Regional law firm Ferrere Abogados, based in Montevideo, has recruited Diego Bohrt, from regulatory and administrative boutique Comercio Regulación & Competencia (CRC) Abogados, to work at its La Paz, Bolivia, office as senior counsel. Bohrt focuses on regulatory and administrative law and is active in the energy, infrastructure, natural resources and telecommunications sectors.
“Ferrere is one of the biggest firms in Bolivia, it has an international presence, [and] it is very challenging for me, [so] and that’s why I decided to join it,” Bohrt said. Ferrere Abogados has ten offices in four countries: Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Paraguay. Most recently, the firm opened its second Ecuadoran office in Manta, which it announced in January 2016.
Before joining his previous firm, Bohrt acted as legal advisor to the Hydrocarbons Superintendency from 2007 to 2008, legal advisor to the Electricity Superintendency from 2006 to 2007 and legal advisor to the Telecommunications Superintendency from 2000 to 2005.
Bohrt spoke to IFLR1000 about regulatory challenges and the need to improve processes and procedures in the telecommunications, energy and infrastructure sectors in Bolivia.
“Sometimes [it] becomes a little frustrating for the companies to confront the usual bureaucracy of the public entities, mainly when it comes the time to ask for authorizations or permits. Time for investors usually becomes an important factor in order to make a project profitable and successful. Procedures can be modified in order to make things run more smoothly," he said.
Bohrt earned doctor in law degree in 2008 from Universidad Católica Boliviana. He received his bachelor of laws from the same university in 1999. In 2005, he obtained a master in Economics and Regulation of Public Services from Universitat de Barcelona.