O'Farrell > Buenos Aires, Argentina > Firm Profile

O'Farrell > The Legal 500 Rankings

Energy and natural resources > Electricity Tier 1

A key legal adviser to policymakers and investors through the privatisation of the electricity industry in the early 2000s, O'Farrell has built up a bank of deep expertise in both the renewable and traditional power generation industries. Combining extensive public law, dispute resolution, financing, M&A and antitrust capabilities, the team provides clients in the sector with an integrated, holistic service that covers the length and breadth of the entire power generation value chain, ranging from project financing and development through to transportation and distribution. A reference in the industry, the renowned Uriel F. O'Farrell is called on for advice on all energy-related corporate matters as well as the full gamut of regulatory, public policy and disputes work. He co-leads the team with regulatory, antitrust and disputes veteran Agustin Siboldi, a trusted adviser to the country’s largest energy companies; and Agustina Fanelli Evans, who is well-versed in energy sector public law, regulatory and litigation matters. Public law and litigation partner Jorge Muratorio provides further senior-level input, with public utilities, public contracts and litigation associate María Fortuna leading the second line.

Argentina > Compliance Tier 2

O'Farrell combines expertise from its corporate, public law and dispute resolution teams to provide clients in the energy, manufacturing, mining and food industries -among others- with a multi-disciplinary compliance offering. The team advises on the implementation and monitoring of compliance and anti-corruption programmes, as well as handling due diligence and internal investigations. Well-known litigation lawyer Jorge Muratorio co-leads the practice in conjunction with experienced public law practitioner Agustina Fanelli Evans. Energy sector expert Agustin Siboldi provides further partner-level input. Juan Pablo Fratantoni moved in house at Pan American Energy in November 2022.

Argentina > Public law Tier 2

O'Farrell’s significant experience in highly-regulated sectors such as electricity and telecoms has seen the firm develop strong expertise across a broad array of public law matters, including public works, infrastructure, public procurement, tariff regimes, and dredging and maritime law. In addition, the firm is strong in contentious matters, representing clients in judicial proceedings at all levels. Jorge Muratorio leads the practice and advises clients on litigation in heavily regulated markets and public services. Specialist public law and regulation partner Agustina Fanelli Evans is another key senior name, with associate Ana Belén Micciarelli fronting the second line.

Argentina > Tax Tier 2

O'Farrell is widely recognised for its exceptional track record in tax litigation, successfully representing corporates and individuals in complex, precedent-setting tax disputes before all levels of national, provincial and municipal courts. Market segments where the team is particularly strong include energy taxation, new taxes on extraordinary wealth, transfer pricing, tax inflation disputes, and discrepancies between double conventions and local regulations. Practice head Miguel A.M. Tesón is a stand-out practitioner with expertise spanning cross-border transactions, tax planning for foreign corporations, transfer pricing, federal tax law and local taxes. He receives high quality senior support from a strong bench of partners: Valeria Estathio has deep expertise in federal and international tax law; María Valls has a strong tax disputes practice; and Guillermo Lalanne is an authority on constitutional tax law and complex litigation.

Argentina > TMT Tier 2

Telecommunications regulation is a key focus area for O'Farrell, which played a key role in the privatisation and related licensing of the Argentine telecoms industry in the 1990s. The practice is known for the depth of its expertise in telecoms taxation, securing municipal authorisations and related litigation, with commercial matters also covered. Practice head Agustin Siboldi has vast telecoms regulatory experience and was an influential figure in the wave of telecoms' privatisations of the 1990s. Public law and litigation experts Jorge Muratorio and Agustina Fanelli Evans are other key contacts.

Argentina > Banking and finance Tier 3

O'Farrell is best known for its banking and finance work in the energy and agribusiness sectors, where long-standing clients YPF and John Deere consistently call on the firm for guidance on banking matters and capital raisings, including green and sustainability-linked bond issuance. Name partner and veteran energy lawyer Uriel F. O'Farrell co-leads the team alongside Sebastián Luegmayer, who advises corporations and financial entities on a wide range of capital markets transactions, loans, financial trusts, derivatives and complex financial transactions.

Argentina > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

Telecoms is a key sector area for O'Farrell, which leverages its specialist expertise in the sector to support clients on antitrust and competition matters. The team is also strong in other regulated industries – including energy, utilities and infrastructure – where it advises on industry-specific competition and regulatory matters. Telecoms and energy lawyer Agustin Siboldi, who has extensive antitrust expertise, is the main contact for competition law matters.

Argentina > Consumer law Tier 3

Clients in the automotive, airline, transport, retail and personal loans industries call on O'Farrell for support in the negotiation of claims and investigation of procedures related to consumer law, fair trade, advertising law and e-commerce matters. Drawing on the firm’s wider public law expertise, the team is well-known for handling work at the intersection of consumer law and public services regulation. The practice also takes on class action and administrative proceeding engagements, and is comfortable drafting the legal bases of promotions and contests' terms-and-conditions. Jorge Muratorio, an administrative law expert, leads the team with consumer specialist Lorena Quiroz providing key support. The practice also draws on the expertise of public law partner Agustina Fanelli Evans.

Argentina > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

O'Farrell represents clients in high value, complex M&A transactions as well as supporting a long-standing, loyal roster of multinational clients with comprehensive advice on all aspects of business law. The firm’s long track record and deep expertise in energy and electricity make these key sectors for the practice, although it also has a strong presence in automotive, healthcare, construction, real estate, entertainment, agribusiness, food-and-drink and TMT. Outstanding energy lawyer Uriel F. O'Farrell co-leads the practice with banking and finance specialist Sebastián Luegmayer and versatile corporate lawyer Ernesto Genco, whose practice covers foreign investments, start ups, joint ventures, reorganisations, M&A, corporate conflicts and general corporate advice. The practice has seen the departure of Juan Pablo Fratantoni , who has taken up an in-house role at YPF.

Argentina > Dispute resolution Tier 3

The disputes practice at O'Farrell handles the full range of dispute resolution work, including litigation, arbitration processes, mediation and negotiations, and extrajudicial conciliation, and is best known for its expertise in the energy, healthcare and automotive sectors. Class actions, damages claims and automotive product-liability matters are particularly strong areas, with the firm also advising start-ups on contentious matters. Complex litigation specialist Francisco Astolfi leads a team of ‘excellent professionals’, which is closely integrated with the firm’s public law offer and calls on the support of public law specialist Agustina Fanelli Evans. At associate level, Federico Daurat, Dolores Soler and Juan Matienzo are the main contacts.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 3

O'Farrell draws on expertise from its public law, dispute resolution and electricity departments to provide clients in the oil-and-gas sector with assistance on regulatory, permitting, tariff reviews, bid processes, M&A and contentious matters. The practice handles a variety of upstream, downstream, transportation, distribution and commercialisation work, and has also advised on unconventional hydrocarbon projects in the Vaca Muerta shale formation. The practice is co-led by senior partner Uriel O'Farrell (corporate, M&A, regulation and disputes); Agustin Siboldi (regulation, exploration, production, distribution and commercialisation); and María Agustina Fanelli Evans (regulatory advisory, public contract renegotiations, tariff claims and litigious matters). Former practice head Juan Pablo Fratantoni moved in house at Pan American Energy.

Argentina > Environment Tier 3

O'Farrell draws on expertise from its public law, energy and litigation practices to advise clients in the extractive industries and heavily regulated power and telecoms sectors on a broad range of environmental law matters, including land remediation, visual contamination and renewable energy project development. The team also handles contentious environmental matters at the local, provincial and federal levels. Public law and economic regulation expert Jorge Muratorio leads the team, with the experienced regulatory practitioner Agustina Fanelli Evans and energy-focused Agustin Siboldi providing additional senior level support.

Argentina > International trade and customs Tier 3

O'Farrell advises national and international companies on import and export regimes, tariff classification, customs valuation, free trade zones and in-factory and in-country customs. The practice is also called on for advice on international goods' transit, and MERCOSUR and ALADI international agreements and treaties, among others. Gustavo Enrique Müller leads the practice, and has broad expertise across international trade, customs law, anti-dumping and international trade regulation. The team was further strengthened with the 2022 hire of specialised customs and administrative law associate, Nadia Antonini.

Argentina > Labour and employment Tier 3

Collective bargaining and labour and employment-related litigation are particular areas of strength for O'Farrell, which also handles individual labour matters, labour due diligence in M&A processes, and collective labour disputes and strikes. Experienced labour lawyer Jose Luis Zapata covers all aspects of labour law and co-leads the department alongside fellow partner Ignacio Castiglione, who has specialist labour disputes expertise.

Energy and natural resources > Mining

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina