Juan Carlos Escudero > CMS Grau > Lima, Peru > Lawyer Profile

CMS Grau‘s international network allows it to handle a considerable volume of cross-border matters, with work involving European nations as well as other Latin American jurisdictions. The practice is led by Juan Carlos Escudero, whose recent mandates include advising Argentinian e-commerce site Mercado Libre on the modification of its business model for Peru; and Miguel Viale, a transactional specialist who handles banking, finance and capital markets matters, as well as M&A. Recent matters include the structuring of share sales, the reorganisation of the composition of shareholdings, due diligence on M&A targets and both acquisitions and sales. The lead partners can also call on finance specialist Diego Peschiera ; dual-qualified (Peru / New York) insolvency and restructuring expert Michelle Barclay; and energy specialist Carlos Hamann. Key support comes from younger partners Carolina Gajate  (real estate and corporate law); Marité Aragaki (corporate M&A / project finance); and senior associate Carlos Calderón, who handles corporate finance and M&A with an emphasis on the hospitality, manufacturing, natural resources, agricultural and IT sectors.

The seven-strong banking and finance practice at CMS Grau handles a broad range of financing types and instruments, including traditional and syndicated lending, capital markets matters, trusts and trust bonds, equity and project finance, among others, acting for a consolidated client roster which reflects a notable focus on mining, energy and renewables, oil and gas, and infrastructure projects. The team is jointly led by Juan Carlos Escudero, Diego Peschiera and Miguel Viale; managing partner Escudero acts for financial institutions and a broad range of companies on banking and corporate matters; Peschiera focuses on capital markets, M&A, and both corporate and project finance; while Viale specialises in bank lending, trusts and securitisation. Key support is provided by senior associate Carlos Calderón; the co-founder and director of a small investment fund, his practice focuses on M&A, financings, capital markets, joint ventures and cross-border transactions. Since the conclusion of research, the practice has been further strengthened with the September 2022 hire of Juan José Hopkins, formerly the founding partner (and director) of SUMARA Hub Legal.

CMS has continued to cement its position in Latin America with local teams in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru, and an international group in Brazil. The firm remains noted for its work in energy, including oil and gas, though with an increasing emphasis on renewables and energy transition sectors such as green hydrogen. Mining is another core strength, particularly in its Chile and Peru offices. Increasingly, the digital sector is an additional key area for many of the Latin America offices. The firm also continues to impress in private equity, especially in technology infrastructure segments – fibre optics, data centres and cell towers. Jorge Allende Destuet   and Ramón Valdivieso   are prominent names in M&A and private equity in Chile, Juan Carlos Escudero  is a key figure in Peru, Juan Camilo Rodríguez   is a leader in Colombia, and Ted Rhodes  has many years of experience in Latin America energy M&A, having led the Rio office since 2010.