Ferrere > Asuncion, Paraguay > Firm Profile

Ferrere > The Legal 500 Rankings

Paraguay > Administrative law Tier 1

The highly experienced administrative and public law team at Ferrere provides a one-stop-shop service to private companies and both state and independent public entities across the full range of industries, particularly the fintech sector. With a strong footing in the infrastructure and construction space, the firm is involved in turn-key projects, concessions and project finance, and also advises on the preparation of private initiative proposals and agreements with the state. As well as guiding clients through competitive bid processes, the team is experienced in administrative litigation and disputes, including appeals, actions and protections. With a wealth of public sector experience, recently-appointed managing partner Carlos Codas is well-placed to head the team and leads on administrative litigation matters. Practice co-head Maurizio De Oliveira is a senior associate who also specialises in administrative disputes, and handles disciplinary procedures and inquiries. Carlos Vasconsellos has extensive experience in privately financed infrastructure projects and turn-key projects in Paraguay, excelling in negotiations with both public entities and private sponsorships. Senior associate Claudia Arietti strengthens the team’s capabilities in the infrastructure sector, regularly advising on PPP and turn-key projects. Associate Ana Cardozo is also praised by clients. Dario Capurro left the firm in December 2023.

Paraguay > Banking and finance Tier 1

Operating at the forefront of the sector, Ferrere advises a stellar list of international banks, local corporations and multilateral organisations. The team is active in the fintech space, assisting with the development and launch of fintech products. As well as its strong transactional capabilities, the practice has a successful track record in obtaining banking licenses on behalf of financial institutions and has played a key role in the drafting of anti-money laundering legislation. Carlos Codas leads the team and his broad practice spans all financial products, financings and transactions, including structured, syndicated, bilateral and multilateral transactions. Carlos Vasconsellos advises financial institutions on corporate and structured finance transactions, as well as boasting a strong project and infrastructure financing practice. Néstor Loizaga remains a go-to advisor for foreign banks and multilateral organisations, while Verónica Franco heads the firm’s international capital markets team, covering significant bond programs and the issuance of sustainable bonds. At the senior associate level, Claudia Arietti is active in fintech matters, and her expertise encompasses e-money, payment services and crypto assets, while Maurizio De Oliveira brings extensive public-sector experience to the team. Beatriz Recalde joined the team from Greenberg Traurig LLP in April 2023, with a focus on bilateral and syndicated lending, secured and unsecured. Pamela Lezcano left the firm in May 2023.

Paraguay > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

Merger control forms the basis of Ferrere’s competition practice and it remains at the forefront of the market in terms of notifications filed; the team has a proven track record in merger control transactions cleared by the competition authority. Anticompetitive conduct is another area of expertise, and the team is well-equipped to handle large-scale investigations, as well as claims related to abuse of dominance. The group has an impressive roster of local and international household names, from Grupo Vasquez to Disney, that it advises on best practices on a day-to-day basis. Practice head Verónica Franco ‘stands out’ as an active and established figure in the sector, boasting an extensive portfolio of notifications and filings on behalf of both national and multinational companies. Senior associate Fernanda Benítez participates in merger control procedures and advises foreign and local clients on the prevention of anticompetitive practices.

Paraguay > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

International clients continue to seek out Ferrere as a one-stop shop for all corporate matters, and the firm has a successful track record advising on the establishment of operations in Paraguay. Its impressive roster of national and multinational clients spans the full range of sectors and the firm participates in transactions at the top end of the market, including M&A and JVs, as well as handling general corporate matters, such as contracts and compliance. Practice head Néstor Loizaga leads on major transactions in the financial sector, often on a cross-border basis. Carlos Vasconsellos is also active in sector-significant mandates, handling foreign investments and complex commercial contracts and business agreements. Verónica Franco brings international experience to the team, as well as experience in regional M&A. Eduardo Ammatuna focuses his practice on the fluvial and logistics sector, advising significant players on acquisitions, restructurings and key projects. As head of the firm’s real estate and environment practices, counsel Guillermo Jover broadens the team’s sector-specific offering, advising on investment and acquisitions in the real estate industry. At the senior associate level, Claudia Arietti is regularly called upon by multinational corporations to advise on day-to-day corporate matters, while Manfred Heyn boasts a clientele of private, public and multilateral entities that he advises on M&A and debt restructuring. Raúl Pereira is another key contact in the team.

Paraguay > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Commercial litigation is a particular strength for the ‘prepared and agile’ dispute resolution team at Ferrere. The practice has a strong background in contract enforcement, complex labour and consumer protection cases and insolvency proceedings. It has a high success rate in regulatory and administrative proceedings within the maritime and river transportation sectors and before customs. Distribution law is another area of expertise, and the practice demonstrates prowess in disputes with distributors. Its impressive roster of clients includes household names across a full range of sectors, both national and international companies and state-owned entities in Paraguay. Practice co-head Néstor Loizaga is an expert in distribution disputes, advising a stellar client list that includes Cargill, AstraZeneca and Electrolux. Promoted to partner in January 2023, Miguel Saguier co-leads the team, specialising in commercial, civil and administrative disputes. Head of the labour litigation team Marysol Estigarribia has a successful track record in both domestic and international cases. Senior associate Raúl Pereira boasts experience in international arbitrations.

Paraguay > Environment Tier 1

Ferrere remains ahead of the curve in terms of environmental and climate change matters in Paraguay, advising on carbon offset credits, green hydrogen and ammonia production, and green bonds and sustainable finance. Its pre-eminence in regulatory matters sees the environmental team advising an extensive roster of both local and international clients on licensing issues, compliance audits and due diligence, as well as legislative processes. The group also boasts a strong transactional practice, advising on M&A and commercial transactions within the sector. Environmental disputes are another area of expertise, and the team provides representation in administrative, judicial and arbitral proceedings. Counsel Guillermo Jover heads the practice; with an established reputation in the sector, he has played a leading role in the voluntary carbon space, advising an impressive clientele of carbon credit buyers, developers and sellers, as well as assisting national legislators with a bill to regulate the carbon markets. Senior associate Marcelo Rodríguez is a specialist environmental litigator, litigating enforcement actions, obtaining environmental licenses and approvals and defending clients in administrative and judicial proceedings.

Paraguay > Labour and employment Tier 1

Its extensive client base sees Ferrere advise on the establishment and management of operations in Paraguay, specialising in providing support to international clients on corporate restructurings, collective transfers and the preparation and termination of contracts. The team also offers day-to-day labour and social security advice to local companies and national corporations, from remuneration schemes to new technologies. The firm boasts a dedicated internal compliance practice, advising on labour regulations, gross misconduct and the misuse of work tools. It has a strong background in labour litigation, as well as supporting clients in administrative proceedings with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Labour specialist Marysol Estigarribia is an ‘excellent leader’ and has a successful track record in labour litigation, including cases related to dismissal with fair cause and administrative fines. Bringing experience in administrative and judicial proceedings, senior associate José Trinidad specialises in labour litigation. At the associate level, Matias Chaves ‘shines’ and is a go-to in the team for support in due diligence processes. Fernando Valdovinos and Adriana Figueredo are also active members of the team. Senior associate Pamela Balbuena joined the team in September 2023.

Paraguay > Intellectual property Tier 2

With a successful track record in contentious matters within the IP sector, Ferrere advises on oppositions, prosecutions of trade mark portfolios, and cancellation and nullity actions. Regulatory matters are another area of expertise, and the team represents clients in interactions with the IP office in Paraguay. The group excels in the drafting of licensing and franchise agreements, and is also experienced in the transfer of IP rights, particularly in the context of M&A. Its international focus is reflected in its extensive roster of multinational clients, spanning the TMT, agribusiness, finance, pharmaceutical, industrial and transportation sectors, that it advises on trade mark, patent, design and domain name registration. With a strong contentious practice, Néstor Loizaga leads the team. Practice co-head, senior associate and IP expert Montserrat Puente boasts ‘outstanding’ experience in trade mark portfolio management, including opposition and protection, as well as demonstrating expertise in niche matters, such as IP-generated royalties. At the senior associate level, Miguel Saguier plays a lead role in cancellation and nullity actions. Cynthia Sanabria specialises in trade mark filing and prosecution, defending trade mark and patent rights at the administrative level, while César Benitez is active in judicial proceedings.

Paraguay > Tax Tier 2

Ferrere boasts a successful track record in defence against customs matters, with experience in matters related to customs duties, customs valuation and set prices for intra-group traded goods. It has a strong background in tax litigation, representing clients in contentious proceedings before the tax administration. The practice has been called upon by the administration to advise on legislation, thanks to its expertise in dividends and profits, special investment regimes and tax refunds. Néstor Loizaga leads the team, advising national and international clients on the tax aspects of investment regimes, M&A and corporate structures. Promoted to the partnership in August 2024, practice co-head Erika Bañuelos brings extensive expertise in international tax matters to the team, as well as experience in litigation, representing clients in administrative proceedings and before the tax authority. Senior associate María Julia Méndez spearheads the team’s customs work, leading successful inquiries against the customs authorities. Tanya Moreno, senior associate, focuses her practice on international tax matters and investment regimes.