Áreas of Expertise

International Family Law

Kuyumdjian & Williams is a law firm devoted to family law, with a strong focus on international family disputes. We act in divorce and the division of matrimonial property, custody, contact, maintenance, parentage and adoption. Internationally, we handle return proceedings in international child abduction cases under the 1980 Hague Convention, as well as the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments (exequatur).

We also prepare expert reports on Argentine law for foreign courts, authorities and lawyers, and work in close coordination with colleagues and Central Authorities in other countries. We combine court and out-of-court practice with academic work: our members teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses and speak at international conferences. We strive for professional excellence in advising and supporting families and in resolving family disputes.

Succession and Estate Planning

We provide comprehensive advice on succession matters, both domestic and cross-border. Our background in family law allows us to approach each estate with attention not only to its property aspects, but also to the family relationships involved.

We believe the best way to resolve a dispute is to anticipate it. Timely succession planning provides certainty, protects each family member, preserves family harmony and supports the continuity of the family business.

Areas of practice

Succession planning: wills, lifetime gifts and structuring of family assets.
Family business: family protocols and agreements on future inheritance to ensure continuity of management and prevent disputes.
Cross-border estates: heirs or assets in different countries, and coordination with colleagues abroad.
Estate proceedings: court administration of estates, declaration of heirship and partition of the estate

International Law

We have extensive experience in cross-border family disputes, acting in both court and out-of-court proceedings in Argentina and working in close coordination with colleagues, Central Authorities and organisations abroad. We are the only Argentine law firm sponsoring INCADAT, the International Child Abduction Database of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and we take an active part in international forums and conferences in the field.

Areas of practice

International child abduction: return proceedings under the 1980 Hague Convention and the Inter-American Convention.
International relocation of children and adolescents.
Custody and contact in cross-border cases.
International maintenance: recovery and enforcement of child and spousal support across borders. International divorce and recognition of foreign divorces. Parentage matters with an international element.
Adoption: adoptions with an international element and recognition of foreign adoptions.
Exequatur: recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. International judicial cooperation: letters rogatory, service of process and taking of evidence abroad. Urgent and protective measures with cross-border effect. Expert reports on Argentine law for foreign courts, authorities and lawyers.

Commercial Law and Business Advisory

Since the founding of the firm, Dr. Bautista Kuyumdjian gave it a strong focus on business advisory work, which continues to this day. We support companies and business owners in their transactions and decisions, with a preventive approach aimed at reducing risk and avoiding litigation.

Our experience in family and succession law also allows us to advise family businesses where corporate and family matters meet: bringing in the next generation, succession in management and preventing disputes between partners.

Areas of practice

Commercial transactions: negotiation, drafting and review of contracts.
Corporate law: company formation, amendments to articles of association, shareholders’ meetings and shareholders’ agreements.
Family business: family protocols, shareholders’ agreements and succession planning within the business.
Debt recovery: summary enforcement proceedings and collection of cheques, promissory notes and other instruments.
Insolvency: representation of debtors and creditors in reorganisation and bankruptcy proceedings.

Civil Law

We advise and represent our clients on the main areas of civil law, both in preventing disputes and in resolving them in and out of court.

Our international practice also allows us to assist individuals and families living abroad who have assets or interests in Argentina. We work in coordination with colleagues in other countries and deal with the issues specific to these cases —the applicable law, the validity of documents executed abroad and the remote management of assets— so that, wherever possible, clients do not need to travel.

Areas of practice

Civil contracts: drafting, review and negotiation, including contracts between parties in different countries.
Argentine property owned by non-residents: sales and purchases, powers of attorney executed abroad, apostille and title regularisation.
Leases: property leases and landlord–tenant disputes, including eviction proceedings; representation of landlords living abroad.
Property law: ownership, co-ownership and condominium (strata) property.
Private residential developments (gated communities and clubes de campo): internal regulations, service charges and disputes with management or between owners.

Labour Law

We advise and represent both employers and employees in preventing disputes, in mandatory conciliation and in employment litigation. The practice is led by Santiago G. Williams, who built his professional experience at leading law firms specialising in employment law.

Areas of practice

Preventive advice to companies: hiring, employment documentation, disciplinary matters and terminations.
Labour conciliation: representation before SECLO, Argentina’s mandatory pre-trial conciliation service, and negotiation of settlements.
Employment litigation: dismissals, severance claims and wage disputes.
Cross-border employment: expatriate workers, foreign nationals working in Argentina and hiring by foreign companies.

Kuyumdjian & Williams

CONTACT

For questions, concerns or advice send us your inquiry, via our contact form or call and we will gladly help.

| Buenos Aires – Argentina |