OUR PROFESSIONALS
YOLENY AMADO TOALA
SENIOR PARTNER
Bachelor of Laws | BAR Admission: Panama
Master in Maritime Procedures / International Maritime Law.
Specialized in Ships Registration, Financing, Fishery, Administrative and Corporate Law.
Language: Spanish and English
Member of the Maritime Law Association of Panama.
EFY Senior Partner Yoleny Amado Toala founded the firm in 2020, as an innovative and effective alternative in the legal industry, bringing the experience of a 15-year trajectory in Maritime and Corporate Services.
She is an expert in the Maritime Industry, assisting renowned clients across Asia, Europe and America, and providing top-tier solutions related to Ships Registration and Financing, as well as International Fishing Licenses and Registration in Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, such as the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC), the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) and the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
She has exceptional knowledge of the industry, and has managed to distinguish herself for her participation and leadership in major improvements in the Maritime sector: in 2018, she was the promoter of the modification and addition of ports authorized by Panama for transshipment, resulting in the Resolution ADM/ARAP N°034 of June 27, 2019, which benefits important ship operating clients in well-known ports in Asia; as a prominent member of the APADEMAR Fisheries Commission, she helped prepare and issue the Executive Decree of MIDA No.131 of April 14, 2020, which establishes and regulates the licenses to catch and fishing-related activities for vessels of national flag of international service, and dictates other provisions to prevent, discourage and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).
As EFY Legal Marine Senior Partner, she established a precedent in obtaining Sanitary Inspection Certificates in Panama in 2020, during the State of Emergency decreed by the COVID-19 pandemic, being the first to process a request for sanitary inspection remotely and subject to final inspection on board once the state of emergency had been lifted, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Panama. Upon completion of the process, the authorities published a Resolution with the new stipulations for this process, based on the experience with Mrs. Amado and EFY Legal Marine.
In Corporate Services, she handles incorporations of Companies under Panama and other jurisdictions, such as the British Virgin Islands and the Marshall Islands.
She completed a Maritime Law Seminar at Tulane University. She also holds a Master's Degree in Maritime Procedural Law with an Emphasis in International Maritime Law from the University of Panama and a Bachelor's Degree in Law and Political Science from the Latin University of Panama.
Mrs. Yoleny Amado Toala is admitted by the Supreme Court of Justice to practice the profession of Law in the Republic of Panama, is an active member of the Panamanian Association of Maritime Law (APADEMAR) and is fluent in both English and Spanish.
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JENILIN MEJÍA ESPINO
PARTNER
Bachelor of Laws | BAR Admission: Panama
Specialized in Administrative Law, Intellectual Property, Labor & Immigration Law.
Language: Spanish and English
EFY Partner Jenilín Mejía Espino joins the firm in 2020. She has broad experience in Administrative Law, Public Procurement and Corporate Services, managing company incorporations under the Republic of Panama. She also delivers thorough management in the area of Intellectual Property, mastering processes for Trademark Registration.
Before joining the firm, she played an important role in Panama’s government management as Legal Advisor to the Administration during the period 2012-2020, focusing on Public Procurement and disciplinary processes for public officers. Her experience in this sector has been complemented with administrative positions at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences and, most recently, at the Social Security Fund.
As a Partner of the firm, she specializes in Public Works Contracts, assisting and guiding Contractors for state projects throughout the whole process: from the public act to the settlement.
Mrs. Mejía has a Master's Degree in Administrative Law from the INEC - Institute of Legal Studies and Research in Nicaragua; a Postgraduate Degree in Administrative Law and another in Public Procurement, both from the Latin University of Panama; and a Bachelor of Law and Political Science from the Latin University of Panama and she is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Mrs. Mejía is temporarily on leave, attending State/Government matters.
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FERNANDO GIRÓN BARKEMA
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Nautical Engineer
Specialized in Administrative Matters, Technical Matters, Certificates, Supply Chain and Crew Endorsement.
Language: Spanish and English
Fernando Girón joins the firm as Technical Director in 2020. He has extensive experience working in technical aspects for clients with Oil Tankers and has served as a consultant in the logistics industry.
Fernando has an exceptional handling of Technical Certificate procedures, such as the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (Bunkers 2001); the 1992 Civil Liability Convention; the 2007 Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks; the International Convention for Ballast Water Management (BWM); and the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate (MSCM); as well as Endorsements, Waivers, Exemptions and Authorizations. In the Maritime Industry, Fernando stands out on embarkation and disembarkation procedures, and procurement and endorsements of certificates of proficiency.
As Technical Director at EFY Legal Marine, he is endorsed by several maritime trainings, such as: Embarkation and Disembarkation Security; Update on Port and Maritime Industry; Navigation Laboratory; Multitude Control; First Aid; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Social Responsibility; Fight Fighting; and Survival at Sea.
Fernando Girón is a Nautical Engineer with an emphasis on Transportation and Maritime Navigation from the International Maritime University of Panama. He has a Master's Degree in Port Management and Intermodal Transportation from the “Universidad del Istmo”; a Postgraduate Degree in High Maritime Management from the “Universidad del Istmo”; and a Bachelor's Degree in Maritime Business Administration with an Emphasis on Ports and Multimodal Transportation from the “Universidad del Istmo”. In addition, he obtained a Global Supply Chain Management Certification from the “Universidad del Istmo” and The University of Texas at Arlington.
Fernando is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Eng. Girón is temporarily on leave, attending State/Government matters.
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JOEL ZAPATA ACEVEDO
MANAGING PARTNER
Specialized in Ships Registration, Ships Financing, Technical Matters and Seafarers.
Language: Spanish and English
Member of the Maritime Law Association of Panama.
Joel Zapata Acevedo joins EFY Legal Marine in 2020. With more than 14 years of experience in the Maritime Industry, Joel brings a specialized vision focusing in this practice area, providing a suitable support to both our legal team and our clients.
Throughout his career, Joel has provided continuous support to important clients across Europe, Asia, and America, exhaustively delivering successful results on Ships Registration and Financing, as well as various Technical Matters, such as Coordination of Inspections, Technical Certifications Procurement, Approval of Security Companies and Licenses of Operation Procurement to provide auxiliary maritime services within port areas within the territory of the Republic of Panama or its territorial waters, among others.
His vast knowledge in transactional and operational solutions for Oil & Gas Projects has allowed Joel to assist renowned companies and shipowners across the world in Financing procedures with distinguished banking institutions. In addition, he has been part of the administrative team in important legal transactions, coordinating delivery of ships, Special Registrations (Laid-Up, Testing, Single Delivery Voyage, Scrap), procedures before public entities, fishing matters and others related to the Maritime Industry.
Joel has a Postgraduate in International Maritime Conventions from the International Maritime University of Panama; a Postgraduate Degree in Senior Management from the Latin University of Panama; and a Bachelor's Degree in Maritime Business Administration with an Emphasis on Ports and Multimodal Transportation from the “Universidad del Istmo”. He has also actively participated in various activities related to the sector, such as the Pan-American Congress of Naval Engineering, Maritime Transport and Port Engineering (COPINAVAL).
Joel is fluent in both English and Spanish.
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DALYTZA AMADO TOALA
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
Certified Public Translator English – Spanish.
Electronic and Communication Engineer,
Specialized in Business Administration, International Commerce and Logistic.
Language: Spanish and English
Dalytza Amado Toala joins EFY Legal Marine as Administrative Director in 2020, following a remarkable trajectory in the Logistics, Customer Service and Quality Control sectors.
In the past few years, she has excelled within the private enterprise, working with important multinational companies and providing outstanding contributions for the continuous improvement of their logistics and sales processes. At Philips Central America, she was a star member of the team which redefined the sales department’s forecasts, reducing inventory shrinkage by 80%; in addition, Dalytza helped improve the company's Fill Rate, taking it from 75% to 95%. Consequently, the communication, order placement, and delivery processes, as well as the relationship with affiliates and customers, were all improved. At Mars Wrigleys Confectionery, Dalytza not only helped improve the Fill Rate for Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, and perfected the demand and purchase order processes, but she also participated in an outstanding project aimed to promote a specific product category with a recognized client in the region. As a result, she and her team were granted with an exhibitor’s spot in the regional convention "Make the Difference", held in Chile.
Her experience has been complemented with regulatory processes. During her work at Mars Wrigleys, she had the opportunity to support the processes to obtain sanitary registration certificates. Her top-tier ability to provide solutions resulted in the timely renewal of permits required to correct a possible billing loss of approximately USD$1M, strengthening the relationship with a distinguished client across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama.
Dalytza has two Master's Degrees: one in Business Administration with an Emphasis in Enterprise Direction and another in International Trade and Logistics, both from the Latin University of Panama; and an Engineering in Electronics and Communication from the University of Panama. She also has a Postgraduate in Quality Management and another in Logistics Management; a Certification in Global Supply Management and another in Conflict Management; she is Yellow Belt, Six Sigma, and has been certified in Handling Complaints and Hard Customers by the Association of Merchants and Distributors of Groceries and Similar Products of Panama (ACOVIPA).
She is an active member of the Association of Engineers and Architects of Panama, is fluent in both English and Spanish, and is also a Certified Public Translator, Spanish – English and vice versa, providing EFY with its own in-house translation service.
LUÍS CARLOS GIRÓN
ASSISTANT - SHIP FINANCE & REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT
Language: Spanish and English
ALEX CHENG CHAN
DEPUTY TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Nautical Engineer
Specialized in Technical Matters, Certificates, Seafarers and Licenses.
Language: Spanish, English, Mandarin and Cantonese
Alex Cheng Chan joins EFY Legal Marine as Deputy Technical Director in 2020, after a remarkable administrative, logistic and technical experience in the Shipping Industry.
Before joining the firm, Alex led logistics operations aboard vessels, coordinating main safety inspections, such as the Port State Control (PSC); the Annual Safety Inspection (ASI); and the Flag State Control (FSC). He has thorough knowledge of Technical Certificates procurement, as well as those required for seafarers, streamlining both procedures and approvals. He has also led purchasing processes for shipping parts, satellite services, and those related to machine-room materials.
Alex is a strategic ally for negotiations in Asian countries. His experience has been complemented with Political Studies endorsed by the Communist Party of China, as is his membership in the Jiangmen China Community Youth Federation. He handles Asian customs and manners outstandingly, and is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, English and Spanish.
As a graduate of the International Maritime University of Panama, Alex is an Engineer in Nautical Sciences with an Emphasis on Navigation, and fulfilled two postgraduates: one in Business Bunkering and another in Supply Chain Management. He also has an MBA with an Emphasis in Accounting, from the Latin University of Panama.