Simple Legal Consulting – Experts in Immigration, Investment & Business Law
Founded by Herman Duarte, Simple Legal Consulting (SLC) provides specialized legal services in immigration, real estate, commercial law, and arbitration in Costa Rica. Our firm is committed to simplifying complex legal processes, ensuring clear guidance, strategic solutions, and results-driven representation.
SIMPLE
EASY
NO COMPLICATIONS
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Having a selected group of clients, from whom we learn and feel proud, and who give us the financial freedom to continue promoting human rights, the rule of law and innovative issues, creating a positive impact on society.
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Provide high-quality legal and consulting services that allow our clients to have clarity to make decisions, giving them the confidence and peace of mind that their matters are in the best hands, simplifying their business and personal complications.
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Availability: If we do take a case, we do so by always giving our best effort, and we try to be available 24/7.
Empathy: We are empathic with our customers and suppliers. We are fully committed and holistically supportive, personally and professionally, in and out of business.
Respect: We assume that our suppliers, clients and counterparts deserve respectful treatment, without surprises or insults.
Simplicity: At our core is to make everything simple, helping to navigate the complexities of life.
Academic: We are curious about knowledge, we love learning about our clients, their industries and the law. We are constantly learning.
Honesty: We do not lie about the possible results, nor do we violate the law, we do not do illegal acts, nor do anything that can keep us awake at night.
Generosity: We are generous with our time and contacts.
Transparency: We keep our clients updated about their cases and always act honest.
Expert Legal Solutions for Corporations, Investors & Expats in Costa Rica
At Simple Legal Consulting (SLC), we provide high-quality legal counsel tailored to the needs of corporations, investors, and expats in Costa Rica. Our approach goes beyond traditional legal advice—we integrate strategic, commercial, and human perspectives to facilitate informed decision-making and ensure optimal results.
Business & Corporate Law – Helping companies navigate Costa Rica’s legal landscape with clarity and confidence
Immigration & Expat Services – Residency, visas, and relocation solutions for seamless transitions.
Real Estate & Investment Law – Secure property transactions and investment structuring with expert guidance, download out practical guide.
Arbitration & Dispute Resolution – Strategic advocacy to resolve disputes efficiently.
With a commitment to personalized legal support, SLC ensures clear solutions, proactive strategy, and trusted guidance every step of the way.
A Results-Driven Law Firm with a Client-First Approach
At Simple Legal Consulting (SLC), we prioritize efficiency, transparency, and problem-solving. Our client-centric approach ensures:
Fast & Responsive Service – Legal matters deserve urgency, and we act accordingly.
Fix Pricing – No Hourly Fees – Clear, upfront costs with no surprises.
Solution-Oriented Strategy – We focus on resolving issues, not prolonging them.
Respectful, Timely & Transparent Treatment – Every client that we accept working for receives the attention and clarity they deserve.
With over 14 years as a license attorney in Costa Rica, Herman Duarte and his team at SLC navigate complex legal challenges with precision and strategic insight, ensuring consistent, successful results.
📍 Expert Guidance for Costa Rican Immigration
We specialize in Costa Rican immigration law, representing both companies and individuals before the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners (DGME).
✅Residency Applications: We assist with temporary and permanent residency under the following categories:
Investor – $150,000+ investment in real estate, securities, or business.
Rentista – Proof of $2,500/month income or a $60,000 deposit in a Costa Rican bank.
Pensionado – Pension income of $1,000+ per month.
COMEX Residency – For executives working in multinational companies.
Company Manager – Business owners setting up operations in Costa Rica.
✅ Digital Nomad Visa: For remote workers earning $3,000+ per month, offering tax exemptions and ease of doing business while working from Costa Rica.
With clear guidance and strategic support, we simplify the complexities of immigration law, ensuring a smooth and stress-free process.
📩 Request a Consultation – Let’s Begin Your Residency Process
📍 Exclusive Legal Services for Investors & Businesses in Costa Rica
At Simple Legal Consulting (SLC), we specialize in protecting and empowering investors by providing high-level corporate and investment legal solutions.
✅ Company Formation & Corporate Structuring – We establish Costa Rican corporations tailored to your business needs.
✅ Due Diligence for Investments & Real Estate – Comprehensive legal risk assessments before purchasing property or companies (Download Our Free Practical Guide).
✅ Free Trade Zone Authorization – We handle applications for tax-exempt operations under the Free Trade Zone regime.
✅ Ongoing Legal Advisory – Dedicated support in commercial, labor, and tax matters to ensure smooth business operations.
✅ Fixed-Fee Legal Subscription – Enjoy predictable legal costs with our monthly-renewable corporate legal packages—tailored for businesses that value stability and efficiency.
With exclusive, personalized legal counsel, we protect your investments, minimize risks, and ensure long-term success in Costa Rica.
📩 Request a Consultation – Secure Your Business & Investments Today
⚖️ High-Level Legal Representation – Arbitration, Litigation & Human Rights Advocacy
At Simple Legal Consulting (SLC), we provide elite legal representation for clients who require discreet, strategic, and results-driven advocacy in high-stakes disputes.
✅ Premier Arbitration & Litigation Counsel – We handle complex cases in criminal, commercial, labor, and constitutional law, ensuring aggressive and effective representation.
✅ Strategic Dispute Resolution – Our proactive, solution-oriented approach minimizes risks while securing favorable outcomes.
✅ International Human Rights Advocacy – We represent clients before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and United Nations expert mechanisms, ensuring their rights are upheld at the highest level.
✅ Exclusive Legal Representation – We selectively take on cases where our expertise delivers the strongest impact, ensuring personalized, dedicated attention to every client.
When the stakes are high, elite legal representation makes the difference.
📩 Request a Confidential Consultation – Protect Your Rights with Expert Counsel
Herman Duarte, founder of Simple Legal Consulting (SLC). Strategic legal counsel for those who demand clarity, precision, and unwavering protection of their interests.
Herman is a Salvadoran, Swiss, and Costa Rican attorney, naturalized by choice and love for Costa Rica, and the founder of Simple Legal Consulting (SLC). With over 15 years of international legal experience, he has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor in the fields of immigration, corporate law, real estate, and dispute resolution. His approach blends legal precision with strategic thinking and genuine human care—making him a key partner for investors, entrepreneurs, and individuals seeking legal clarity and protection in Costa Rica.
He is licensed to practice law in El Salvador (2010) and Costa Rica (2013). His academic background includes an LL.B. from ESEN, a degree validation from the University of Costa Rica, an LL.M. in International Law from Stockholm University, and an MSc. in Human Rights from the London School of Economics, the latter awarded through the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, the most important award in the UK.
At the helm of Simple Legal Consulting, Herman leads a boutique firm built on trust, transparency, and results. His areas of focus include:
Corporate structuring and business advisory
Immigration and residency (investors, rentistas, digital nomads, executives, families, etc.)
Real estate transactions and foreign investment (free trade zone regime, investment protection)
Strategic criminal and civil litigation, arbitration, and negotiation
Regulatory compliance and complex contract review
Over the years, Herman has advised clients across industries such as technology, fintech, real estate, tourism, agriculture, healthcare, education, and entertainment. Known for his ability to turn complex legal challenges into clear strategies, he communicates with precision and delivers with results.
Herman is also the author of two books and over 200 legal publications, and has been a featured speaker at legal forums in more than 14 cities such as London, New York, Paris, and San José. He remains deeply committed to staying ahead of legal and regulatory developments so his clients benefit from cutting-edge insight and informed legal strategies.
“Every client has a vision. My role is to protect it, shape it, and give it a strong legal foundation. I only take on matters where I know I can make a real difference.”
With Herman Duarte, you don’t just get legal advice—you gain a trusted partner who protects your interests as if they were his own.
📩 Request a Consultation – Let’s Find the Right Legal Strategy for You.
Presence in Media, News and Conferences
We can be your legal advisor for a specific assignment (investment advice, obtaining a digital nomad VISA or a residency to live in Costa Rica, setting up a company, or by representing you in a litigation, ) or become your permanent trusted legal advisor, by creating a true external legal department.
We are fortunate to work with prestigious clients such as ULACIT, no.1 private university in Costa Rica, or the regional group, Financia Credit.
We firmly believe that an attorney is defined by the moral quality of the clients they defend and that, in turn, a client is defined by the moral quality and values of the attorneys they hire.
"Simply Recommended"
Herman Duarte is recognised as an important player in both litigation and arbitration proceedings. He is admitted to practice in both Costa Rica and El Salvador.” Dispute Resolution: Costa Rica and Foreign Expertise in El Salvador - CHAMBERS & PARTNERS, Global Guide 2023-2018
“I recommend Herman Duarte 100%. A passionate attorney who truly wants to help people. Herman helped reunite my family in times of crisis. Thank you from my heart!”
Rebecca Clower, Real Estate Broker in Tamarindo
“I said it once and I'll say it again, working with you really means you exceed my expectations and anticipate every need. The name "Simple" fits perfectly with the way it makes the whole process feel. Your support and advice have been key to the success of my project! Thank you Herman Duarte !! "
Isabelle Laing Meason Laennec, empresaria franco-salvadoreña en Bolivia
“In the medical profession it is of great importance to maintain a legal order. The ethics and transparency with which it is handled is of the utmost importance.
In my career and trajectory as an aesthetic doctor I have had the collaboration of great professionals such as Mr. Herman Duarte who has been of great help as a guide and legal advice.
Thanks to his work, my business has had such transparency for my patients, to offer them a treatment with legal support and protect their integrity. I hope to continue counting on the help of a great professional and human being such as Mr. Duarte.”
—Doctora Jennire Gutiérrez, (@dr.fillers) cosmetic surgeon
“Herman with his clarity, affection, experience and pragmatism helped me to remember and get back on my way. He extended the hand I needed at that moment to see my options in detail and clarity, fill me with energy, find peace and clarify my ideas. His worldview, his ability to believe that there are no impossibilities, as well as his pragmatism, make him an excellent person for those seeking advice or clarity in decision-making. Sometimes all we need is to talk things over with a person with a clear mind to be able to decide, to be able to get out of this "freezing" state in which we sometimes fall because many things happen at the same time or because of the fear of giving a wrong step. In this sense, I must say that personally, Herman helped me a lot in my process and that I am convinced that he will be of use to anyone who asks for his help.”
—Elizabeth Jimenez Mora, Human rights lawyer
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