Firms To Watch: Environment

With its 2020 absorption of energy and natural resources boutique Alliani & Bruzzon, Bomchil incorporated partner Cristián Galansky who has increased the firm's profile for environmental services sectors - particularly for hydrocarbons and natural resource clients.
Under the stewardship of recently promoted partner Nicole Jaureguiberry, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen is building an environmental practice that can handle a range of compliance, regulatory and administrative law matters for a client roster that includes conservation organizations and environmental foundations along with corporates and industrial clients.
Known for its energy expertise, Pozo Gowland Abogados is increasingly active in environmental damage litigation for clients in the electricity and oil-and-gas sectors, as well as providing advice related to environmental regulation and compliance.

Environment in Argentina

Estudio Gabriel Macchiavello

Specialised in environmental conflicts and litigation, Estudio Gabriel Macchiavello’s deep bench of expertise is made up of 14 lawyers and 5 paralegals dedicated to environmental counselling and litigation. The practice draws from this strength to represent companies in lawsuits and administrative procedures related to collective damages, mass toxic torts, environmental damages, remediation and recovery of damages, as well as providing international and domestic corporations with advice on technical environmental standards and regulations. The firm also adds broad multidisciplinary expertise to its focused environmental work, namely transactional, compliance, permitting, legal audits and insurance. Leading the team are experienced environmental law practitioners Hugo Bunge Guerrico, Pedro Zambrano, Juliana Salvucci, Belén Counduros and Ramon Santamarina. Other key names in the practice include the recently promoted partners Florencia Borsani, who focuses on environmental, regulatory, health and hygiene advice; and environmental litigation expert Andrea Karina Gonda.

Practice head(s):

Hugo Bunge Guerrico; Pedro Zambrano; Juliana Salvucci; Belén Counduros; Ramón Santamarina

Key clients

YPF

PBB Polisur (Dow group)

Pla

Monsanto – Bayer

Industrias John Deere Argentina

Nestlé Argentina

Exxon Mobil

Sherwin Williams

Central Puerto

Cofco International International Argentina

Total Austral

Chevron

Sinopec

Syngenta Agro

Wintershall (Basf group)

Trafigura Argentina

Arauco Argentina

Work highlights

  • Representing YPF in an environmental lawsuit related to past contamination of surface water and sediments of a water course near a major oil refinery (the largest in the country) located in Ensenada, Province of Buenos Aires.
  • Advising Exxon Mobil, Total Austral, Wintershall and YPF in massive torts litigation, which seeks the remediation of the alleged environmental damages in the Neuquén Basin, province of Neuquén.
  • Advisory services to PBBPolisur (Dow) regarding administrative proceedings before the authorities of the Province of Buenos Aires, such as sanctions and permitting matters.

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

Marval O’Farrell Mairal’s environmental practice ‘stands out for its high professional level and in the quality of its work, legal analysis, neatness, punctuality and availability’. The compact team nevertheless handles the spectrum of environmental matters, from regulatory issues and litigation, to due diligence and M&A transactions - with a particular specialism in handling the environmental aspects of infrastructure, manufacturing, oil-and-gas, and conventional and renewable energy projects. Another strength is litigation, including criminal cases related to environmental pollution and infractions. Leading the team is Francisco MacÍas, whose expertise includes environmental claims, particularly in the energy and natural resources sector. At associate level, experienced seniors Gabriel Fortuna (who is active in environment matters relating to the mining, food, energy, manufacturing and oil and gas sectors); and Jimena Montoya (whose practice centres on environmental regulatory matters, audits and due diligence), are also key names.

Practice head(s):

Francisco Macías

Testimonials

‘The MOM team in environmental matters stands out for its high professional level and in the quality of its work, legal analysis, neatness, punctuality and availability. They are always friendly and maintain very good interpersonal. They adapt to new technologies with ease, and are always willing to collaborate. As for billing, it can be said that it is a rather onerous resource. Clearly the firm stands out favorably compared to other professionals in the field.

‘We work mainly with Gabriel Fortuna and Alejandra Cortiñas. They stand out for their high professional level and in the quality of their work and legal analysis; their neatness, punctuality, availability and kindness.

Key clients

Volkswagen Argentina

Grupo PSA (Peugeot Citroën)

Tuboscope (National Oilwell Varco)

Raízen Argentina

Danone Argentina

Glencore

Cargill SACI

Compañía General de Combustibles

Compañía Mega

Adecoagro

Pachon (Xstrata)

Copetro (Oxbow)

Petro AP

TGS (Nopec) _ Spectrum

Summit Agro Argentina

Work highlights

  • Advising Volkswagen in connection with the environmental proceedings related to the so called ‘diesel gate’ scandal.
  • Advising Compañía Mega on a class action and three claims for damages filed against several companies seeking remediation of environmental damages caused by the disposal of liquid effluents.
  • Advising Oxbow Carbon in connection with several environmental collective actions filed by citizens from the Ensenada and Berisso districts seeking a reduction of air pollution and compensation for damages supposedly caused by a petcoke plant.

Venditti Hierro Quinteros

As a boutique specialised in environmental law, Venditti Hierro Quinteros knows the field and can provide comprehensive advice that covers regulatory, judicial and transactional matters. The firm’s broad expertise in the area includes the assessment of environmental liability, representation before administrative agencies, advice on contractual environmental issues and environmental compliance audits and due diligences. In addition to this the practice handles a range of environmental damage claims and defence in cases of civil liability (toxic tort actions) and associated criminal liability. Environmental and regulatory expert María Magdalena Venditti co-founded the firm with fellow team leads Mariana Hierro, whose strengths include environmental, industrial and oil-and-gas matters; María Carolina Quinteros, who focuses on natural resources and environmental law issues; and Lucía Sesto, whose practice is centred on environmental standards and administrative sanctioning procedures. The firm has also been growing at associate level with the February 2022 hires of semi-senior Florencia Nocera from Buenos Aires’ environmental regulator APRA, and junior Andres Di Maio from Franco Abogados.

Practice head(s):

Lucia Sesto; María Magdalena Venditti; Mariana Hierro; María Carolina Quinteros

Testimonials

The Venditti Hierro y Quinteros team adapts flexibly to the demands of its clients and their legal/environmental situation. Due to its experience, capacity and knowledge, the firm achieves a good understanding of the client’s operational reality in order to later have an accurate diagnosis and thus achieve good advice, with good results for the company when implementing what is advised. With these qualities, the fees are adequate and in many cases economical. It also has a website for monitoring legal obligations that can be adapted to the needs of its client.

Carolina Quinteros has great experience advising different types of companies, with complex and different realities, where I was able to prove it by working with her in several of those companies. In addition to her experience, her technical knowledge of the legislation and the legal/political reality of the moment is added. Quinteros manages to deepen the problems of her client, working as a team with the different areas to finally give accurate advice.

Lucia Sesto has experience, as well as knowledge, achieving the necessary empathy with her client to give good advice.

Allende & Brea

Representing clients in the extractive and industrial sectors, Allende & Brea’s advice includes business and human rights issues, operational social licenses, green financing, climate change and renewable energy matters. A key strength is assisting on compliance with Argentine environmental legislation, and the team combines this with experience in environmental due diligence, litigation and administrative proceedings, corporate governance and anti-corruption, as well as advising clients on the Argentine legal aspects of greenhouse gas emissions disclosure. María Morena Del Río focuses on administrative and environmental law, including sustainability and governance matters; she co-leads the team with mining and natural resources expert Florencia Heredia. They are ably supported by highly-specialised senior associate Martín Alejo Prieto.

Practice head(s):

María Morena del Río; Florencia Heredia

Testimonials

‘Extensive knowledge of the regulatory framework and global trends.

Key clients

Allkem (merger of Orocobre and Galaxy Resources)

La Primavera Argentina

YPF

Ferrero Argentina

Fundación Oncológica Anna y Elena Bonatti Rocca

Innovative Seed Solutions Argentina

FMC Química

Syngenta Agro

Unipar Indupa

Minera del Altiplano (Livent Corporation)

Milliken Do Brasil Comercio Textil e Representacao de Productos Quimicos

Estancias Unidas del Sud

Aspen Argentina

Banco Itaú Argentina

Sherwin Williams

Ball Envases de Aluminio

Resource Capital Funds

Sprott Capital Partners

Scotiabank

Work highlights

  • Advises Galaxy on environmental, social and governance matters related to one of the most important lithium projects of Argentina, the Sal de Vida Project.
  • Advising La Primavera Argentina in connection with the potential impact of the construction of a road by the provincial government through the property that could cause environmental damages in the protected area.
  • Provided environmental advice to the underwriters (Scotiabank and Sprott Capital Partners) on the initial public offering of Mineros on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Brons & Salas

Active in general environmental consultancy, compliance and due diligence, Brons & Salas’ primary focus is advising on the environmental law aspects of corporate transactions, which the team combines with strong regulatory and legislative practices. The multidisciplinary expertise in the team covers the key, inter-related sectors of mining, renewable energy, nuclear energy and oil and gas. Guillermo Malm Green  is practice head and is best known for corporate litigation arising from environmental issues and advising multinational companies and individuals on the environmental facets of M&A transactions. Specialist associate support is provided by senior Maria Agostina Mandrini  who has some 14 years in the sector and focuses on environmental litigation, compliance and audits, and remediation matters.

Practice head(s):

Guillermo Malm Green

Testimonials

‘We can say that we have a fluid relationship, which allows the team to possess a deep understanding not only of the aspects of legal advice, but of the functional aspects of HP, creating a synergy as an added value.

Key clients

The Clorox Company

Schlumberger Argentina

Hewlett Packard (HP Inc. Argentina)

3M Argentina

Mercedes Benz Argentina

Ecolab Argentina

Grupo Peñaflor

Rotoplas

Coster Packaging

Kimberly Clark

Work highlights

  • Managed to obtain the approval of the reconversion of one of Clorox’s plants that had been declared a polluting agent by ACUMAR.
  • Work on the approval of the Planet Partners Program for used toner and ink cartridges coming from consumers in Argentina.
  • Advised Mercedes Benz Argentina in a significant environment-related complaint entitled “Beatriz Silvia MENDOZA et al v. ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT et al, on damages”.

Bruchou & Funes de Rioja

With a focus on the environmental aspects of commercial transactions and project development, Bruchou & Funes de Rioja handles a range of advice in the field, including analysis of the environmental implications new productive projects and conducting environmental impact assessments. The practice also has considerably experience in environmental conflicts and litigation, as well as preventative advice. Sebastián Vedoya is a key name for environmental issues, particularly those arising from mining and hydrocarbon projects. He co-leads the team with Sergio Arbeleche, who handles environmental matters related to contracts, administrative regulation, and constitutional and international public international law. Also notable: recently promoted partner Juan Zocca specialises in administrative and environmental law, while senior associate Pablo Crimer focuses on environmental law and natural resources.

Practice head(s):

Sebastián Vedoya; Sergio Arbeleche

Key clients

Barrick Gold Corporation

First Quantum Minerals

Patagonia Gold

Dow Chemical (Argentina)

Nabors Argentina

Cargill

Minas Argentinas

Petronas Argentina

Lundin Mining Corporation

Yamana Gold

Minera Agua Rica

Oxiteno

Nicoll (Aliaxis)

Unipar

Ugen (MSU)

Minera Peregrine Argentina

AES Argentina Generación

Work highlights

  • Advising Barrick Gold Corporation and its Argentine subsidiaries on their operations in Argentina, including environmental matters of national and binational nature.
  • Provided legal advice to AES Argentina on environmental compliance, permitting, litigation, administrative proceedings, etc.
  • Provided environmental legal advice to Cargill regarding its agribusiness’ activities (permitting, compliance, etc).

Baker McKenzie

Working closely with its public law, dispute resolution, M&A, energy, mining and infrastructure practices, Baker McKenzie’s multidisciplinary team can advise across the spectrum of environmental issues. Santiago Maqueda is the go-to name in the area and his team is particularly strong on environmental compliance, class action litigation arising from environmental harm, environmental authority proceedings, and advising on national and global regulatory trends. The latter point includes complex issues around producers’ extended responsibility, global warming regulations, carbon credits and the disposal of soon-to-be-banned substances.

Practice head(s):

Santiago Maqueda

Key clients

Shell

Wal-Mart

Albemarle

China Triumph International Engineering Co

Shawcor

Work highlights

  • Advising and assisting Shell’s subsidiaries in Argentina with an environmental lawsuit in the Province of Neuquén.
  • Advised Albemarle in connection with the lithium properties it operates in the Province of Catamarca, Argentina, known as “Project Antofalla”.
  • Advising China Triumph International Engineering Company on evaluating potential environmental liabilities and risks related to a solar plant project in the Province of Córdoba.

Beccar Varela

Manuel Frávega joined Beccar Varela in February 2022 after the departure of Angeles Murgier in 2021. Frávega focuses on environmental law, as well as bringing experience in corporate, public law and litigation, gained during his time managing environmental law departments in global companies. His team has particular expertise in due-diligence related to the environmental aspects of corporate transactions, notably transaction prices, guarantees and eventual responsibilities in M&As, transfers of on-going concern, purchase of assets, concession contracts, and the installation of industrial premises. The practice also provides multidisciplinary advice on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) business models.

Practice head(s):

Manuel Frávega

Key clients

Kimberly-Clark Argentina

LITSA (Líneas de Transmisión del Litoral)

Total EREN

Swift Argentina

FCA Automobiles Argentina

Cosan Lubricantes(Moove)

Work highlights

  • Advised Total EREN on the environmental aspects of commercial transactions related to renewable energy projects.
  • Advising Swift’s legal team on general environmental legal matters in Argentina, including regulatory, permitting and compliance issues for five operative facilities located in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and Cordoba.
  • Advising FCA Automobiles Argentina on the environmental aspects of commercial agreements and on general environmental legal matters in Argentina, including regulatory, permitting and compliance issues.

Franco Abogados

A small but longstanding player in the sector, environmental and safety-regulation boutique Franco Abogados has strength across a comprehensive range of consultancy issues, audits, administrative defence, litigation and training programmes. The team is particularly respected for complex contentious work, with extensive experience in reparatory and criminal actions. Founding partner Horacio Franco  is a veteran practitioner with a 25-year plus trajectory in the sector; well regarded, he advises on the full range of contentious and non-contentious matters. A similarly experienced practitioner, Eugenia Bec  provides additional partner-level capacity and input. The small team was strengthened with the hire of mid-level associate Natalia Mollard  from Abeledo Gottheil Abogados in early 2021.

Practice head(s):

Horacio Franco

O'Farrell

O'Farrell specialises in advising clients primarily drawn from the heavily regulated sectors on administrative claims against the Argentine state at the local, provincial and federal levels, including environmental matters related to the extractive industries, electricity and telecom. The group combines expertise from the firm's public law, regulatory, energy and litigation practices to assist with matters ranging from land remediation to urban visual contamination. Public law and economic regulation experts Jorge Muratorio and María Agustina Fanelli Evans co-lead the team, along with Agustín Siboldi, whose focus is on energy matters.

Practice head(s):

Jorge Muratorio; María Agustina Fanelli Evans; Agustin Siboldi

Key clients

ENI Petroleum

AMX Argentina

DYCASA

Resinas Concordia

Pampa Energía

YPF E E

Latinoamericana de Energía

Naturgy BAN Natural Energy and Natural Servicios

Compañía General De Electricidad

Transener and Transba

Parques Eólicos

Empresa de Distribución Eléctrica de Tucumán

Energía de Entre Ríos, Sociedad Anónima

Empresa Jujeña de Energía

Unipar Indupa

Fundación Torcuato Di Tella

CYCSA

Work highlights

  • Advised ENI regarding environmental issues related to the bidding process for the offshore exploration and exploitation of petroleum.
  • Advice and representation of América Móvil subsidiary Claro Argentina as a defendant following a claim by the city of Posadas (Province of Misiones), that the release of non-ionizing radiation by antennas could potentially be detrimental to the community’s health.
  • Advice to DYCASA regarding the environmental requirements required to be able to initiate construction projects in the Province of Buenos Aires.