A significant participant in the Peruvian market for over 60 years, CMS Grau has a strong reputation for oil-and-gas work both locally and internationally, and acts for key market players regarding transactional, litigious and regulatory matters. The team is currently led by Carlos Hamann, Augusto Astorga and Ramón Huapaya. Hamann handles regulatory and permitting matters and brings previous  in-house counsel experience to issues including infrastructure concession bids, contracting and financing, and the negotiation of service contracts. With experience undertaking both domestic and international projects, Astorga is recommended for the negotiation and execution of hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation contracts; while Huapaya focuses on energy, public-services regulation, concessions, and infrastructure issues. Jesús Abanto, who acts for both private companies and state-owned entities, was raised made up to partner in May 2022 and is recommended for regulatory issues. Previously a partner at Delapuente, Nicole Freire (mining, oil and gas, regulation and environmental matters) joined as senior associate in April 2021; with disputes specialist Alessandra Cocchella, a former Rubio Leguía Normand principal associate, also joining as a senior in July, since when she has been raised to the partnership (as of January 2022).

The team at Miranda & Amado is ‘very reliable and experienced' and demonstrates 'expertise in M&A, and deep knowledge of Peruvian law and the hydrocarbon industry'. Well known in the market for advising on high-profile and high-value oil-and gas-projects for large international and domestic energy companies, the practice has notable strength in M&A and transactional mandates, regulatory issues, financing, environmental matters and dispute resolution. Practice co-head Luis Marcelo De-Bernardis is recommended for transactional and development work in the infrastructure, energy and natural resources sectors, while fellow co-head Alberto Delgado handles corporate and commercial matters. Guillermo Bracamonte is another active partner in the practice; he focuses on contractual and regulatory matters. Counsel Marifé Martinelli, whose previous experience includes three years at OSINERGMIN; and deeply experienced senior associate Pedro Antonio Morales, are additional names to note.

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano Abogados offers a full-spectrum service to clients in the oil-and-gas industry, catering to all aspects of up-, mid- and downstream activity in the industry. This broad focus encompasses expertise in exploration and production contracts, joint venture agreements, engineering and construction agreements, environmental matters and disputes. The team utilises ancillary support from the firm’s corporate, tax, employment, IP and litigation practices to provide a one-stop-shop for clients; it is co-led by Jorge Pérez-Taiman, Jenny Caldas and senior associate Carolina Noriega. Pérez-Taiman brings strong international experience to the team and Caldas is recommended for administrative procedures before regulatory entities. Noriega handles permitting, contracting and commercial matters but is primarily focused on transactional matters in the sector; while specialised associate Talia Hormaeche‘s practice is centred on natural gas distribution matters. Jean Paul Chabaneix is an additional name to note for M&A, and financing matters in the industry.

Specialised oil and gas boutique Vizquerra Córdova & Gálvez Abogados offers highly specialised expertise in regulatory, transactional, tax, labour and environmental matters. The 12-strong team, which has ‘a lot of experience in the field’, is co-directed by Carlos Raul Vizquerra and Luis Enrique Cordova. Vizquerra has particular experience of corporate and M&A matters in the sector, along with hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation matters, while the dual-qualified (Peru and New York) Córdova has similar experience, and also focuses on licencing and permitting matters, and agreements regarding farm-in/out arrangements. The practice also boasts partner specialised in tax, and administrative/environmental matters in relation to the industry.

Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados advises key players in the up-, mid- and downstream segments of the oil-and-gas industry on corporate and regulatory matters. It also provides advice regarding environmental matters, occupational health and safety regulations, and contentious issues – including cases brought by regulators such as OSINERGMIN and the Peruvian environmental protection agency (OEFA). Recent mandates have seen the team -led by practice head Daniel Palomino– handling primarily permitting, compliance, commercialisation and administrative work. Palomino leads on most matters and is a name to note, particularly for disputes matters. Key associate support is provided by Tim Vela; specialised in environmental law, oil and gas, and occupational health and safety regulation in the energy sector as a whole, he joined from a public-sector role at OEFA in early 2021.

Meritas Alliance member for Peru, GSA counts UNNA Energía, Cepsa Peruana and Frontera Energy del Perú among its clients, as well as Canadian oil-and-gas business Altamesa Energy, which the firm advised on an international procurement regarding a Peruvian oil reservoir. Alberto Varillas heads a team that houses considerable knowledge and experience of the negotiation, procurement and operational aspects of the oil-and-gas activities, as well as consulting on hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, the negotiation and drafting of hydrocarbon block license contracts with the Government, along with share and purchase agreements and joint ventures, ownership title matters, and local community and environmental issues. On the latter front the team regularly advises on environmental impact assessments, administrative sanctioning procedures relating to environmental and health and safety regulations, and on compliance with government obligations. Recent mandates saw corporate and mining partner Edgardo Portaro advise Frontera regarding an administrative procedure; associate Samantha Boy also frequently provides assistance with hydrocarbon matters.

In the hydrocarbons segment, Santiváñez Abogados has an exclusive focus on natural gas matters, instructed by the majority of clients for its work on gas acquisition for large companies. It uses its strength in electricity work to advise major consumers on supply matters, a case in point being its advice to electricity co-generation company SDF Energía on gas transportation contracts, as well as similar work for clients from a range of manufacturing industries. The team also handles the development and financing of gas projects, particularly the procurement process; it advised Gaz Et L’Energie and government agency PROINVERSIÓN on the procurement process for their natural gas projects, concerning the development of a combined cycle gas plant (in Ica) and various pipelines for upland regions, respectively. Senior associate Luigi Rossini is a specialist in the hydrocarbons area, particularly the negotiation of gas supply, transportation and distribution contracts; he also has  experience in project development and regulation. Name partner Roberto Santiváñez ('extensive knowledge of the energy and hydrocarbons sector') leads many of the firm’s matters and oversees the practice alongside established fellow partners Paul Sumar and Fidel Rocha.