Corporate Lawyer

Job Title: Corporate Lawyer — Costa RicaLocation: Costa Rica (San José preferred)Type of Contract: Independent Contractor — Monthly payments, Full-TimeSalary Range: Market RatesLanguage Requirements: Fluent Spanish and professional-level English, written and spoken
Our client is seeking a skilled Corporate Lawyer with strong experience in Costa Rican corporate law, entity formation, and statutory compliance to support their international clients operating in Costa Rica. You will play a key role in entity formation, ongoing corporate compliance, legal representation, and client advisory services. Your work will directly impact clients' ability to establish and maintain compliant Costa Rican entities efficiently.
Key ResponsibilitiesSupport the incorporation of Costa Rican legal entities (S.A. and S.R.L.), including drafting the escritura constitutiva and coordinating registration with the Registro NacionalCoordinate initial tax registration with the Ministerio de Hacienda and obtain the entity's cédula jurídicaAct as, or coordinate the appointment of, local legal representatives and resident agents for client entities as requiredDraft and review powers of attorney (including poderes generalísimos and especiales), board resolutions, and shareholder resolutionsManage annual corporate compliance obligations, including custody and legalisation of corporate books, annual shareholders' meetings, and personerías jurídicasPrepare and file the annual Registro de Transparencia y Beneficiarios Finales (RTBF) declaration and manage related updatesMonitor and coordinate payment of the annual corporate tax (impuesto a las personas jurídicas) and maintain entities in good standingCoordinate registered office and domiciliation arrangements for client entitiesLiaise directly with international clients and referral partners (including global EOR and PEO providers) in English regarding entity structuring, compliance timelines, and documentation requirementsCoordinate with notaries, the Registro Nacional, and government authorities to progress incorporation and compliance filingsProvide ad-hoc legal advisory support on employment law, commercial contracts, and corporate structuring matters, including dormant entity maintenance and dissolution
RequirementsLaw degree (Licenciatura en Derecho) from an accredited Costa Rican universityActive registration with the Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Costa RicaMinimum 3 years of experience in corporate/commercial law, ideally supporting foreign-owned entities or international clientsStrong working knowledge of Costa Rican corporate law, Registro Nacional procedures, and RTBF beneficial ownership obligationsFluent Spanish and professional-level English, both written and spokenExperience drafting incorporation documents, powers of attorney, and corporate resolutions
PreferredActive notarial licence (Notario Público) — highly valued given the notarial requirements of Costa Rican corporate practiceExperience supporting global EOR, PEO, or multi-country expansion service providersFamiliarity with immigration and work permit processes before the Dirección General de Migración y ExtranjeríaExperience with free zone regime applications and incentive structures