Main Areas of Practice
Banking & Finance: With a premium clientele of banks and financial entities, the firm participated in the first transactions in fields such as syndicated loans, investment funds, public work trust structures, issuance of preferred shares through ADR, US privately placed securities, venture capital structures, and others. It is the first choice in the banking and finance area and the most active player in the market; it is not by chance that competitors acknowledged that the firm is present in 80 percent of the deals. The firm has participated in all of the Uruguayan debt issuances and exchanges in the international markets in the past decades, representing underwriters and lead managers.
Corporate/M&A: The firm participated in the first merger of pension fund managers, in several mergers of banks, several companies’ spin-offs, transfer of assets, equity investments, private equity and companies’ acquisitions, including Stora Enso´s acquisition of ENCE´s forestry assets, being the largest M&A deal done in Uruguay. The firm also acted on several concession proceedings in different areas (port, oil & gas, airline, fuel, alcohol, cement, transport and airport).
Accounting & Tax: The Department has been chosen by many multinational corporations for the outsourcing of their local and international work. The firm also has one of the strongest teams in international tax planning with highly personalized services.
Real Estate: As the largest and most experienced in the country, the Real Estate Department has a very strong presence in agribusiness and forestry investments and is extremely active in tourism and residential developments.
Litigation: The Department specialises in complex civil and commercial litigation and arbitration generally involving high-profile cases. Recent matters include carrying out a stalwart defence representing Philip Morris in the unconstitutionality action brought by the State Attorney against the Law which ratified the Swiss Uruguay bilateral investment protection agreement and the law which ratified the ICSID Convention in lieu with the protection of Swiss investments and achieving an unanimous judgment from the Supreme Court rejecting the action.
Labour: The Department excels for its services both in advisory and litigious labour matters. It has represented all of the Uruguayan financial entities in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the banking union and the government and advises the Uruguayan Chamber of Pharmaceutical Laboratories.
Telecommunications: The firm advises Telefónica since its entry in Uruguay, as well as several telecom entities: cellular, long distance and data transmission services; call centres; long distance carriers; satellite and teleport operators; and Emergia, the only underwater cable transmission system installed in Uruguay, among others.
Energy: The firm has advised the government on oil regulation issues, assisted in the search of a strategic partner for the state-owned oil company and aided in Petrobras’ purchase of a controlling interest in the gas company. It also facilitated the implementation of a natural gas pipeline, has advised foreign businesses trading electricity with the state-owned power company and in the development of wind parks and biomass power plants.
Aviation: The firm has vast experience on aviation matters, advising many international carriers on issues related to aeronautical permits, regulations, claims and aircraft financing.
Insurance: Since the repeal of the State insurance monopoly, the firm has built a large portfolio of international clients.