Bomchil > Buenos Aires, Argentina > Firm Profile

Bomchil > The Legal 500 Rankings

Argentina > TMT Tier 1

Telecoms regulatory expertise is a key strength at Bomchil, with the practice also well known for the depth of its TMT-related disputes and class action experience. Other areas covered by the team include multi-jurisdictional data privacy and data protection mandates, and media, fintech and cryptocurrency matters. Administrative law specialist Francisco Gutiérrez leads the team and has a solid track-record in the regulated industries, with deep knowledge of the TMT sector. Antitrust team head Marcelo Den Toom is another key name, with vastly experienced M&A practitioner Marcelo Bombau providing support in an of counsel role. Data protection, new technology and privacy-focused senior Francisco Zappa is the main contact at associate level, with M&A counsel Paula Beveraggi recognised for her knowledge of broadcasting regulations. Since publication, Zappa has been promoted to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

Argentina > Banking and finance Tier 2

Bomchil provides its impressive client base of local and international borrowers with wide ranging banking and finance support, advising on capital markets, liability management, restructuring and banking regulation. The practice has expanded its lender-side mandates noticeably, with work on innovative refinancing structures (where repayments are made using real estate assets), particularly notable. Fintech, cryptocurrency, and direct lending expertise are other segments of particular capability. Practice head Fermín Caride focuses on complex transactions and financial and forex deal structuring. María Victoria Funes is known for her expertise in banking and forex regulatory matters, and also leads on fintech mandates. Partner Patricio Martin has an active capital markets and M&A practice, working on liability management transactions and dollar-linked notes issuance, with experienced senior María Victoria Tuculet prominent at associate level. Since publication, Tuculet has been promoted to the partnership - effective as of Janaury 2024.

Argentina > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 2

Bomchil represents a wide range of clients, both on the debtor and the creditor side, on a broad field of complex cross-border restructuring matters. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to restructuring cases, and working with colleagues in other departments, the team handles liability management, security interest foreclosures, creditor committee mandates and distressed asset acquisitions. The practice is also well-versed in restructuring and reorganisation proceedings, including Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 proceedings in the US. The team is co-led by experienced insolvency lawyers Tomás Araya and Martín Girotti, who are both members of the insolvency section of the International Bar Association. Litigator Melisa Romero, raised to the partnership in January 2023, is another senior level contact with ample experience of the contentious aspects of bankruptcy matters. Since publication, the practice has been notably reinforced with the hire of former bankruptcy judge Julia Villanueva as practice co-head – effective as of January 2024.

Argentina > Competition and antitrust Tier 2

Bomchil’s long standing competition and anti-trust practice handles key merger-control and anticompetitive matters, and is particularly well-known for its work on multi-jurisdictional merger cases and sensitive cartel investigations. Drawing on expertise from the across the firm, the team also covers regulatory matters, administrative law and litigation. Divided into a merger control and investigations unit and a general advice and compliance arm, the practice has broad sector experience, supporting clients in the media, telecoms, energy, chemicals, retail, financial services and transportation industries. Practice head Marcelo Den Toom is a well-networked antitrust expert with vast experience in the area. Telecoms and media lead Francisco Gutiérrez and seasoned energy and natural resources partner Fernando Brunelli are available to provide additional senior-level support.

Argentina > Dispute resolution Tier 2

The well-rounded dispute resolution practice at Bomchil advises domestic and international clients in multiple sectors on a wide range of regulatory, commercial, civil and contentious administrative matters, including tariff controls, state market intervention and public contract terminations. The firm is particularly well-known for its international arbitration expertise, where it has played an influential role championing legislation to establish Argentina as a modern, pro-arbitration seat. Respected international arbitration and electricity expert María Inés Corrá jointly leads the practice alongside accomplished all-round litigator Martín Girotti; experienced investment and commercial arbitration lawyer Francisco Gutiérrez; and Federico Campolieti, who has vast arbitration experience and is frequently called on to sit as an arbitrator. The promotion to the partnership of Melisa Romero, who focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation matters and class actions across multiple key jurisdictions, has deepened the team’s senior bench. At associate level, senior Santiago Lucas Peña, who handles international arbitration, regulatory and administrative law work; and semi-senior Clara Goenaga, who has worked successfully with individual consumers on claims related to manufacturing defects and breach of sale of cars contracts, provide capable back up at associate level. Since publication, Peña has been raised to the partnership - effective as of Janauray 2024.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 2

Bomchil’s oil-and-gas practice has gone from strength-to-strength following its 2020 tie-up with leading oil-and-gas and energy boutique Alliani & Bruzzon. The practice has wide-ranging industry capabilities and is regularly sought out for its deep expertise in the areas of exploration, production, transportation and refining. The team also covers dispute resolution, regulatory issues and outbound and inbound oil-and-gas transactional matters. The practice is fronted by industry rainmaker Pablo Alliani, a regulatory, oil-and-gas and M&A practitioner of vast experience. Veteran oil-and-gas all-rounder Fernando Brunelli is another big name in the sector, with further senior level support coming from administrative law, disputes and energy regulation partner Cristian Galansky. The practice also draws extensively on the firm’s full-service capabilities, with additional assistance coming from banking and finance partner Fermín Caride and economic regulation and disputes specialist María Inés Corrá. A phalanx of associates dedicated to oil-and-gas lead the second line, with Brenda Saluzzi, Matías Debarbieri and Andrea Lovfall among the key names.

Argentina > Fintech Tier 2

Bomchil brings together expertise from its banking, corporate, tax, technology, IP and compliance teams to provide fintech clients with a comprehensive service that helps them to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving fintech regulatory framework in Argentina. The team works with regulated and non-regulated companies in the crypto, P2P lending, e-payments and crowdfunding segments, providing support on a range of regulatory, structuring, investment and financing matters. Banking partner María Victoria Funes is the key name and leads the practice, with further senior support coming from banking and finance team head Fermín Caride.

Argentina > Public law Tier 2

Administrative proceedings and complex disputes that come before federal and provincial courts are particular areas of strength for Bomchil, which is equally comfortable working on public bids, administrative appeals and constitutional actions (amparos); as well as public-private partnerships (PPP), contract terminations, privatisations and renewable energy power purchase agreements. The team’s wider expertise in the electricity, energy and transportation industries makes it a go-to public law adviser for companies in these sectors, but it is also recognised for its mining, telecoms and utilities experience. María Inés Corrá has advised on disputes, tariff reviews, natural gas export restrictions, regulatory licenses, subsidies and concessions during a public law career spanning more than two decades. She leads the practice together with telecoms partner Francisco Gutiérrez and long-serving regulatory and administrative law specialist Federico Campolieti.

Argentina > Tax Tier 2

Bomchil is known for handling the tax aspects of syndicated loans, cross-border M&A and complex restructurings, as well as having extensive litigation, regulatory and private client tax-planning experience. The practice is also at the forefront of tax developments in the areas of cryptocurrency and fintech. The absorption of highly-rated tax boutique Teijeiro & Ballone, Abogados in 2022 has deepened the tax team’s expertise across the board and helped the firm to secure client wins in the technology, media and automotive sectors. Guillermo Teijeiro is a stand-out tax practitioner with vast experience in corporate, transactional and international taxation, as well as digital economy and private wealth tax matters. He co-leads the practice with national and international corporate tax planning expert Mariano Ballone; tax litigation and advisory partner Ariadna Artopoulos and fellow veteran practitioner Alejandro Messineo, who handles international tax law, tax planning and disputes with tax authorities at different levels of government.  

Argentina > Compliance Tier 3

Bomchil supports clients on internal investigations, public procurement, antitrust, competition, personal data protection, anti-corruption, and anti-money laundering and anti-fraud policies; it is also called on to advise on compliance programme implementation, provide training and undertake audits. Arbitration and telecoms lawyer Francisco Gutiérrez heads up the team alongside compliance and corporate practitioner Florencia Pagani, who was raised to the partnership in December 2022.

Argentina > Consumer law Tier 3

Bomchil handles individual consumer claims, class actions and civil and commercial matters at judicial and arbitral level, and also advises clients on strategies for mitigating litigation risk. The team has a strong roster of consumer law clients, who also turn to the firm for support on contractual and tort claims. The practice is co-led by Martín Girotti, who has wide ranging experience in consumer class actions in several industries; and recently promoted partner Melisa Romero, who covers complex commercial class actions and has helped numerous clients to settle cases and reduce risk exposure.

Argentina > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Bomchil provides domestic and international clients with a full-service corporate offering covering transactional as well as day-to-day advice. The firm focuses on building long-term relationships with core clients to provide an integrated, seamless service. Practice head Adrián Furman regularly acts as lead counsel in local and international corporate matters and transactions for a diverse range of clients in a variety of industries. M&A and restructuring expert Tomás Araya, and Patricio Martin – who is known for his financial services expertise – are the other key senior names. Young partner Máximo José Bomchil and senior associate Francisco Zappa are also key team members. Since publication, Zappa has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity Tier 3

Conventional, renewable, and thermoelectric power companies turn to Bomchil for assistance on regulatory and contractual matters. The team also has a strong major consumer-facing practice, advising corporates on power contract renegotiations and PPA deals. Energy-related disputes, including high-stakes international arbitrations, are also handled, as are financings for renewable energy projects sponsored by overseas investors and credit agencies. Due diligence and regulatory work on nuclear energy plan installation is another key source of work. Dispute resolution expert María Inés Corrá  has a long history in the sector (especially regarding regulatory and contentious matters), and co-leads the team alongside experienced energy and natural resources all-rounder Pablo Alliani.

Argentina > Insurance Tier 3

Bomchil focuses on providing corporate advice to insurance and reinsurance clients, but also acts for underwriters, brokers and insured parties. The practice additionally handles litigation, unfair competition clauses, regulation and commercial matters. Corporate and M&A partner Maximo Bomchil leads the team alongside of-counsel and banking and finance veteran Néstor Belgrano, who advises insurers on product structuring, joint ventures, litigation and regulation, providing additional senior support.

Argentina > Labour and employment Tier 3

Bomchil advises clients on all aspects of individual and collective labour relations across a diverse range of sectors, including media, aviation, automotive, education, healthcare, energy and financial services. The team handles labour litigation at all court levels and is also well versed in staff restructurings, due diligence procedures, human resources, benefits and compensation, compliance, and certifications. Remote working policies, the payment of salaries in foreign currencies and cryptocurrency, and policies for expatriates have been other busy areas. Highly respected labour expert Esteban Carcavallo has stepped back from the firm’s partnership but continues to serve as joint practice head with counsel Edgardo Isola, a labour specialist who handles general labour law matters, the prevention and resolution of complex individual disputes, labour litigation and collective bargaining. Of counsel Gabriel Schlosser provides additional specialist labour expertise, but senior associate Gonzalo Gago left he firm in 2022.

Argentina > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 3

The Bomchil life sciences practice advises local and international clients on clinical trials, telemedicine, tobacco-free products and clinical practice guidelines, as well as handling complex medical malpractice litigation and class actions, and providing pre-trial advice to clinics and medical services' providers in order to mitigate risk. Litigation partner Martín Girotti co-leads the practice with fellow contentious specialist, Melisa Romero, who was raised to the partnership in January 2023; she focuses on medical malpractice proceedings and has also been advising clients on cases arising from the adverse effects of Covid-19 vaccines and clinical trials.  

Argentina > Real estate Tier 3

Real estate clients call on Bomchil for assistance with project finance, trust formation, operating agreements, and the development and construction of multi-scale projects, among other matters. The five-strong practice group is co-led by Fermín Caride, a transactional specialist with expertise in real estate, alongside corporate and M&A partner Adrián Furman. The group also draws on expertise from other departments, with colleagues in the banking, taxation, environmental and regulatory areas all participating on an as-needed basis.

Argentina > Intellectual property Tier 4

Bomchil counsels local and international clients from a wide range of industries on trade mark registration, protection and portfolio management; cease-and-desist actions; extra-judicial claims; alternative dispute resolution and IP due diligence. Well known corporate and M&A partner Adrián Furman co-leads the practice alongside IP-focused senior associate Patricio María Albornoz.

Energy and natural resources > Mining

Argentina > Environment