An acknowledged leader for real estate law in Argentina, Zang, Bergel & Viñes Abogados stole a march on the rest of the market with its early specialisation in the sector. The highly regarded practice advises on the full life cycle of residential and commercial real estate projects, including planning and development, sale and purchase transactions, leasing and management matters and financing deals. The team’s broad industry coverage, which spans the full suite of real estate asset-classes, is reflected in its diverse client list and it counts developers, investors, hotel chains, agribusiness companies and financial institutions among its key clients. Juan Manuel Quintana is widely recognised as a sector specialist and handles a mix of corporate, agribusiness and retail-related transactions. Fernando Aguinaga, who co-heads the practice alongside Quintana, specialises in real estate, agribusiness and competition matters. The team also benefits from the senior experience of Pablo Vergara del Carril who has a strong corporate finance angle to his practice.

Beccar Varela houses an increasingly prominent real estate and hospitality practice, which represents an array of real estate owners, developers, investors, managers and lenders. A strong performer on the transactional side, the team frequently advises on sale and purchase transactions in the residential, commercial and agribusiness sectors. It also has a robust development practice, which advises both local and multinational companies on marquee projects. Pedro Nicholson heads the group and is widely regarded as a market leader. Senior associate Pedro Silvestri provides capable support.

Marval O’Farrell Mairal leverages its top-tier corporate practice to specialise in advising on transactional matters, particularly sale and purchase transactions, investment deals, real estate finance and leasing. It also has robust development expertise and its close relationships with key clients Hilton Hotels and property tycoon Edmond Safra underpins a significant proportion of that work. Corporate finance partner Hernán Slemenson co-heads the practice and spearheads much of the group’s activity in the hotel sector. Department co-head Diego Chighizola is an impressive up-and-coming real estate specialist.

Nicholson y Cano Abogados’ broad group is well versed in all the main stages of real estate work, from investment and acquisitions and development and financing, through to commercial exploitation. The group’s longstanding relationship with Pegasus Group translates into a prominent development practice, which is particularly active in shopping centre and mixed-use developments. Other sweet spots include leasing and investment matters. Department head Agustín Pérez Cambiasso has a focus on real estate, construction and infrastructure law.

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen finds favour for its matter analysis, which sources assert is ‘in depth and of a high quality’. The firm had a strong recent showing in the leasing space, advising on contracts for Google, Havas Media Planning and Anheuser-Busch InBev. Other key pillars of the practice include development projects, property sales and purchases, real estate financing and corporate support matters. Guillermo Quiñoa heads the team and is highly regarded for his specialist expertise in real estate and construction law. Associate Cristian Chang is also recommended by sources.

Bomchil strikes a balance between transactional and project development work, with supplementary expertise in financing, taxation and environmental matters. The firm has been particularly active in advising on large-scale real estate projects, undertaking work for developers such as NorthBaires and Pereiraola. M&A partner Adrián Furman co-heads the practice alongside managing partner Javier Petrantonio, who also specialises in M&A.

Brons & Salas stands out for its niche expertise in the rural land space, including specialist rural land regulatory issues, such as restrictions on foreign ownership. The team is also well versed in construction and infrastructure projects — particularly in the energy and industrial sectors — and hotel-related matters. Mariano del Olmo heads the team and also co-leads the corporate and M&A department.

‘Very professional, creative and dedicated’, Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi is lauded by sources for knowing the ‘local idiosyncrasies of this area inside out’. The multidisciplinary practice advises on all areas of real estate law, routinely drawing on support from across the firm for complex, cross-practice matters. The team is arguably best known for its transactional practice and it advised on several property acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures over the past year. Exequiel Buenaventura and his team ‘think outside the box’.