Mr Talbert Navia > Winston & Strawn LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Winston & Strawn LLP is capitalising on its established and fast-growing Latin America practice. The nascent Miami office has cemented its commitment to the region, bringing a further flow of inbound and outbound transaction engagements. The Latin America team also has a growing number of clients from the region, including numerous family offices and family-controlled groups. The department has gained prominence in energy sector-transactions, linked to the firm’s projects practice, and is increasingly active in the early-stage company and venture capital sector. Head of the Latin America practice Talbert Navia is a key figure in private equity transactions and fund formation engagements, along with cross-border strategic M&A deals. Miami office managing partner Enrique Martin is another seasoned M&A lawyer, along with fellow Miami partner Nicholas Rodríguez. São Paulo’s Rodrigo Carvalho is making a big impression in Brazil, while Kevin Smith and Sey-Hyo Lee are also key members of the Latin America team. Miami associate Alexander Iparraguirre is helping to build the firm’s presence in growth company, venture capital and private equity deals. São Paulo associate Flávia Stievani is another key practitioner on Brazil deals. Allen Miller has retired. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. Since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the hire of Juan Delgado (formerly of Sidley Austin LLP) to the firm’s Miami office – effective as of January 2025.

Winston & Strawn LLP has a rapidly expanding Latin America team and a fine record in capital markets offerings in the region. With close links to a number of major issuers, particularly in Chile, Colombia and Argentina, it has worked on a number of landmark deals over the years. Following the retirement of senior figure Allen Miller in January 2024, Latin America department head Talbert Navia and Sey-Hyo Lee have taken on his issuer clients and maintained their own. Both have forged the firm’s reputation in ESG and sustainability-linked offerings with Lee advising Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) on its second green bond offering, and Navia representing Grupo Energía Bogotá (GEB) in its first sustainability bond offer. Rodrigo Carvalho leads the Sao Paulo office and has significantly augmented the firm’s standing in Brazil, having worked on a series of headline deals, including de-SPAC transactions, a forte for the firm. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Winston & Strawn LLP continues to advise on a steady flow of renewables and energy transition financings in Latin America. It also has a presence in critical infrastructure projects, including the roll-out of electric bus fleets and fibre optic networks. It remains close to a number of Spanish sponsors and is noted for its work on solar projects in Colombia, Peru and Chile, especially. The firm has also attracted a number of Latin American sponsors as clients, as well as landing a series of green and sustainability-linked bond offering engagements that are connected to significant projects in the region. The immensely experienced Richard Puttré, based in Miami, is chair of the Latin America projects practice and maintains strong connections to key Spanish sponsors. Chair of the Latin America and Caribbean practice, New York-based Talbert Navia is also a seasoned practitioner with an extensive background in projects and energy transactions, including transport infrastructure, mining and energy financings. New York partner Sey-Hyo Lee is further noted for green and sustainability-linked bond offerings.

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s fast expanding Latin America practice offers a broad range of expertise in the wider banking and finance field, notably energy and infrastructure finance, distressed financings and restructuring, financial services regulatory and fintech matters, and digital assets and blockchain issues. The firm is also making a growing impression in cross-border bank lending in Brazil, thanks to the presence of Sao Paulo partner Rodrigo Carvalho, the former head of investment banking (legal division) at Bank of America in Brazil. Los Angeles-based co-chair of the structured finance practice, Francisco Flores is leading the firm’s advice on financings to fintech businesses across Latin America. New York-based Talbert Navia is chair of the Latin America group and is also active in major financings, while Richard Puttré is noted for project finance, especially for Spanish sponsors, and Claude Serfilippi handles a mix of banking and finance matters and capital markets transactions. Carl Fornaris is an experienced figure in financial services regulatory matters and fintech, along with Kimberly Prior and Juan Azel providing further fintech, digital assets and blockchain technology expertise. Named individuals are based in Miami unless stated otherwise.