The Legal 500 > Latin America > Argentina > Competition and antitrust

Marval O’Farrell Mairal’s first-class team stands out for the ‘speed with which it provides answers’ and for its ability to provide ‘clear and concise advice on the possible risks’. On the merger-review side, the firm’s heavyweight corporate practice translates into a steady flow of cases — the firm notably secures the highest volume of merger reviews in the market — and few high-stakes mergers are cleared in Argentina without this team’s involvement. Its close links with major global law firms mark it as a particularly strong performer in cross-border matters, including recent work for household-name multinationals such as Disney, Warner Media and Pfizer. On the investigations front, the group is routinely involved in many of the most sensitive and complex cases conducted by the Antitrust Commission. The third pillar of the practice is compliance, where the team assists with in-house compliance audits and training programmes. High-profile expert Miguel del Pino heads the department and is widely recognised as a market leader. Santiago del Rio is an impressive up-and-coming competition specialist. The team also includes the experienced Gabriela Ariel Irizar and rising star Ignacio Mora — both are associates.

The comprehensive practice at Allende & Brea strikes a balance between merger reviews and investigations — it also advises on compliance and in-house training matters. On the transactional side, the firm had a strong recent showing in heavily regulated industries, which included advising multinationals in the pharmaceutical, technology and media sectors on merger reviews. Department head Julián Peña is much sought after for his deep expertise in all areas of competition law. Raised to the partnership in late November 2020, Federico Rossi, who has a focus on competition and trade matters.

Beccar Varela’s team is noted for its ‘broad experience’ and ‘strong technical knowledge’. The firm handles the full spread of merger reviews and investigations, with a prominent reputation in the behavioural area — it notably advised key client Prisma Medios de Pago in rare competition-related litigation. Other sweet spots include cartel leniency filings and fintech matters. Department head Agustín Waisman demonstrates ‘great experience and technical knowledge’. Mercedes Pando and Camila Corvalán are talented senior associates.

Bomchil’s group is split between merger control, investigations, and general advice and compliance — it also recently added unfair trade to its broad service offering. The firm’s prolific investigations practice recently advised on several high-profile cases, including the bid-rigging investigation connected to the ‘notebooks’ corruption scandal. On the merger front, the team is particularly active in the energy, chemicals and transport sectors. Department head Marcelo den Toom is a highly regarded specialist. Gabriela Castillo Areco is an active associate.

On the transactional side, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen is best known for acting for local and regional companies in the agribusiness and food industries on merger-clearance cases. The firm also houses a broad behavioural practice, which had a strong recent run in representing technology multinationals in market investigations. The group is led by Luis Barry, who is recommended for his ‘skills and flexibility’.

‘Very analytical and very qualified’, Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi impresses with its ‘highly qualified professionals’. The practice is mainly active in merger-review work, with strong recent experience in the agribusiness and natural resources areas. It also has a significant behavioural offering, where it is currently advising on bid-rigging and cartel investigations. Department head Gabriel Lozano focuses exclusively on competition and antitrust matters. Corporate partner Estanislao Olmos is also recommended.

Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados’ ‘super-focused’ and ‘fully-committed’ team is distinguished by its cross-border practice and it is consistently involved in competition procedures involving the EU, the US and other Latin American countries. Best known for its merger-review offering, the group also advises on market investigations and cartel cases. Competition specialist Aixa Sureda co-heads the group alongside M&A and competition partner Cristian Mitrani. Senior associate Evangelina González Soldo also specialises in competition law.

The ‘well-informed’ team at Estudio O'Farrell is praised for its ability to ‘adapt to the circumstances’. The team advises on a wide range of merger-control and behavioural matters, drawing upon the wider firm’s signature regulatory expertise to focus on advising clients in the energy, telecoms and public utility spheres. Public law and economic regulation specialist Agustín Siboldi heads the group, with support from administrative law partner María Agustina Fanelli Evans.

Competition is a key pillar of Tanoira Cassagne Abogados’ practice offering and the firm handles a mix of compliance issues, merger reviews, investigations and competition litigation. The group also advises on domestic trade rules, including consumer defence and specific business sector regulations. Bernardo Cassagne is a highly regarded competition and economic regulation specialist. Francisco Rondoletti, whose practice spans antitrust, consumer protection and international trade, is also recommended.

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda’s practice continues to grow and the firm advises several major companies, particularly in the oil-and-gas sector, on merger review issues. The group also advises on day-to-day antitrust compliance matters. Public law specialist Juan Cruz Azzarri heads the department.

Nicholson y Cano Abogados has an increasingly prominent competition practice that is well versed in merger reviews, compliance issues and investigations. The firm’s impressive oil-and-gas offering translates into a string of merger review cases in the energy sphere, while the financial services and agribusiness sectors are also significant sources of work. Department co-head Marcela Anchava focuses on competition and M&A.