Next Generation Partners

Consumer law in Argentina

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

Marval O’Farrell Mairal stands out for the depth of its expertise in complex consumer claims and class actions, assisting clients before various consumer protections agencies and designing legal strategies to defend against allegations of infringements to consumer protection regimes. The firm is also a go-to option on consumer liability matters across a range of sectors, most notably in the tobacco industry, where it maintains the largest tobacco product liability practice in Argentina. Other notable areas of work include outlining compliant recall and retrofit strategies, providing advice on labelling requirements and assistance with adapting products, services and sales plans. The practice is led by the experienced triumvirate of Leandro Castelli (product liability claims and complex litigation); Fernando Montes De Oca (automotive industry litigation) and Facundo Viel Temperley  (procedural law; class actions; and civil, commercial, consumer and product liability cases). A cohort of experienced senior associates, including Alejo Gascón, Lorena Cozzarin and Gabriela Dibble, lead the second line.

Practice head(s):

Leandro Castelli; Fernando Montes de Oca; Facundo Viel Temperley


Testimonials

A great team, with long-time experience handling sophisticated claims.

The entire team is competent, creative and a pleasure to work with. They are sharp, think outside the box and are dependable. Facundo Viel Temperley, Leandro Castelli, Lorena Cozzarin, Maria Agustina Canullo and Alejo Martin Gascon.

They are a very collaborative team, highly capable and efficient, and with lot of experience and knowledge about current procedures and regulations.

Key clients

Massalín Particulares


Peugeot Citroën Argentina


Philip Morris International


The Walt Disney Company


Netflix


Banco Santander Rio


Diageo Argentina


Magneti Marelli


Círculo de Inversores


Booking.com


BNP Paribas


Banco Itaú


HBO Max


Soy Henry


Work highlights


  • Representing Booking.com in mediation, administrative and judicial proceedings initiated by users of the website who made different hotel reservations through it.
  • Providing strategic advice and complete regulatory compliance assistance to The Walt Disney Company Argentina on the launch and current operation of Disney+ and Star+ platforms.
  • Represet Credit Suisse, United Utilities, Loma Negra, Banco Itaú, Zimmer Biomet, Peugeot–Citroën, Banco Santander Río, Disney, Netflix, BNP Paribas, Hertz, in different class actions brought by consumers seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

Abeledo Gottheil Abogados

Product liability and product recall processes are key focus areas for Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, which has a strong roster of consumer-facing clients in the automotive, retail and consumer goods sectors, among others. The firm is also regularly called on to represent high-profile clients in collective and individual claims, as well as in judicial and administrative hearings. In addition to contentious matters, the team leverages its product liability expertise to promote product safety and minimise future product liability exposure. The practice also advises on product labelling and advertising campaigns. The group is jointly-led by experienced litigator Rodrigo Blas Hernández and an up-and-coming partners Federico Osvaldo Valiño, who specialises in consumer law; and complex litigation and product liability expert Natalia Soledad Vannucci, who was raised to the partnership in January 2023.

Practice head(s):

Rodrigo Blas Hernández; Federico Osvaldo Valiño; Natalia Soledad Vannucci


Testimonials

The team has thorough knowledge of the subject, efficient negotiation tools and flexibility in the face of the diversity of cases that may arise.

What differentiates the firm in this area is its tailor-made work, with which it generates the necessary confidence to resolve cases.

The professionals of the firm always have up-to-date knowledge in this branch of law, collaborating at all times and providing various procedural strategies for each case. Their commitment to resolving claims and their constant collaboration stand out.

‘Extensive knowledge of consumer regulations, and excellent quality advice.’

Federico Valiño is an excellent professional.

Their commitment and dedication to collaborate in the management and resolution of cases that arise in this branch of law, as well as his knowledge of legal regulations and strategies. We highlight partner Federico Valiño and associates Valentina Lamela and Agustina Remis who are part of the team and with whom we work in each Consumer Law case.

Key clients

Toyota Argentina


Yamaha Motor Argentina


Finning Caterpillar


Shell


Total


Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA)


Softland


LG Electronics


Cepas Argentinas


YPF


Natura Cosmeticos


Club Med


Swarovski


Goodyear


Sika


Yamaha Plan de Ahorro


Work highlights


  • Advice to Yamaha Plan de Ahorro on establishing its operation in Argentina as a consortium plan, in accordance with the administrative law and instructions issued by the Superintendency of Corporations and Argentine consumer law.
  • Advice and exclusive representation of Yamaha Motor Argentina in several suits and claims filed in different jurisdictions; these claims have proved to be of utmost importance to the company, benefitting Yamaha’s reputation and the quality of its engineering products.
  • Advice and exclusive representation of Toyota in different consumer claims and class actions.

Beccar Varela

Beccar Varela advises local and international consumer companies on fair trade and consumer regulations including advertising, product labelling, product liability, e-commerce, internet-related matters and intermediary liability. Other areas of expertise include sweepstakes, promotional activities, loyalty programmes and recalls, with clients also turning to the firm for support on contentious matters, class actions, individual damage claims and litigation involving fair trade and consumer protection regulations. The practice is co-led by dispute resolution lawyers Federico Sosa and Gonzalo García Delatour, with additional senior support coming from competition and antitrust department head Agustín Waisman and Ignacio Flores - whose practice covers a range of areas including manufacturer liability and consumer law. Rocío Alejandra Labán, who covers civil and commercial litigation, is the main contact at associate level. Senior associate Noelia de Belder departed to take up a role in the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in  June 2022.

Practice head(s):

Gonzalo García Delatour; Federico Sosa


Testimonials

A solid team that is experienced and accustomed to dealing with important matters.

Federico Sosa stands out for his vast experience. He knows the regulations and jurisprudence very well.

The team is creative and adapts to the needs of the client.

There is direct contact with experienced partners who are dedicated to clients.

This law firm has an excellent professional quality. They have helped us to find alternatives to the different problems that we have presented to them, complying in presenting us the reports in the time that our business needs. As for the team, they are very warm and responsible people, who are very attentive to the requirements and who work with total commitment.

Key clients

Citibank


Banco Santander


Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires


BBVA


Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)


Banco Itaú


Cardif Seguros


Western Union Financial Services Argentina


Mercado Libre


Portofolio Personal and INTL CIBSA Soc. de Bolsa


Work highlights


  • Representing several banks on numerous class actions related to consumer law filed by consumer associations.
  • Currently advising an international financial entity on a class action related to consumer law filed by a consumer association.
  • Representing insurance companies in several class actions related to life insurances fees filed by consumer associations.

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen represents manufacturers, importers, distributors, retail companies and financial institutions in extrajudicial claims made by consumers and before administrative agency hearings. The practice also handles claims management, the adaption of products and services to consumer protection regulations, product liability issues and class actions. Consumer law specialist Luis Barry (who also handles competition and antitrust matters), leads the team, with senior associate María Carolina Abdelnabe Vila – whose practice areas include consumer protection, fair trade, data protection law, product liability and legal tech – providing key support. Since publication, Abdelnabe has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

Practice head(s):

Luis Barry


Testimonials

Confident handling of complex commercial, labour and corporate matters. A complete service.

Key clients

Coppel


Honda Motor de Argentina


Lenovo Argentina


MercadoLibre


Cencosud


Marfrig Global Foods


Evandti


La Papelera del Plata


Life Seguros


United Airlines


Work highlights


  • Advising personal care and cleaning products company Softys on adapting its customer service process to new minimum mandatory quality parameters for remote attention services issued by the Secretariat of Commerce.
  • Represents Life Seguros in all claims filed by consumers related to consumer protection agencies.
  • Advising online ticketing platform Stubhub on all relevant Argentine regulations.

Bomchil

Bomchil handles individual consumer claims, class actions and civil and commercial matters at judicial and arbitral level, and also advises clients on strategies for mitigating litigation risk. The team has a strong roster of consumer law clients, who also turn to the firm for support on contractual and tort claims. The practice is co-led by Martín Girotti, who has wide ranging experience in consumer class actions in several industries; and recently promoted partner Melisa Romero, who covers complex commercial class actions and has helped numerous clients to settle cases and reduce risk exposure.

Practice head(s):

Martin Torres Girotti; Melisa Romero


Testimonials

A collaborative team that is always close to its customers. They are always available when it comes to supporting the lawyers in-house and providing added value.

They take a strategic approach to legal issues and always go the extra mile.

Key clients

DirecTv Argentina


American Express Argentina


BBVA


KPMG


Duty Paid


Peugeot Citroën Argentina


BMW


Big Box


Rolex


Havanna


Work highlights


  • Advising DirecTv in a large consumer association claim aimed at refunding  sums charged in alleged excess due to the lack of appropriate service provided within the city of Cordoba, plus a sum for punitive damages.
  • Advising and representing American Express in around 30 consumer class actions involving the interpretation of the Argentine Consumer Law and the regulatory framework for collective life insurance associated with credit card holders
  • Advising and representing BBVA in a class action pursued by two consumers associations claiming refunds for sums paid as collective life insurance, allegedly in excess of the applicable rates.

Brons & Salas

Brons & Salas handles compliance and product liability regulations for clients operating in a broad range of industry sectors, with administrative claims also covered. Consumer law and product-liability claims specialist Pablo Brusco leads the practice, with senior associates Mariana Laura Sierra and Matias Foiguel - who both advise on court and out-of-court consumer claims for clients in the automotive, chemical and food sectors - providing key support.

Practice head(s):

Pablo Brusco


Key clients

Aerolineas Argentinas


Kimberly Clark Argentina Group


Laboratorios Andrómaco


Praxair Argentina


Rayovac Argentina


Schaeffler Argentina


Clorox Argentina


TTC Auto Argentina


SKF Argentina


Citibank


Laboratorio Cuenca (Godrej Group Companies)


Mercedes Benz de Argentina


Hyundai Motors Argentina


Tronador


Work highlights


  • Assist Kimberly Clark and its affiliates as defendant in various consumer and product liability claims in connection with products manufactured and sold by the company in Argentina.
  • Assist Mercedes Benz regarding numerous consumer and product liability claims in connection with the company’s products in Argentina.
  • Assist Laboratorios Andrómaco as defendant in different consumer and product liability claims.

Bruchou & Funes de Rioja

Bruchou & Funes de Rioja draws on its dispute resolution and banking and finance expertise to support clients in contentious consumer matters, most notably in the banking and insurance sectors, where it has handled numerous class actions. In addition to contentious consumer work, the team also advises a roster of retail clients on day-to-day corporate and dispute resolution matters. Experienced commercial litigator and bankruptcy lawyer Martín Beretervide co-leads the practice with Carlos Rotman, who also leads the firm’s litigation and international arbitration department.

Practice head(s):

Martín Beretervide; Carlos María Rotman


Testimonials

A firm that has a very solid practice and highly trained professionals. It is among the leading consumer law firms. They usually represent banks and various financial service providers.

Martín Beretervide is a very good lawyer who represents different banks and service providers in class actions initiated by consumer associations. A great professional with a lot of knowledge.

Key clients

Banco Santander


Banco Macro


Banco BBVA


Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires


Univision


Candy Electrodomésticos


Orbis Mertig


American Express


Banco Cetelem


Banco de Servicios y Transacciones


ICBC


Hydro Extrusion de Argentina


Digital House


Work highlights


  • Assisted Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires in a highly contingent class action case (among other matters), in which the reimbursement of alleged credit card life insurance premiums perceived to be in excess were sought.
  • Advising and representing ICBC in several class action cases filed against the bank involving analysis and interpretation of several banking credit issues from a consumer law standpoint.
  • Provides day-to-day advice to Brubank, one of the few digital banks operating in Argentina, in all matters related to consumer law in pre-dispute matters and administrative claims.

Cerolini & Ferrari Abogados

Cerolini & Ferrari Abogados advises consumer companies on class actions, litigation, torts, arbitration and administrative proceedings, with matters in the banking, financial services, fintech, consumer goods, insurance, travel and online-retail sectors prominent. Matias Ferrari leads the practice, focusing on civil and commercial lawsuits as well as contractual disputes and class actions.

Practice head(s):

Matías Ferrari


Testimonials

All the lawyers are highly professional and have a high capacity for teamwork to cope with all the challenges that arise on a day-to-day basis.

The team stands out for handling issues in an interdisciplinary way. They are proactive and strategic. They are up-to-date on Argentine regulations covering customer service, consumer law, advertising and sales practices.

Matías Ferrari stands out for his deep and up-to-date knowledge on the subject. His advice is always oriented by the commercial needs of the business, providing practical and efficient solutions.

Over the years, they have developed a practice in consumer law and class actions that sets them apart from the competition.

Key clients

Banco Patagonia


HSBC Bank Argentina


Galicia Seguros


Coppel


Banco Sáenz


Banco Cetelem


Grupo Sancor Seguros


Laboratorios Andrómaco


Banco de Servicios Financieros


Banco Hipotecario


Assist Card


Afluenta


Banco Galicia


Open Bank


Wenance


Work highlights


  • Advised and represented Banco Patagonia in a class action filed by the consumer association Acuba.
  • Advise Coppel on its operations as a non-financial credit provider, related to financial consumer protection.
  • Advised Assist Card Argentina on the terms and conditions of its services.

O'Farrell

Clients in the automotive, airline, transport, retail and personal loans industries call on O'Farrell for support in the negotiation of claims and investigation of procedures related to consumer law, fair trade, advertising law and e-commerce matters. Drawing on the firm’s wider public law expertise, the team is well-known for handling work at the intersection of consumer law and public services regulation. The practice also takes on class action and administrative proceeding engagements, and is comfortable drafting the legal bases of promotions and contests' terms-and-conditions. Jorge Muratorio, an administrative law expert, leads the team with consumer specialist Lorena Quiroz providing key support. The practice also draws on the expertise of public law partner Agustina Fanelli Evans.

Practice head(s):

Jorge Muratorio


Key clients

Ford Argentina


Plan Ovalo de Ahorro para Fines Determinados


Naturgy Ban


Farmcity


Grupo Concesionario del Oeste


Turkish Airlines


AMX Argentina


Universidad Siglo 21


Nokia Solutions and Networks Argentina


Work highlights


  • Advised Ford Argentina after the administrative authority sanctioned the company for an alleged breach of consumer law.
  • Advised Plan Ovalo de Ahorro para Fines Determinados on more than 650 administrative cases related to information duty, fee increases, vehicle model changes, and the liquidation of savings’ plans, among other matters.
  • Advice to Naturgy Ban in relation to an action against Law 14.692 issued by the province of Buenos Aires which requires the opening of personal attention offices in each jurisdiction of the province.

Tanoira Cassagne Abogados

Tanoira Cassagne Abogados advises domestic and international consumer businesses on the drafting of terms and conditions, advertising and commercial claims, extended warranties, product liability and recalls, and food and drug labelling compliance. The team also handles consumer litigation matters (as plaintiff or defendant), and participates in complex lawsuits and class actions. Team head Francisco Rondoletti, whose practice encompasses competition law, consumer protection and trade regulation, has represented national and multinational companies in class actions and product liability cases. Juan Martín de la Vega, who has advised on several class actions, is the key contact at associate level.

Practice head(s):

Francisco Rondoletti


Testimonials

Lawyers who deeply understand the client’s business, and therefore have a unique ability to detect risks and opportunities.

Key clients

Philips Argentina


Einhell Argentina


Unilever de Argentina


PepsiCo Argentina


Bayer Argentina


Coca Cola


Bridgestone Argentina


Saputo


3M Argentina


Telefonica de Argentina


Saint Gobain Argentina


Nestle Argentina


Balanz SGFCI


Banco Macro / Macro Fondos


Schroder Investment Management


Coto


Remax Argentina


Work highlights


  • Advised Nuevo Banco de Santa Fe on a lawsuit filed by the Adacu consumer association against 14 of the country’s main banks and Prisma Medios de Pago (Visa) alleging that the banks had used their status as shareholders of Visa to fix the discount and interchange rates for on Visa credit cards at the maximum legal rate.
  • Advising Unilever on a consumer action seeking direct and punitive damages in connection with advertising promoting its  “Axe Ice Chill” deodorant, which stated that the use of the product lowered the body’s temperature by several degrees and also made people more attractive; this is the first class action filed in Argentina in connection with misleading advertising.
  • Represented Schroder Sociedad Gerente de Fondos Comunes de Inversión and Schroder Investment Management in a lawsuit filed by the ADUC consumer association alleging damage suffered by investors in certain investment funds managed by Schroders following the unilateral modification of the price of certain future dollar contracts.