Herman Duarte, Founder
“My approach is simple: put the client first, respond with urgency, communicate with transparency, and design legal strategies that are useful in the real world. I believe legal services should be clear, efficient, and predictable, which is why I prioritize fixed-fee structures whenever possible and avoid unnecessary complexity. Every matter is handled with honesty, method, and discretion. My goal is not only to explain the law, but to help clients solve problems, make better decisions, and move forward with confidence.”
Legal problems are rarely just legal.
They involve money, timing, reputation, family, emotions, immigration status, business exposure, property, risk, and sometimes deeply personal decisions. That is why my work is not limited to preparing documents or explaining rules. My role is to help clients structure decisions with clarity, strategy, discretion, and legal certainty.
My name is Herman Duarte, founder of Simple Legal Consulting, a boutique legal advisory firm based in Costa Rica. I have been practicing law in Costa Rica since 2012 and have been admitted as an attorney since 2013.
I advise local and international clients in matters involving foreign investment, immigration, corporate and commercial law, real estate transactions, administrative law, arbitration, dispute resolution, constitutional law, and high level strategic legal advisory.
My practice is intentionally personal. I do not operate as a high volume legal service. Each matter is handled with direct involvement, controlled communication, and a serious understanding of what is at stake for the client.
Writing, Research and Public Voice
Beyond legal practice, I am deeply committed to writing, research, and public debate.
I am the author of two books and more than 200 published opinion articles and legal publications. Over the years, my work has allowed me to participate in legal, political, academic, and professional conversations involving investment, migration, constitutional law, human rights, animal rights, arbitration, public policy, and the rule of law.
I believe lawyers should not only understand the law. They should also understand society, institutions, incentives, conflict, and power. That broader view informs the way I advise clients and structure legal solutions.
An International Perspective with Local Judgment
I was born with Salvadoran and Swiss National and later, in the year 2023, I became a proud Costa Rican. That personal journey has shaped the way I understand law, migration, investment, identity, opportunity, and risk.
Many of my clients are foreigners who are building a life, acquiring property, relocating their families, opening companies, investing, or solving legal problems in a country that is not originally their own. I understand that process not only as a lawyer, but also as someone who has lived the experience of adapting, integrating, and building trust in a new jurisdiction.
That perspective allows me to serve clients with both technical precision and human judgment.
A Practice Built on Clarity, Discretion and StrategyMy legal practice is defined by honesty, method, discretion, and pragmatism.
Clients usually come to me when they need more than a standard legal answer. They need someone who can organize the problem, identify the risks, explain the options, coordinate the moving parts, and help them make a decision with confidence.
I focus on bringing clarity to complex matters involving:
• Foreign investment in Costa Rica
• Immigration and residency strategy
• Real estate due diligence and property transactions
• Corporate and commercial legal structuring
• Contracts and negotiations
• Administrative law and regulatory matters
• Arbitration and dispute resolution
• Constitutional law and strategic litigation
• Private client advisory
My objective is always the same: to design legal strategies that are precise, commercially sensible, and aligned with the client’s real objectives.
Professional Recognition and LeadershipProfessional Recognition and Leadership
Throughout my career, I have held leadership and advisory roles in several organizations and institutions, including:
• Comptroller of the Board of Directors of ULACIT
• Member of the leadership committee of the LSE Alumni Association Costa Rica
• Columnist for La Prensa Gráfica
• General Attorney in Fact for multiple companies and investment structures
• Founder and President of Fundación Igualitos (Key entity for same sex marriage to be legal in Costa Rica)
• Comptroller of Alianza por el Estado de Derecho
• Costa Rica Representative for Arbitrator Intelligence
• Advisor to the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation
• Officer of the Human Rights Committee and the Cybersecurity Committee of the International Bar Association
• Board Member of the ICAL Alumni Association
These roles reflect a professional path built not only around legal practice, but also around institutions, advocacy, education, civic responsibility, and international engagement.
Education and Legal Formation
I hold a Master’s degree from Stockholm University and another from the London School of Economics and Political Science. These academic experiences shaped my approach to international law, governance, legal analysis, public policy, and strategic thinking. They also strengthened the way I approach complex legal matters: with structure, discipline, and a broader understanding of how legal decisions affect business, institutions, families, and long term planning.
Why Clients Work With Me
Clients work with me because they want direct access, honest judgment, legal structure, and practical execution.
They do not want improvisation.
They do not want unnecessary complexity.
They do not want vague legal opinions that leave them more confused than before.
They want a lawyer who can say what needs to be said, identify what needs to be fixed, and help them move forward with confidence.
At Simple Legal Consulting, the standard is simple: legal work should be clear, strategic, discreet, and useful.
Let’s Speak Privately
If you are looking for legal guidance in Costa Rica that is personal, honest, strategic, and handled with discretion, I invite you to schedule a confidential consultation.
Simple Legal Consulting is designed for clients who value clarity, structure, and trust.
The quality of Herman Duarte's work has been recognized globally and locally.
Considered a promoter of freedom of expression by La Prensa Gráfica (2016), he was selected by El País Que Viene (2017) as co-author of the second edition of the book that presents extraordinary profiles of the country. Since 2017, Chambers and Partners have recommended him as one of the best lawyers in El Salvador and Costa Rica for conflict resolution, and in the year he was awarded as “Inspirational Lawyer for Promoting Equal Opportunities of the LGBT Community”. Recognized as OUTstanding Future Leader published by Financial Times (2017 and 2018). As well as a lawyer with the best professional projection in El Salvador (2018) by Law & Business. Duarte has been named Honorary Falcon, by Dr. Silvia Castro and Chevening fellow.
Publications.
With a large media presence, Duarte has appeared in more than 200 news articles in outlets such as Financial Times, The Economist and has written more than 115 press articles in the main newspapers and magazines in Central America where he speaks about technology, human rights, rule of law and purpose. He is also the co-author of 9 books and the author of “Is it justifiable to discriminate? A cultural discussion on the rule of law, freedoms and sexuality ”. In this link you can see a complete list of my publications:
Conferences.
I have had the pleasure of giving conferences in London, Paris, Stockholm, Oslo, New York, Boston, San José, San Salvador, Managua, Buenos Aires, Guatemala City, Montevideo, Lima, Madrid and Mexico. In this link you can see a complete list of my conferences: