Santiago Carregal > Marval O’Farrell Mairal > Buenos Aires, Argentina > Lawyer Profile

Marval O’Farrell Mairal’s large banking and finance practice draws on the experience of 42 dedicated lawyers, including 11 partners, to provide banks and corporates with a full service offering covering all aspects of banking and finance law. The firm stands out for its deep expertise in bank M&A matters and has carved out a unique market position in Central Bank-related litigation, where it handles numerous forex, banking regulation and money laundering cases. The firm is also known for its formidable capital markets practice, which supports local and international clients across a range of complex cross-border and domestic securitisations, bond issuances and IPOs, as well as project and structured finance mandates. Respected banking lawyer and firm chairman Santiago Carregal leads the team alongside veteran banking specialist Gabriel Matarasso, who is sought out for advice on complex regulatory, anti-money laundering and forex matters. Other key senior names include Roberto Silva Jr , one of Argentina’s most active capital markets lawyers; Cecilia Mairal, a trusted counsel on highly complex and sensitive non-transactional banking matters; experienced capital markets partner Juan Diehl Moreno; and financing specialist Hernán Slemenson. The team’s next tier is led by recently promoted partners Sergio Talamo, who handles syndicated and bilateral loans among other financings; and Francisco Abeal, who takes on a range of regulatory and transactional work but it best known for specialist expertise in forex matters. The firm’s high quality training and talent pool has seen a number of associates take up roles with international banks and law firms during last 24 months, but the practice still boasts a capable second line, with experienced senior associate Manuela Lava and Pablo Lapiduz the main contacts at associate level. Since publication, Silva has been appointed head of the National Securities Commission by the incoming Millei administration – effective as of Janauary 2024.

Marval O’Farrell Mairal’s marquee corporate and M&A practice is a consistent presence in Argentina’s largest and most sophisticated M&A deals, advising international and local corporates and private equity firms on a wide-range of cross-border and domestic transactions in multiple sectors. In recent years the firm has become increasingly prominent in pan-regional deals, coordinating transactions across Latin America, mirroring work historically led by US firms in the region. The size and range of expertise within the practice is unmatched and sees the firm called on to provide advice on day-to-day business matters, corporate structures and restructurings, with close integration with the highly-rated tax department a further differentiator. Highly experienced and respected corporate lawyers Pablo Artagaveytia and Pablo Viñals Blake co-lead a team of exceptional depth and experience. Firm chairman and formidable M&A lawyer Santiago Carregal; veteran transactional specialist Pablo Garcia Morillo; and private equity and venture capital expert Diego Krischcautzky are key figures in the group. The department’s roster of senior lawyers also includes Diego Chighizola, who has a strong practice in agribusiness and real estate transactions; and Barbara V Ramperti, an M&A lawyer with particular expertise in the acquisition of new business lines, joint ventures and reorganisations. A younger generation of partners – including  María Macarena García Mirri and María Laura Bolatti Cristofaro – provide further high level support, with the practice also able to call on the vast experience of the iconic Héctor Mairal for strategic advice and counsel. María Virginia Canzonieri, who focuses on commercial and corporate law matters and M&A transactions, is a key figure at associate level.