Christopher Cross > Latham & Watkins LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP maintained strong activity levels in 2020, in both strategic and private equity transactions. Much of the team’s work centres on infrastructure and energy. It has also experienced an uptick in distressed M&A in the upstream oil and gas sector. Chile has been a bright spot for the Latin America group, along with Central America; it continued to advise Telefónica on the sale of its wireless operations in Costa Rica. Mexico, a long-term forte for the team, provided a steady pipeline of deals, leading into advisory engagements linked to changes in the political climate. With no office in Brazil, the firm is slightly behind some of its natural competitors in that particular jurisdiction. Antonio Del Pino is co-chair of the Latin America group, and has an extensive record in strategic and private equity deals in the region, including those in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Christopher Cross is another experienced figure in energy deals in Latin America, while Ignacio Pallarés is playing a pivotal role from Madrid, where he represents a number of big-name Spanish clients in their Latin America transactions and interests. Javier Stark has been elevated to the partnership, having advised a number of key clients in Brazil, Mexico and other Latin American jurisdictions. Associate Alan Rozen has supported a number of the team’s key deals.

Latham & Watkins LLP significantly enhanced its Latin America group with the hire of Gianluca Bacchiocchi and Guido Liniado from Clifford Chance in January 2021. The two bring an intense focus on Latin America and a broad financing background, particularly in the project finance and project bonds segments. Acquisition and leveraged finance is a forte for the wider Latin America team and an underlying strength of the firm globally. The group represents a number of big-name commercial lenders, a growing group of Spanish borrowers and a series of private equity sponsors. Oil and gas is a major focus sector for the team. Washington DC partner David Penna has rejoined the firm, having completed a spell as senior vice president in the Office of Strategic Initiatives at the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and adds significant Latin America project finance expertise to the group. Veronica Relea is another key name in energy, infrastructure and leveraged finance. Christopher Cross is noted for energy financings in Mexico and elsewhere; he led the team that advised Fermaca, the Mexican energy company on credit and revolving credit facilities to support performance bonds in connection with company’s various energy project deals in Mexico. Antonio Del Pino co-chairs the Latin America team and is another important name in project and leveraged finance. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Latham & Watkins LLP significantly enhanced its Latin America projects and energy team with the hire of the highly rated Gianluca Bacchiocchi and Guido Liniado from Clifford Chance in the early part of 2021. Bacchiocchi, in particular, has been a standout figure in project bonds and hybrid financing structures over a number of years. They join a firm that is a global force in energy and infrastructure projects, including in Latin America. The firm has made a particular impression in oil and gas transactions in Mexico over the years, along with power and renewables, and infrastructure projects in Chile, Peru and elsewhere. Christopher Cross is a leader in Mexico oil and gas matters, including pipeline projects. Latin America group co-chair Antonio Del Pino is also noted for energy M&A, while San Diego’s Sony Ben-Moshe is recommended for energy sector (including renewables) financings in the region. David Penna re-joined the Washington DC office in November 2020 from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Veronica Relea and Washington DC counsel Luis Torres are also key names, along with Washington DC associate Carlos Ardila. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Active across the spectrum of power sector matters, Latham & Watkins LLP’s broad expertise covers conventional power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, renewables, energy storage, nuclear power generation and evolving electric power technologies. The team specialises in finance, project finance, IPPs and M&A advice to conventional power players, as well as being particularly active in the private equity segment. New York-based Eli Katz leads a deep bench of experts, key names among them include: Christopher Cross in New York, who is an experienced corporate and finance lawyer in the energy industry; transactional expert David Kurzweil, who also works out of New York; and Lauren Anderson in Houston, whose strengths are private equity transactions, M&A and general corporate matters for energy and infrastructure industry clients. The group was further strengthened in 2021 by the arrival Houston-based Trina Chandler from Vinson & Elkins LLP; she is known for her M&A expertise across the power and renewables, energy transition, and infrastructure sectors.