CMS Grau > Lima, Peru > Firm Profile

CMS Grau > The Legal 500 Rankings

Energy and natural resources > Hydrocarbons Tier 1

Dominant locally and globally in the oil and gas arena, CMS Grau advises major IOCs, NOCs and service providers on their Peruvian and regional activities, be it exploration, production, gas transmission and distribution, or refining. The impressive and extensive client roster includes Shell Operaciones Perú, BP Exploration Operating Company, Enagás Internacional and Petroperú, recently advising the latter on negotiation with Perupetro regarding the on-shore exploitation contract of Block 192, Peru’s highest oil-producing block, as well as other exploitation opportunities. A line-up of three seasoned partners includes co-heads of the practice Carlos Hamann and Augusto Astorga, who bring additional arbitration and commercial-contracts expertise, respectively, to the practice; and Ramón Huapaya, a public services regulation, concessions and infrastructure specialist. A five-strong associate team includes Jesús Abanto, who previously worked at energy regulator OSINERGMIN.

Peru > Real estate Tier 1

An impressive bank of public and private sector clients at CMS Grau demonstrate the depth of the expertise at the office. The team specialises in advising organisations with extensive property needs, such as energy and mining companies, domestic conglomerates, manufacturers, producers and government bodies. In terms of work mandates, it boasts a considerable track record of urban and rural development projects including major infrastructure, land transactions and land remediation, for example. High-profile real estate lawyer Raúl Ravina is leading advice to Provias Nacional, the government agency in charge of managing the national road network, on five infrastructure road projects, having won the client following competitive tender. Ravina co-leads the practice alongside the much-praised Carolina Gajate, client partner to Falabella Group among others, while a 15-strong associate team includes stand out individuals Juan Pulgar-Vidal, Patricia Camacho and the more junior Roberth Rojas.

Peru > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 2

CMS Grau excels in international and cross border insolvencies, where practice head Michelle Barclay is a leading light on Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Building on experience and exposure gained acting for William Brandt as Chapter 11 Trustee of the ongoing China Fishery case, she is now leading advice to creditors in both the LATAM Airlines and Avianca Chapter 11 bankruptcy matters. The team's work for Enagás in the Gasoducto Sur Peruano matter demonstrates its energy-sector expertise. The seven-lawyer team also includes banking and finance partner Miguel Viale and the increasingly experienced Victor Farro, promoted to counsel in 2021.

Peru > Compliance Tier 2

The practice at CMS Grau continues to grow in stature, attracting several new clients such as Cementos Pacasmayo, Indeco (Nexans) and Centria (part of Grupo Breca). The head of the practice and former criminal litigator Carolina Cueva was rewarded with partnership in December 2020 as a result. The highly-specialist practice is distinguished by its ability to establish comprehensive compliance management systems for clients, combining technical know-how with legal expertise, but it also handles internal investigations and anti-corruption and anti-money laundering due diligence, among other matters. Notably, it also offers a regional compliance service via the firm's offices across Latin America. Cueva leads a small team of associates backed by multidisciplinary input from across the firm in areas such as antitrust and corporate.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 2

A market leader for property-rights issues within the mining sector, CMS Grau is also experienced in the full suite of legal matters facing the industry, from corporate and business strategy and financing, through to project development and conflicts. The firm reports a busy year advising its high-calibre client base on Covid-related regulations and implications, including the donation of oxygen to public medical centres of local communities. In contrast, it is also acting for Macusani Yellowcake, a subsidiary of Plateau Energy Metals, on the defence of 32 of its mining titles against forfeiture attempted by the Peruvian mining authorities. The practice benefits from the skill of five partners, led by the very experienced Cecilia Gonzales and including: Liliana Pautrat who is highly focused on the exploration, exploitation, processing and mining transport activities of operations; mining M&A and finance partner Marité Aragaki; and former in-house mining lawyer, Raúl Ferreryra.

Peru > Environment Tier 2

Strong across the board in energy and natural resources, CMS Grau has the necessary environmental expertise its high-calibre client base demands. With one of the most established, dedicated teams in the market, it boasts an extensive array of top-drawer clients, not just from the energy and utility sectors but extended to major manufacturers Kimberly-Clark, Arca Continental Lindley and AB Inbev (Backus Perú and Bavaria in Colombia). The firm’s innovative environmental-compliance software solution, “GEORGE”, continues to benefit clients, most recently being rolled out to natural gas transportation company COGA. Head of the practice Vito Verna is a full-time environmental partner, a rare commodity in Peru. He leads a team of five associates among whom former Delapuente partner, Nicole Freire, who arrived as a senior in April 2021, and experienced semi-senior Víctor La Madrid, are particulalry noteworthy.

Peru > Public law and regulation Tier 2

Ramón Huapaya at CMS Grau is highly respected by peers and clients for his knowledge and experience in this arena, more specifically in relation to administrative proceedings in the power, oil and gas and telecoms sectors. The practice also handles wider regulatory matters, public procurement and general public contracts, for example, acting for General Electric (GE) Healthcare among others on an ongoing basis in this regard. Huapaya's 'right hand' is very capable senior associate Nestor Shimabukuro, who leads on some mandates and is highly focused in this area, while the more junior Oscar Alejos is also a key team member.

Peru > Banking and finance Tier 3

A comprehensive offering at CMS Grau provides solid capability across all types of financing, with specialist expertise in mining projects, energy, infrastructure investments and concessions, real estate and retail financing. Managing partner Juan Carlos Escudero oversees the practice alongside Diego Peschiera, a banking and finance specialist with considerable expertise across a broad range of financial matters. Peschiera led advice to Chilean private fund Volcom Capital on $200m-worth of loans and refinancing on behalf of a portfolio of companies during the past year. The team also includes the talents of Miguel Viale, who takes the lead in multiple deal highlights at the firm.

Peru > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

CMS Grau is particularly strong on advertising law and consumer protection, handling an array of contentious and non-contentious matters across a broad variety of sectors, including retail, banks and airlines. The team is well-placed to capitalise on future merger control work following introduction of new legislation in Peru in 2021, due to its extensive international network of offices and resulting know-how and experience of colleagues abroad. Head of practice Maria Delia Oxley leads the vast majority of key matters within the practice, while co-head Ramón Huapaya, who also leads the public law practice at the firm, plays a lesser role but contributes invaluable regulatory experience.

Peru > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Combining long-established local expertise with extensive international muscle, CMS Grau is an obvious choice for cross-border transactions and regional corporate planning. Managing partner Juan Carlos Escudero V heads the practice alongside the more junior but highly-regarded Miguel Viale. Clients appreciate the 'proactive' and 'very empathetic team' that gets to grips with clients' business quickly, with lawyers who prove 'highly imaginative in their strategies'. Clients are drawn from a broad sector-base, but the firm has particular strength in the energy, mining, real estate, technology, telecom and life sciences areas. Recent highlights include acting for a significant Chilean electricity transmission company on its acquisition of the Peruvian subsidiaries of Orazul Energia (UK) Holdings, controlled by I Squared Capital; the advice was led by Viale.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity Tier 3

CMS Grau fields an experienced team led by Ramón Huapaya, an administrative and regulatory specialist, and energy partner Carlos Hamann, and draws some stellar clients to the practice including Luz del Sur and Enel Distribución. The practice complements the firm's high-ranking hydrocarbon and mining practices demonstrating strength across the board of energy mandates, as demonstrated in its work for Luz del Sur in sanctioning administrative procedures before energy agency OSINERGMIN and OEFA, the environmental agency. Senior associate Nestor Shimabukuro is an integral member of the team.

Peru > Labour and employment Tier 3

Head of practice Claudia Flecha at CMS Grau is highly respected by peers and cilents for her capability; advising across a range of labour matters, she has particular expertise in the retail, mining, energy, real estate and education sectors. She leads a dozen-lawyer team, including experienced counsel José Burgos, that advises a strong client roster including Rio Tinto Group, KLM, Unilever and Solgas. The team has been busy during the past year advising multiple clients on the labour law implications of Covid-19 regulations, and has a large caseload of business-critical litigious matters such as sexual harassment.

Peru > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

CMS Grau is strong in project development, particularly in the energy and mining sectors which are key strengths of the firm. Public law partner Giancarlo Villafranqui is praised for his experience in PPPs, concessions and administrative issues; he co-leads the practice alongside the versatile Michelle Barclay, whose broad practice includes bidding and concessions, alongside investment negotiations in relation to public assets. Client gains during the past year include a US oil and gas company and a domestic irrigation project concessionaire.

Peru > Tax Tier 3

CMS Grau shines for its expertise in the tax aspects of transactions, particularly in the mining, oil and gas, and energy sectors, where it acts for the likes of Southern Peaks Mining and ISA Interconexión Electrica. Clients benefit from the shared know-how of the firm's global CMS tax management team, while a niche area of expertise is environmental taxation. Practice head Rolando Cevasco and the nine-strong team also handles litigation, tax planning and audits for example. Senior associate Carlos Chirinos leads the office's important transfer pricing practice.

Peru > TMT (Technology, media and telecoms) Tier 3

CMS Grau has a focused practice group in this area, attracting some household-name companies as clients such as Google, which it advises alongside its Colombian office in relation to public policy matters. Administrative lawyer Ramón Huapaya heads up the telecoms work at the office and is client partner to one of the main mobile telecom providers in Peru. Data protection is a core area of the practice and is led by regulatory associate Cecilia Kahn, who also leads on technology work. She recently undertook training presentations on behalf of Adobe outlining the legal framework applicable to electronic and digital signatures.

Peru > Capital markets Tier 4

CMS Grau welcomed a number of new clients to the practice over the past year, including investment management company Banchile Administradora General de Fondos, Acres and Kallpa Securities, among others. Capital markets work at the firm is led by Diego Peschiera, who has experience of syndicated loan operations, debt issues on the local and international markets and international securitisations; while fellow practice co-head Miguel Viale has former in-house experience at an investment company and advises on debt transactions, trust structures and securitisations, among other matters.

Peru > Dispute resolution Tier 4