Mr Diego Villarroel > Ferrere > Santa Cruz, Bolivia > Lawyer Profile

FERRERE is well-versed in advising international financial institutions and multilaterals on a full range of banking and finance matters. The firm’s workload includes advice on the structuring of complex financial instruments with Bolivian companies and securing guarantees in Bolivia. The firm provides regulatory advice to investment funds, insurers, and credit rating agencies, and also has significant experience advising clients on their interactions with the Bolivian government. Throughout 2022, the firm was active in the insurance and reinsurance sector, advising Lockton Specialties on its expansion into Bolivia as a foreign reinsurance broker. The team is led by Diego Villarroel, who specialises in project finance, regulatory banking matters and capital markets. He regularly advises clients on cross-border transactions and handles queries from banks and financial services providers. At the associate level, José Rivero supports on capital markets, banking regulatory matters and project finance transactions.

FERRERE‘s dispute resolution team offers advice on a range of contentious matters, including both domestic and international arbitration, and domestic litigation. The group handles various arbitration matters, including investment, civil and commercial arbitration, and its experience also covers complex and sensitive disputes with the Bolivian government. Clients come from a variety of industries, including energy and natural resources, telecoms, pharmaceuticals and retail. In 2022, the firm also noted a signification number of litigation matters related to the agribusiness sector. Managing partner Diego Villarroel leads the arbitration and litigation team, and senior associate Bruno Cuellar has a broad knowledge of dispute resolution procedures, with a focus on civil and labour litigation.

FERRERE‘s IP department is regarded by clients as a ‘very competent and highly-informed‘ team. The firm demonstrates expertise in both administrative and judicial IP litigation, with experience representing clients in sensitive disputes before the Bolivian Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy (SENAPI). The group participates in opposition, nullity and infringement actions, and has recently increased its activity in patent filings and strategies, taking on a number of new clients. Practitioners have been implementing strategies and new protection practices to monitor client portfolios. The team is led by Diego Villarroel, who has extensive experience advising local and international clients, and associate Alberto Rivera, who assists with cancellation and nullity actions, and the filing of oppositions.

FERRERE’s corporate and M&A team offers advice on contracts, day-to-day corporate matters and due diligence, while also handling complex regulatory issues and M&A. The team has been involved in several high-value M&A and reorganisation transactions in 2022. The firm has experience advising clients on their interactions with the Bolivian government. The team also offers advice to international clients looking to establish and manage operations in Bolivia. In 2022, the firm has seen an increase in transactions in the agribusiness sector, advising key clients in the industry, such as Cargill. The team is led by Diego Villarroel, who advises domestic and international clients on day-to-day corporate matters as well as M&A, due diligence and documents for all types of commercial transactions. At the senior associate level, Pablo Heredia is involved in the organisation of local and international companies, and in due diligence procedures to assess corporate compliance and implement corporate transactions. Jorge Palza has extensive experience in corporate matters, and offers advice on joint ventures, corporate due diligence, compliance and corporate governance.