Hughes & Hughes > Montevideo, Uruguay > Firm Profile

Hughes & Hughes > The Legal 500 Rankings

Uruguay > Banking and finance Tier 2

Hughes & Hughes houses a ‘prestigious, experienced’ and ‘multifaceted’ banking and finance practice group, which ‘always finds the best solution for the client’. It regularly assists banks, multilateral credit organisations and investment funds with complex financing operations such as credit facilities, revolving loans, convertible bridge loans, and also advises on regulatory banking and finance work. Héctor Ferreira co-leads the practice and has notable experience in project financing and credit facilities. Juan Carlos Oreggia Carrau, who leads alongside Ferreira, advises on financial transactions and ventures in the forestry and energy sectors. Haroldo Espalter completes the leadership trio. Mariana Estradé excels at project financing and advises foreign multinationals on their Uruguayan operations, with particular focuses on transactions involving renewables, and educational infrastructure.

Uruguay > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

The team at Hughes & Hughes is roundly praised for its ‘precision’ and ‘thorough preparation on every case’. In addition to providing day-to-day corporate guidance, it advises multinationals on M&A across a multitude of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare and retail, however, it excels most notably in the energy and environmental arenas. Practice co-head Haroldo Espalter has accumulated substantial experience in advising companies on the development of commercial, industrial and services activities in Uruguay. Héctor Ferreira leads in conjunction and demonstrates ‘high engagement with clients and a results-driven approach’ on tailoring corporate structures and M&A transactions. Completing the leadership team, Juan Orregia Carrau contributes expertise on forestry and energy-related transactions. Mariana Estradé works on energy, projects and environmental law and M&A transactions, while Florencia Beyhaut‘s corporate practice is focused on foreign investment in real estate, agribusiness and forestry. Associate Clara Villaamil has a ‘great knowledge of the law’ and offers ‘practical solutions to problems’.

Uruguay > Dispute resolution Tier 2

The 'very organised' team at Hughes & Hughes is well established in the dispute resolution market, and its members handle litigation as well as alternative dispute resolution matters. The firm boasts a number of major clients, among them Finnish paper giant UPM and BBVA Uruguay, across a wide range of sectors including pharmaceuticals, real estate, aviation and telecoms. The practice is led by Alfredo Taullard and Bernardo Porras, who handle both arbitration and litigation. Senior associate Agustina Silva actively assists with all matters and has particular experience in bankruptcy and insolvency litigation. Associates Magela Ramon and Felipe Riva are additional names to note.

Uruguay > Labour and employment Tier 2

The team at Hughes & Hughes is a strong choice for labour and employment matters, commended as ‘excellent professionals with first-class technical skill’. It is sought out by start-ups, as well as longstanding corporations including Adidas, Siemens and Pernod Ricard, for its expertise on complex negotiations with unions, collective bargaining agreements and labour litigation. Enrique Radmilovich leads the practice and is experienced in litigation and labour negotiations, frequently advising companies in the forestry, hotel, food and chemical industries. At associate level, María Durán participates in collective negotiation and in the prevention and settlement of individual conflicts; María Noel Sayanes is well-versed in litigation; and Rafael Sanguinetti assists on all matters. The group was strengthened with the November 2022 hire of associate Camila de la Vega from Tibor Deutsch & Asociados.

Uruguay > Projects and energy Tier 2

The practice at Hughes & Hughes is praised as a ‘a technically solid team’ with 'an excellent professional manner'. Its expertise lies in energy and environmental law and infrastructure transactions such as EPCM agreements. The practice is led by project development expert Mariana Estradé, recognised by clients for her ‘dedication and involvement in projects, her professional manner and outstanding knowledge of the sector’; and Haroldo Espalter, who is experienced in corporate and commercial law. Héctor Ferreira advises domestic and international corporations on commercial law; Juan Carlos Oreggia Carrau specialises in the structuring of projects, joint ventures and acquisitions; and associate Clara Villaamil is especially knowledgeable in renewable energy and infrastructure projects law.

Uruguay > Real estate Tier 3

The department at Hughes & Hughes excels in rural real estate, namely on the purchase of land for forestry activities; in recent years, the group has advised Finnish company UPM on its major pulp mill project at Paso de los Toros. The practice has additional experience acting on real estate mandates concerning the renewables sector – it recently advised wind farm operator Gemsa on the renegotiation of land leases. At the helm of the practice, Haroldo Espalter specialises in rural real estate transactions. Key partner Juan Carlos Oreggia Carrau leads on a host of matters, and Florencia Beyhaut has experience advising foreign investment funds in the purchase of rural land for the purpose of forestry and agriculture.

Uruguay > Tax Tier 4

Hughes & Hughes offers counsel on to tax planning, audits and litigation to ‘a wide range of clients’, namely corporations in the finance, retail, logistics, construction and tech sectors. The team has an ‘up-to-date understanding of the market’ and ‘strong professional and project management skills’, and is co-led by Haroldo Espalter, experienced in corporate law and advising on foreign investment in Uruguay. Two public accountants, Alejandro Horjales and Miguel Rocca, lead alongside him.