BritCham Legal Talks Addresses Corporate Criminal Liability Ahead of the New Criminal Code
October 2, 2026
The British Chamber of Commerce in the Dominican Republic (BritChamDR) held the first edition of BritCham Legal Talks, a platform created to promote discussion and analysis of legal matters of particular relevance to the business community in the Dominican Republic.
The inaugural edition focused on the criminal liability of legal entities in light of the entry into force of the new Criminal Code, scheduled for November 5, a significant regulatory development that presents new considerations and challenges for companies and their compliance structures.
During the opening of the event, Urania Paulino, Partner at Pellerano Nadal and Coordinator of the BritChamDR Legal Committee, delivered the welcome and opening remarks, highlighting the importance of creating spaces for analysis and dialogue that enable the business community to understand the practical implications of the new provisions and prepare appropriately for their entry into force.
The event then featured a panel of experts who discussed key aspects of corporate criminal liability, including the circumstances under which a company may incur criminal liability, applicable sanctions, and the prevention and compliance measures organizations should review ahead of November 5.
The panel featured Francisco Álvarez of FAbogados, Ralvin Gross of Casa Brugal, and Antonia Durán of EGE Haina, and was moderated by Nicole Portes of OMG. The panelists examined the challenges presented by this new legal framework from different perspectives, emphasizing the importance of strengthening internal mechanisms to prevent and manage legal risks.
A central theme of the discussion was the need for companies to review their compliance programs, internal policies, and risk-prevention mechanisms in order to identify potential areas of exposure and adopt measures aligned with the new criminal law framework.
The discussion highlighted that the entry into force of the new Criminal Code represents not only a legislative change, but also a matter that should be incorporated into corporate governance, risk management, and compliance strategies.
Through BritCham Legal Talks, the BritChamDR Legal Committee continues to create spaces for dialogue among legal professionals and business leaders on legal and regulatory developments that directly affect companies operating in the Dominican Republic.
