Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados > Trujillo, Peru > Firm Profile

Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Peru > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

The team at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados is ‘multidisciplinary and highly specialised, with a strong international component’, and stands out for its ability to a handle high volume of M&A transactions in the Peruvian market. Under veteran practitioner Mauricio Olaya’s leadership, the practice’s broad expertise encompasses corporate financing, joint ventures, reorganisations, venture capital deals, M&A and corporate governance. Juan Carlos Vélez is a high-profile dealmaker who is well versed in M&A, as is Ricardo De la Piedra, who offers transactional experience in a wide range of sectors. At the senior associate level, Diego Muñiz acts for foreign and domestic companies and financial institutions in cross-border transactions, and Rolando Wilson is also noted. Raúl Vizcarra joined from Philippi Prietocarrizosa Ferrero DU & Uria in August 2022 and brings additional corporate, financial and capital markets expertise to the team. Since publication, the practice has been further strengthened with the hire of experienced partner Carlos Enrique Arata from Rubio Leguía Normand - effective as of November 2023.

Peru > Intellectual property Tier 1

The intellectual property practice at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados is described as an ‘indisputable leader‘ in the sector and is lauded by clients for its ‘high level of specialisation‘. The IP department focuses primarily on key areas such as trade marks, domain names, patents, copyright, anti-counterfeiting, anti-piracy and cross-border matters, with recent work including filing an Andean opposition for trade marks in Peru and Colombia and assisting clients in litigation related to copyright infringement, nullity actions and opposition in registration procedures. Key team members include Bruno Merchor-Valderrama for patents, Piero Calderon-Oliva for anti-piracy actions, and senior associates Johana Calderon-Valencia and Roxana Bacalla-Izquierdo. Former practice head Marta Fernandez-Pepper left the firm in May 2023.

Peru > Dispute resolution: Arbitration Tier 2

The arbitration team at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados is experienced in assisting domestic and international companies in high-stakes arbitration proceedings, with sector experience including construction, retail, real estate and financial services, to name a few. The practice is co-headed by Fernando Meléndez and Edwin Pezo, with Pezo experienced in complex international arbitrations. The team benefits from its cross-practice approach, utilising partners from other departments in relevant disputes, such as Yuri Vega for construction and corporate disputes. Senior associate Claudia Quispe is another key contact.

Peru > Dispute resolution: Litigation Tier 2

The litigation team at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados assists both domestic and international clients from a broad range of industries, including telecoms, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, media, oil and gas, and financial services. The team is jointly headed by name partner Fernando Meléndez, experienced litigator and previous in-house adviser Edwin Pezo, and experienced litigator Ericka Angulo. Angulo is particularly adept at litigating cases in the industrial sugar, real estate and insurance sectors. Associates Julissa Yamani and Mateo Salinas lead matters in administrative litigation and constitutional litigation, respectively. In personnel developments, senior associate Claudia Quispe arrived from Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas in March 2022.

Peru > Labour and employment Tier 2

Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados’ labour and employment practice is adept at advising clients in sectors such as telecoms, finance, retail, fishing, ports and construction. The team, led by Ricardo Herrera, who acts for clients including Nestlé Perú, is experienced in the suspension and dismissal of personnel, assisting clients in the adaptation of outsourcing services to the new regulation, and labour litigation. The practice has also seen recent growth in advising clients on trade union matters, with recent work including support to a logistics company in all its union conflicts. Other team contacts include María del Pilar Flórez, who specialises in individual labour rights, and César Puntriano, whose recent work includes advice to a client on complex collective bargaining negotiations.

Peru > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 2

The life sciences and healthcare department at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados offers an interdisciplinary approach, with a team comprising lawyers, veterinarians and pharmacists. The team is particularly experienced in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical devices, and food and beverages. The practice is jointly led by Marta Fernandez-Pepper and Bruno Merchor-Valderrama, who are both experienced in IP matters and particularly adept at advising clients on trade marks, patents, copyrights and other IP matters within the life sciences and healthcare fields. Senior associate Liz León-Cabezudo assists many of the department's major domestic and international clients.

Peru > TMT (Technology, media and telecoms) Tier 2

The team at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados combines its expertise in telecoms, regulation and competition law with its experience advising clients in fields such as satellite technology, fibre optic technology, radio and television. The practice, jointly led by Jorge Muniz, Pierino Stucchi and José Antonio Bezada, has particular experience in data protection issues, with recent work including advice relating to personal data flows between Peru and companies based in the European Union, as well as advice on clients’ legal documents from a personal data protection perspective. Associates Camila Mallqui, Alexander Flores and Carlos Rodas are also key contacts in the team.

Peru > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 3

Anthony Lizárraga Vera-Portocarrero leads the bankruptcy practice at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados, drawing on his extensive experience in resolving restructuring and bankruptcy cases. The practice is active in several sectors, including mining, construction, food and beverage, banking and agriculture, and continues to act for Doe Run Cayman in the company’s long-running bankruptcy case. Associate Jackeline Acevedo supports the team’s work in debt restructuring and bankruptcy matters.

Peru > Compliance Tier 3

Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados’ compliance team is adept at handling personal data privacy protection and consumer protection matters, with the practice catering to both domestic and international clients. The team is headed by Mauricio Olaya and Ian Galarza, who are experienced in the implementation of compliance programmes and white-collar criminal law, respectively. The practice is also able to advise clients on anti-money laundering issues, the prevention of terrorist financing, and risk prevention. Pierino Stucchi and José Antonio Bezada left the firm in April 2023.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity Tier 3

The electricity department at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados advises on contentious and non-contentious matters, including negotiations, concessions, permits and licenses, as well as disputes and administrative proceedings before regulators. It acts for generation, transmission and distribution companies, and government entities, and is active in projects in the hydroelectric, thermal, wind, biomass and solar sectors. The department is led by Rolando Salvatierra, who has over 25 years’ experience in the industry and is a name to note for administrative law and project financing. Associate Hilda Fernandez acts for foreign and domestic clients in corporate matters, disputes and sanctioning procedures.

Energy and natural resources > Hydrocarbons Tier 3

The team at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados is led by senior partner Daniel Palomino and is active in the up-, mid- and downstream segments of the oil and gas sector, with a focus on regulatory and corporate issues. Palomino is noted for permitting, compliance, commercial matters, administrative issues and disputes.

Peru > Tax Tier 3

The tax practice at Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados ‘knows how to work as a team and responds immediately, with great precision, paying attention to detail‘. It advises on the full range of tax matters and is particularly experienced in litigation, transfer pricing and tax assurance, as well as tax planning, compliance, M&A, and individual taxation matters for high-net-worth individuals. Fernando Castro heads the team and acts for high-profile foreign and domestic clients in tax litigation and transfer pricing; other key practitioners include Daniel Ono, who handles proceedings at both the administrative and judicial stages for clients in the automotive, pharmaceutical and consumer product sectors, and Jorge Otoya, who is a key name for private wealth and cross-border transactions. Frezzia Saavedra is a notable contact for compliance, and senior associates Cesar Angulo and César Castillo are also active in the team.

Peru > Banking and finance Tier 4

With Sergio Oquendo at the helm, Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados continues to advise on banking, corporate finance, project finance, capital markets and insurance matters on behalf of high-profile companies and banks. Oquendo has a strong track record in cross-border financing, capital markets deals and corporate acquisitions, while Guillermo Flores is highlighted for regulatory matters and energy-related acquisitions. Rocío Izquierdo is a key contact for capital markets matters and senior associate Alesandra Azcárate is experienced in cross-border banking and corporate transactions.

Peru > Real estate Tier 4

Muñiz, Olaya, Meléndez, Castro, Ono & Herrera Abogados is particularly strong in the construction arena and advises national and multinational real estate developers on project development matters. Yuri Vega is a key practitioner alongside Elard Dianderas, who deals with administrative, municipal and procedural law.