D'Empaire > Caracas, Venezuela > Firm Profile

D'Empaire > The Legal 500 Rankings

Venezuela > Banking and finance Tier 1

D'Empaire‘s banking, finance and restructuring team is instructed by international and domestic financial institutions to represent them in complex financial transactions and regulatory matters. One of the firm’s standout recent highlights involved advising Meta on the application of legal and regulatory regimes in Venezuela in connection with its provision of non-fungible tokens (NFT) services; Roberto Mas and Daniel Bustos led the work. Carlos Omaña, who is focused on Venezuelan sovereign and quasi-sovereign international financings, leads the practice with Fulvio Italiani, whose areas of expertise include finance, restructuring, energy and sovereign debt. Roland Pettersson is experienced in insolvency and debt restructuring, and is noteworthy for being the only Venezuelan member of the International Insolvency Institute and INSOL International. Associate Miguel Zajía is a name to watch, owing to his work in representing international and domestic clients in transactions including financings and sovereign debt offerings.

Venezuela > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

D'Empaire‘s corporate and M&A practice has a strong track record of participating in major transactions resulting from the dollarisation of the market in Venezuela. In addition, the firm frequently collaborates with international law firms to advise global clients on cross-border transactions. Fulvio Italiani heads the team and is an experienced practitioner in M&A; his recent work highlights include assisting Brown-Forman with its acquisition of the Diplomático Rum brand and related assets. José Humberto Frías, Victorino Márquez, Roberto Mas and Inés Parra are active transactional lawyers, while Carlos Omaña has notable expertise in acquisitions in the onshore oil drilling sector. Associate Giancarlo Carrazza provides key support.

Venezuela > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

D'Empaire is widely recognised for its oil and gas practice, which combines its knowledge and experience in the sector with its M&A and finance expertise. The firm has assisted foreign companies with energy-related projects and transactions, including advising international construction and engineering companies in connection with the execution of EPC turn-key projects. ‘Excellent advisers‘ Carlos Omaña, an expert in oil and gas projects, and Fulvio Italiani, who is experienced in major energy-related transactions, lead the team, while José Valecillos, José Humberto Frías, Arnoldo Troconis and Roberto Mas are also key names in the practice.

Venezuela > Labour and employment Tier 1

D'Empaire advises clients from a diverse range of industry sectors, from technology to luxury goods and pharmaceuticals, on employment issues related to corporate transactions and high-stakes labour litigation and the termination of employment contracts, including mass lay-offs. Alejandro Disilvestro is renowned for his work in collective contract negotiations and conflict management with labour unions. Aixa Añez and Ingrid Daniele are both noted for their representation of clients in labour disputes before all stages of the Venezuelan courts. Victorino Márquez has extensive experience of advising clients on labour matters and public affairs and Biba Arciniegas is well versed in the employee benefits and executive compensation aspects of corporate transactions.

Venezuela > Public law

D'Empaire handles a wide range of matters within the public law field, including advising on freedom of speech issues for one of Venezuela’s largest telecoms players and on nationalisations and expropriations affecting major domestic companies. Alongside this, the firm has engaged in a number of matters in the pharmaceutical sector, providing regulatory advice to major clients including Pfizer and Bristol-Myers. The team is also well regarded for its experience in negotiations with the Venezuelan government (where associate Daniel Bustos is particularly active). José Valentín González represents clients in constitutional and administrative litigation, as well as regulatory matters, and is described as ‘always able to connect the dots between jurisdictions‘, while José Humberto Frías is knowledgeable in regulatory issues. Francisco Bolinaga, who focuses on advising multinationals and Venezuelan companies on environmental law, and associate Ornella Bernabei, who has expertise in communications and technology law, are also noted contacts.

Venezuela > Tax

The ‘sophisticated tax practice‘ at D'Empaire has extensive experience in advising on all aspects of tax law for domestic and multinational companies, financial institutions, private equity funds and individuals. On the corporate tax side, the team advises on the tax implications of corporate matters, including reorganisations and spin-offs, while in the international taxation sphere, the team handles matters for international banks and multinationals, as well as leading firms in other jurisdictions. The team is also skilled in representing multinationals in tax litigation; Humberto Romero-Muci is highly experienced in this field. Alberto Benshimol advises on corporate tax and international taxation, while José Valecillos is noted for his advice to both private clients and multinational companies.

Venezuela > Dispute resolution Tier 2

D'Empaire is focused on investor-state arbitration and is currently involved in significant ICSID and UNCITRAL proceedings, including in relation to nationalisation and measures carried out by the Venezuelan government. The firm also handles both domestic and international commercial arbitration and civil and commercial litigation. José Humberto Frías, who is well versed in commercial and investor-state arbitration, and Pedro Perera, a specialist in civil, commercial, IP and constitutional litigation. Dubraska Galarraga is also a key partner, while Giancarlo Carrazza and Daniel Bustos are the names to note at associate level.

Venezuela > Real estate Tier 2

D'Empaire advises on real estate-related transactions such as the purchase, sale, construction, financing and development of various real estate projects, including industrial facilities, retail stores, hotels, shopping malls and office buildings. Clients include private equity firms and real estate investment funds. Inés Parra and Roberto Mas sit at the head of the practice and handle complex real estate transactions.

Venezuela > Intellectual property Tier 3

D'Empaire advises on a range of IP and technology matters, including patent, copyright and trademark-related litigation, alongside the IP aspects of corporate transactions. Furthermore, the firm also advises on IP issues stemming from licensing, collaboration and outsourcing agreements. Pedro Perera and José González are the key contacts in the firm.