Mining in Argentina

Allende & Brea stands out for its ‘knowledge of the mining industry, both from a local perspective and an understanding of what foreign mining investors are looking for’. The multidisciplinary mining practice is highly regarded for its ‘assertive and prudent way of handling the issues raised’ as well as ‘clarity in its approaches and responses’. A key specialism for the team, currently, is the lithium industry, in which segment the team not only advises on major transactions -such as Pluspetrol’s recent $85m acquisition of 300 lithium titles- but also advises foreign state agencies (such as the US Department of State and the Australian embassy) and investment agencies. Indeed, the practice has been at the forefront of the majority of significant transactions in the mining sector as a whole, representing Galaxy, for instance, on its $280m sale of assets in the provinces of Salta and Catamarca to Posco. Overall head of the energy and natural resources practice, renowned mining lawyer Florencia Heredia has ‘incomparable experience’; she focuses on natural resource and energy matters in general (and increasingly, arbitration), but her core focus remains mining, where she is a ‘very dependable source for information related to all aspects of a mining transaction’. Senior associate Agostina Martinez and associate Valentina Surraco are increasingly active in post-lithium, battery-minerals and rare earth issues. However, dual qualified associate Nahila Cortes left the firm in July 2021, as did former group co-head Juan Martín Allende, who retired from practice in March 2020 to focus on business and M&A consulting.

With ‘integrated knowledge focused on primarily mining issues’ Marval O’Farrell Mairal can handle a broad range of mining projects, mining operations and transactions. The practice provides a ‘comprehensive knowledge of all facets of the business, from regulatory points and the Code of Mining and Codes of Provincial Mining Procedures, to everything related to corporate advice’. A particular speciality for the firm is advising on large mining projects and mineral resource transactions. A prestigious senior figure in the sector Luis Lucero leads the team and focuses on mining operations, transactions, litigation and exploration projects. Undertaking 'exceptional work on mining issues', fellow partner Leonardo Rodríguez is also ‘fully capable of handling contentious, corporate and administrative matters’. The pair are supported by a strong associate bench including Andrés Villarreal (transactional mining matters), Ignacio M Alonso (mining litigation and regulatory matters), and dedicated mining specialist María Mercedes Rudolph.

The dedicated mining and environmental experts at Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi specialise in providing regulatory and public law advice to foreign investors in the mining sector. The practice can also draw from the firm’s strengths in key related-areas, including M&A and tax. The two practice heads have long standing reputations in the area. Sergio Arbeleche counsels on mining projects and operational mines across the full range of advisory topics, notably contract negotiations and renegotiations, acquisition, disputes and due diligence. Sebastián Vedoya advises on mining projects at different levels of development, from prospecting and exploration, through to construction and exploitation. Key associate support comes from Mercedes Valin, who has particular environmental expertise.

Alfaro-Abogados advises exploration and development companies, particularly in relation to uranium and lithium matters. The team has notable expertise in government contracts, joint ventures, suppliers' agreements and project finance. A well-known figure in the sector, mining law expert Ignacio Celorrio co-leads the practice with Federico Palavecino; formerly in house at Barrick Gold, he specialises in mining-sector consultancy (including financing, developing, construction and operation stages) along with tax and administrative issues. Key associate support comes from experience senior Nicolás Ferla who has a broad engagement with energy and natural resources matters, environmental law and also handles regulatory and corporate matters.

Advising producers, exploration companies and service suppliers, Beccar Varela’s broad practice handles due diligence operations and the negotiation of agreements, as well as advising on the corporate governance affairs of publicly-listed companies. Another strength of the team is its grasp of complex regulatory issues at the national and provincial level, which is combined with cross-border expertise. Well-known market figure and industry expert Roberto Fortunati focuses on mining M&A and project finance. He co-leads the team with senior associate Marcos Moreno Hueyo, whose experience in the sector includes both time in house (as head of legal at Orosur) and working in private practice in neighbouring Chile (at Bofill, Mir & Álvarez Jana).

The mining practice at Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados is underpinned by the full-service firm's  multidisciplinary expertise in cross-border investments, M&A and project finance in conjunction with the experience of various ex-members of former leading mining boutique HOLT Abogados, the former firm of both Matías Olcese and María Paula Terrel. Olcese focuses on mining regulatory, financing and transactional activity, while Terrel is a corporate and finance practitioner with a long-standing focus on the mining industry. The practice has a footprint in the lithium segment (with clients LSC Lithium Corp, Centenario Lithium and Lithium Power) and continues to gain new clients - notably Kinross Gold Corporation, Fortuna Silver Mines and Toyota Tsusho Corporation. The pair can also call on corporate-finance partner Julio Martínez who has experience in mining sector financings; and name-partner Horacio Ruiz Moreno also leans into the sector regarding administrative, regulatory and corporate matters as required.

Advising across the exploration, development, production and abandonment stages, Nicholson y Cano Abogados has broad and lengthy experience in the mining sector. Work includes advice to mining companies regarding claims and properties, due diligence of mining rights, as well as processing the granting of exploration permits and ongoing advice on compliance with mining code provisions. The firm supplements this expertise with its environmental law, and business and human rights practices. Nicolás Perkins is a recognised mining specialist and Eduardo Koch a 30-year-veteran corporate practitioner with extensive experience in the mining sector; the pair co-lead an eight-strong team.