Bergstein Abogados > Montevideo, Uruguay > Firm Profile
Bergstein Abogados Offices

AV 18 DE JULIO 1117 P5
11 100 MONTEVIDEO
Uruguay
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Bergstein Abogados > The Legal 500 Rankings
Uruguay > Tax Tier 2
Tax remains a core focus for Bergstein Abogados, which fields a versatile and experienced team of lawyers in this area. Tax structuring and international tax are noted strengths, and the team also has a solid background in litigation. The department works closely with the firm's corporate practice to provide comprehensive support to its client base of multinational and domestic companies. Domingo Pereira focuses on international tax, and Jonás Bergstein brings together the disciplines of tax and corporate law, streamlining advice to clients needing both. On the litigation side, senior associate Guzmán Ramírez is the contact to note.
Practice head(s):
Domingo Pereira; Jonás Bergstein
Key clients
Deugro
Visanet Uruguay
Velcro USA
Nordex SE
Cisco Systems
NovaAgri
Adium Pharma
Sony Music Entertainment
Lexmark
Accenture
Work highlights
- Advised Deugro on the tax structuring of its transport services for the construction of Finnish UPM’s second pulp mill plant in Uruguay.
- Advised Sony Music on becoming partner in a new record label joint venture established in Uruguay.
- Advised Voith on the tax consequences of receiving certain technical services for the construction of small-scale prototypes of machines and equipment, and studies and designs for their full-size construction.
Uruguay > Corporate and M&A Tier 3
Bergstein Abogados is frequently instructed by multinationals for assistance with transactions in Uruguay, and the firm is also the local contact for a number of international firms looking for assistance with Uruguayan aspects of cross-border deals. Thanks to the country's relative political stability and management of the Covid pandemic in early 2020, recent work included assisting a number of Argentinian clients on investing or starting operations in the country. Guillermo Duarte is praised for his 'mastery of effective negotiation strategies' and is particularly noted for M&A and investment matters; he jointly leads the team with Jonás Bergstein, who focuses on international corporate transactions. Senior associate Santiago Di Bello joined from Hughes & Hughes and has worked as part of teams assisting on M&A and data protection.
Practice head(s):
Guillermo Duarte; Jonás Bergstein
Testimonials
‘The team has a very thorough knowledge of the matter, and they make it very accessible to lawyers who, as in my case, do not have knowledge of local legislation.‘
‘It is a very dynamic team that provides agile responses to the issues to which they are summoned.‘
‘The Bergstein Law team manages to fully understand the different situations, not only from the legal point of view, but also from the essence of the business and the client’s objectives. That is why their strategies manage to stand out from other firms with which we have worked.‘
‘Guillermo Duarte: extensive legal knowledge, mastery of effective negotiation strategies, absolute commitment to the client.‘
‘Highly efficient personalised service and permanent availability to serve.‘
‘Their work is excellent in all areas. They have excellent availability at all times every day before our requirements. They are very professional, they know all the issues and their entire staff of lawyers has the same excellent profile of professionalism and service.‘
‘The treatment of the lawyers of this firm with our company is very personalised and very efficient. In the face of any problem we know that we have immediate legal support. The attorneys we deal with all have excellent performance.‘
‘The head of the firm Jonás Bergstein has direct contact with us and his staff is also excellent.‘
Key clients
Accenture
Adidas
Alicorp
Allflex Europe
Amadeus IT Group
Apple
Axis Energy Group
Bank of America
Boston Scientific
Companhia Nitroquimica Brasileira
Cisco Systems
Corporación Andina de Fomento
Cyrela
Delec Científica Uruguaya
Deugro
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bahn
Entravision
Jonas Computing
Jones Lang Lasalle
Hyundai Motors
Lexmark International
LimeBike
Lindsay International
Man Investments
Marubeni
Microsoft
Milliman
Mizrahi Tefahot Bank
MTU Maintenance Services
Neogen Corporation
Nordex Energy
Phibro Animal Health
POS2000
Standard Chartered Bank
Televisa
The Hackett Group
Visa International
Votorantim
Velcro Uruguay
WeWork
Sony
Work highlights
- Acted for Bank of America Securities in the restructuring of the debt of the holding company of the concessionaire company of the Carrasco international airport.
- Advised Goldman Sachs on its proposed acquisition of two of the largest supermarket chains in Uruguay.
- Assisted several European banks in debt restructuring and a €134m amended and restated term and revolving facilities agreement with a multinational online travel company.
Uruguay > Intellectual property Tier 3
Full-service firm Bergstein Abogados has a longstanding presence in IP and offers trade mark and patent registration services, while leaning on its strong litigation practice to act in IP disputes. Senior associate Silvina Vila is the key contact and dedicated IP expert, and focuses on portfolio management. Disputes partner Leonardo Melos lends his support in IP litigation.
Practice head(s):
Silvina Vila; Leonardo Melos
Testimonials
‘They are punctual and responsible, reliable and attentive.‘
‘A very solid team of lawyers, who support each other and beyond the specific one in charge of a task, there is always another aware of the subject.‘
‘Dynamics is a difference, in my opinion. The team’s attorneys serve clients directly, with painstaking dedication. It does not give the client the feeling that it is “one more” among many others. This, beyond the quality of the service in terms of their knowledge of course, which is remarkable.‘
Uruguay > Labour and employment Tier 3
The labour and employment team at Bergstein Abogados assists companies with employment-related litigation as well as more general matters involving the application of labour and employment legislation, and individual and collective labour rights. Leonardo Melos is the primary contact for labour disputes and negotiations with unions. He coordinates the practice alongside up-and-coming associate Mariana Pisón, who works across all matters, both contentious and advisory, and has assisted a number of international companies with their operations in Uruguay.
Practice head(s):
Leonardo Melos; Mariana Pisón
Testimonials
‘The team has always been responsive and provided great advice.‘
‘The team has a solid knowledge of the subject and an impeccable handling of the negotiation in particular cases.‘
‘The attorneys we work with have an excellent disposition, very thorough knowledge, and remarkable negotiation skills.‘
Uruguay > Dispute resolution Tier 4
Litigation is one of the core practices at Bergstein Abogados, which has gained experience in a broad range of sectors, with construction, white-collar crime and force majeure labour disputes all seeing an increase in 2020. The firm has a strong base of international clients in various industries and is also relied on by a selection of international firms as their local contact. Practice head Leonardo Melos is a reference in the market, a former judge and expert in complex litigation and antitrust. Associate Silvina Vila assists in the full range of matters, representing clients in civil and commercial disputes, and environmental, antitrust and telecoms matters.
Practice head(s):
Leonardo Melos
Testimonials
‘I’ve worked with Bergstein on a complex matter for a US client involving dispute resolution and related negotiations in Uruguay. They have been a very helpful resource in the market and at the standard of the top firms in Uruguay that I have worked with.‘
‘Leonardo Melos is a very capable and attentive senior lawyer. He has been a great resource in the market. I will be sure to work with him again as future opportunities arise.‘
‘An extremely qualified and professional team.‘
‘Attention to the client in a dynamic and responsible way.‘
Uruguay > Real estate Tier 4
Rural land acquisitions and farm reorganisations have been recent focuses of Bergstein Abogados' real estate department. While it primarily handles purchases, the team is also equipped to advise on REITs and financing; construction contracts and agreements; condominiums and conversions; and development, planning and land use. Associate Ana Claudia Marrero and corporate law and tax expert Jonás Bergstein coordinate the practice group.
Practice head(s):
Ana Claudia Marrero; Jonás Bergstein
Bergstein Abogados > Firm Profile
The firm: Why Bergstein? Because of the seniority of the team, its hard work, and its high ethical standards strongly identifying with Jewish values.
Personal attention is Bergstein’s trademark: the professional who participates in the first interview, is the same person who conducts the work until the very end of the assignment.
Established in 1957, Bergstein emphasises quality rather than quantity. Its structure is large enough to provide clients with sophisticated legal advice, yet flexible enough to focus personal attention on each client’s specific needs.
The firm takes pride in its responsiveness and its understanding of the clients’ needs to provide concise and accurate advice. This explains the high number of international firms which partner with Bergstein to cover their legal support in Uruguay.
Independent publications consistently rank Bergstein among the top firms in the country, highlighting its “quality service, absolutely in line with international standards”, its “fast-delivery times” and its “impeccable integrity”.
The people: Bergstein’s most important asset is the people it has, today there is a perfect ratio of senior lawyers and a younger generation, which the make up the firm.
The firm invests heavily in professional development. Most of the firm’s lawyers have completed international studies abroad and have been trained at some of the most prominent international law firms in the US and Europe. All of them are bilingual and culturally attuned to the clients’ business environments.
Ethics: Fully aligned with most recent technology advances, Bergstein keeps loyal to the philosophy of its founding generation. Bergstein’s strength lies in the depth of its roots. Our work will be meaningless without the strong Jewish ethical underpinnings which sustain the firm.
Social responsibility: Bergstein is engaged in a number of pro bono programmes. In an effort to contribute to the development of the social community in which it is inserted, Bergstein provides professional assistance to Beit Jabad Uruguay, the Holocaust Museum, the Simon Wiesenthal Library, Tzedaká Foundation and Helper, a first aid hi-tech network of volunteers around the country.
Bergstein was founded by Dr Nahum Bergstein in 1957. Nahum Bergstein was widely recognized as one of the most prominent lawyers of his time. Mr Bergstein was Professor of Criminal Law, Vice Minister of Education and Culture, member of the House of Deputies and member of the Senate of the Republic. At Congress, Mr Bergstein authored and co-authored fundamental laws such as the Anti-Discrimination Act, the Anti-Corruption Act, and the amendments to the Pledge and Security Act and the Copyright legislation.
Nahum Bergstein established the imprint that characterizes the firm to this day: the ethical dimension of the profession, the relentless pursuit of excellence, work as one of the greatest expressions of self-realization, and the continued search of client satisfaction.
In the 1972, Mrs Nelly Kleckin joined the firm to lead the real estate/notarial practice for the next 35 years. The spectrum of services was broadened and the firm started to provide corporate and general business advice. The clientele diversified. First representing Argentine capitals which started to invest heavily in the real estate sector industry through the 1970s and 1980´s. And thereafter, starting in the early 1990´s, working hand-in-hand with Brazilian clients who started to rely upon Uruguay’s financial and legal offshore platforms. The Brazilian desk was opened at that time.
In the late 1980´s and early 1990`s, with the help of a new generation, the firm consolidated its internationalization process.
In 1992, the firm established its accounting and tax department, with the aim of providing a one-shop solution to its clients. By then, the classical and traditional legal bureau became a multi-disciplinary organization which started to provide a wide array of professional services including tax consulting, accounting and payroll, as well as notary and recruitment services.
Continued travelling, the academic and professional training of its young professionals abroad, and the renewed exchange with international correspondent law firms, are the trends which pattern the firm’s development in the XXI century.
Many of Bergstein’s clients are leading companies in their fields. such as banking, construction, consumer goods, credit cards, electronics, energy, information technology, medical engineering, mining, pharmaceuticals, smart-phones, and telecommunications.
Areas of practice: Today Bergstein is a full-service law firm, which provides professional services in almost all areas of law. The firm maintains a solid accounting department which supports the tax practice of the firm and is responsible for the accounts, payroll, tax and social security registers for many of the firm’s clients. Taking responsibility over full compliance (with local regulations) by foreign entities, is part of our regular practice.
Main areas of practice
- Accounting
- Administrative
- Agribusiness
- Aviation
- Banking and finance
- Competition law
- Compliance
- Consumer protection
- Corporate
- Data privacy
- Employment
- Energy
- Foreign investment
- Free trade zones
- Immigration
- Infrastructure
- Intellectual property
- Life sciences
- Litigation and arbitration
- Maritime
- Mining
- Oil and gas
- Real estate
- Taxes
- Telecommunications
- Wealth management
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Corporate | Jonás Bergstein | jbergstein@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Taxes | Domingo Pereira | dpereira@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Litigation and Arbitration | Leonardo Melos | lmelos@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Accounting | Sebastián Guido | sguido@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Employment | Mariana Pisón | mpison@bersgteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Real Estate | Ana Claudia Marrero | amarrero@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Agribusiness | Ana Claudia Marrero | amarrero@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Immigration | Mercedes Nin | mnin@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Intellectual Property | Silvina Vila | svila@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Telecommunications | Leonardo Melos | lmelos@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Competition Law | Leonardo Melos | lmelos@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Energy | Jonás Bergstein | jbergstein@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Data Privacy | Guillermo Duarte | gduarte@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Administrative | Domingo Pereira | dpereira@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Compliance | Vanessa Corvini | vcorvini@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Life Sciences | Jonás Bergstein | jbergstein@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Banking and Finance | Guillermo Duarte | gduarte@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |
Free Trade Zones | Guzmán Ramirez | gramirez@bergsteinlaw.com | +59829012448 |