Mr Javier Amantegui > Clifford Chance > Madrid, Spain > Lawyer Profile

Clifford Chance is relatively unusual in having an established M&A team in Sao Paulo, backed by a number of Latin America-facing M&A specialists in the US and Europe. It is also active in cross-border transactions between Asia and Latin America. It continues to impress in representing corporates and financial investors in Latin America deals and advises a range of businesses in Brazil and other key markets around the region. Energy and infrastructure is a key strength for the team, which has worked on a series of investments in renewable energy projects. It has a numerous Spanish and Portuguese speakers, both Latin American-born practitioners and those that have lived and worked in the region. Although most of its Latin America-focused lawyers are based in the Americas, the firm’s London office has also worked on a series of recent headline deals. David Brinton is a leader in energy and infrastructure deals, and is noted for his experience in financial sponsor investments. Anthony Oldfield is managing partner of the Sao Paulo office and a vastly experienced M&A specialist, with a recent track record in venture capital investments in the Brazilian fintech sector. Thais Garcia is an increasing established talent in M&A and a genuine Latin America expert who now leads many of the firm’s headline deals in the region. Madrid’s Samir Azzouzi is another key figure with a fine record in financial sponsor investments; senior figure Javier Amantegui (corporate/M&A, private equity and investment fund work) also operates from the Spanish capital. At associate level, Carla Ruggero is a talented up-and-comer. The team was further strengthened in June 2023 with the hire of oil-and-gas transactional specialist, David Sweeney (who joined the firm’s new Houston office) from Akin. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

One of the preeminent law firms in Spain for transformative M&A, Clifford Chance routinely handles a significant volume of large-cap deals in a variety of industries on behalf of major multinational and domestic public corporations, privately-held companies, and financial investors. With a strong presence in the country’s two transactional centres, the M&A practice has been particularly active in the energy, infrastructure, TMT, insurance, financial services and sports sectors as of late. Lauded by clients for his ‘strong negotiation skills and strategic advice‘, department leader Luis Alonso is a reference for energy and sports-related deals. The latter is a key area of activity for counsel Pablo Murcia. Managing partner Jaime Velázquez remains a key point of contact for global and Spanish blue-chip clients. With a special focus on financial investors and private equity matters, Javier Amantegui is another name to note in the team. Javier Hermosilla and Miguel Barredo possess a proven track record in domestic and cross-border business transactions. Guillermo Guardia oversees the corporate group in Barcelona, and is singled out for his experience in both M&A and financing deals.

Variously praised for their ‘strong analytical skills, attention to detail‘ and ‘ability to understand the commercial interests of their clients‘, Clifford Chance‘s private equity specialists in Spain act for global PE firms, infrastructure and pension funds along the entire spectrum of matters, from high-end M&A to leveraged finance and fund structuring. The practice has been particularly busy handling sell-side mandates, but is also well placed to assist bidders in big-ticket transactions across a multitude of sectors, including telecoms, healthcare, sports, business services, infrastructure and energy. A renowned figure in the Spanish PE market, Javier Amantegui is at the forefront of the firm’s financial investors’ strategy in Europe. ‘Hands-on leader‘ Samir Azzouzi continues to play a key role in major deals (both domestic and cross-border) in this space. Ildefonso Alier, who joined from King & Wood Mallesons in May 2022, is the go-to adviser for fundraisings, secondary deals and fund formation issues. Recently promoted counsel Javier Hermosilla and associate Patricia Puertas are other key members of the practice.