages of major domestic and international transactions. He has also advised clients in local and international financing of infrastructure projects. Additionally, he has comprehensive experience in corporate law (corporate), business law, negotiation and drafting of contracts. Mr. Lombana currently provides legal advice to major local and international companies.
Mr. Lombana is also a registered arbitrator from the Center for Conciliation and Arbitration of Panama, were he has participated extensively in commercial arbitration.
Throughout his career, Mr. Lombana has also developed an expertise in legal issues related to media and communications, covering issues pertaining to freedom of expression and information, libel, journalism, journalism ethics, self-regulation and other related topics. He is legal adviser and media (editorial) consultant to individuals as well as local media and local and international organizations.
He currently hosts a leading nightly TV show called Eco360, conducting interviews and sharing views on legal, judicial, economic, social and political matters.
Mr. Lombana served his country as General Consul of Panama in Washington, DC, United States of America and as Counselor of the Embassy of Panama in Washington, DC. This experience allowed him to participate in important bilateral negotiations as well as carry out intensive lobbying in the Congress of the United States of America and before the Departments of State and Commerce.
Mr. Lombana also served as Editor of La Prensa and was the first delegate to the Freedom of Expression and Information Office of the Ombudsman of Panama.
Prior to the founding of Lombana Law & Media, Mr. Lombana worked as an associate in Galindo, Arias & López.
Articles and Publications. Mr. Lombana has published articles on various legal matters (corporate, project financing, administrative concessions), including issues related to freedom of expression and information and media law. He has also been a speaker at many national and international forums.
Academics. Mr. Lombana teaches “Legal Aspects of Communications and Journalism” in the executive master in journalism of Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua.
Affiliations. Member of the National Bar Association, the American Society of International Law and is a Fellow and Director of the Forum of Journalists. He belongs to the group of regional experts from the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights on freedom of expression and incitement to hatred. Mr. Lombana was a member and President for three years of the Ethics Committee of the National Council of Journalism. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Panama, Fundación Panameña de Ética y Civismo (FUPEC) and Asociación Panameña de Ejecutivos de Empresa (APEDE)
Education.
• Degree in Law and Political Science from the University of Panama.
• Masters in International and Comparative Law from The George Washington University Law School (Washington, DC), Awarded the “Thelma Weaver Memorial Award”, signifying the highest performance by an international student.
• Participated in Joint Program of The George Washington University and the University of Oxford in International Law of Human Rights and participated in the Program of Instruction for Lawyers at Harvard University.
Melissa Epailly is a young lawyer specializing in Immigration and Labor immigration Law, mainly for executives and technical personnel from foreign companies with operations in Panama. In addition, Melissa Epailly concentrates her practice on Commercial, Civil, Tax and Intellectual Property Law.
Melissa Epailly holds a degree in Law and Political Science from Santa María La Antigua University. She holds continuing education diplomas in Tax Financial Law, Accounting for non-accountants, and Labor Law, all from the Universidad Latina de Panama.
Spanish is her native language and is also fluent in English.
Gabriel Pinzon Lombana is an attorney graduated from the University of Panama with excellent reputation and vast experience in matters related to Law Enforcement, Corporate Security at national and international level; Implementation of new business and institutional security processes; Supervision and control of internal labor standards to ensure compliance with current legislation; Implementation of technical reports to support management decisions; Risk assessment and reputation of those suppliers and companies with whom it is desired to establish lines of business; Technical assistance in the analysis and communication of risk operations, among other functions required in the areas of Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.
In his public life he has served in important positions within the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Drug Related Crimes, where he served from Stenographer, Senior Officer III, Judicial Secretary, Assistant Prosecutor, to 1st and 2nd Drug Prosecutor; developing functions such as: Litigation and claims; Instruction of cases against Organized Crime, Local and International Drug Trafficking, Arms Trafficking and Money Laundering; Lead burglary and undercover operations; experience in intelligence work, analysis and exchange of information; creation of joint task team with both local and foreign authorities; leading him to participate in International Operations such as Azteca Flu & Cold Remedy, for the dismantling and capture of shipments of chemical precursors such as pseudo ephedrine; achieving the recognition of Appreciation and Outstanding contribution to the Department of State in the field of the fight against drugs in 2005.
In the Private Sector, he held the position of Senior Security Specialist for Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), one of the largest Transnational in the world in the courier, air cargo and logistics sector, responsible for Regional Corporate Security for Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama, with responsibilities in sensitive issues such as: Determine situational risk through investigations to minimize events that could harm the assets of the corporation, clients or employees; Implementation of new processes for the improvement of corporate security in the countries of responsibility; recommendation, supervision and enforcement at the regional level of the contracts of the security companies that provide the service, its personnel and performance; coordinate the installation of CCTV systems, burglar alarms and monitoring of current stations and expansion projects; daily monitoring of criminal trends in the different countries of the region; permanent communication with law enforcement and law enforcement authorities at both local and international level; support investigations against Organized Crime in crimes such as: Drug Trafficking by Minors, Smuggling, Falsification of documents, among others at regional level; Coordinate and participate in the Executive Protection service for the senior executives of the company whenever they visited one of the countries under their responsibility; Certified Trainer in FedEx’s internal Security Systems for Latin America; Regional Security Manager, Manager for Central and South America from June to October 2011; Winner of internal awards and international recognition, one of the most significant being the one awarded by the Department of Homeland Security for its participation and professionalism demonstrated during the search and capture operation of a fugitive from the United States for crimes of child abuse in 2006.
His most recent contribution to Panama comes from the Ministry of Government, occupying the position of Director General of the Penitentiary System, in charge of the project of restructuring and modernization of the Penitentiary System based on the fundamental pillars of security, safeguarding the Human Rights of all the actors and members of the system, and achieve the re-socialization of the individual. Relevant actions led to the management of more than 1,247 employees at the national level; Budget Execution; Reactivation and strengthening of relations with various national, international, private and/or public authorities such as: INPEC, General Directorate of Criminal Centers of El Salvador, School of Gendarmerie of Chile, Federal Penitentiary Service of the Republic of Argentina, General Directorate of Prison Systems of Guatemala, United Kingdom, ANTAI, Public Ministry, Civil Society, UNODC, UNDP, Embassy of the United States, European Union, National Police, National Security Council, Supreme Court of Justice, among others; Implementation of the Penitentiary Information System (SIP); Direct participation in the elaboration of the Project of Penitentiary Career Law (today Law of the Republic); Public tenders for the improvement of prison structures; And other responsibilities tending to lower the rates of prison overcrowding in the country.
At the end of 2016, Gabriel A. Pinzon Lombana decides to leave the General Directorate of the Penitentiary System to dedicate himself to the private practice of Law in areas that he has developed throughout his successful career. That is why he joined Lombana Law & Media to create and lead the legal practice specialized in Corporate Criminal Law, whose objective is the provision of legal services to individuals and companies, national and foreign, seeking the full satisfaction of their needs.
Among the services provided by Lombana Law & Media under the direction of Mr. Gabriel A. Pinzon Lombana are the control, prevention and prosecution of fraud and offenses related to the corporate purpose of Companies, Banking, Insurance, Securities and other related matters, Expanding to areas of Consultancy and Defense of Business Organizations and their executives, their judicial representation in criminal actions for conduct against the economic patrimony, financial system, control of internal fraud and money laundering, including definition and monitoring plans for the identification, measurement and minimization of corporate risks, and measures to combat private corruption and acts of unfair administration.
