Latham & Watkins LLP has a highly integrated Latin America practice with many team members crossing various disciplines at the same time as having high levels of core specialisation. Over the years, it has advanced to the forefront of energy and infrastructure transactions in the region, which now includes growth areas such as renewables and energy transition. While it has historically focused on investments going into Latin America, it is now increasingly active in cross-border transactions into North America by businesses in Brazil, Mexico, Chile and other jurisdictions. Moreover, it is leveraging its status as a leader in start-ups and emerging companies to target this sector in Latin America; it advised Avenir Growth Capital on its $111m Series B funding of Chile-based Xepelin, a provider of B2B payments and financial services for SMBs in Latin America. New York partner Antonio Del Pino, global chair of the Latin America practice, has an outstanding record in M&A and private equity transactions. Madrid’s Ignacio Pallarés has a long history of representing Spanish corporates in their investments in Latin America. Washington DC’s Carlos Ardila, a Colombian native, was promoted to partner in January 2023; he has impressive experience in corporate transactions and financings. Dual-qualified (Argentina/New York) associate Francisco J Lanusse is one-to-watch.

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has a core team of six Latin America specialist partners across its New York and Sao Paulo offices. The partners all focus on corporate and M&A transactions to varying degrees and have built a commanding presence in the market. Beyond this dedicated Latin America group, the firm has a range of partners that also lead or support transactions in the region. The Latin America team continues to set the benchmark in bulge-bracket private equity transactions, building on the firm’s global status in this field. It also stands out for its record in M&A, especially in the financial services sector, along with transactions in the energy and technology fields. Recent mandates include advising Stonepeak Infrastructure partners on its $2.7bn acquisition of the Latin America business of Lumen Technologies, and KKR on its agreement with Telefónica to establish Colombia’s first independent nationwide open-access wholesale digital infrastructure company. Along with its historical strength in cross-border investments into Latin America, the team is also increasingly active in outbound transactions into North America. A case in point was the team’s advice to The Fresh Market (and its controlling shareholders), on the $1.56bn sale of a 67% stake to South American retailer, Cencosud. Todd Crider leads the Latin America group and divides his time between New York and Sao Paulo, often advising on some of the largest and most high-profile deals in the market. Juan Naveira is a recognised Latin America M&A specialist and Juan Francisco Méndez is another senior practitioner with a fine reputation in M&A. Grenfel Calheiros is a big player in Sao Paulo, while up-coming figure Borja Marcos was promoted to partner in January 2023. Former partner Jaime Mercado has become of counsel. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. Since publication, the Sao Paulo-based team has been further strengthened with the promotion of senior associate Luiz Felipe Noronha to counsel - effective as of November 2023.

 

White & Case LLP has demonstrated more commitment to Latin America than almost any other international firm in the market. It has large Latin America-focused teams in its Sao Paulo, Mexico City, New York, Miami and Houston offices. It is in Houston where it houses the core of its Latin America M&A team with Rodrigo Dominguez and William Parish having outstanding reputations in Latin America M&A; both have been instrumental in the firm’s recent record of advising on a steady pipeline of headline strategic and private equity transactions. The two are closely linked to oil and gas, LNG, renewables, mining and industrial real estate deals, with Brazil, Mexico and Chile featuring uppermost. Both advised EIG on its joint acquisition with Fluxys of an 80% equity stake in GNL Quintero, the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal in Chile, from Enagas Chile and affiliates of OMERS Infrastructure. Technology is another growth area for the team, notably with a series of fintech deals. The Latin America M&A team has also assembled an enviable client list of Latin American corporates, family groups, multinationals and private equity houses. Sao Paulo’s Donald Baker is widely regarded as the best connected international lawyer in Brazil. Emilio Grandío was elected to the partnership in 2022 and is an emerging talent - particularly in private equity transactions. Luisa Muskus is an impressive associate. All named individuals are based in Houston, unless stated otherwise.

Clifford Chance is relatively unusual in having an established M&A team in Sao Paulo, backed by a number of Latin America-facing M&A specialists in the US and Europe. It is also active in cross-border transactions between Asia and Latin America. It continues to impress in representing corporates and financial investors in Latin America deals and advises a range of businesses in Brazil and other key markets around the region. Energy and infrastructure is a key strength for the team, which has worked on a series of investments in renewable energy projects. It has a numerous Spanish and Portuguese speakers, both Latin American-born practitioners and those that have lived and worked in the region. Although most of its Latin America-focused lawyers are based in the Americas, the firm’s London office has also worked on a series of recent headline deals. David Brinton is a leader in energy and infrastructure deals, and is noted for his experience in financial sponsor investments. Anthony Oldfield is managing partner of the Sao Paulo office and a vastly experienced M&A specialist, with a recent track record in venture capital investments in the Brazilian fintech sector. Thais Garcia is an increasing established talent in M&A and a genuine Latin America expert who now leads many of the firm’s headline deals in the region. Madrid’s Samir Azzouzi is another key figure with a fine record in financial sponsor investments; senior figure Javier Amantegui (corporate/M&A, private equity and investment fund work) also operates from the Spanish capital. At associate level, Carla Ruggero is a talented up-and-comer. The team was further strengthened in June 2023 with the hire of oil-and-gas transactional specialist, David Sweeney (who joined the firm’s new Houston office) from Akin. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has an impressive background in representing strategic corporates and private equity sponsors in Latin America. Along with a range of multinationals and international investors, the firm has also built a significant client base of Latin American businesses. Energy, infrastructure, financial services, insurance, mining and telecoms are primary sectors for the Latin America team. The transactional group often work alongside litigation colleagues in relation to anti-corruption due diligence (the firm is ranked tier one for compliance and investigations in this guide). Maurizio Levi-Minzi has huge experience advising private equity houses and strategic investors in Latin America; he led the team that advised Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Alberta Investment Management Corporation on their portfolio company Grupo Saesa’s $1.5bn acquisition of a 99.09% interest in Enel Transmisión Chile. David Grosgold is also noted for transactions in the financial services and insurance sectors. Signalling the firm’s commitment to the Brazil market in particular, the team’s senior ranks were further strengthened with the promotion of dual-qualified (New York/Brazil) Sergio Torres to counsel in July 2023; a key  member of the practice group, he works on many of the firm’s Latin America transactions.

DLA Piper LLP (US) has made rapid progress over the last five years with sizeable corporate and M&A teams in Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Mexico and Puerto Rico, along with Latin America-focused practitioners in Miami and New York. It continues to advised North American corporates, multi-latinas, family offices, private equity firms and sovereign governments. TMT, industrial manufacture, and energy and natural resources are key sectors. The firm’s strong connections in the region have resulted in a mounting number of cross-border engagements involving Latin American businesses looking to invest into other regional markets and into North America. The group is also active in fund establishments and relocations. Miami and New York-based Francisco Cerezo is chair of the US-Latin America practice and chair of the Latin America corporate and finance practice. Senior figure Marcello Hallake joined the New York office in January 2023 from Jones Day, bringing extensive experience in cross-border M&A – particularly in relation to Brazil; joining alongside him was Michael McGuinness, another senior name with a major focus on Latin America cross-border M&A. San Diego and New York-based Raul Farias is another recent hire, who has boosted the firm’s record in Mexico, Peru and Chile-related transactions. Puerto Rico associate Joseline Rodríguez is also highly rated. Since research concluded, the firm has strengthened its New York offering with the hire of Amadeu Ribeiro, a compliance, investigations and Brazilian competition law-focused practitioner (formerly at Mattos Filho), with effect from September 2023.

Greenberg Traurig LLP’s substantial Miami office has a long history of advising multinationals and Latin American businesses on cross-border corporate and M&A transactions. The Latin America group represents a variety of public companies, major family enterprises, private equity houses and venture capital funds. The firm has reinvigorated this emphasis in recent years with a shift in the leadership group that now sees Antonio Peña as co-chair of the Latin America group with co-managing shareholder of the Miami office, Yosbel Ibarra, who also has a key role in Latin America-related transactions. In conjunction with the additional platform provided by the firm’s substantial Mexico office (opened 2012), this has led to a wider geographical focus across Latin America, building on its longstanding links to Central America, and resulting -particularly- in an uptick in Brazil inbound and outbound deals; Brazilian Arnaldo Rego was promoted to shareholder in 2023. The Latin America team is also working on matters involving increased capital flows into North America from Chile and continues to stand out for its expertise in SPAC transactions. Veteran M&A practitioner Emilio Alvarez-Farré is immensely experienced; while Carol Barnhart  and Geiza Vargas-Vargas are both key corporate transactional partners who participate significantly in Latin America-related deals. Associate Anthony Fernandez is a rising star. All named individuals are based in Miami.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP’s Miami office houses the core of its Latin America corporate and M&A practice. The group has a stellar record in Central America, although it has broadened its geographic focus in recent years and achieved further growth in outbound transactions and investments from Latin America into North America; notably, it has advised a series of Mexican and Central American family offices and investment vehicles on their investments into the US. The practice is also active in intra-regional deals under New York law and has an impressive track record in fund formation. The team has close links to Latin American financial institutions, family-owned businesses, funds and a range of multinationals. It is also connected to a number of development banks and multilateral agencies, which it advises on equity investments as well as debt financings. Fernando Alonso leads the Latin America team and is immensely experienced in M&A transactions. Fernando Margarit is an experienced Latin America specialist with particular expertise in the telecoms sector. Uriel Mendieta is another fundamental member of the Latin America team, along with associate Gabriel Lopez. All named individuals are based in Miami.

Jones Day remains busy in Latin America matters despite a series of recent senior-level departures, including Miami partners Enrique Martin and Nicholas Rodríguez, along with Marcello Hallake in Sao Paulo. The firm’s sheer size and longstanding focus on the region has ensured it remains well positioned for big-ticket transactions, particularly those involving North American corporates and private equity houses. The firm is also building its presence advising Spanish clients on their investments in Latin America. Brazil continues to be a major focus for the firm, with senior name Wade Angus splitting his time between New York and Sao Paulo. Luis Vélez is now the key corporate partner in Miami and frequently represents US-based clients on their investments in the region, including TotalEnergies, which he advised on its strategic alliance and investment agreement with Omaha Beach Investment Corp, Sunix Petroleum, and Tropigas Dominicana in the Dominican Republic. Head of the Mexico City office Manuel Romano is another senior figure in M&A, joint-ventures and strategic alliances; while Sao Paulo of counsel, Artur Badra, has extensive experience in cross-border transactions in Brazil and across South America.

Mayer Brown is a leading name in energy (including oil and gas), mining and infrastructure M&A. Much of the firm’s Latin America M&A capabilities sit in Houston where Argentina native Pablo Ferrante and Peruvian Jose Valera have decades of experience in big-ticket transactions. They work closely with the firm’s growing Mexico City office and Brazilian partner firm Tauil & Chequer Advogados; global head of oil and gas, Alexandre Chequer splits his time between the Houston and Rio de Janeiro offices and has an outstanding record in inbound and outbound Brazilian M&A. Carlos Motta  is another key figure in Sao Paulo; he was part of the team that advised Brazil-based footwear company, Alpargatas, on its $475m Series B investment in online eco-friendly footwear retailer, Rothy’s. Along with the firm’s prestigious background in conventional energy, the Latin America M&A team is increasingly active in green energy and mining deals; it advised LSC Lithium on the sale of all of the outstanding shares of Lithea Inc, the owner of the Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes lithium mining properties located in Salta, Argentina, to GFL International. Energy and mining deals in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru are also a forte for the team, which is additionally building its presence in Guyana’s developing oil and gas sector. Mexico oil and gas M&A specialist Gabriel Salinas rejoined the Houston office as a partner from Shearman & Sterling LLP  in April 2023.

Milbank has decades of experience in Latin America, especially in the energy and infrastructure fields. It is also further developing its standing in private equity transactions, including investments by sovereign wealth funds, and it is a recognised force in aviation and transportation, financial services and technology, media and telecoms. John Franchini is global head of the corporate and M&A group, co-heads the international infrastructure practice, and has a fine record in Latin America deals, including those by private equity and sovereign wealth funds. Dean Sattler is another senior practitioner with genuine Latin America experience, while native Spanish speaker Francisco Nuñez is increasingly prominent in big-ticket deals in the region, along with Aaron Stine; Nuñez led the team that advised Cencosud on its acquisition -through one of its subsidiaries- of 67% of the post-closing issued and outstanding common stock of The Fresh Market. The New York-based team, frequently works alongside colleagues in Sao Paulo.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has an established Latin America team with its M&A expertise primarily located in Houston. It is noted for its energy expertise in Mexico, Brazil and other nations in the region. The core Latin America group has a number of senior practitioners that are licensed to practice in the US and a Latin America jurisdiction. It has links to large Latin American corporates, multinationals and private equity houses. Having historically focused on outbound transactions from North America into Latin America, it is now increasingly active on inbound work; a case in point was its advice to Grupo Lala US (a subsidiary of the Mexico-based dairy products manufacturing business), on regulatory and corporate matters relating to its operations in the US. More broadly, the group remains recognised for oil and gas, LNG, technology and telecoms transactions in the region. Co-chair of the Latin America group and Bolivian native John Crespo is a senior figure with a fine reputation in oil and gas transactions. Admitted to practice in Mexico, New York and Texas, Humberto Padilla Gonzalez is an experienced figure in strategic M&A and private equity in Mexico and across Latin America. Brazil educated, Felipe Alice is also noted for oil and gas transactions and has a growing profile in technology deals. Washington DC partner and native Spanish speaker Ulises Pin is a TMT specialist, particularly in relation to telecoms and fibre optics transactions. Named individuals are based in Houston unless stated otherwise.

Proskauer Rose LLP’s Latin America-focused corporate and M&A team is primarily located in New York, but draws further support from its sizeable São Paulo office. The team has a history of headline cross-border M&A and private equity transactions in the region, notably in the financial services, energy and natural resources, life sciences, manufacturing and mining sectors. It has close connections to major multinationals, financial sponsors, multi-latinas and family groups in the region. New York partner Carlos Martinez leads the Latin America group and has an extensive history in M&A and corporate transactions, building close connections to a number of major clients in the region. New York’s Daniel Ganitsky is global co-head of the M&A practice, and also has a fine record in cross-border M&A and private equity transactions in Latin America. São Paulo and New York-based Fábio Yamada provides further advisory, transactional and finance experience – particularly in relation to institutional investors, private equity and other alternative asset fund managers. While not solely focused on Latin America, associate Lauren S Kim impresses.

Winston & Strawn LLP has rapidly developed its Latin America practice, initially in New York, susbsequently in Sao Paulo, and most recently in Miami, where it has assembled a large and multi-skilled team. The legacy group had built a reputation for public M&A involving Latin America businesses that are publicly traded in the US, Latin America-focused private equity work (notably fund formation and transactions), and advising Latin American businesses on their expansion initiatives in North America, including significant acquisitions. Having built a very credible Sao Paulo office, primarily through the hire of the highly rated Rodrigo Carvalho in 2021, the practice is now reaping the rewards with a steady pipeline of Brazil-related deals, particularly venture capital and emerging company transactions, along with crypto and blockchain deals. The launch of its Miami office in May 2022 turned heads, not least because it saw the arrival of senior corporate partner Enrique Martin and Colombia born Nicholas Rodríguez from Jones Day, along with a number of other prominent partners and associates, covering multiple disciplines. Co-head of the Latin America and Caribbean group Talbert Navia is a hugely experienced and very much at the forefront of Latin America-focused private equity fund formation and transactions. Fellow practice co-head Allen Miller is another seasoned practitioner with an excellent record in public M&A, particularly involving Chilean entities. Completing the senior NY-based partner group for Latin America, Kevin Smith is also an experienced specialist with a focus on M&A and private equity matters. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Brown Rudnick LLP has a strong focus on Latin America through a number of senior specialists. It remains noted for corporate restructurings, distressed M&A, private equity and venture capital, along with blockchain-related transactions. It has also made an impression in media and entertainment transactions, and SPAC deals. The team features a number of Latin American-born practitioners as well as those that have lived and worked in the region. Boston-based Alejandro Fiuza heads the Latin America practice; formerly a partner at leading Argentine firm Marval O’Farrell Mairal, he is a long-standing private equity and corporate transactional specialist. Also in Boston, Adolfo Garcia has a a broad corporate practice (including financings, private equity, securities, M&A, joint ventures, investments and restructurings), and also leads the firm’s Cuba initiative. In New York, Venezuelan-qualified Clara Krivoy is head of digital commerce, Ibero-American private clients and co-head of the global fintech group; while Colombia-licensed counsel Edgard Alvarez‘s practice has an emphasis on private and public offerings of asset-backed and other structured products. Since publication, Fiuza has left the firm - effective as of November 2023.

Cuatrecasas is a significant player in Latin America thanks to its offices in Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Chile. Alongside its growing teams in these jurisdictions it has a substantial group of Latin America-facing practitioners in Iberia and New York. It is among the most prolific advisers on Latin America transactions, excluding Brazil. Along with a range of local transactions, the firm has extensive experience in cross-border deals, including private equity investments and exits. In January 2023, the firm absorbed Mexican four-partner firm Rico, Robles, Libenson, S.Cl into its local Mexico office and wider Latin America team – which  remains best known for operations in the energy and infrastructure, healthcare and retail sectors. Alfonso Ugarte transferred from Santiago to New York in 2022 to head the Latin America M&A, finance and special situations practice in North America. He joined an established Latin America-facing M&A team there, including Antonio Baena and Diego Pérez-Yarza; Baena recently advised Patria on the sale of Odata, the local company that operates a network of data centres in Latin America. Alfonso Reina led the launch of the Bogota office before returning to Madrid where he continues to have a strong focus on cross-border M&A in Colombia. Peru-based Oscar Trelles is head of the Latin America M&A and private equity practice and has a fine record in cross-border transactions, including intra-regional deals. Chile’s Roberto Guerrero V, Colombia-based Juan Felipe Vera and Santiago Ferrer in Mexico City are also key partners.

Hogan Lovells US LLP has a highly-reputed Latin America practice that encompasses an impressive spread of corporate and M&A transactions. Much of the firm’s Latin America M&A expertise sits in New York, Miami and Mexico City, with a caseload primarily consisting of Mexico and Brazil transactions, along with a growing proportion of intra-regional deals. Miami partner Jorge Diaz-Silveira leads the Americas infrastructure, energy, resources and projects group, and has a fine record in Latin America transactions, including M&A in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Former managing partner of the firm’s Mexico office, Juan Francisco Torres Landa is a multi-faceted practitioner with considerable experienced in M&A and other corporate transactions. Also in Mexico City, Carlos Ramos is another recognised M&A specialist with particular expertise in the insurance, energy and infrastructure sectors. the practice was further strengthened in February 2022 with the hire of Luke P Iovine (from Paul Hastings) to the firm's New York office. at the At associate level, Spain-qualified Pedro Martínez -in the Miami office- handles project development, finance and corporate matters, primarily in relation to Latin America.

Holland & Knight LLP benefits from a steady flow of Latin America inbound and outbound transactions. The firm has a sizeable on-the ground presence in both Colombia and Mexico, with the latter being bolstered by he hire of a 17-lawyer team from Sánchez Devanny in Mexico City and Monterrey; this has given the firm a boost in targeting investments into the industrial growth in northern Mexico as part of the nearshoring supply chain phenomenon. Inbound investments from Latin America into the US is a major trend for the team, particularly from Colombia, Peru and Chile (the latter especially in terms of the renewables sector); and the practice has been particularly active advising a series of Latin American family offices on investments into US real estate holdings and technology businesses. It has also represented Latin American hotel companies on investments into North America. Roberto Pupo chairs the Latin America practice group, which includes Aymee Valdivia, Enrique Conde, and Alexandra Aguirre who joined from Morrison Foerster in 2022; Aguirre has led teams on a number of deals since joining the firm, including Mediam Group’s sale of a minority stake to Adelph Group. Since publication, the practice group has been further strengthened with the raising of Daniel A Ramos to the partnership - effective as of January 2024. All named individuals are based in Miami.

Linklaters LLP is a global leader in M&A and has a fine record in Latin America deals. While the Latin America team is better known for other disciplines such as capital markets and project finance, it does have genuine M&A credentials, particularly in relation to cross-border Brazil deals and recent SPAC transactions. Sao Paulo partner Matthew Poulter led the team that advised Moolec Science (a Latin American science-based food ingredient company), on its business combination agreement with LightJump Acquisition Corp, a SPAC. He also advised Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp on its merger with NASDAQ-listed agricultural company Marrone Bio Innovations. Madrid-based managing associate Alberto García Linera heads the Mexico group.

Sidley Austin LLP is best known for cross-border M&A, fund formation and energy deals. With the launch of a Miami office and the arrival of Juan Delgado and a team from Morrison Foerster in July 2022, the firm is now a considerably more significant player in venture capital and emerging company transactions in the region – in part as a result of its appointment as a panel firm for SoftBank Latin America Fund. The firm continues to be active in Latin America fund formation, including growth capital and impact investment funds. It also remains prominent in oil and gas transactions in Brazil. In addition to Brazil, Mexico and Colombia are key jurisdictions for the practice – although it is also active in a number of other smaller markets in the region. New York partner Alyssa Grikscheit is a leading figure in fund formation in Latin America; while Boston partners Alexander Temel and Daniel S Rawner are noted for M&A and private equity. Miami-based managing associate Axel Miranda  is another key figure for venture capital and emerging company transactions. Since publication, Alexander Temel has moved to Paul Hastings LLP.

Uría Menéndez has worked on a range of seminal deals in Latin America and together with Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uria (its associated regional firm which has offices in Colombia, Chile and Peru), it has extensive coverage of the region. It continues to advise a multitude of Spanish and Iberian businesses in connection with their interests and acquisitions in the region, along with other multinationals, investors and a growing number of Latin American clients. It advised Telefónica on its joint acquisition (with Telecom Italia and America Movil) of the mobile assets of Oi, as part of the judicial reorganisation of the Brazilian telecom operator. Eduardo Rodríguez-Rovira has decades of experience in Latin America M&A transactions. Pablo González-Espejo specialises in Brazil transactions, having previously been resident there; and Juan Martín Perrotto is another expert on the region, particularly in relation to investments from Asia and Europe. All named individuals are based in Madrid.

Vinson & Elkins LLP handles both US and English law governed transactions throughout Latin America. It is also noted for its expertise in relation to private equity investments and energy-sector transactions, including tax structuring capabilities. The increasingly prominent practice has earned a growing number of engagements in the data centre and digital infrastructure segments. Gabriel Silva has an impressive record in transactions throughout the region, most notably in the digital infrastructure and data centre fields, and Eamon Nolan is an experienced figure in energy transactions in Mexico and across Latin America. Houston partners Alan Alexander and Shay Kuperman are noted for energy and infrastructure deals, particularly in Mexico. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has developed impressive regional coverage and has a broad array of venture capital, private equity and strategic M&A engagements. The Latin America team is also noted for its experience in energy and infrastructure M&A, along with transactions in the financial services and insurance fields. Significant recent mandates included advising Colombian transportation infrastructure company Odinsa (owned by Grupo Argos), on the sale of a 50% stake in its airport concessions to Macquarie Asset Management (MAM). Maria-Leticia Ossa Daza is the founding partner of the Latin America practice, a member of the firm’s executive committee, and a native Spanish and fluent Portuguese speaker; she has extensive corporate transactional experience throughout the region. Anna Martini Pereira is originally from Brazil and is a native Portuguese speaker. Both are based in New York.

Akin has significantly bolstered its Latin America M&A practice with the June-2022 hire of New York partner Sergio Urias from Covington & Burling LLP. Urias brings an extensive background in Latin America private equity and M&A. The wider team is drawn from the firm's Houston and Los Angeles offices, and has a particularly strong track record in Mexico, along with experience in other key markets such as Colombia, Chile and Brazil. It is particularly known for energy transactions, including oil and gas, and renewables. Houston counsel Eduardo Canales  is another key figure. Former partner David Sweeney left the firm in June 2023.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP has a lengthy history in Latin America, particularly in the energy and infrastructure fields, and enjoys genuine credibility in M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions. Moreover, the firm has bolstered its standing in representing financial sponsors in investments in energy and infrastructure assets. Tomer Pinkusiewicz is co-chair of the Latin America group and has extensive experience in Latin America energy and infrastructure transactions. Marwan Azzi has made a significant impression on the practice since joining the firm in 2021, particularly in transactions by private equity funds and their portfolio companies; he has worked on a series of deals for I Squared Capital and its portfolio company Inkia Energy. Both Pinkusiewicz and Azzi are based in New York.

Gunderson Dettmer LLP is a leading firm across the world in venture capital and emerging company transactions. Its Latin America-focused team is largely located in Silicon Valley, New York and Sao Paulo. It holds a major market share of venture financings in Latin America and has an impressive record in M&A, notably advising Brazil-based client isaac on its acquisition by Arco. It also advised Brazil-based client Solfácil on its $100m Series C financing led by QED, with participation by the Softbank Group, VEF and Valor Capital. The firm announced the launch of a Sao Paulo office in July 2022 with Brian Hutchings, Adan Muller and Christel Moreno now based there. Silicon Valley partner Daniel Green is co-head of the Latin America group and a fluent Spanish speaker. Although much of the firm’s focus is on Brazil, it is also active in Mexico, Chile, Argentina and other key jurisdictions.

Haynes and Boone, L.L.P., with its roots in Texas, has a major focus on Latin America, especially Mexico. The firm’s Mexico City office has existed since 1994, while its Houston and Dallas offices house a large number of Latin America specialists. The firm has fine record in energy transactions, with a growing emphasis on renewables, along with infrastructure, water, technology and healthcare. It has experienced further growth in industrial parks, logistics, and manufacturing investment as part of the trend for nearshoring manufacturing and supply chains in northern Mexico. The firm is also active in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Central America. It is particularly known for middle market transactions, including restructurings and cross-border joint-ventures. Ricardo Garcia-Moreno and George Gonzalez  are senior names for both inbound and outbound Mexico transactions; Brad Richards is also known for Mexico deals. Dallas partner Alberto de la Peña, is another key figure. All named individuals are based in Houston unless stated otherwise.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP is noted for tax-driven M&A matters and fund formation operations. The practice has particular profile for cross-border real estate transactions, including inbound and outbound deals. It is also recognised for representing Latin American high-net-worth individuals and family offices (especially those based in Mexico and Brazil), along with prominent multinationals and financial sponsors. Michael Silva is an experienced tax specialist with an exceptional record in inbound and outbound Brazil and Mexico transactions. Arianne Plasencia is a private client specialist, who represents a number of wealthy families in Latin America in connection with their investments in the US. Senior figure Howard Kleinman has joined the New York office as co-head of the Latin America group. Dallas partner Manuel Rajunov is an authority on international tax driven transactions, particularly related to Mexico. Named individuals are based in Miami unless stated otherwise.

Morrison Foerster’s Miami office has achieved prominence through its regular advice to SoftBank Latin America Fund, which it continues to advise on a wide-range of investments. It recently assisted the fund with its agreement to invest up to $150m in a subsidiary of Grupo Bursátil Mexicano. The Miami office is also active advising corporates and financial institutions on cross-border deals, including inbound and outbound Latin America transactions; a case in point was its advice to publicly-traded Brazilian digital bank, Banco Inter, on its $157m acquisition of US-based fintech company Pronto Money Transfer, which has subsidiaries in Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Randy Bullard is co-chair of the Latin America desk and managing partner of the Miami office; he has profound experience in cross-border Latin America transactions. Ludovica Gardani is a key figure at associate level. Former partners Alexandra Aguirre and Juan Delgado left the firm in 2022.

A leader in venture capital, start-up and growth company work, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP is increasingly evident in Latin America. The firm has developed an excellent record in venture capital investments and mandates involving start-ups in Brazil, along with activity in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. It also frequently works with Brazil tech companies expanding into the US.  Jackson Hwu represents a wide range of start-ups and early-stage companies, particularly in Series A financings and M&A exits from fintech, payment solutions and blockchain businesses. Leandro Molina is a venture capital specialist whose track record includes representing SoftBank Latin America Fund in fintech, edtech and healthtech investments; Molina led the team that advised Lightrock on its $27m Series B financing round for Brazilian fintech Agrolend Holding. John Haley is noted for Central America transactions. Caio Prado is another key partner and Rebecca Lester impresses at associate level.

Norton Rose Fulbright is highly-regarded for energy and infrastructure deals throughout Latin America. Its sizeable offices in Sao Paulo and Mexico City provide it with a platform for numerous Latin America deals, and this is backed by Latin-America focused colleagues in the US and elsewhere. The firm has also built its presence in the SPAC segment and in agribusiness. Sao Paulo partner Silvia Fazio is a specialist in Latin America M&A and Mexico City partner Andrés Nieto, who joined the firm in April 2022, is a well-rounded practitioner with extensive experience in M&A across multiple industries. Since publication, Nieto has left the firm - effective as of December 2023.