Martínez de Hoz & Rueda > Buenos Aires, Argentina > Firm Profile

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda > The Legal 500 Rankings

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 1

A dominant force in the country’s oil-and-gas industry, Martínez de Hoz & Rueda is a reference point for local and international clients seeking advice on oil-and-gas exploration, production, transportation, distribution and marketing. Operating out of offices in Buenos Aires and Neuquén (Argentina’s shale gas industry hub), the team has also carved out a market-leading position in relation to hydrocarbon concession extension agreements and renegotiations, and is active in unconventional hydrocarbons operations and the development of LNG projects too. The firm’s large roster of retained international clients also rely on the team for support on multi-party, multi-contract commercial arbitrations arising out of cross-border transactions. The formidable energy law veteran José Martínez De Hoz brings vast hydrocarbons and associated arbitration expertise to the table. He co-leads the practice alongside fellow oil-and-gas industry stalwart Pablo Rueda and dynamic younger partner Tomás Lanardonne, who fronts the firm’s Neuquén base and has wide ranging transactional and regulatory expertise. From a strong associate bench, Marcos Blanco (oil-and-gas, project finance, M&A, and dispute resolution) and Valeria Celesti (hydrocarbons matters) are both noted. Since publication, Blanco has been raised to the partnership – effective January 2024.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity Tier 2

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda handles matters across the energy generation (hydro, thermal and renewable), distribution and transmission supply chain, with renewable energy, -particularly in the nascent hydrogen space- an active area. The team is well-versed in power sector regulation and is known for advising credit agencies and banks on the design of complex financing structures for conventional and renewable energy projects. Clients also call on the firm for representation before federal authorities and regulators to obtain permits, concessions, licenses, extension requests and contractual amendments, along with challenges to administrative acts and rulings. Public law expert Juan Cruz Azzarri has extensive public utilities and power industry experience and co-leads the practice with current firm managing partner Jimena Vega Olmos, who focuses on public law, infrastructure, power, project financing and international arbitration, and has a strong thermal and renewable energy practice. The team can also draw on the vast experience of firm founders and oil-and-gas veterans José Martínez De Hoz and Pablo Rueda. Since publication, Marcos Blanco, whose practice areas include power, renewable energy, oil-and-gas and TMT, has been promoted to partner, effective in January 2024.

Argentina > Banking and finance Tier 3

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda is best known for its outstanding energy industry pedigree, where it provides a blue chip oil-and-gas and renewable energy client base with high-end advice on sophisticated, cross-border capital markets and financing matters. In addition to its high quality corporate client portfolio, the ‘bright, detailed-oriented’ team is called on by underwriters too – including various global and international financial institutions – to work on debt issuances, liability  management transactions and exchange offerings. Outside of the core energy sector, the team also handles work in the agribusiness and theme park industries, and has been an active player in the sovereign and sub-sovereign area, where it has advised on sizeable debt restructurings. The practice is co-led by ‘exceptional transactional lawyer’ José Martínez De Hoz (n), who advises borrowers and banks on cross-border and domestic financings; and the experienced Martín Lepiane, whose practice spans project and trade finance, banking regulation and litigation. Versatile partner Jimena Vega Olmos, who works on a range of corporate, banking and arbitration matters, provides further senior level experience, with the ‘excellent’ Pablo Schreiber (who has worked as foreign associate in the New York and Sao Paulo offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett) and Luisina Luchini leading the practice’s second line. Since publication, Schreiber has been promoted to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

Argentina > Compliance Tier 3

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda leans on its extensive energy industry expertise to support clients on infrastructure and banking compliance matters. Experienced transactional and regulatory lawyer Martín Lepiane is the key compliance contact.

Argentina > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Best known for its formidable presence in energy M&A, Martínez de Hoz & Rueda’s efforts to widen its presence in other sectors has reaped dividends, with the number of non-energy transactions exceeding energy-related M&A work for the first time since the firm’s inception. Moreover, the firm has established a new corporate governance structure (as of August 2023) to further align its dual commitments to ongoing growth and institutionalisation. While oil-and-gas mandates remain the single biggest generator of fee income, the practice has successfully won an increasing volume of transactional and day-to-day corporate work in the financial services, consumer and technology industries among others. Practice head Fernando Zoppi is an experienced M&A lawyer and handles all types of M&A transactions, advising private equity and VC players, energy companies and telecoms groups among others. Partner Tomás Dellepiane’s all-round corporate experience is complemented by an active M&A practice, with the team also able to call on finance practice co-head Martín Lepiane and highly-respected energy lawyer José Martínez De Hoz for additional senior back-up. Transaction-focused associate Marcos Blanco leads the practice’s second line, which has been bolstered with the April-2022 hire of Sofia Reymundo, previously with Tanoira Cassagne Abogados.

Argentina > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Clients call on Martínez de Hoz & Rueda for support in high-stakes disputes that involve complex transactions, multiple contracts and which often involve parallel proceedings in more than one jurisdiction. The practice is probably best known for its undertaking of international investment and commercial arbitration, and is comfortable handling cases under a range of different arbitration rules, including ICC, AAA/ICDR, LCIA, ICSID and UNCITRAL. The firm's wider strength in the energy sector brings in work from global energy companies seeking advice on landmark international litigations and the annulment and enforcement of arbitral awards. Highly respected arbitration veteran and founding partner José Martínez De Hoz co-leads the team alongside international and commercial arbitration practitioner Francisco Amallo.

Argentina > Public law Tier 3

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda leverages its deep expertise in the highly regulated hydrocarbons and electricity sectors to deliver advice across a variety of public law matters, including concessions, licenses, authorisations and representations in public tenders. The team also has strong dispute resolution capability, assisting and representing clients in various administrative, judicial and arbitral proceedings. Juan Cruz Azzarri has extensive experience across public law, public utilities, public contracts and infrastructure matters. He co-leads the practice with managing partner Jimena Vega Olmos, whose practice encompasses public law, international arbitration, infrastructure, power and project financing.

Argentina > Competition and antitrust Tier 4

Martínez de Hoz & Rueda represents companies before Argentine Antitrust Authorities and is frequently called on to advise clients on transactional filings and merger clearances. Juan Cruz Azzarri, an experienced administrative and constitutional law specialist, is the main point of contact.

Argentina > TMT Tier 4

Technology companies as well as corporates in other sectors call on Martínez de Hoz & Rueda for advice on a range of tech-related matters, including software licenses, data protection, privacy, cybersecurity, cloud computing and IT law. The team also works on regulatory and contractual issues, with corporate digital transformation -most notably in the banking sector- a particularly busy area. Martín Lepiane -whose practice tales in the banking, finance and TMT spaces- co-leads the team with senior associate Marcos Blanco, who handles privacy, data protection and fintech matters. Since publication, Blanco has been promoted to partner - effective as of January 2024.