Electricity in Argentina

The market-leading electricity practice of O'Farrell has broad experience across the power sector, spanning the full range of contentious and non-contentious issues. The team advises upstream and downstream clients on relevant M&A, tax, labour and regulatory matters, as well as arbitration and litigation. Another key area of expertise is the growing renewables segment. The deep bench of specialised industry-experts is co-led by Uriel O’Farrell, who focuses on corporate work, M&A and general energy advice; regulatory specialist Agustín Siboldi; and Agustina Fanelli Evans, who advises leading industry players on regulatory, administrative and constitutional matters. At associate level, senior María Fortuna and intermediates Ana Belén Micciarelli and Nicolás Vázquez all have experience advising on public law and economic regulation.

The full service Beccar Varela's strong electricity practice is active at all stages in the power sector, including generation, transmission and distribution, as well as working with large consumers. Acting for both national and international clients, the team operates in the thermal, hydro, wind, solar, biogas and geothermal segments, as well as providing experience in government privatizations, international bids and concession contract renegotiations. Core specialisms that allow the department to advise so broadly in the power sector include its regulatory expertise and its knowledge of the ever more prominent renewables sector. José Carlos Cueva leads the team and brings expertise in energy law and natural resources law, as well as economic regulation, public services and public bidding processes. His team was boosted by the March-2021 the arrival of former YFP Luz legal director (and fomer O'Farrell partner), Ricardo Castañeda, who focuses on M&A, corporate law, project finance and energy. Senior associate Gonzalo Viña, who has both litigious and energy-sector advisory experience, is also noted.

Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi is well regarded for its ‘deep knowledge of the energy sector in Argentina, and not exclusively of the legal aspects, but of the market in general, its institutions, public officials involved, economic issues and other aspects’. The practice draws from multidisciplinary expertise in regulatory, corporate, tax, customs, environmental, financing and M&A law, to provide comprehensive renewable and conventional power generation advice. Public tenders and green field projects are both particular strengths. Mariano Luchetti handles matters related to the generation, transportation and distribution of electricity in Argentina. He co-leads the team with energy-projects specialist Exequiel Buenaventura; and Ignacio Minorini Lima, who is recommended for his ‘excellent knowledge of the electric energy market in Argentina, and of renewable energy in particular’. In the wake of former senior associate Eliana Hougassian's move in house at Grupo Albanesi in October 2020, key associate support comes from senior María Laura Rozan, who focuses on administrative and regulatory matters.

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda specialises in project and secured financing for conventional and renewable energy projects, representing international credit agencies, ECAs and leading commercial banks. The firm’s deep bench of expertise covers the key related areas of corporate, tax and regulatory law, particularly foreign exchange regulations. Another forte of the group is contract renegotiations, an area in which it has been increasingly active recently. Public law expert Juan Cruz Azzarri co-leads the team with Jimena Vega Olmos, who focuses on power, public law, infrastructure, project financing and international arbitration. Founding partner José Alfredo Martínez de Hoz also advises on energy projects and arbitration in the sector; and senior associate Marcos Blanco  (energy, renewables, oil & gas and TMT) is also noted.

Covering the entire electricity generation and supply chain, Marval O’Farrell Mairal combines regulatory, transactional and administrative law expertise, with commercial understanding. The practice is also distinguished by its experience in cross-border matters and can draw on expertise in utilities and tax within the full-service firm. A particular strength is renewable energy matters, where the group advises on a range of wind, solar and hydropower. Sebastián Iribarne focuses on transactional electricity issues (including privatisation processes), and co-leads the team with Francisco MacÍas, an experienced senior figure who specialises in international and local power transactions, contracts and regulatory matters. Another key name is that of Gonzalo Santamaria, raised to the partnership in August 2021, he has experience in complex regulatory and contract issues, notably in relation to thermal, hydroelectric and renewable energy projects.

Tavarone, Rovelli, Salim & Miani houses an ‘extremely well-integrated team, able to pull together various aspects of legal practice very efficiently, be it finance, energy regulation or corporate matters’. The firm is also well regarded for its ‘great technical knowledge in the renewable energy industry’, a power segment of growing importance. Key strengths for the group include wind-power project-finance transactions, solar PV projects, corporate PPA, public tenders and project acquisitions, as well as refinancing and infrastructure financing deals. Nicolás Eliaschev leads the practice and is ‘one of Argentina's leading legal minds in energy law’. A key name in his team is senior associate Javier Constanzó, who focuses on public law, energy and infrastructure.

The multidisciplinary team at Allende & Brea advises power industry clients on transactional, regulatory, environmental, tax, financial and litigation matters. The firm is increasingly active in the design and construction of natural gas and combined cycle power plants, as well as in the renewable energy space; work in the latter area ranges from the negotiation of EPC contracts to the acquisition and financing of projects. Florencia Heredia leads the team and handles natural resources and energy matters, notably forestry, fisheries, mining law and environmental matters. Fellow partner Marcos Patron Costas undertakes cross border M&A and project financing, with a primary focus on the energy sector.

Bomchil is well regarded for its work in key energy-sector matters, with a track record including the construction of an additional high-voltage electricity transmission line between Comahue and Buenos Aires; the first relevant electricity agreements under the current regime; and renewable power purchase agreements between private parties; it also handles international disputes in the area. Currently the team is increasingly active assisting renewable power generators with regulatory and contractual matters. Long-standing power specialist María Inés Corrá leads the team and is also co-head of the administrative law, economic regulation and international arbitration practices.