The highly regarded full-service practice of Dentons has focused its activity recently on advising its impressive client portfolio on foreign sanctions and participating in mixed companies, but also assists with general corporate, exchange control, tax and litigation matters. The team covers the oil and gas industry as well as the power and renewables sector. Sergio Casinelli, Daniela Jaimes and Natalija Vojvodic are experts in transactions and commercial mandates, while Rubén Eduardo Luján specialises in finance matters. Luis Ernesto Andueza has expertise on the regulatory and public law front.

InterJuris Abogados impresses with its deep energy practice, which covers the full gamut of related matters; the team is well versed in the financing of joint venture companies for the exploration and development of oil reserves, as well as corporate matters, contracts and hydrocarbons law. Gabriela Rachadell de Delgado heads the practice; she has more than 30 years of experience handling transactions in the sector. Juan José Delgado is a skilled adviser in corporate, regulatory and contractual matters. Adriana Lezcano Huncal, José María Rivas and associate José Alejandro Corbán are also noted.

Leĝa Abogados is an established adviser to national and international companies on the full gamut of energy matters. The team has significant expertise in the development, construction and financing of oil and gas, power and infrastructure projects, as well as in the international financing structures used by Venezuelan public sector entities. Practice head Miguel Rivero has longstanding experience in upstream, midstream and downstream mandates. José Alberto Ramírez is a key contact for regulatory issues, and counsel Simón Herrera and London-based José Gregorio Torrealba are also noted.

International firm Baker & McKenzie, S.C. is noted for its experience in advising private oil and gas companies - both upstream and downstream - on a variety of matters, including the negotiation and drafting of contracts, regulatory matters and dispute resolution. A particular area of expertise is assisting PDVSA contractors. Practice head Eugenio Hernández-Bretón, María Eugenia Salazar and associate Héctor Martínez form the core team.

Mendoza, Palacios, Acedo, Borjas, Paez Pumar & Cia.'s practice focuses on assisting clients from the energy sector with acquisitions, procurements and correspondence with state entities, as well as expropriation procedures. Another new field of work for the firm is advising clients on sanctions-related issues; Luisa Lepervanche is highlighted here. The team is led by finance expert Carlos Eduardo Acedo and Esteban Palacios, who also represents clients in disputes.

Araquereyna's team specialises in corporate, project finance and contentious matters in the oil and gas sector. Its client portfolio includes national and international companies, traders, producers of electricity and government agencies, among others. Gustavo Reyna, Manuel Reyna, María Carolina Cano and Marcos Carrillo are the key practitioners.

The energy practice at Palacios, Torres & Korody covers financing and operational matters, but has a particularly strong focus on advising clients on tax and regulatory issues. Active practitioners are Juan Korody and Carlos Plaza, as well as associate Juan Andrés Velutini.

Rodríguez & Mendoza has notable expertise in the oil and gas sector, where it advises foreign and domestic clients on a variety of issues. The team is well versed in the exploration and exploitation of natural resources, and it also handles the negotiation and structuring of the financing of oil projects. Reinaldo Hellmund is the name to note.

The team at Travieso Evans Arria Rengel & Paz combines energy, finance and corporate experience, which it applies when being instructed by international oil and drilling companies as well as clients from the natural gas sector. The key contacts are Eduardo Travieso Uribe and Simón Guevara Camacho.