Silvia Marchili > White & Case LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

White & Case LLP‘s giant Latin America team incorporates a leading international arbitration group. The team’s cases span the entire region with a fine presence in both investor-state and commercial arbitration. The department has achieved further prominence in critical minerals disputes, including those involving Chile, Bolivia and Mexico. It has also made considerable headway in ESG-related cases and disputes linked to political disruption, and remains especially active in energy cases. The firm continues to represent a number of large multinationals in cases against Latin American states. Mexico City’s Rafael Liano Oddone is at the forefront of energy, construction, and infrastructure cases arising out of the policy shift in Mexico in recent years, and is further noted for investor-state cases against a range of Latin American countries. Miami and Houston-based Silvia Marchili handles energy, natural resources, and infrastructure cases, making a further impression in critical minerals disputes. Ecuadorian native Francisco Jijón has handled a series of major ICSID and UNCITRAL arbitrations in recent times. New York-based Ank Santens is active in Latin America-related ICSID arbitrations. Miami’s Estefanía San Juan was made partner in January 2023 and Mexico City-based Marièle Coulet-Diaz was promoted to the partnership in January 2024. Brazilian native Michelle Grando impresses at counsel level. However, in a notable departure, long-standing practice head Jonathan Hamilton has left the firm – along with counsels Alejandro Martínez de Hoz and Jonathan Ulrich. Named individuals are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

White & Case LLP has the leading Latin America-facing Miami practice of the heavyweight international law firms. It is a dominant force in energy and infrastructure, including both project development and project finance, while remaining at the forefront of acquisition finance and structured financings. Moreover, it has a substantial team dedicated to white-collar crime and government enforcement investigations, along with further strength in international arbitration. In energy and infrastructure, the Miami team has a prestigious client base of sponsors, investors, banks and development finance institutions (DFIs). Carlos Viana has an outstanding reputation for large-scale and headline project financings in multiple jurisdictions, with Sean Goldstein providing further senior-level talent in project development and project finance; he is also a key relationship partner for IDB Invest. Anna Andreeva is further noted for aviation finance and equipment leasing financings, along with project finance and general bank lending. In white-collar crime and government enforcement investigations, Michael Garcia and Maria Beguiristain are top practitioners, achieving additional prominence in sanctions-related cases, cryptocurrency and fintech, along with anti-corruption due diligence in investments and acquisitions. Silvia Marchili, who splits her time between Houston and Miami, is another established name in commercial and investment arbitration in Latin America. Newly minted partner Estefanía San Juan is primarily focused on Latin America commercial and investor-state arbitrations. Head of the Latin America group Christian Hansen is now based in Mexico City.