Cuatrecasas > Lima, Peru > Firm Profile

Cuatrecasas > The Legal 500 Rankings

Peru > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

With the arrival of Diego Carrión in July 2022, Cuatrecasas continues its ascendancy in the Peruvian market and has been very active in M&A transactions in a relatively slow market. The practice offers wide-ranging corporate expertise, which encompasses M&A, distressed M&A, joint ventures, due diligence on deals and restructurings. Carrión, who joined from Hernández & Cía, now co-heads the team alongside Oscar Trelles and brings experience in domestic and international M&A transactions, as well as securities matters and financing arrangements. Managing partner Trelles stands out in cross-border M&A and private equity transactions. Kiomi Osorio is a key member of the team, who was promoted to partner in April 2022 and handles corporate and financial transactions, and advises on financial regulation.

Peru > Banking and finance Tier 3

Cuatrecasas continues its upward trajectory in the Peruvian market and has recently taken on new corporate clients; it works in tandem with other offices in the firm’s broad global network for support on cross-border deals. The practice is led by Aldo Reggiardo and focuses on acquisition and corporate finance, refinancing and restructuring, direct lending and project finance. Reggiardo has notable experience in complex structured finance deals and handles project finance deals in the infrastructure, energy and mining sectors. Kiomi Osorio, who was promoted to partner in April 2022, is a key contact for financing regulation, capital markets deals, financial transactions and corporate law matters. Carlos Lasarte relocated to the firm’s Madrid office and Ana María Sánchez relocated to the firm’s Bogota office at the start of 2022.

Peru > Dispute resolution: Arbitration Tier 3

Cuatrecasas‘ arbitration practice was established in December 2019 and is headed by Domingo Rivarola, who specialises in commercial dispute resolution. The team is experienced in domestic and international arbitration in a range of sectors, but has particular expertise in the infrastructure, transport and energy industries. Other key contacts include associates Rodrigo Rabines, Laia Valdespino and Elody Malpartida, who are all skilled in domestic arbitration and proficient in commercial disputes.

Peru > Tax Tier 4

Led by Juan Pablo Porto, the tax group at Cuatrecasas acts for domestic and international clients in cross-border transactions, tax structuring and optimisation. More specifically, the practice advises on administrative matters, audit procedures and VAT recovery, and acts for both businesses and individuals. Porto is experienced in tax consultancy services, transactional matters and audits, and is supported by associate Giorgio Balza, who handles investments and wealth management.

Peru > Labour and employment

Energy and natural resources > Mining

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

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.

Colombia > Energy and natural resources

Cuatrecasas’ energy team has been on an upward trajectory since the hire of department head and project finance specialist, dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) Ana María Sánchez, who joined in February 2022 from Peruvian firm, Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas. The group was further reinforced in May 2022 with the addition of senior associate Manuel Gómez from Brigard Urrutia, who brings experience in energy, infrastructure, and public law. Project finance is a notable sweet spot for the team and it has also demonstrated strong recent showings in project development, joint ventures, and M&A-related work. Finance specialist Manuel Quinche and energy and infrastructure-focused senior associate Fabio Ardila are also noted.

Colombia > Projects

According to sources, the work product of Cuatrecasas‘ projects team ‘is always characterised by high quality’. With a strong orientation towards finance transactions, it acts for a mix of banks, infrastructure companies, concessionaires, and funds on project finance, infrastructure project structuring and public tenders, among other matters. High-profile finance expert Manuel Quinche steers the practice and is highly regarded for project finance transactions. The department also includes dual-qualified (Colombia/New York) project finance and infrastructure partner Ana María Sánchez, who joined in March 2022 from Peruvian firm Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas; project finance-focused Juan Carlos Puentes, who was promoted to partner in April 2022; and senior associate Natalia Arango.

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

Cuatrecasas’ multi-office strategy in Latin America continues to pay dividends. The offices in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru advise a range of financial institutions, funds and corporates on acquisition finance, project finance, trade finance, and refinancings and restructurings, among other matters. It is noted for Spanish law-governed financings and has landed a number of major restructuring engagements. Bogota partner Manuel Quinche leads the team and has a fine record in corporate lending, project finance and real estate finance. Santiago’s Roberto Guerrero V has impressed in the restructuring field and Lima partner Aldo Reggiardo is well regarded for project finance. Mexico City partner León López is another important figure in project finance; while Madrid partner Carlos Lasarte regularly advises on Spanish law financings in Latin America, notably advising Bancóldex on its Spanish law bilateral loan agreement with BBVA.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Cuatrecasas’ prominence in Latin America-related international arbitration field stems from its commitment and track record in Spain, coupled with its growing presence in Latin America itself. Unlike many other international firms, it has a sizeable team of international arbitration specialists based in Latin America. With a steady influx of investment and commercial arbitration engagements, the team is best known for energy, infrastructure and construction cases. It has represented parties in a series of headline infrastructure disputes. Madrid partner Alfonso Iglesia leads the international arbitration group and is hugely experienced in Latin America-related arbitrations, including those involving Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Panama, Ecuador and Dominican Republic; he has acted in a series of recent ICSID and ICC cases. Santiago partner Cristián Conejero is a senior figure in the team and is noted for construction arbitrations. Alberto Zuleta is another experienced arbitration expert in Bogota along with René Irra in Mexico City and Domingo Rivarola in Lima. Madrid partners Alberto Fortún and Manuel Franco are also active in Latin America cases, both noted for construction, infrastructure and energy disputes. Raised to the partnership in April 2022, Uruguay-qualified Juan Manuel Rey (in the Santiago office), is also noted.  

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy

Cuatrecasas’ projects and energy practice in Latin America is largely driven by its local office in the region, in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru. It has a broad-based practice covering transport infrastructure, social and community infrastructure, and energy (including renewables, oil and gas, and mining). The firm has worked on a series of road and highway projects in Colombia and Mexico, and advises a range of project sponsors and lenders in the wider region. Bogota partner Manuel Quinche is an experienced project finance expert, especially in the transport infrastructure (including roads, railways and metro lines) and renewables segments. Lima’s Aldo Reggiardo is also a recognised project finance specialist in the energy, infrastructure and mining fields. Mexico City partner León López is another key figure.

Colombia > Public law