Rafael Roberti > White & Case LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

White & Case LLP continues to generate significant deal flow through its outstanding Latin America practice, with much of the team sitting in New York and other US offices. It has also forged a greater presence in issuer-side engagements having historically been more bank driven. Its standing in leveraged finance brings it further credibility in the high-yield debt field. Moreover, its expertise in restructuring and liability management has brought it additional engagements in the Chapter 11 and Chapter 15 spaces, particularly as businesses respond to the economic shock caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and other geopolitical tensions. Daniel Nam has a major focus on investment grade and high-yield debt offerings, and is also highly rated for liability management. Jonathan Michels is another leading figure, along with Andrew Weisberg and Rafael Roberti. All named partners are based in New York.

White & Case LLP has performed admirably in spite of a difficult climate for capital markets issuances, with deal flow from Brazil – the firm’s primary market – remaining strong with a series of bond restructuring engagements. It has a large team of capital markets specialists in São Paulo, along with a significant number of New York partners and associates that have a particular focus on Brazil. Mexico, the Andean region and Argentina are also core markets for the team; 2022 partner-hires Eduardo Flores Herrera and Narciso Campos in Mexico City are both capital markets focused. The firm has also benefitted from its strength in energy and infrastructure, areas where capital markets activity has remained relatively buoyant, and it has leveraged its prominence in liability management to significant effect. The practice group continues to benefit from its exceptional issuer client base that provides a steady pipeline of engagements, while it also maintains strong links to bulge-bracket investment banks and funds – including distressed debt funds – that are increasingly prominent in this space. Further growth in the team has come through the promotion of São Paulo’s Abraham Paul and Miami-based Karen Katri to the partnership. Donald Baker remains the premier international capital markets lawyer in São Paulo, while John Vetterli is global head of capital markets and has a major focus on the Brazil market. São Paulo’s John Guzman is increasingly prominent in Brazil capital markets offerings, and Bibiana Jaimes and the highly-rated Rafael Roberti are also key team members. Sao Paulo associate Beatriz Barros is active team member on many large deals. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.