Mr Hugo Triaca > Clifford Chance > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Clifford Chance has an established team of Latin America capital markets specialists, spread primarily across its New York and Sao Paulo offices. Over the years it has landed big engagements in relation to capital markets offerings originating in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama, among others. It has strong links to bulge-bracket underwriters and big-name issuers, including a significant number of Brazilian corporates. Along with a steady pipeline of equity and debt offerings, the practice is also noted for bond restructurings. It is further recognised for sovereign and sub-sovereign offerings, and has a fine record in the energy, infrastructure and financial services sectors. Jonathan Zonis is co-head of the Americas capital markets group and co-head of the Latin America team; he has advised on a plethora of headline transactions over the years, including the recent $6.9bn equity offering by Eletrobras, the largest equity offering in the Southern Hemisphere in 2022. Hugo Triaca is another senior member of the team, which has benefited from the firm’s ability to develop a strong cohort of emerging talent, including Sao Paulo’s Patrick Jackson, who was promoted to partner in 2022; and Mariana Estévez, who joined the partnership in 2023. Sao Paulo counsel Anja Pfleger Andrade is another key figure. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Clifford Chance has a large team of Latin America specialists, which has built close connections to multilateral agencies and development banks, commercial banks and sponsors. It remains noted for its energy and infrastructure work in Colombia, although it has extensive geographic coverage, including projects and energy transactions in the Dominican Republic, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Ecuador. The firm has a history of advising on large conventional project financings, and has built its presence in project and infrastructure bonds. It is also at the forefront of green bonds and sustainability-linked financings. Moreover, it has earned accolades for its work in infrastructure financings, including toll roads, metro lines, mass transportation systems and port projects. The practice group is also increasing prominent in renewables, including solar and wind. Fabricio Longhin is a major name in energy and infrastructure projects, advising a range of multilateral lenders, commercial banks, sponsors and investors; he is a recognised force in Colombia infrastructure and renewables projects, along with major projects and energy transactions elsewhere in Latin America. Lori Ann Bean is also noted for representing development finance institutions (DFIs), export credit agencies (ECAs) and commercial banks on Latin America energy and infrastructure projects. New York partner Hugo Triaca provides further expertise in bond-driven financings and hybrid securities transactions, including green bonds and ESG-linked offerings. Jessica Springsteen and senior counsel Catherine McCarthy are also key figures in the team, along with counsel Alberto Haito. The launch of a Houston office, which included the hire of upstream oil-and-gas specialist David Sweeney from Akin in June 2023, has deepened the firm’s Latin America energy credentials. All named individuals are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.