Oil and gas in Argentina

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda

An undoubted reference point in the sector, Martínez de Hoz & Rueda handles the full range of industry issues concerning exploration, production, transportation, distribution and marketing. ‘Its lawyers’ years of experience in the sector makes this firm unique in the market’, according to sources, who also suggest it as being at the forefront of green hydrogen developments as the industry confronts energy transition. Operating from offices in Buenos Aires and Neuquén, the team provides a stand out offering as regards hydrocarbon concession extension agreements and renegotiations, and also advises major international gas producers operating in Argentina on multi-party, multi-contract commercial arbitrations arising out of cross-border transactions. ‘One of the best Argentine lawyers in O&G – if not the best‘, José Alfredo Martínez De Hoz is known for his profound expertise in both hydrocarbons matters and associated arbitration; he co-leads with fellow veteran oil, gas and electricity specialist, Pablo Rueda, and transactional and regulatory specialist Tomás Lanardonne, who heads up the Neuquén office and also handles arbitral and litigious matters. Associates Marcos Blanco (oil and gas, renewable energy/electricity, project finance, and M&A, and litigation & arbitration), and Valeria Celesti, who is fully dedicated to hydrocarbons matters, are also noted.

Practice head(s):

José Alfredo Martínez de Hoz; Pablo Rueda; Tomás Lanardonne

Testimonials

‘Its lawyers years of experience in the sector makes this firm unique in the market.’

Knowledge of the O&G business, its regulations and regulators. Practical vision in advice. Response speed. Clarity.’

José Martinez de Hoz is one of the best Argentine lawyers in O&G, if not the best. He is also excellent in other areas such as arbitration. The team members are also very good.’

Practical Advice. Speed and quality of response.

Ideal and immediate response. Creativity and rigor in the analysis. Very good team specialized in the matter.

Dedicated and personalised attention of the partners.

Key clients

Axion Energy Argentina

CAPEX

Centaurus Energy

Chesapeake Energy Corporation

Chevron Corporation and Chevron Argentina

Compañía MEGA

Compañía de Hidrocarburo No Convencional

Delta Patagonia

Dow Chemical Company

Equinor

ExxonMobil Exploration Argentina

Gasoducto Atacama Chile

International Financial Corporation

Mitsui & Co

Oleoductos del Valle (OLDELVAL)

Pan American Energy Group

Petroquímica Comodoro Rivadavia

Phoenix Global Resources

President Petroleum

Refinor

Saipem

Schlumberger Production Management (SPM)

ShearwaterGeo Seismic Services

Shell

Sinopec Argentina Exploration and Production

Petroquimica Comodoro Rivadavia

Total Austral

Trafigura Group Pte.

Transportadora Gas del Sur

United States Development Finance Corporation (formerly, OPIC)

Wintershall DEA Argentina

YPF

Work highlights

  • Assisted Trafigura with a $250m transaction with Vista Oil & Gas Argentina, consisting in the negotiation and execution of a joint investment agreement for the development of 20 oil wells in the Bajada del Palo Oeste block.
  • Advised Wintershall DEA Argentina on a complex transaction involving the sale to Vista Argentina of WDEA’s 50% participating interest in the two unconventional hydrocarbons exploitation concessions.
  • Assisted Patagonia Energy with a complex transaction involving the acquisition from Medanito of a hydrocarbons concession in the Aguada del Chivato-Aguada Bocarey block, located in the renowned Vaca Muerta shale play.

Bomchil

Handling exploration, production, transportation and refining matters throughout the oil and gas sector, the entire team at Bomchil demonstrates ‘outstanding technical capacity and professional solidity‘. The firm’s offering combines longstanding strength in administrative law and economic regulation with experience handling inbound and outbound investments and the negotiation of up, mids and downstream deals, as well as power, renewables and energy transition matters. A towering figure in the sector, regulatory, oil and gas and M&A specialist Pablo Alliani  leads the team. He is flanked by deeply experienced fellow partners Fernando Brunelli, whose forte is advising clients on oil-and-gas bidding processes, farm-ins , M&A and contracts; and Cristian Galansky, who focuses on administrative law and energy regulatory frameworks, and also leads the practice group’s litigious (including administrative) and arbitral activity. Additionally, Fermín Caride is active on banking, finance and capital market matters in the sector, while María Inés Corrá – who is primarily engaged on the power side of the practice – also brings her administrative Law, economic regulation and international arbitration expertise to bear. A strong associate line is led by seniors Brenda Saluzzi, Matías Debarbieri  and Andrea Lovfall.

Practice head(s):

Pablo Alliani

Testimonials

‘The team, in particular Cristian Galansky and Fernando Brunelli, has not only excellent knowledge of the industry, but also of the needs of its customers. Their advice manages to adapt to the circumstances and nuances of each case with exceptional precision. In addition, both Cristian and Fernando are actively available to help their clients in all those issues in which their skills are required.’

‘What makes Bomchil unique in this regard is the company’s in-depth knowledge, its recent history and its current needs.’

‘In addition to the outstanding technical capacity and professional solidity of the entire team, a very important commitment is added when working with the company and meeting the established objectives. The human quality of the Bomchil team is superlative.’

Key clients

Chevron Argentina

Chevron Overseas Service Company (COSCO)

PanAmerican Energy

Equinor

DLS Archer

Refinor

Petrobras

CGC

CNOOC

Ecopolo

Wintershall DEA Argentina

Maersk Drilling

Enerflex

Work highlights

  • Assisted Chevron with the administration of the Loma Campana agreement with YPF in Vaca Muerta.
  • Assisted Chevron with the administration of the Chihuido de la Sierra Negra / Narambuena agreement in Vaca Muerta.
  • Advised Maersk Drilling on its participation in a bidding round for the drilling of the first deep-water well in Argentina.

Bruchou & Funes de Rioja

Led by oil-and-gas expert Javier Rodríguez Galli, Bruchou & Funes de Rioja's practice ('responsible, serious, dedicated') focuses on M&A, joint ventures, strategic alliance and regulatory advice in the sector. The team has ‘the experience of having worked in oil companies’, and brings this to bear for international companies interested in entering the Argentine market, particularly large upstream E&P companies with interests in the development of unconventional shale hydrocarbons in the country. Galli's remit includes the full range of acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and strategic alliance transactions, corporate and institutional matters, and more recently the legal and regulatory matters related to energy transition. Fellow partner Santiago Balbi is similarly strong on general corporate advice, cross-border transactions and structuring private equity projects; and recent matters saw him and Rodríguez Galli co-lead advice to Vista Oil & Gas on the design of an innovative $250m contractual farm in by Trafigura. At senior associate level, Nicolás Dulce frequently works with clients including Petronas, Equinor and Vista, recently assisting the latter acquire the Aguada Federal and Bandurria Norte fields; while Matías Leguizamón has particular experience in the mid-stream sector and hydrocarbons transportation matters.

Practice head(s):

Javier Rodríguez Galli

Testimonials

‘The team of Bruchou, Fernandez Madero & Lombardi assigned to provide services to our company stands out for its daily and transactional assistance, offering a legal service of excellence and diligence. The advice is an essential contribution to the development of the business in the country, which entails great challenges.

‘Javier Rodriguez Galli and Nicolas Dulce, demonstrate an immeasurable commitment to the company, understand the doing business of the company, and have the ability to align the way of operating in the country to the internal requirements of headquarters to continue their operation in Argentina.

‘The experience of having worked in oil companies.

‘Javier Rodriguez Galli is a benchmark in the industry.

‘Professionals with a high degree of knowledge. Responsible, serious, dedicated.

Key clients

Vista Oil & Gas Argentina

YPF

Equinor Argentina

Petronas Argentina

Gazprom International

Work highlights

  • Contributed to structure an innovative contractual farm-in for Vista to channel Trafigura’ s investment of USD$250m over 20 wells in Vaca Muerta in exchange for 20% production.
  • Advised Vista on its two steps acquisition of 100% WI in Aguada Federal and Bandurria Norte fields, for a combined value of $217m from Conocco Philips and Wintershall DEA.
  • Advised Petronas on its oil shale project La Amarga Chica with YPF, increasing considerably its exports and negotiating domestic sales with local refineries.

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

Marval O’Farrell Mairal is recommended for combining ‘great knowledge and professional experience with an excellent understanding of the business and the needs of the client’. The firm provides ‘extensive experience in the energy sector, as well as a professional team with great experience and reputation, and a panel of relevant clients’. The core strengths of the practice include large transactions, oil and gas sector disputes and arbitration, regulatory and administrative matters the length of the hydrocarbons supply chain - from E&P to mid and downstream, and increasingly, decarbonization and green hydrogen projects. Moreover, the full-service firm can bring multidisciplinary expertise to the table, and demonstrates a particularly strong track record in the natural gas market. Oil-and-gas specialist Francisco Macías spearheads the practice and can call on the expertise of experienced associate Jimena Montoya, who focuses on oil, gas and environmental matters. The April-2022 departure of former practice co-head Ricardo Beller to join Miami-based PAG Law, was undoubtedly a loss, but the firm has moved with its characteristic speed to re-stock its partner-level bench with the hire of hydrocarbons specialist Soledad Riera, formerly head of legal (for liquids, telecommunications and new business) at Trasportadora de Gas del Sur; and the promotion of Agustina Ranieri, who in addition to her energy sector know-how has expertise in banking and finance matters – effective June and August 2022, respectively. The practice group also has recourse to 40-year veteran Arturo Pera, who formerly worked in house at Total and current vice-president of the Argentine Association of Energy Law and Mineral Resources.

Practice head(s):

Francisco Macías

Testimonials

‘The professionals of this firm successfully combine a great knowledge and professional experience with an excellent understanding of the business and the needs of the client. Francisco Macías is the main relationship partner who coordinates the involvement of many other partners and professionals of this firm accordingly in line with the specific services’ needs.’

‘This firm has extensive experience in the energy sector, as well as a professional team with great experience and reputation, and a panel of relevant clients. All this makes this firm offer a highly reliable and first class service.’

‘In particular we highlight the work of Francisco Macias and his team. Maria Macarena Garcia also stands out in that aspect. Of course, the experience, the professionalism, the technical level stand out on par with the legal level, which is so necessary in the energy industry.’

‘We have entrusted our affairs to Marval many years ago. They have demonstrated a great knowledge of the industry and a closeness that motivates us to place our trust in them. It highlights the speed with which they respond to our requests, the experience with which their partners and associates have and the patience they have in having to deal with our bureaucracies.’

Key clients

Exxon Mobil / Exxon

Royal Dutch Shell / Raízen Argentina

Compañía Mega (joint venture between YPF, Petrobrás and Dow)

Corporación América / Compañia General de Combustibles (CGC)

BP

Engie (formerly, GDF Suez)

Total (including Total Austral, Total Gas y Electricidad SE and Total Gas Marketing)

Petrobras

Transportadora de Gas del Sur (TGS) / controlling company Compañía de Inversiones de Energía (CIESA)

Schlumberger Argentina

DLS Archer

Trafigura

Dow

Vitol

Gasoducto Nor Andino

Gasoducto GasAndes

Litoral Gas

Tullow Oil plc

ENI

Searcher Seismic

TGS / Spectrum

Roch

Tecpetrol

Capetrol

Sumitomo

Constellation

High Luck Group / controlling company New Times Energy Corporation

Pan American Energy

Work highlights

  • Advising Compañía General de Combustibles (CGC) on the acquisition of Sinopec Argentina Exploration and Production, the fifth largest oil producer in the country.
  • Advising gas producers including Tecpetrol and CGC in connection with their participation in Plan Gas Ar, an incentive program launched by the federal Government to foster investment in the upstream sector.
  • Advising Tullow Oil, and the UT MLOs 114 and 119 that Tullow operates in a joint venture with Wintershall and Pluspetrol, in connection with oil & gas regulations, compliance with Secretary of Energy registration requirements, and general advice.

Baker McKenzie

Handling the full range of oil-and-gas transactions along the length of the hydrocarbons value chain, Baker McKenzie works from upstream to downstream, including E&P, services, distribution and trading. The office has a particular niche in offshore operations and surveying, maintains a strong presence in the industry’s service-sector and is also experienced in regulatory advice. Managing partner Adolfo Durañona handles commercial agreements, major projects and M&A in the sector, and is also particularly engaged in upstream matters – both on and offshore. He co-leads the team with Roberto Grané, who is known for transactional, corporate and regulatory advice, as is fellow partner Ezequiel Artola, who works across the mining, oil and gas, energy/renewables and infrastructure segments. Younger partner Santiago Maqueda leans into the sector as required on regulatory and administrative matters; and the team can also call on senior associate Yanina Odriozola (a 2021-hire from Beretta Godoy) regarding regulatory and compliance matters, and intermediate Candelaria Munilla whose former experience includes several years at YPF.

Practice head(s):

Adolfo Durañona; Roberto Grané

Testimonials

‘The Baker McKenzie team has a lot of experience, they have been involved in countless transactions typical of the industry and they have a level of specialization far above the other firms.

‘Roberto Grané is an excellent negotiator by nature. Measured but very firm in his convictions and in the defense of his client’s position. It helped us unlock really complex negotiations.

‘Trained professionals dedicated to the detail of each case.

‘Adolfo Duranona and Roberto Grané have a high level of knowledge and practice for the attention of case or complex transactions.

Key clients

Spectrum ASA (TGS)

Nabors

Impact Fluid Solutions

Energicon

Patterson UTI

Weatherford

Bunge Argentina

Wellbore Integrity Solutions

Hellmerich & Pane

BGP Offshore CNPC (Prospector – Singapore)

Work highlights

  • Assisted Energicon with the potential acquisition of Serrante, a small oil and gas company holding an interest to the Vaca Mahuida Area in the Province of Rio Negro.
  • Advising Spectrum with regards to different aspects of its offshore operations in Argentina, including the request for offshore seismic permits in the Austral Marine Basin, Malvinas Marine Basin and Shallow Waters Area.
  • Advised Wellbore Integrity Solutions on the sale of the businesses and associated assets of Drilco, Thomas Tools, and Fishing & Remedial Services to Onyx Solutions.

Beccar Varela

Beccar Varela‘s multidisciplinary practice has built an impressive track record in the hydrocarbons sector, representing clients throughout the industry, notably on upstream exploration matters and downstream commercialisation and distribution, along with service suppliers, offshore projects and energy-use efficiency initiatives. It is particularly experienced in sector-specific agreements such as farm-ins/outs, production sharing, joint ventures, EPC and operating agreements, and also advises on bidding processes, the drafting of concession agreement and the renegotiation of concession contracts. On the regulatory front, it works at both national and provincial levels, as well as on cross-border deals, and assisting with market entry strategies. Energy specialist (power and hydrocarbons) José Carlos Cueva has been a partner at the firm for 20 years and has profound experience of all aspects of the oil and gas sector, including  economic regulation and public bidding processes; he co-leads the team with finance specialist Roberto Fortunati, who has similarly vast knowledge of the oil-and-gas industry, his past experience including time spent in house at Amoco Oil Company. The practice was further boosted by the spring-2021 arrival of Ricardo Castañeda; while primarily oriented toward the electricity segment, he also undertakes hydrocarbons work and brings additional M&A, corporate law and project finance experience to the team. However, former senior associate Gonzalo Viña moved in house as senior legal counsel at Fortescue Future Industries in November 2021.

Practice head(s):

José Carlos Cueva; Roberto Fortunati

Key clients

Quintana E&P Argentina

Quintana Energy Fund

Quintana WellPro

Petróleos Sudamericanos

YPF

Raizen Argentina

American Energy Partners

Trafigura / Puma Energy

ENAP Sipetrol

Patterson UTI Energy

Work highlights

  • Day-to-day advice to Quintana E&P Argentina on its E&P activities in the concession areas “Anticlinal Aguada de Bandera” and “Sur Río Deseado Este,” located in the Province of Santa Cruz.
  • Currently advising Petróleos Sudamericanos on a daily basis regarding its E&P activities in the concessions areas “Centro Este”, “Loma Montosa Oeste”, “El Medanito”, “El Santiagueño”, “Barranca de los Loros” and “Bajo del Piche”.
  • Currently advising Ingeniería Alpa on a daily basis on regulatory and other issues regarding its “Lago del Desierto” and “El Valle” oil-and-gas concessions, in Santa Cruz province.

Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados

Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados' practice advises domestic and foreign clients across the spectrum of oil and gas issues, with key strengths being structuring upstream assignments, farm-outs and downstream corporate M&A, as well as assisting midstream developers construct infrastructure pipelines. It also assists with the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of contracts; representation before national and provincial administrations, and has strong regulatory expertise. Practice head Mariana Ardizzone is an expert in energy law and combines first class service standards with ‘great knowledge of the industry’. Other key figures in the practice group include María Recondo, whose practice straddles corporate matters and energy and natural resources - her prior experience includes time at both Tecpetrol and YPF; and Horacio Ruiz Moreno, who heads the firm's administrative law and business regulation practice - he has acted as the statutory controller of entities such as Ecogas, Gas Natural Ban and Transportadora de Gas del Sur. On the corporate and finance fronts, Julio Martínez has deep knowledge of transactional and financing matters across the entire energy sector, as does Diego Parise (who led on Raízen's $950m acquisition of Shell's downstream assets back in 2018), while Aixa Sureda is more fully focused on energy sector M&A.

Practice head(s):

Mariana Ardizzone

Testimonials

They have an information system of news that they share and it is very useful for the correct management of business.

Maria Recondo: proactive, efficient and effective comprehensive advice.

Mariana Ardizzone should be highlighted for oil and gas: excellent service, promptness and good availability. Great knowledge of the industry and the area of law’.

Key clients

Roch

De Gauchos Energy

CEG – Challenger Energy Group

Southern Cross

Endriven

Echo Energy

Geopark Limited

Novum Energy Trading Corp

Raizen Combustiveis

Sol Energy

Tecpetrol / Americas Petrogas Argentina

Oil Field Services

Antivari

Chevron Argentina

Eni/Agip

Work highlights

  • Advised Raízen Combustíveis on its $120m acquisition of 50% of the shares of Paraguayan company Barcos y Rodados from the Ortega Echeverria family group.
  • Advised Geopartk Argentina on thes $16m divestiture of its exploitation and transportation concessions in the Province of Neuquén to Oilstone Energía.
  • Advised De Gauchos Energy on its private initiative proposal for the granting of a hydrocarbons exploration permit in the Province of Río Negro.

O'Farrell

O'Farrell has a solid reputation in the hydrocarbons arena, built on the back of its participation in the sector since the privatization processes of the 1990s and the various subsequent economic and regulatory scenarios endured by the industry. More recently the practice has established a track record in the development of unconventional oil-and-gas resources, including in Vaca Muerta, and the team can also draw on the firm’s wider experience in infrastructure, public utility and procurement matters, to assist with bid processes, transactions and regulatory matters – particularly concerning tariff review procedures. Four key partners head the practice: senior partner Uriel F. O'Farrell (corporate work, M&A and energy transactions, regulation and disputes); economic regulations specialist Agustin Siboldi  (hydrocarbons exploration, concession, exploitation and distribution; gas production, transport, distribution and commercialization); María Agustina Fanelli Evans (advisory on regulatory, administrative and constitutional matters; renegotiation of public contracts, tariff claims and litigious matters); and Juan Pablo Fratantoni   (M&A, joint ventures, energy-sector investment, foreign investments and company law). At associate level, senior María Fortuna  and intermediate Ana Belén Micciarelli  both advise on public law and economic regulation; however, Nicolás Vázquez moved in house at HSBC Bank.

Practice head(s):

Uriel F. O’Farrell; Agustín Siboldi; María Agustina Fanelli Evans; Juan Pablo Fratantoni

Key clients

Pampa Energía

Naturgy Ban

TOTAL

Amarilla Gas and Cañuela Gas

Naturgy Spain

Axion Argentina

Unipar Indupa SAIC

Energy Consulting Services

YPF

ENI

Gas Andes Argentina

Hattrick Energy SAS

Managers of Aleph Midstream

Petroperú (Arthur D. Little)

Gasnor

Energía Compañía Petrolera

Work highlights

  • Advised (in conjuntion with Arthur D Little) Petroperu on the competitive process of executing five operation and maintenance agreements relating to Peru’s Talara Refinery; from the design of the process itself and the bidding mechanism, through the drafting of the O&A agreement and the susbsequent Q&A process with interested third parties, through to the awarding, signing and execution of those agreements.
  • Advised ECS in connection with force majeure allegations raised by producers which resulted in a severe reduction of available gas supplies with knock on effects on  ECS’ clients.
  • Advising Total, Amarilla Gas and Cañuelas Gas on proceedings before the Antitrust Authority in relation to their potential tie-up and fears of a substantial reduction in the number of points-of-sale of bottled gas in various parts of the country.

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen

With broad experience ranging from strategic transactions to innovative investments, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen’s practice is noted for its specialisation, commercial vision and international experience. Key strengths of the practice include due diligence, acquisitions, financings, securities issuance and regulatory matters across the energy sector. Francisco Javier Romano (to whom much of the practice's commercial vision can be ascribed) can draw on some 25 years’ experience in the sector and was formerly in house at Chevron for over a decade; he co-leads the team with fellow senior-partner, corporate and cross-border financing specialist Alan Arnsten, whose industry focus includes energy – he also has noteworthy infrastructure M&A experience. Additional energy-sector transactional capability is provided by Tomás Pérez Alati, while environmental law input comes from Nicole Jaureguiberry; both were raised to the partnership in January 2022. At associate level, senior Joaquín Ojeda Goncalves advises on regulatory and administrative matters -primarily regulatory compliance, governmental and public affairs, international contracts and operations, environment, mining and natural resources. The firm also maintains an alliance with the Neuquén-based Brillo Abogados to further its presence in the province.

Practice head(s):

Francisco Javier Romano

Testimonials

‘The firm’s team is sophisticated and has the advantage of having as a leader an experienced professional who has worked both as an in-house lawyer and manager of legal affairs of important oil and gas companies, as well as in law firms. That way, you can better understand the needs of the legal departments of the firm’s client companies.’

‘One of the advantages of the energy team (oil and gas) of the firm is to have professionals who have also worked in legal departments of companies. This is the specific case of the leader of the practice, Francisco Romano Rivarola.’

Key clients

Mercuria Energy Group

Phoenix Global Resources

Petrolera El Trébol

Pampa Energía

Dow Chemical

Trafigura

IFC

Total Austral

Wintershall Energía

Sinopec Argentina Exploration and Production

Petrobras Argentina

Pan American Energy

Axion Energy

Metrogas

Chevron

Petroquímica Comodoro Rivadavia

Albanesi

Grupo Capsa – Capex

Geopark Peru

Genneia

Capetrol

Work highlights

  • Advised Dow on the $60m purchase of a logistics property located in the Province of Buenos Aires from CBN Group.
  • Advised Mercuria on the negotiation, drafting and execution of an Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement with the Province of Misiones for the acquisition of carbon credits to be issued by the province under the REDD+ Standard.
  • Advising Genneia and PAE in connection with a judicial challenge of municipal charges that increase ‘after-the-fact’ government-take in violation of the federal legislation on renewable energy.

Alfaro-Abogados

Combining expertise from multiple disciplines, Alfaro-Abogados’ practice handles a range of matters in the oil-and-gas sector related to the implementation and development of projects. Active from the exploitation and development stages though to distribution and the sale of products, the practice covers the full array of work in the sector. Senior partner Carlos Alfaro represents national and multinational corporations, lending institutions and banks on the financing of large infrastructure projects. He heads the team in conjunction with Sebastian Rodrigo, whose experience focuses on corporate, regulatory, reorganisations, aviation and cross-border transactions.

Practice head(s):

Carlos Alfaro; Sebastián Rodrigo

Testimonials

‘Carlos Alfaro is a lawyer with a deep global vision of the industry.

Key clients

Sinopec Argentina

Sinopec Group

Sinopec (Dechert Hong Kong Office as International Counsel)

CPTDC – CNPC

Rolfson Oil

Selva María Oil

Integra Oil & Gas

Argenta Energía

Compañía General de Combustibles (CGC)

Work highlights

  • Advised China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), on the sale of its assets in Argentina to local company Compañía General de Combustibles (CGC).
  • Responsible for the legal aspects of the establishment and kick-off of an Argentine branch of CPTDC – CNPC, which looks to expand its worldwide oil & gas related services into the country’s competitive market.
  • Responsible for the legal aspects of the establishment and kick-off of an Argentine branch of one of the companies of the Rolfson Group.

Allende & Brea

Best known for its strength in the mining sector, Allende & Brea has nevertheless been re-building its presence in the oil-and-gas segment, where it advises clients on both corporate and regulatory matters. The six-strong, multidisciplinary team has extensive industry knowledge – particularly regarding contractual, regulatory, environmental, tax and financing issues – along with profound experience of transactions in heavily-regulated sectors. The practice is led by senior partner Florencia Heredia who has expertise across the energy and natural resources sector (including forestry and fisheries), as well as on environmental matters and corporate sustainability. Additional partner involvement comes from Marcos Patrón Costas who advises local and foreign clients on cross-border M&A and project-finance transactions, with a primary focus on the energy industry. At associate level, Agostina Martinez has a specialisation in international oil and gas law, contracts and negotiations.

Practice head(s):

Florencia Heredia

Bazán Cambré & Orts

Representing local and multinational companies, well-known energy boutique Bazán Cambré & Orts advises on transactional, regulatory and contentious matters in the oil-and-gas sector. The firm has particular expertise in upstream work, as well as oilfield-services matters. Natural gas specialist Nicolás Dilernia  leads the line and has deep experience regarding company law, regulatory matters and contracts in the sector. He is flanked by younger partners Maria Victoria Tiscornia , who handles corporate and commercial matters with a particular focus on oil and gas contracts; and Leandro Orts , who specialises in the commercial aspects of oil-and-gas law. The practice also has recourse to the immense knowledge of founding partner Mario Orts , whose experience encompasses the hydrocarbons sector.

Practice head(s):

Nicolás Dilernia

Nicholson y Cano Abogados

An established play in the oil-and-gas sector, Nicholson y Cano Abogados has participated in a number of novel mandates in the sector, including the first joint ventures and financings in the shale segment (Loma Campana and El Orejano) and the structuring of Aleph as the first independent midstream company in Argentina. The practice advises throughout the hydrocarbons supply chain, from upstream (where its clients include YPF, Quatar Petroleum, Chevron and BP), through midstream (Aleph, TGS), to downstream (YPF, BP Castrol, Raizen, Trafigura) and the oil-services segment (Schlumberger Group, Perez Companc Energía). Practice heads Nicolás Perkins and Marcelo Lamesa have extensive experience of the energy sector - particularly matters such as farm in and farm out contracts, asset acquisitions and the assignment of concession rights - and work into the sector from the corporate and banking/finance sides, respectively. Mariana Guzian rounds out the senior team: she too has a corporate and energy sector profile, particularly as regards cross-border investments and project finance and loans. In addition, the team can also call on supplementary practice areas including its long-established environmental practice (under the leadership of Horacio Payá), and its significant business and human rights practice (directed by Alfredo Vítolo), as well as labour, litigation, tax and antitrust.

Pozo Gowland Abogados

Pozo Gowland Abogados engagement in the hydrocarbons sector is to some degree derived from its primary orientation towards the electricity generation sector; as a result its involvement is centred on natural gas matters – largely in the mid and downstream segments – where it works with the likes of major client Transportadora de Gas del Sur, and also domestic distributors such as Camuzzi Gas Pampeana, Camuzzi Gas del Sur and Gasnea. The team also demonstrates capability in public services, infrastructure and construction, handles regulatory issues, and undertakes representation in administrative and judicial proceedings, along with advising on environmental compliance. Name partner Héctor Pozo Gowland  specialises in administrative law, and the regulation of public services, works and infrastructure. He co-leads the team with litigation and arbitration expert Ramón Zubiaurre . A capable associate line is led by Santiago Durigón  (administrative law and public services) and Francisco Pozo Gowland , who has a specialisation in hydrocarbons and energy industry regulation, and also handles international arbitration.

Practice head(s):

Héctor Pozo Gowland; Ramón Zubiaurre

Key clients

YPF

Pampa Energía

Transportadora de Gas del Sur

Camuzzi Gas Pampeana

Camuzzi Gas del Sur

Gasnor

Trafigura

Integración Energética Argentina

Gasnea

Pecom

Raizen

Work highlights

  • Representing Pampa Energía in administrative litigation against the Province of Neuquén in relation to its declaration of the expiry of the company’s Veta Escondida concessions.
  • Manging 20 lawsuits on behalf of YPF arising from compensation claims brought by land owners in the Australand Vaca Muerta shale basins.
  • Advising Raizen on licensing, supply, construction (EPC) and service contracts relating to the modernisation of the company’s Argentine refinery -one of the largest in the country- in accordance with new hydrocarbons and environmental regulations.