Bruchou & Funes de Rioja provides gold-standard counsel to a premier banking and finance client base and is a consistent presence on the biggest, most complex and most innovative banking and capital markets transactions in Argentina. The ‘consistently excellent’ practice is known for the quality and breadth of its offering, providing distinctive expertise and deep market know-how across loans, debt and equity capital markets, structured finance, acquisition finance, project finance, securitisation and liability management. Acting for both debtors and creditors, the team boasts an impressive roster of local and international banking clients and is also a go-to adviser for companies in the energy, natural resources and agribusiness sectors, among others. Influential banking lawyer and firm chairman Hugo Bruzone leads the team, with a practice covering banking, finance, capital markets and regulation. Founding partners Enrique Bruchou and Carlos Lombardi bring additional senior level experience to the practice’s heavyweight top bench, with impressive support from an ambitious cohort of younger partners that includes the ‘outstanding’ José María Bazán, Alejandro Perelsztein, Matías López Figueroa and Analía Battaglia. Bazán, who also sits on the firm’s executive committee, advises banks, private equity funds and corporations in local and international banking and capital markets transactions and is particularly active on infrastructure and energy matters linked to the government PPP programmes. Battaglia centres her practice on debt restructuring, project finance and infrastructure matters, while Perelsztein is best known for handling local and international capital markets transactions and project finance (predominantly in infrastructure and energy). López Figueroa advises on banking and corporate financing transactions, including trade financing. At associate level, experienced seniors Lucrecia von Petery and Leandro Belusci (who have both spent time in Milbank’s New York office) fronting a talented group of upcoming younger lawyers; clients highlight Ramón Poliche as a name to note. However, the well-regarded Sofia Gallo moved in house at Inviu in March 2023.

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.

The Beccar Varela banking and finance team is known for its transactional capability, with experience in cross-border financing and refinancing deals with complex underlying collateral structures, as well as corporate, project and asset financings. Advising on the foreign exchange implications for bank lending is another busy area, with the practice also at the forefront of regulatory matters in the fintech space, and active in the fast-growing sustainability-linked loan and bond markets. Pablo Torretta, Luciana Denegri, Daniel Levi and Maximiliano Nicolás D’Auro jointly-lead the practice, which also continues to draw on the vast experience of veteran M&A and banking partner Roberto Fortunati. Torretta brings extensive forex, restructuring and international financing experience to the table, with Denegri an influential figure in the development of Argentina’s sustainable finance ecosystem. D’Auro, who is also prominent in the firm’s compliance practice, advises banks on financing, refinancing and regulation; while Daniel Levi, who leads the firm's fintech group, played a leading role in Ualá’s pioneering purchase of Wilobank, the first acquisition of a bank by a fintech in Argentina. The practice strengthened its senior ranks in 2022 with the partner promotions of refinancing and restructuring expert Felipe Videla and Lucía Degano, the latter of whom heads operations in the firm’s regional office in the free trade zone in Uruguay. At associate level, seniors María Victoria Pavani (capital markets); and Gonzalo Ochoa (banking/foreign exchange regulation) are the key contacts.

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.

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen advises domestic and international corporates and financial institutions on project financing, debt restructuring, trade finance and equity and debt capital markets matters. Sovereign and sub-sovereign debt engagements are covered too, with banking, consumer credit and securities regulation other areas of expertise. The ‘excellent’ team has also been at the forefront of sustainability finance activity in Argentina, working on the first green bond, social bond and sustainability-linked bond issuances in the country. Capital markets and corporate finance lawyer Diego Redonnet co-leads the practice alongside versatile banking and capital markets’ veteran, María Gabriela Grigioni, and hugely experienced name partners Mariano Grondona and Alan Arnsten. At associate level, senior Alejo Muñoz de Toro is the key figure, handing securities issuances of securities, financial debt restructuring process, syndi1cated loans and project finance, along with forex compliance advisory. Intermediate Nahuel Perez de Villarreal is also noted. Former senior Nicolás Aberastury moved in house in late 2022. Since publication, Muñoz de Toro has been raised to counsel - effective as of Janaury 2024.

The ‘super committed’ and ‘proactive’  Tanoira Cassagne Abogados’ banking and finance team is best known for its work with banks in their different roles as underwriters, placement agents, trustees, custodians, escrow agents, grantors of loans, and in relation to foreign exchange and regulatory matters. Project finance and restructurings are other active market segments, with the practice also working extensively with mutual funds, stock exchanges and depositary agents. The ‘exemplary’ Alexia Rosenthal, who has extensive experience in banking, finance, capital markets and stock market regulatory matters, co-leads the practice alongside accomplished banking and capital markets lawyer Jaime Uranga, who also covers Central Bank regulation, restructurings and sovereign and sub-sovereign debt issuance. Rocio Carrica, who was promoted to the partnership in 2022, is recognised for her expertise in financial regulatory matters and foreign exchange regulations, and also has an active fintech practice. At associate level the ‘impeccable’ Ignacio Criado Díaz is the main contact and a key presence across the team’s capital markets mandates. Since publication, Criado Díaz has been raised to the partnership - effective as of March 2024.

Tavarone, Rovelli, Salim & Miani’s full-service banking and finance practice covers private and public debt and trust issuances, loans, corporate finance, export credit finance, project finance, sovereign debt and general regulatory matters. The ‘flexible and dynamic’ team is particularly well-known for its track record in infrastructure and project finance and has significant experience working with government entities and public banks, most notably on high-profile municipal and  provincial debt restructurings. Energy and mining financings are another active source of work. Marcelo Tavarone, who specialises in project finance, securitisation, debt restructuring and derivatives; and private equity and acquisition finance expert Federico Salim co-lead the practice alongside the  ‘fast and attentive’ Julieta De Ruggiero (banking, finance and capital markets; project finance, securitisation and debt restructuring) and Francisco Molina Portela (capital markets, project finance, debt restructuring, and banking and securities regulation). At associate level, following the departure of senior Facundo González Bustamante to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's New York banking practice as a foreign associate (and to undertake his LLM), semi-senior Ximena Sumaria is the key contact. Intermediate associate Fiorella Ascenso moved to Banco Galicia in March 2023.

Allende & Brea is well-known for its deep expertise in Central Bank and foreign exchange regulations and is regularly called on by local and international clients for support on payment schemes, cross-border transactions and international trade strategy. The firm also represents domestic and global banks on commercial and syndicated loans, capital markets transactions, reorganisations, trade financing and structured loans. Fintech and payments technology is another busy area, with the practice drawing on the expertise of its corporate, labour and compliance departments to support fast-growing fintech navigate a constantly evolving regulatory and commercial landscape. Banking and fintech law expert Carlos Melhem co-leads the practice alongside versatile banking and capital markets veteran Jorge Mayora ; clients regard the pair as demonstrating ‘superior quality’. At associate level Franco Jofré, who also has a thriving compliance practice, and banking and finance all-rounder Micaela Boruchowicz are the first points of call.

DLA Piper Argentina handles complex, cross-border banking and finance matters and has built up extensive experience in large, high-profile corporate, sovereign and sub-sovereign debt restructurings, working with debtors and creditors. The ‘flexible’ and ‘attentive’ team also handles capital markets work, where it leverages the network of its parent firm to support clients on exchange offers and new debt issuance domestically and abroad. The firm’s country manager Marcelo Etchebarne leads the practice and has extensive experience working with sovereign, sub-sovereign and corporate clients on debt and equity offerings. Additional senior level support comes from Guillermo Cabanellas, who has been counselling banks and corporations for more than 30 years; structured finance and financial trust expert Alejandro Noblia and capital markets-focused Justo Segura. Of counsel Nicolas Teijeiro provides high level advice on sovereign and sub-sovereign matters, with the firm’s second line fronted by associates Juan Rosatto, Daiana Suk, Federico Vieyra and Marcelo Rá.

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda is best known for its outstanding energy industry pedigree, where it provides a blue chip oil-and-gas and renewable energy client base with high-end advice on sophisticated, cross-border capital markets and financing matters. In addition to its high quality corporate client portfolio, the ‘bright, detailed-oriented’ team is called on by underwriters too – including various global and international financial institutions – to work on debt issuances, liability  management transactions and exchange offerings. Outside of the core energy sector, the team also handles work in the agribusiness and theme park industries, and has been an active player in the sovereign and sub-sovereign area, where it has advised on sizeable debt restructurings. The practice is co-led by ‘exceptional transactional lawyer’ José Martínez De Hoz (n), who advises borrowers and banks on cross-border and domestic financings; and the experienced Martín Lepiane, whose practice spans project and trade finance, banking regulation and litigation. Versatile partner Jimena Vega Olmos, who works on a range of corporate, banking and arbitration matters, provides further senior level experience, with the ‘excellent’ Pablo Schreiber (who has worked as foreign associate in the New York and Sao Paulo offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett) and Luisina Luchini leading the practice’s second line. Since publication, Schreiber has been promoted to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

The Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados banking and finance team has extensive experience handling the financing aspects of complex, cross-border M&A deals and offers broad capital markets coverage, including structured finance, acquisition finance, bilateral and syndicated debt facilities and project finance. The firm is known for its strong borrower-side practice, but has expanded its lender client roster, working with local and international banks, development banks and micro-lenders on a range of transactional, regulatory and Central Bank matters. Diego Parise, a corporate-finance partner who handles debt and equity offerings, bank financings and debt restructurings, leads the practice, with partner Julio Martínez providing senior support on capital markets, securitisation and project finance deals. Natalia Rauchberger advises banks, investment funds and borrowers on financings, with project finance and debt restructurings a core part of her practice. Fintech and cryptoassets counsel Nicolás Fernández Madero and M&A financing expert Matías Olcese are other key names in the team, which also calls on support from corporate partner Mercedes Rodríguez Giavarini. Experienced associate Catalina Sarrabayrouse leads the second line, and is active in banking regulation and foreign exchange matters.

 

Clients call on Nicholson y Cano Abogados for advice on structuring, documenting and closing financing transactions as well as support on the regulatory aspects of the financial sector. The team is active in domestic capital raisings, most notably in agribusiness and energy, with additional expertise in securitisations and structured finance. Fintech is another busy area with the practice also taking a leading role in the nascent sustainability-linked bond segment. M&A financing and restructuring veteran Carlos Marcelo Villegas co-leads the practice alongside structured finance, securitisations and secured lending expert Mario Kenny; forex and regulation specialist Emiliano Silva; and Mariano Fabrizio, who is the main point of contact for multilateral and bilateral credit organisations seeking permanent counsel support.

O'Farrell is best known for its banking and finance work in the energy and agribusiness sectors, where long-standing clients YPF and John Deere consistently call on the firm for guidance on banking matters and capital raisings, including green and sustainability-linked bond issuance. Name partner and veteran energy lawyer Uriel F. O'Farrell co-leads the team alongside Sebastián Luegmayer, who advises corporations and financial entities on a wide range of capital markets transactions, loans, financial trusts, derivatives and complex financial transactions.

Cerolini & Ferrari Abogados is recognised for its expertise in regulatory, compliance and incorporation matters in the banking sector, and is also active in the capital markets space, where its handles high volumes of domestic and SME notes financing transactions. Firm founder and practice head Agustín Cerolini advises banks and companies on a range of regulatory, capital markets and corporate finance matters. Associates Martín Chindamo, Dana König and Juan Bautista Marquez provide additional support.