The Legal 500

Argentina

Banking and finance

Banking and finance - ranked: tier 3

Estudio O'Farrell

Estudio O'Farrell is particularly prominent in energy-related capital markets transactions, due to its strong relationship with trophy client YPF. Among its recent matters for the Argentine energy giant, it advised on the proposed cash tender offer for YPF’s outstanding 8.875% notes due 2018 — together, department co-heads Uriel O’Farrell and Sebastián Luegmayer led that work. The same team also advised John Deere Credit Compañía Financiera on its sixth and seventh issuance of notes, worth a combined $40m, under its MTN programme. Other representative clients include the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Morgan Stanley and BBVA Francés.

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Competition and antitrust

Competition and antitrust - ranked: tier 3

Estudio O'Farrell

The ‘timely and efficient’ team at Estudio O'Farrell leverages its record in regulatory law to specialise in antitrust issues concerning the energy, pharmaceutical, infrastructure and telecoms sectors, among other areas. Department head Agustin Siboldi, who provides ‘opinions clients can trust’, recently paired up with María Agustina Fanelli Evans to defend Farmacity against allegations of anti-competitive practices regarding medicine sales.

Leading individuals

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Corporate and M&A

Corporate and M&A - ranked: tier 3

Estudio O'Farrell

In the ultimate accolade, clients of Estudio O'Farrell assert it is ‘comprised of deal-makers, rather than deal-breakers’. The group, which is particularly prominent in the energy, agribusiness and automotive sectors, scores highly among clients for its ‘commercial approach to legal issues’. YPF is a key client and the firm continues to advise the Argentine energy giant on acquisitions, joint ventures and capital markets transactions, among other matters. Other highlights included advising Monsanto Argentina on the exercise of certain rights to participate in securities issued by Bioceres. ‘Specialist professional’ Uriel O’Farrell leads a department that also includes Ernesto Genco. Former department co-head Ricardo Castañeda left to join YPF.

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Dispute resolution

Dispute resolution - ranked: tier 3

Estudio O'Farrell

‘Collaborative and available’, Estudio O'Farrell sets itself apart through its ‘specialist professionals in all areas’, who ‘seamlessly work together to coordinate advice’. The diverse group is led jointly by Daniel Calatrava, who handles civil and commercial litigation, Francisco Astolfi, who is particularly active in class actions and product liability, and public law specialist Fernando García Pullés. Automotive litigation is a strong suit and Astolfi represents Ford Argentina in commercial and product liability claims.

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International trade and customs

International trade and customs - ranked: tier 3

Estudio O'Farrell

Estudio O'Farrell advises a wide range of domestic and multinational clients on customs law, trade remedies and import and export issues — among other matters. Among its recent cases, department head Gustavo Enrique Müller represented Ford Argentina in its defence of a customs claim. Other representative clients include Louisiana Pacific Argentina, Nokia Solutions and Networks Argentina and Pampa Energía.

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Labour and employment

Labour and employment - ranked: tier 4

Estudio O'Farrell

‘Highly responsive and knowledgeable’, Estudio O'Farrell ‘provides an excellent level of service’, according to clients. The broad practice, which is led by José Luis Zapata, has expertise across a wide range of consultancy, litigation and collective bargaining matters, with the energy sector standing out as a key source of instructions. Representative highlights included advising YPF Energía Eléctrica on collective negotiations with the Union of the Electric Industry. Senior associate Ignacio Agustín Castiglione is also recommended.

Next Generation Partners

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Public law

Public law - ranked: tier 2

Estudio O'Farrell

‘Dynamic, efficient and always available’, Estudio O'Farrell finds favour for its ‘strong commitment to client needs’. The ‘deep and broad’ group is also valued for its ‘exceptional partners’, with Jorge Muratorio (‘analytical and solution-focused’), Fernando García Pullés (‘extensive experience and goal-oriented’) singled out by clients; together, they lead the department alongside the ‘very knowledgeable’ Agustina Fanelli Evans. Among its recent matters, the team advised Turkish Airlines in proceedings stemming from an alleged breach of the migration law. It has also recently undertaken work for Naturgy, Unipar Indupa and Vossloh.

Leading individuals

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TMT

TMT - ranked: tier 2

Estudio O'Farrell

According to clients, Estudio O'Farrell stands out for its ‘unique understanding of the telecoms industry’ and for its ability to ‘leverage its legal and commercial knowledge to provide superior outcomes’. Among its highlights, ‘business-savvy’ group co-head Agustín Siboldi, together with ‘great deal facilitator’ Ricardo Castañeda, advised Comunicaciones y Consumos on its competitive sales process, which involved two potential acquirers. María Agustina Fanelli Evans co-leads the department and paired up with Siboldi to represent Claro Argentina in several regulatory matters.

Leading individuals

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Tax

Tax - ranked: tier 2

Estudio O'Farrell

‘Knowledgeable, analytical and responsive’, Estudio O'Farrell is distinguished by its ‘solution-focused approach’ and its ‘dedicated professionals’. The group is particularly lauded for its ‘holistic tax offering’, with clients quick to highlight the ‘fluid coordination between the tax practice and other departments’. Miguel Tesón, who leads the group, is a ‘recognised specialist’; he teamed up with Guillermo Lalanne (‘demonstrates a mastery of provincial taxation’) and Valeria Estathio (‘provides innovative and practical solutions’) to represent Droguería del Sud in administrative and judicial claims concerning the applicability of turnover tax. María Celina Valls, who ‘stands out for her technical strength and clarity of expression’, is also recommended and, alongside Tesón, assisted Telefónica de Argentina with a $10m tax refund claim. Other key clients include Ford Argentina and Pampa Energía.

Leading individuals

Next Generation Partners

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Argentina: Energy and natural resources

Electricity

Electricity - ranked: tier 1

Estudio O'Farrell

The ‘definitely top-tier team’ at Estudio O'Farrell is commended for its ability to ‘strike a balance between legal analysis and business needs’ and for its ‘uniquely personalised service’. The practice, which works closely with the public law department, is best known for its track record in administrative law matters — both contentious and non-contentious — and commercial work. Senior partner Uriel O’Farrell (‘proactive with a problem-solving approach’) is highly sought after by energy companies for complex issues and co-leads the department together with Agustina Fanelli Evans (‘solid technical and commercial knowledge’) and Agustín Siboldi. On the regulatory front, the firm provides ongoing advice to Pampa Energía and Compañía General de Electricidad, among others. On the transactional side, the firm advised YPF and YPF Energía Eléctrica on a subscription agreement, which involved the sale of a 24.99% stake in YPF Energía Eléctrica’s shares to EFS Global Energy and GE Capital Global Energy Investments.

Leading individuals

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Oil and gas

Oil and gas - ranked: tier 3

Estudio O'Farrell

Estudio O'Farrell’s oil and gas practice, which sits within the firm’s wider public law and economic regulation department, is best known for its ‘deep experience and knowledge of industry regulation’. Indeed, as one client points out, ‘some of its partners were even involved in the design of the current market regulation’, which is a significant benefit on complex administrative law cases. Senior partner Uriel O’Farrell is a key contact for energy regulation and disputes; he acted alongside public law expert Agustín Siboldi to represent Pampa Energía on the renegotiation of the conditions of the national incentive scheme for the production of natural gas. Axion Energy is also a key client and O’Farrell, Siboldi and Agustina Fanelli Evans advise it on day-to-day regulatory and antitrust issues.

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