Our commitment in Central America.

BLP’s Sustainability efforts extend throughout the Central American region, executing our commitment to social and environmental well-being and access to justice through our offices.

During 2019 in El Salvador we helped with Pro Bono work to the Contextos organization that supports the development of critical thinking skills and work with high-risk children and youth. We have also supported Saint Francis Ministries, which carries out community development to impact human development in a high-risk community in El Salvador.

We have supported the establishment of the NGO Ambulancia del Deseo, which makes wishes come true for seriously ill people.

Support was provided to the organization Emprendedores del Mundo, which helps entrepreneurs and start-ups in their planning and launching process.

Pro Bono legal work was donated to set up the NGO Peace2World and the Fundación Justicia y Género (FUJUSGEN) in El Salvador, promoting communication among vulnerable groups and gender equality.

We supported with Pro Bono work the preparation of the “ Private Equity Companies” bill, which aims to encourage domestic and foreign investors through tax benefits to invest in companies of young entrepreneurs in fields such as: information technology, robotics, mechatronics and green industry. The project was recently presented to deputies of all political fractions for discussion.

BLP El Salvador has implemented various mechanisms to reduce its carbon footprint:

Daily teleworking, which reduces the need for travel and therefore also the consumption of fuel and other resources associated with the use of physical facilities, thus generating a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to lower energy use in office.

BLP also uses and covers the cost of online systems enabled by government institutions, in order to promote the use of digital material instead of paper, which also promotes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Invoicing to international clients is done through the use of electronic invoices that allow a more efficient use of this material; in the case of domestic clients, regarding electronic invoicing, we are in the process of authorization by the Ministry of Finance of El Salvador.

At BLP, a culture of equality and non-discrimination prevails: the promotion of opportunities is equal for everyone regardless of gender or sexual orientation, always based on competencies and experience. We are proud that of the 23 people who make up the firm, 13 of them are women.

Our team of lawyers in Guatemala has done volunteer work in the reforestation of the Anderten Private Natural Reserve. To date, 16 assistants have been involved in this task.

This organization focuses on the conservation of metropolitan ravines as sources of water recharge, oxygen emission, urban landscape, biodiversity, green and recreational areas. As BLP we have provided support in planning and environmental strategies. Adding 100 Pro Bono hours to this cause.

We have been involved in different areas of the Cámara Guatemalteca de la Propiedad Intelectual (Guatemalan Chamber of Intellectual Property). Our attorney Daniela Meza is a member of the Academic Committee, totaling 10 Pro Bono hours. In addition, our team provides support to the events subcommittee, with a total of 8 Pro Bono hours and has also supported with 3 Pro Bono hours in trainings of the Guatemalan Chamber of Intellectual Property.

In addition to all these efforts, our partner Rodolfo Salazar, adds 20 Pro Bono hours in various programs, projects and non-governmental organizations.

Our firm in Guatemala has initiated its environmental sustainability strategy to establish the consumption baseline and start with processes to reduce water, electricity and paper consumption. All this in order to soon obtain the environmental license and qualify for the Green Office certification in this country. In addition, we have contributed in a Pro Bono manner with national projects promoted by the Vance Center.

Among the actions that have been carried out internally and externally are:

  1. Implementation of primary waste separation.
  2. Training of personnel on waste separation and recycling.
  3. Recycling suppliers for office supplies.
  4. Development of an environmental practice area.
  5. Implementation, development, and promotion of the Multisectoral Interinstitutional Agreement for the Creation of the Alliance for the Motagua River Basin.

In the area of Human Rights, our office in Guatemala has implemented an LGTBIQ+ oriented dress code.

Another of the actions we have taken on behalf of the youth is our participation in the Non-Governmental Organization called Proyección Alianza Joven NGO, an initiative that focuses on promoting human rights in young people to help them overcome the challenges they face in life.

Several governmental and international cooperation institutions, together with private companies and the fundamental support of BLP, joined together in an unprecedented effort for the protection and recovery of the Motagua River Basin. The initiative seeks to establish comprehensive measures to preserve environmental and human health in the region and, thus, create and establish the Motagua River Watershed Alliance.

BLP joins this crusade in its ongoing commitment to advocate for sustainable solutions. Its crucial role in structuring the agreement underscores its committed and proactive approach to addressing the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The Motagua River Basin, shared between Guatemala and Honduras, represents a key conservation action point, directly affecting more than four million people and the region’s biodiversity.

BLP provided legal advice in the establishment of this agreement, whose objectives include proper solid waste treatment, landfill relocation, wastewater sanitation and public policies aimed at environmental protection.

We have supported the Guadalupe Pineda Foundation in legal medical brigade initiatives. In addition, we have donated for the construction of a community center in Aldea Agua Blanquita, Santa Barbara. Our team has done volunteer work in the painting of the school in the Municipality of Texiguat. In addition to all these efforts, we are a bridge to find companies willing to support them, as we coordinated the donation with a client of the office for the repair of 2 bathrooms.

A non-profit organization, noble and supportive, which collects, rescues and distributes food in order to reduce the rate of malnutrition and hunger in vulnerable groups of Honduran society. We have donated legal work Pro Bono adding 6 hours per month and we are also part of the Board of Directors as a member.

We provide legal Pro Bono work to Aloysius Association (Villa De Los Niños Y Villa De Las Niñas) whose goal is to support the poorest of the poor, thus changing the way of life of thousands of children and contributing to the development of each country. As BLP we support in the administration/legal of the school, obtaining educational permits, and in labor issues. We have also contributed to the regularization of land and revision of the fiscal regime. The Aloysius Association, protects 1400 children at social risk, in two locations, BLP is in charge of all the legal procedures of the children before the regulating entity and the children’s courts.

Another NGO we support with Pro Bono legal work is this children’s home and bilingual school that provides safe haven for youth in Honduras. BLP assists with the administration/legal aspects of the school, obtaining educational permits, and labor issues. In addition, Amigos de Jesus protects 200 children at social risk. BLP is in charge of all the legal procedures for the children before the regulatory body and the children’s courts. Also in Honduras we have helped to create a technical school for young people over 18 years old and we have given trainings on sexual responsibility before minors.

During 2019, in Honduras we support the projects of the Vance Center and other organizations on a Pro Bono basis.

We highlight the Pro Bono assistance we provided to protect the human rights of an LGBTI person who was persecuted in that country because of his sexual orientation.

We also supported several projects related to legal and immigration procedures for families with minors who may be in repatriation proceedings in the United States.

In Honduras, several BLP lawyers are part of the group “Unión de Abogadas Mujeres” (Union of Women Lawyers) since 2016, in which empowerment and leadership activities are carried out promoting role models of Honduran women. In this Union, philanthropic and mentoring activities have been developed, as well as the elaboration of documents, such as the Doing Business guide that will be presented at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa.

In Nicaragua during 2019, an agreement was signed with Glasswing to assist them in various ways in their projects. This is an organization that since 2014, has implemented education and community development projects that have impacted thousands of people throughout the country. BLP in Nicaragua supported in the legal procedures for authorization and issuance of public deeds of permissions in order for 30 minors to participate with the Glasswing Foundation in a Central American Meeting in Honduras to share experiences in education.

Within the framework of the Unreal Educational Campaign created by the International Trademark Association (INTA) (www.inta.org/unrealcampaign), BLP in Nicaragua carried out in collaboration with the Universidad Centroamericana a talk aimed at students between 18 and 23 years of age, with the objective of promoting interest in Intellectual Property among students.

In Nicaragua, BLP also supported the preparation of the local chapter of the Central American Data Protection Study coordinated under the auspices of the Instituto Panameño de Derecho y Nuevas Tecnologías (IPANDETEC). Likewise, BLP together with IPANDETEC gave a talk to different telecommunication companies, students and users on the main results of the study.

In 2019 we also provide collaboration to the DataGuidance platform with a review on data protection regulations in Nicaragua for financial markets. This review aims to provide entrepreneurs and users in general with a practical guide on the Nicaraguan legal framework on this topic.

Through BAC Credomatic’s EySF, on October 8, 2019, a Financial Talk was given to BLP and RE-SOLVE collaborators in Nicaragua with the objective of providing them with tools to improve their financial health and adopt sustainable lifestyles. Topics such as managing a personal budget, implementing responsible consumption habits, inappropriate use of financial products and over-indebtedness were addressed.