Antonio Del Pino > Latham & Watkins LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP has a highly integrated Latin America practice with many team members crossing various disciplines at the same time as having high levels of core specialisation. Over the years, it has advanced to the forefront of energy and infrastructure transactions in the region, which now includes growth areas such as renewables and energy transition. While it has historically focused on investments going into Latin America, it is now increasingly active in cross-border transactions into North America by businesses in Brazil, Mexico, Chile and other jurisdictions. Moreover, it is leveraging its status as a leader in start-ups and emerging companies to target this sector in Latin America; it advised Avenir Growth Capital on its $111m Series B funding of Chile-based Xepelin, a provider of B2B payments and financial services for SMBs in Latin America. New York partner Antonio Del Pino, global chair of the Latin America practice, has an outstanding record in M&A and private equity transactions. Madrid’s Ignacio Pallarés has a long history of representing Spanish corporates in their investments in Latin America. Washington DC’s Carlos Ardila, a Colombian native, was promoted to partner in January 2023; he has impressive experience in corporate transactions and financings. Dual-qualified (Argentina/New York) associate Francisco J Lanusse is one-to-watch.

Latham & Watkins LLP has a highly sophisticated projects and energy practice that is often engaged for innovative financings using bank and bond debt. It is at the forefront of the use of securitisation techniques to fund energy and infrastructure projects. It is also making further headway in the acquisition of renewables assets – including those financed by hybrid transactions. The firm has brought its expertise in novel areas such as energy transition to the Latin America market, including green hydrogen, carbon capture and battery storage, with Chile, Mexico, Peru and Colombia among its primary markets. Traditionally a sponsor-side practice, the firm has built out its client base to include a greater range of investment and commercial banks, and private equity investors. Gianluca Bacchiocchi and Guido Liniado are key figures in innovative and hybrid financings, including securitisation structures. Head of the Latin America practice Antonio Del Pino is a prominent name in energy and infrastructure M&A and private equity investments. Washington DC’s Carlos Ardila was promoted to the partnership in November 2022. Former global co-chair of the project development and finance practice David Penna joined Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in May 2023.

Latham & Watkins LLP is at the forefront of the private-credit segment in Latin America financings, building on its long history of bank lending in the region. Much of the practice centres on the energy and infrastructure sectors, with additional growth in fintech. The firm is also rated for its expertise in acquisition finance and hybrid financings involving capital markets components. The Latin America team is close to a range of corporate borrowers, sponsors, commercial banks and institutional investors, and is gaining increasing visibility and traction in the start-up segment. Head of the Latin America group, Antonio Del Pino handles a broad range of transactional matters, including acquisition finance, project finance and hybrid deals. Gianluca Bacchiocchi and Guido Liniado are key figures in the firm’s rising prominence in securitisation and structured financings in the energy and infrastructure segments, along with a wider range of project and infrastructure financings. Newly elected Washington DC partner Carlos Ardila and counsel Marcela Ruenes are also key members of the team. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. David Penna left the firm in May 2023.