Juan Carlos Escudero > CMS Grau > Lima, Peru > Lawyer Profile

Well known for its focus on the mining and energy industries, the corporate and M&A team at CMS Grau continues to expand its reach, with an uptick in instructions in the technology, media and communications sectors. The team is fully integrated into the firm’s large international network and often works in tandem with practitioners in other jurisdictions and as local or co-counsel with other large international firms. The group is led by Juan Carlos Escudero, Miguel Viale, and Juan José Hopkins, who joined from SUMARA Hub Legal in September 2022. Managing partner Escudero has 20 years of experience in M&A and restructurings; Viale is a key contact for international deals with collateral structures and financing; and Hopkins brings experience in venture capital and fintech deals to the team. The practice was further bolstered in 2022 with the arrival of senior associates Andrea Paiba and Cinthia Canepa from Garrigues and EY Law, respectively.

CMS Grau’s capital markets practice is on an upward trajectory and was significantly bolstered in 2022 with the arrival of Juan José Hopkins from SUMARA Hub Legal in September, and the hire of senior associates Cinthia Canepa in June and Andrea Paiba in December of the same year, from EY Law and Garrigues, respectively. The department acts for domestic and foreign financial institutions and companies in public and private securities offerings, structured products, placement processes and auctions. Hopkins now heads the team alongside Miguel Viale, Diego Peschiera and Juan Carlos Escudero; Viale maintains an active practice covering bank lending, trusts and securitisations; Peschiera is well versed in foreign and domestic issuances and subordinated debt matters; and Escudero brings experience in corporate transactions both in Peru and further afield.

The banking and finance team at CMS Grau is known in the market for its expertise in traditional and syndicated lending, and equity and project finance matters, with a notable roster of clients in the mining, renewables, and oil and gas sectors, among others. Juan Carlos Escudero is a key figure in the department; he handles corporate and banking work and acts for large international banks. Miguel Viale stands out for banking, finance and capital markets work, and Diego Peschiera is a name to note for syndicated loans, debt issues and financing transactions. Juan José Hopkins, who joined from SUMARA Hub Legal in September 2022, brings expertise in fintech and venture capital to the team.

CMS has a deep commitment to Latin America through its multiple offices in the region; it has local offices in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru, along with an office of international lawyers in Brazil. It augmented this with a cooperation agreement with Brazilian law firm FAS Advogados, in cooperation with CMS in 2023. The Latin America team continues to make an impression in private equity investments and exits, along with energy and infrastructure transactions; oil and gas, renewables and the digital environment are key fortes for the team. The group frequently works alongside some of the top law firms on Wall Street and across the US. Jorge Allende Destuet and Ramón Valdivieso are co-heads of the corporate and M&A team in Chile, and are noted for private equity and M&A transactions. Juan Camilo Rodríguez leads the group in Colombia, and Peru office managing partner Juan Carlos Escudero is also an experienced transactional practitioner. Ted Rhodes is a key figure in Rio de Janeiro and is noted for his expertise in energy transactions.