Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados > Lima, Peru > Firm Profile

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Peru > Banking and finance Tier 1

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados stands out in the market for its focus on complex, high-value transactions requiring specialist expertise. Its client roster includes an impressive array of international commercial banks, multilateral institutions and development banks, as well as domestic banking institutions. Many of its practitioners have experience at large international firms and have practiced overseas; the firm utilizes these connections well, frequently acting as local counsel on large cross-border deals. Jean Paul Chabaneix heads the sizeable, 20-strong, practice which has an impressive track record in sovereign debt, securities, derivatives and a wide range of financing types, among other matters. Fernando Molina and Nicolás Cornejo both focus on project and corporate finance, along with M&A; while Juan Diego De Vinatea acts for national and international clients on direct and syndicated financing operations. Luis Enrique Palacios and Jorge Trelles are well versed in financing energy, infrastructure, telecommunications and mining sector projects. A healthy associate bench includes Cecilia Canepa, Efrain Salazar and Carolina Chipollini , among others, along with March-2022 hire, Victor León Chiri , formerly a senior associate at Cuatrecasas.

Peru > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 1

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados operates at the top of the market when it comes to restructuring and insolvency matters; it fields a team with in-depth knowledge of bankruptcy law, and which has experience in reorganisations and asset-acquisition operations involving insolvent and distressed companies. Offering multidisciplinary advice with ancillary support from tax, employment, banking and disputes practitioners, the practice is well placed to cater to a range of businesses, including those in the aviation, financial services, construction, oil-and-gas, and mining sectors, among others. Practice head Guillermo Puelles handles both private and public insolvency, as well as restructuring and liquidation. Hugo Silva is another key practitioner, alongside Jorge Trelles who is recommended for corporate liquidation proceedings and M&A involving distressed companies. Associate Renzo Rossi is also a name to note for liquidation and banking regulatory matters.

Peru > Compliance Tier 1

The compliance practice at Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados acts for a roster of high-profile domestic and international companies on the implementation of compliance programs and criminal investigations. The multidisciplinary team encompasses specialists in economic law, anti-bribery and anti-money laundering matters, employment, data protection and corporate issues; it advises clients on international regulatory issues, internal investigations, foreign corrupt practices act (FCPA) due diligence and M&A operations. The team is led by finance expert Fernando Molina, and José Reaño Peschiera, who is focused on business crime matters, including white-collar crime, tax evasion and financial fraud. Formerly at the High-Level Anti-corruption Commission (“CAN-Anticorrupción”), a state-entity, senior associate José Medina is the name to note for anti-corruption work, and handles the legal defence of criminal proceedings. Efraín Vassallo retired.

Peru > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Under the leadership Jean Paul Chabaneix and Ramón Vidurrizaga, Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados remains at the forefront of corporate transactional matters, advising on high-profile M&A, joint ventures, management buyouts and private equity investments, and demonstrating particular experience in the mining industry. The practice group caters to a range of industry sectors and also handles contractual corporate matters, reorganisations, financings and securities associated with foreign investment. Vidurrizaga is particularly recommended for corporate and commercial matters, as well as arbitration and litigation. Managing partner Luis Carlos Rodrigo Prado is a well known natural resources specialist who often handles M&A deals in the sector. Other key practitioners include Luis Enrique Palacios, who focuses on M&A, and finance work; and Eduardo López and Jorge Trelles , both of whom are also largely dedicated to M&A. Nicolás Cornejo, who made partner in Janauary 2021, handles M&A, financing and capital markets work for both local and international clients. Augusto Cáceres left the firm in July 2021 to establish a ventures and legal lab called LeiOS.

Peru > Dispute resolution Tier 1

‘Outstanding in the area of dispute resolution’, Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados offers ‘serious professionalism and a great loyalty toward its clients’. The team’s key areas of focus are high-profile international and domestic arbitrations, commercial litigation and white-collar crime. Often working alongside large international firms, the practice group is experienced in commercial and investment arbitration, shareholder disputes, governmental and regulatory matters, and construction disputes, with José Tam, José Reaño, Arturo Aza and Renzo Carrasco sharing leadership of the practice. Tam is well known and highly regarded in the market for civil and commercial arbitration and litigation proceedings; while Aza is experienced in disputes against Peruvian Government entities, as well as those involving tax, mining and regulatory matters. Carrasco is the name to note for civil litigation and criminal proceedings, and Italo Carrano handles international treaty-based disputes, including those investor-state ICSID cases. Promoted to partner in January 2021, Jorge Alvarado is a procedural specialist who focuses primarily on complex arbitration; and Martin Chocano -who, in turn, was promoted to the partnership in January 2022- is recommended for commercial and construction disputes.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity Tier 1

The premier electricity practice at Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados advises clients on technical and commercial matters and has over 20 years’ experience in the industry. The team acts for power producers, transmission and distribution concessionaires, unregulated consumers and the grid operator (COES) on a range of matters, including power purchase agreements (PPAs), interconnection agreements and project development. On the commercial side, the team handles M&A, project finance and merger control issues. Verónica Sattler and Alejandro Manayalle head the group; with Sattler recommended for public infrastructure, energy, public utility and network regulation issues; and Manayalle providing expertise on the development of public infrastructure and energy projects, as well as international investment arbitration. Counsel María Del Rosario Quiroga is recommended for regulatory matters and disputes, while Diana Briones (who was promoted to the partnership in January 2022) handles corporate matters. Senior associate Margarett Matos is the name to note for sustainable energy matters, public policy and energy regulation.

Energy and natural resources > Hydrocarbons Tier 1

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados offers a full-spectrum service to clients in the oil-and-gas industry, catering to all aspects of up-, mid- and downstream activity in the industry. This broad focus encompasses expertise in exploration and production contracts, joint venture agreements, engineering and construction agreements, environmental matters and disputes. The team utilises ancillary support from the firm’s corporate, tax, employment, IP and litigation practices to provide a one-stop-shop for clients; it is co-led by Jorge Pérez-Taiman, Jenny Caldas and senior associate Carolina Noriega. Pérez-Taiman brings strong international experience to the team and Caldas is recommended for administrative procedures before regulatory entities. Noriega handles permitting, contracting and commercial matters but is primarily focused on transactional matters in the sector; while specialised associate Talia Hormaeche‘s practice is centred on natural gas distribution matters. Jean Paul Chabaneix is an additional name to note for M&A, and financing matters in the industry.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 1

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados offers clients ‘excellent industry knowledge and contacts’ and ‘always delivers a high-quality product on time’. It is the pre-eminent practice for corporate instructions in the mining industry, handling M&A, privatisations and financing work, along with administrative proceedings, construction and operational matters, and environmental issues. Practice head Luis Carlos Rodrigo Prado is one of the best-known lawyers in the mining industry; he sits on the board of various major mining companies and is recommended for corporate and financing work. Oscar Benavides advises on the structuring and negotiation of exploration, development and exploitation contracts, and delivers work that is ‘way above and beyond any expectations’. Francisco Barrios and Francisco Tong are also key practitioners, alongside Claudio Ferrero, who is a name to note for corporate, contractual and general mining matters. At associate level, Diego Pachas is recommended for regulatory issues, while Karen Flores joined as associate from an in-house role at the Peruvian environment agency Organismo de Evaluación y Fiscalización Ambiental (OEFA).

Peru > Environment Tier 1

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados has ‘an excellent team, with a great track record in, and knowledge of, environmental issues’. Handling both contentious and non-contentious mandates, the practice is active in litigation, transactional and regulatory matters. It is experienced in a wide range of areas, including water, sewage, natural protected areas and environmental quality standards. Francisco Tong heads the group and has particular experience of permits, licenses and authorisations in the mining, environmental and natural resources sectors. Jenny Caldas handles regulatory and environmental issues - primarily in the oil and gas sector, and Francisco Barrios is the name to note for occupational safety and sanctioning procedures, among other areas. Counsel Úrsula Zavala handles water resourcing issues and sanitation matters, and also has considerable experience of large-scale investment projects in the mining and energy sectors. Karen Flores joined as an associate in April 2021 from her public sector role in environment agency OEFA's evaluation and auditing department.

Peru > Intellectual property Tier 1

Under the joint leadership of Héctor Álvarez and María del Carmen Alvarado, the IP team at Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados is well known in the market for its advice on trade marks, patents, copyrights and franchising and license agreements. On the contentious side, the practice handles administrative and court proceedings relating to IP rights, acting for a notable roster of high-profile clients. Álvarez advises domestic and foreign companies on the protection and registration of trade marks and patents, while del Carmen, who is a former head of the Trade Mark Office, is recommended for contentious IP matters. Senior associate Ricardo De Vettor has particular experience in the life sciences sector and associate Ximena Aramburu specialises in trade mark, patent, copyright and domain name mandates.

Peru > International trade (IT&C) Tier 1

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados acts for importers, exporters and a range of other foreign trade operators in the mining, oil and gas, chemical, technology, telecoms and agricultural sectors, among others. Under the leadership of dedicated trade practitioner Julio Guadalupe, the practice continues to advise on customs planning and international trade operations, including contentious matters and the representation of clients before regulatory bodies such as INDECOPI. Guadalupe is deputy chair at the Logistics and Customs Committee at the Lima Chamber of Commerce and has recently been handling a number of customs valuation matters; he previously acted as a consultant on the drafting of the current customs law in Peru. Senior associates Juan Acuña (the a name to note for customs and indirect tax planning, customs valuation and tariff classification), and Joan Tello, who is recommended for administrative procedures (including tax litigation), provide key support.

Peru > Labour and employment Tier 1

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados is ‘a valued partner that maintains a comprehensive set of expertise in labour and employment matters’. The firm provides clients with strength in both contentious and non-contentious matters including advising on the hiring and firing of staff, downsizing issues, the establishment of employment policies, reduction of costs work, occupational health and safety issues and immigration mandates. On the contentious side, the team notably represents clients in administrative and judicial proceedings. The 18-practitioner team is jointly led by José Balta and Mario Pasco, with Balta experienced in collective bargaining, employment discrimination and sexual harassment matters, and Pasco recommended for collective bargaining issues, litigation and auditing and taxation cases. Ernesto Cárdenas is another key practitioner with experience in tax structuring work, while senior associate Iván Blume is a name to note for corporate immigration, discrimination and privacy issues.

Peru > Lifesciences and healthcare Tier 1

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados fields ‘a wonderful team that is always available with simple solutions to very complex problems’. It has recently been busy providing advice related to the Covid-19 pandemic, including mandates concerning medical devices, diagnostic reagents, vaccines and oxygen plants. More generally, the practice has strong expertise in IP, regulatory compliance, and marketing and advertising issues. Head of practice Maritza Reategui is a key name for IP-related healthcare and life sciences matters and is active in a range of educational roles at universities. María del Carmen Alvarado is the name to note for contentious and non-contentious IP matters and has recently been involved in advising companies on the new Peruvian cannabis regulation. Associate Solange Noriega-Zumaeta is recommended for IP and sanitary regulation matters.

Peru > Projects and infrastructure Tier 1

An impressive roster of lenders, export-credit agencies, debtors, financial advisors and contractors turn to Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados for advice on the full gamut of projects work. The firm, which is well known in the market for advising on headline projects, is singled out for its project financing capabilities, and leverages expertise from its strong mining, financing and energy teams to assist on complex, and high-stakes deals. The team is under the joint leadership of Luis Carlos Rodrigo Prado and Jean Paul Chabaneix, the latter of whom is recommended for transactions in the electricity, mining, oil and gas, construction, telecoms and transport sectors. Also focused on transactional mandates, Fernando Molina regularly advises on M&A and the financing of infrastructure and power projects, while Juan Diego De Vinatea is noted for his experience in project finance transactions in the energy sector. Regulatory matters are a key area of focus for Verónica Sattler. Recently promoted partner Diana Briones is another name to note for regulatory issues and concession agreements. Alejandro Manayalle , who focuses on public transport infrastructure, and Nicolás Cornejo are also part of the core team. However, senior associate Álvaro Klauer moved to Cuatrecasas in March 2022.

Peru > Public law and regulation Tier 1

The public law and procurement practice group at Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados advises national and international clients on large infrastructure projects, including public and private initiatives and PPPs. Areas of focus include public procurement, contract negotiation, compliance, and administrative proceedings. Practice co-head Verónica Sattler has considerable experience of regulatory matters pertaining to project development, particularly in the energy sector; while fellow co-head Carlos Carpio has notable experience representing clients in administrative proceedings before national, regional, and municipal entities, as well as advising on government contracting and public procurement processes. Hugo Silva focuses on construction matters and bidding processes launched by government entities or specialist international organisations, and Alejandro Manayalle handles project development in the transportation infrastructure and energy sectors. Diana Briones, who was promoted to partner in January 2022, and experienced counsel Augusto Effio are also both recommended.

Peru > Tax Tier 1

Fielding an impressive nine-partner team, Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados stands out not only for its bench strength, but also due to the high-volume and high-profile mandates which it handles. On the transactional side, the practice is well known for tax matters relating to M&A transactions, equity and debt financings, restructurings and privatisations, among other areas; while on the contentious side, it draws on the expertise of firm's highly ranked disputes practice to represent clients in litigation. Alex Córdova co-heads the team and has notable experience in corporate tax, value added tax and extractive industries' taxation, as well as representing clients before the tax authority. Alex Morris, who jointly leads the team, is the key contact for wealth planning; dual-qualified in Spain and Peru, he is well versed in international fiscal transparency issues. Raúl Hidalgo handles the tax aspects of investment in infrastructure and administrative proceedings, while Tulio Tartarini deals with utilities taxation and Mariella de la Torre is recommended for tax issues in the mining and natural resources sector. Gustavo Lazo left the firm in September 2021.

Peru > TMT (Technology, media and telecoms) Tier 1

Co-led by Verónica Sattler and counsel María Del Rosario Quiroga, Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados has vast experience of the Peruvian telecoms sector, where it advises clients on regulatory and compliance matters, as well as administrative proceedings before the regulators. On the media and technology side, the practice acts for TV broadcasters on compliance, and digital and online platforms on data protection. Quiroga is particularly experienced in the energy and telecoms industries and has pervious in-house experience at the telecoms regulator; while senior associate Andrea Morelli is recommended for regulatory and permitting matters, as well as dispute resolution. Associate Luis Fernando Roca is another key member of the team and handles matters related to telecoms, broadcasting and new technologies.

Peru > Capital markets Tier 2

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados acts for high-profile domestic banks and large international players and takes prides in advising on high-end and out-of-the-ordinary transactions. With a strong banking and finance practice, the firm is well placed to handle capital markets work and its expertise includes bank finance, debt capital markets, equity capital markets, project and structured finance transactions, and regulatory issues. Moreover, with a well regarded tax practice, the team can also assist with all relevant structuring matters. Key practitioners in a team of some 20 lawyers inclue practice head Jean Paul Chabaneix ('highly responsive, knowledgeable, and business-oriented') who leads on many of the team’s high-value deals; the increasingly active Nydia Guevara ('knowledge, speed and the ability to resolve complex situations'), who focuses on structured finance and equity transactions; and counsel Paul Castritius, a Peruvian Securities and Exchange Commission (CONASEV) alumnus who is recommended for regulatory matters.

Peru > Real estate Tier 2

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados fields ‘a great team of professionals who maintain constant communication with clients‘. It has experience of urban and engineering projects, as well as in the more niche areas of architecture, archaeology and the analysis of seismic risk; while also handling environmental issues, and zoning and permitting matters. Practice leader Carlos Carpio has a strong background in public law which he utilises for the acquisition of rights on state-owned lands and defence of property against invaders, among other issues; he has also acted for the Peruvian State in international arbitrations. Hugo Silva focuses on construction matters, administrative law, and public procurement, while senior associate Hugo Sarria is experienced in mining, energy, industrial, commercial and residential developments. Also at the associate level, Isabel Carrascal is recommended for urban projects. Consultant Ursula Luna, formerly legal head of property and concessions at Minera Chinalco Peru, is the name to note for registration matters.

Peru > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados‘ long-standing competition and antitrust practice typically advises clients on complaints against government entities regarding barriers created by regulations, with recent work involving the team's representation of electricity company Luz del Sur and food production client San Fernando in complaints against ministries, regarding environmental protection and income tax regulations respectively. Compliance with antitrust regulations and adoption of preventive measures is also a key part of the practice group's caseload. Practice head Verónica Sattler is experienced in the energy and infrastructure sectors (such as electricity providers and airports), as well as providing general antitrust advice to mining companies. Sattler is assisted by Alejandro Manayalle, who co-led on the Luz del Sur matter; and telecoms head, counsel María Del Rosario Quiroga.

Peru > Insurance Tier 3

Rodrigo, Elías & Medrano – Abogados focuses on offering counsel to reinsurers – typically foreign, but also domestic – regarding Peruvian risk and on any claims arising from related contracts. Restructuring and insolvency specialist Guillermo Puelles heads the practice, which is also developing a particular niche in aviation insurance; it has recently handled cases involving personal accidents and liability policies arising from air-related civilian tragedies. Other work involves assisting clients with the incorporation and commencement of new business activities in Peru. key associate support is provided by Sabrina Montoya.