José Humberto Frías > D'Empaire > Caracas, Venezuela > Lawyer Profile

D’Empaire‘s corporate and M&A practice has a strong track record of participating in major transactions resulting from the dollarisation of the market in Venezuela. In addition, the firm frequently collaborates with international law firms to advise global clients on cross-border transactions. Fulvio Italiani heads the team and is an experienced practitioner in M&A; his recent work highlights include assisting Brown-Forman with its acquisition of the Diplomático Rum brand and related assets. José Humberto Frías, Victorino Márquez, Roberto Mas and Inés Parra are active transactional lawyers, while Carlos Omaña has notable expertise in acquisitions in the onshore oil drilling sector. Associate Giancarlo Carrazza provides key support.

D’Empaire is widely recognised for its oil and gas practice, which combines its knowledge and experience in the sector with its M&A and finance expertise. The firm has assisted foreign companies with energy-related projects and transactions, including advising international construction and engineering companies in connection with the execution of EPC turn-key projects. ‘Excellent advisers‘ Carlos Omaña, an expert in oil and gas projects, and Fulvio Italiani, who is experienced in major energy-related transactions, lead the team, while José Valecillos, José Humberto Frías, Arnoldo Troconis and Roberto Mas are also key names in the practice.

D’Empaire is focused on investor-state arbitration and is currently involved in significant ICSID and UNCITRAL proceedings, including in relation to nationalisation and measures carried out by the Venezuelan government. The firm also handles both domestic and international commercial arbitration and civil and commercial litigation. José Humberto Frías, who is well versed in commercial and investor-state arbitration, and Pedro Perera, a specialist in civil, commercial, IP and constitutional litigation. Dubraska Galarraga is also a key partner, while Giancarlo Carrazza and Daniel Bustos are the names to note at associate level.

D’Empaire handles a wide range of matters within the public law field, including advising on freedom of speech issues for one of Venezuela’s largest telecoms players and on nationalisations and expropriations affecting major domestic companies. Alongside this, the firm has engaged in a number of matters in the pharmaceutical sector, providing regulatory advice to major clients including Pfizer and Bristol-Myers. The team is also well regarded for its experience in negotiations with the Venezuelan government (where associate Daniel Bustos is particularly active). José Valentín González represents clients in constitutional and administrative litigation, as well as regulatory matters, and is described as ‘always able to connect the dots between jurisdictions‘, while José Humberto Frías is knowledgeable in regulatory issues. Francisco Bolinaga, who focuses on advising multinationals and Venezuelan companies on environmental law, and associate Ornella Bernabei, who has expertise in communications and technology law, are also noted contacts.