Baker & McKenzie, S.C. > Valencia, Venezuela > Firm Profile

Baker & McKenzie, S.C. > The Legal 500 Rankings

Venezuela > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Baker & McKenzie, S.C. covers a wide range of corporate matters, from due diligence and M&A, joint ventures and corporate reorganisations to contracts, compliance and corporate governance, for multinational and domestic clients. The firm benefits from its international network, which enables lawyers in various jurisdictions to provide integrated advice on compliance and cross-border M&A. Jesús Dávila advises domestic and multinational companies on the full scope of corporate transactions, including M&A, joint ventures and takeovers, and has assisted clients with adapting their operations to the Venezuelan environment. The strong secondary line-up includes senior associates Adriana Gonçalves, who has assisted national and international clients in major M&A transactions, Marie Roschelle Quintero and Jesús Villegas, and associate María-Fernanda Uzcátegui.

Venezuela > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Baker & McKenzie, S.C.‘s dispute resolution group is experienced in high-profile local and international disputes, ranging from civil and commercial litigation to commercial and international investment arbitration. The team benefits from being a part of a global network, which allows it to handle cross-border matters efficiently, with María Eugenia Salazar-Furiati leading cross-border teams from the Paris and New York offices in international investment arbitrations taking place in Venezuela. The strong compliance practice includes Jesús Dávila and senior associates Jesús Villegas and Adriana Gonçalves, whose expertise includes compliance investigations, as well as regulatory and compliance defence strategies for several industries. Senior associate Héctor Martínez is experienced in investment arbitration, having represented clients before ICSID and UNCITRAL tribunals, while Eugenio Hernández-Bretón and Gabriel De Jesús are other key individuals from the firm.

Venezuela > Labour and employment Tier 1

Baker & McKenzie, S.C.‘s employment and compensation team has a strong track record in aiding clients with a wide variety of services, including handling employee mobility issues and the employment aspects of cross-border reorganisations, as well as employment litigation. The labour practice group is led by Carlos Felce, who was recently named co-managing partner of the Caracas office. Among the other key team members, Gabriel De Jesús specialises in employment litigation; senior associate Johana De La Rosa is particularly experienced in advising on compensation and benefits, alongside restructurings and terminations; and associates Daniel Fragiel and Sebastián Nastari provide strong support.

Venezuela > Public law

Baker & McKenzie, S.C.'s broad practice spans new and emerging aspects of public law. The team is able to advise a diverse range of clients on the Venezuelan regulations relating to telecoms, especially radio spectrum concessions, energy, including crude oil and gas extraction operations, and tourism, data privacy and government concessions. Notably, the firm is able to draw upon its network of offices across the globe to advise multinational companies and national clients on public procurement mandates, health regulations and administrative litigation against public entities. María Eugenia Salazar is experienced in regulatory matters and co-leads the government relations and contracts practice group alongside Eugenio Hernández-Bretón, whose key areas of expertise include advising companies from the energy sector on contracts with the state and regulatory matters affecting oil and gas companies. Senior associate Héctor Martínez specialises in providing legal advice to clients in the consumer product, pharmaceutical, mining and telecoms companies.

Venezuela > Tax

Baker & McKenzie, S.C. has a strong track record of advising on an array of wealth management and tax-related services. Team members act as trusted advisers to numerous multinational companies, assisting with tax strategies for their Venezuelan operations and the tax aspects of major transactions, benefitting from the firm’s ability to access a wider global network. In addition, the team advises on the tax treatment of investment structures and asset protection. Tax litigation is also a particular strong suit. Ronald Evans leads the team and is skilled in advising on tax matters relating to cross-border transactions, investments and joint ventures, as well as on tax treaties. Manuel Marín frequently assists mining and oil companies with obtaining tax and customs benefits for projects, while Serviliano Abache Carvajal, who joined the team from his own firm in 2023, advises domestic and multinational entities on tax matters, including providing analysis of the tax consequences arising from different economic activities. Associate David Mongiovi is also a key member of the team.

Venezuela > Energy and natural resources Tier 2

Baker & McKenzie, S.C. has seen a significant recent increase in oil and gas-related work, building on extensive experience of advising major international companies on corporate and regulatory issues relating to their Venezuelan operations. Eugenio Hernández-Bretón has broad expertise in oil and gas matters, including assisting with arbitrations, and contractual and regulatory matters in this space. María Eugenia Salazar-Furiati is experienced in handling regulatory and contentious matters for oil and gas clients. Senior associates Héctor Martínez, an expert in the mining and oil and gas fields, and regulatory and compliance specialist Jesús Villegas are other key names.

Venezuela > Intellectual property Tier 2

Baker & McKenzie, S.C.‘s intellectual property team is led by associate Laura Rada, who has a strong record of advising major international clients on the management of their trade marks, patents and copyright. The team acts for an impressive roster of global clients from the pharmaceuticals, hospitality, food and beverages, and consumer goods sectors, providing support in matters ranging from trade mark and patent registrations (including abroad) to licensing agreements, technology transfers, and anti-counterfeiting and enforcement actions. Associate Indira García focus on trade mark and patent prosecution before the Venezuelan Patent and Trade mark Office.

Venezuela > Real estate Tier 2

Led by Gabriel De Jesús, who is frequently involved in real estate-related disputes, Baker & McKenzie, S.C. combines expertise in real estate with the strength of the firm's other departments, including dispute resolution and tax, as well as its wider global network, to assist on matters ranging from the acquisition, disposal and development of single real estate assets to arbitration related to the acquisition of real property in Venezuela and leasing agreements.

Venezuela > Banking and finance Tier 3

Baker & McKenzie, S.C. provides services related to acquisition and project finance, as well as securitisations and structured finance, financial restructurings and regulatory issues, with the firm frequently utilising its access to a global network to assist clients with cross-border matters. The key names in the team include Eugenio Hernández-Bretón and Jesús Dávila, who jointly head the practice, and María Eugenia Salazar-Furiati; all three have experience of advising international financial institutions on complex regulatory matters. Senior associates Adriana Gonçalves and Marie Roschelle Quintero are also noted.