Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen > Buenos Aires, Argentina > Firm Profile

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen > The Legal 500 Rankings

Argentina > Banking and finance Tier 2

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen advises local and international corporates, banks and financial institutions on capital markets, banking, debt restructuring and project finance matters. The practice, which offers clients ‘dedication, knowledge and great support’ is a ‘benchmark’ banking-and-finance player, an active presence in the domestic market, as well as leading the way in the rapidly growing sustainability finance space, where it advised on the first ever social bond issuance by a civil association. The team also has expertise in sovereign and sub-sovereign matters. Respected corporate finance lawyer Diego Serrano Redonnet and the ‘excellent’ María Gabriela Grigioni co-lead the practice alongside name partners and firm founders Mariano Grondona and Alan Arnsten. The senior bench was further strengthened in early in 2022 with the promotion of Tomás Pérez Alati to the partnership. Nicolás Aberastury and Alejo Muñoz de Toro, who both handle capital markets’ matters, debt restructuring, syndicated loans and project finance, are the key names at associate level. Rising star Danilo Parodi Logioco left for an in-house role with Nômade People in August 2021.

Argentina > Competition and antitrust Tier 2

Praised for its ‘technical-practical vision with a holistic approach’, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen’s antitrust practice covers general advice on competition and antitrust regulations in Argentina, antitrust filings and proceedings with the Argentine antitrust regulators, litigation related to competition and antitrust cases, and investigations related to anti-competitive behaviours. The team represents domestic and international clients in matters arising from the full array of transaction types and across a wide variety of industries. Luis Diego Barry handles competition, antitrust and consumer law, and has notable experience in antitrust, product liability and consumer protection cases. His team includes María Carolina Abdelnabe Vila, who specialises in competition, antitrust, consumer protection, fair trade, data protection law, product liability and legal tech.

Argentina > Compliance Tier 2

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen advises clients on corporate governance, compliance and corporate director ethics, along with providing assistance on the preparation of integrity programmes and the implementation of procedures to detect fraud, corruption and regulatory breaches. Furthermore, it also handles due diligence work and provides compliance training. Expertise in privacy matters is a key focus area for the practice group, which helps companies navigate changes in data protection law. The practice is co-led by banking and finance lawyer Marìa Gabriela Grigioni, in conjunction with Arnaldo Cisilino, a disputes and litigation lawyer who also has technology law expertise.

Argentina > Consumer law Tier 2

Advising manufacturers, importers, distributors, retail companies and financial institutions, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen has broad experience that includes representing clients in extrajudicial claims made by consumers, hearings before administrative agencies, claims portfolio management, the adaption of products and services to consumer protection regulations, product liability and class actions. Sectors of particular strength for the team include banking and financial services, communications, food and beverages, and the automotive industry. The practice is led by Luis Diego Barry , who focuses on competition, antitrust and consumer law. Key support comes from counsel María Carolina Abdelnabe Vila , who specialises in competition/antitrust, consumer protection, fair trade, data protection law, product liability and legal tech; and experienced associate María Carolina Abdelnabe Vila   (competition/antitrust, fair trade law and product liability).

Argentina > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen advises clients on complex, cross-border M&A deals across a wide range of sectors. The versatile practice has ‘a good mix of experience across all relevant fields’ and supports a broad client base, including public companies, private businesses, entrepreneurs and private equity investors. In addition to its strong M&A capability, the team also has an active corporate advisory practice that supports clients on day-to-day corporate, tax, antitrust, environmental and regulatory issues. Veteran transactional lawyer and name partner Jorge Pérez Alati remains a key presence, co-leading the practice alongside experienced M&A lawyer Santiago Daireaux; and Eugenio Aramburu, who has extensive experience in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, joint-ventures and private equity investments. Tomás Pérez Alati, whose practice has a strong transactional focus, was raised to the partnership in January 2022; however, former counsel Pedro Menendez San Martin moved to Estudio Bunge in October 2021.

Argentina > International trade and customs Tier 2

Assisting across the spectrum of customs operations, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen has particular expertise in contentious matters, representing clients before the Argentine Customs Authorities, Custom Tax Court of Appeals, Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of Justice. Exchange and control regulations are another area of strength for the department, which can also draw on the wider firm's multidisciplinary strength to advice on trade-and-custom matters related to M&A processes, such as the minimisaion of post-transaction customs liability. Manuel Benites focuses on international trade, customs law and customs litigation as part of his wider tax practice; he co-leads the team with disputes specialist Andrés Galíndez. Key support is provided by senior associate Germán Martín Quirán, who also specialises in tax and customs law.

Argentina > Real estate Tier 2

Active in residential, urbanization and industrial projects in the Buenos Aires area, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen provides expertise throughout the project lifecycle, from the drafting of preliminary sales contracts and obtaining of permits and approvals from national, provincial and municipal authorities, to construction agreements, financing, lease contracts and sales. Guillermo Quiñoa specialises in real estate and construction law; he co-leads the practice in conjunction with Santiago Daireaux, whose forte is M&A and financing transactions; and Pedro Eugenio Aramburu, who undertakes M&A, private equity, venture capital, corporate law, and project and corporate finance. Another key name in the team is associate Cristian Chang, who advises on real estate, notarial and registry matters and construction law.

Argentina > Tax Tier 2

Clients praise Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen‘s tax practice for its ‘high quality’ analysis and ‘fast’, ‘responsive’ client engagement. Tax litigation on multiple complex matters that have risen to Argentina’s Federal Supreme Court and Federal Tax Court have provided a high volume of work for the practice, which also handles tax planning, tax reorganisations and transactional tax matters. Tax litigation and cross-border specialist Manuel Benites co-leads the team alongside Luis Nuñez, a tax claims and litigation expert; and Andrés Galíndez, who is strong on customs litigation. The practice also boasts a strong second line of counsels, including Facundo Fernández Santos, who focuses on transactional work, tax planning and transfer pricing matters; tax litigator Matías Corte and customs litigation specialist Germán Martín Quirán. Cristina Di Benedetto, meanwhile, is experienced in hydrocarbon tax and royalty claims, and supports the firm’s impressive pool of energy clients. Since publication, Fernández Santos has been promoted to the partnership - effective as of November 2022.

Argentina > TMT Tier 2

Providing ‘excellent lawyers, with knowledge of the case and the business', Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen advises on a range of telecommunications regulatory, intellectual property, privacy, e-commerce and freedom-of-speech matters. Practice co-head Mariano Grondona's expertise includes telecoms regulation, privacy matters, product liability and dispute resolutions in the TMT sector. Fellow co-head Arnaldo Cisilino specialises in assisting companies with internet-related claims, data protection, new projects and products. A strong second-line is led by counsels Pía Politi and María Carolina Abdelnabe Vila who are both specialists in Argentine data privacy regulation.

Argentina > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 3

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen is best known for advising distressed and profitable companies on complex debt reduction, restructurings and recapitalisation matters. The firm’s strong banking and finance expertise has seen the team build up an impressive roster of creditor-side clients, although it will also represent debtors and trustees in workout situations and restructurings. Name partner and respected M&A lawyer Alan Arnsten co-leads the team alongside versatile transactional and capital markets partner Diego Serrano Redonnet; litigation specialist Laurato Ferro; and banking and finance practitioner Marìa Gabriela Grigioni.

Argentina > Dispute resolution Tier 3

‘Highly professional’, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen's dispute resolution practice stands out for its ‘excellent service’. Investment arbitration and domestic and international commercial arbitration are key areas of focus for the practice, which also handles complex litigation proceedings in a broad array of commercial and public law disputes, at both federal and provincial levels. The team is co-led by litigation expert Lautaro Ferro; Luis Incera, who focuses on litigation, insolvency and bankruptcy, and family law; and Arnaldo Cisilino, who is known for his work across civil and commercial litigation, class actions, technology, data protection and privacy matters. Guillermo Quiñoa, who displays ‘technical and conceptual clarity’, is another key name. The firm added to its second line with the hire of Jonathan Lopez Quinteros from Grispo & Asociados, although associate Raquel Rodriguez left to join Barreiro, Oliva, De Luca, Jaca, Nicastro.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 3

With broad experience ranging from strategic transactions to innovative investments, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen’s practice is noted for its specialisation, commercial vision and international experience. Key strengths of the practice include due diligence, acquisitions, financings, securities issuance and regulatory matters across the energy sector. Francisco Javier Romano (to whom much of the practice's commercial vision can be ascribed) can draw on some 25 years’ experience in the sector and was formerly in house at Chevron for over a decade; he co-leads the team with fellow senior-partner, corporate and cross-border financing specialist Alan Arnsten, whose industry focus includes energy – he also has noteworthy infrastructure M&A experience. Additional energy-sector transactional capability is provided by Tomás Pérez Alati, while environmental law input comes from Nicole Jaureguiberry; both were raised to the partnership in January 2022. At associate level, senior Joaquín Ojeda Goncalves advises on regulatory and administrative matters -primarily regulatory compliance, governmental and public affairs, international contracts and operations, environment, mining and natural resources. The firm also maintains an alliance with the Neuquén-based Brillo Abogados to further its presence in the province.

Argentina > Insurance Tier 3

Full service firm Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen is experienced at advising insurance companies on M&A transactions in Argentina, as well as defending insurance industry players in class actions brought by consumer protection associations. The practice also assists clients from other sectors in insurance-related work, including retail and energy companies. Mariano Grondona  spearheads the team and handles counselling, transactions and litigation in the area. He is supported by senior associate Lucila Guerrero, who focuses on aeronautical and insurance matters.

Argentina > Intellectual property Tier 3

Recommended for its ‘diversity of specialists‘, the team at Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen provides expertise in patent litigation as well as handling IP and trade mark portfolio management for clients from across the key sectors of oil and gas, retail, technology and food. A key area of growth for the practice is assistance with Argentina’s new Technology Transfer Law. A deeply experienced practitioner, Fernando Alonso litigates on trade mark, trade name, patent advertising and privacy law matters. He co-leads the team with IP specialist Julio Lago. Santiago Fiorito, who handles advisory and litigation regarding trade marks, patents, advertising, copyright, technology law and trade secrets, rounds out the senior team.

Argentina > Labour and employment Tier 3

Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen is known for its extensive experience in collective and individual litigation and administrative proceedings before Argentine governmental authorities, labour courts, and labour unions. Co-led by labour veteran Julio César Stefanoni Zani, labour and social security specialist Julio Javier Lococo, and the ‘flexible and responsive’ Enrique Alfredo Betemps, the practice is most active in collective bargaining and transactional matters. It also has expertise in drafting employment and confidentiality agreements.

Argentina > Public law Tier 3

‘High professionalism’, ‘efficiency’ and ‘speed’ characterise a Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen public law team that supports clients from a broad array of sectors on public procurement, contract disputes, concessions and licences. The practice is known for its work in highly regulated sectors such as finance and pharmaceuticals, and is also building out a distinctive NGO practice. Team head Nicole Jaureguiberry was promoted to the partnership in early 2022 and has expanded her bench of talent with the hire of associate Luciana Casagrande from Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados, who joins senior associate and key support Joaquín Ojeda Goncalves.

Argentina > Environment