BLP expands regional platform with representative office in Venezuela

BLP has announced the opening of a representative office in Venezuela in response to growing interest from regional and international clients and investors evaluating opportunities in the country.

The new office will expand the firm’s regional platform and strengthen its ability to support clients with local knowledge, international standards and cross-border execution.

In recent months, BLP has seen a sustained increase in companies exploring investment opportunities in Venezuela, particularly in energy and hydrocarbons, mining, infrastructure, telecommunications, insurance, banking and finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

The firm said these opportunities are accompanied by significant regulatory complexity and risk, requiring sophisticated legal advice to structure transactions appropriately. The opening of the office is a direct response to that demand.

BLP, which has 36 partners and more than 200 lawyers, will integrate its new Venezuelan capability with its presence in Central America and its representative offices in Spain and the United Arab Emirates, allowing clients to coordinate transactions across jurisdictions under a single standard of service.

Operations in Caracas are scheduled to begin in November 2026.

Eduardo Calderón, the BLP partner in charge of the new office, said the decision is driven by client demand and growing interest from regional and international companies in the Venezuelan market.

"We are seeing growing interest from regional and international companies in exploring opportunities in the country, particularly in sectors such as energy, hydrocarbons, mining, infrastructure, telecommunications, insurance, banking and finance and mergers and acquisitions, among others. It is a market where the opportunity is significant, but so is the complexity, which is why we believe sophisticated legal advice will be key for those who decide to invest. This is a long-term commitment, backed by our regional platform," said Calderón.

As part of the team, Luis Palacios, Director at BLP, will be based in Venezuela and will serve as one of the firm’s main points of contact in the country.

Palacios is a Venezuelan attorney who graduated from Universidad Metropolitana de Venezuela and also studied at Universidad de Costa Rica. He holds a master’s degree in Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Law from Lewis & Clark College in the United States and has experience advising multinational and regional companies on environmental, natural resources, energy and regulatory compliance matters.

He is also a founding member and treasurer of the Cámara de Empresarios Venezolano-Costarricense and a member of the International Bar Association.

"Venezuela is undergoing significant regulatory and economic changes in strategic sectors, in an environment where legal certainty and regulatory compliance remain central concerns for any investor. Our role is to help clients understand that context, rigorously assess the risks and structure their investments on a sound footing," said Palacios.

The Venezuela opening reflects the expansion strategy BLP has followed over the past decade: supporting clients wherever they need assistance and strengthening its regional platform through a direct presence in strategically relevant markets.

Key facts

• BLP will open a representative office in Caracas in November 2026.
• The move responds to growing client and investor interest in opportunities in Venezuela.
• Key sectors include energy and hydrocarbons, mining, infrastructure, telecommunications, insurance, banking and finance, and M&A.
• BLP has 36 partners and more than 200 lawyers.
• The Venezuela office will integrate with the firm’s Central American presence and representative offices in Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
• Eduardo Calderón will lead the new office.
• Luis Palacios will be based in Venezuela as one of the firm’s main points of contact.