Mr Fernando Alonso > Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP > Miami, United States > Lawyer Profile

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has an extensive record in Latin America inbound and outbound transactions, though it is best known for advising major multinationals such as Santander, Mondelēz and Diageo on their interests in the region; this includes headline M&A transactions, joint-ventures and distribution agreements. The core Latin America corporate team, which is largely based in Miami, has also landed a number of inbound deals from Latin America; financial services M&A has been especially prominent. Moreover, its knowledge of the region and expertise in cross-border deals has led to a series of engagements on intra-regional deals, particularly where the contracts are under New York law. The team continues to be noted for its experience in Central America, along with major economies such as Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Its deep cultural and language connection to the region involves three Miami-based Hispanic partners in the highly-rated Fernando Alonso, Fernando Margarit, Uriel Mendieta. Dual-qualified (New York/Miami) associate Gabriel M Lopez is also noted.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has continued to expand its work for MLAs -such as IDB Invest and IFC- in multiple financings, including bilateral loans, and project and acquisition financings. The Latin America team also represents a number of international private banks, along with various Latin American banks, as borrowers. Historically, the group has had a strong focus on Central America but has expanded this to the Caribbean and -increasingly- to a number of South American states such as Peru and Colombia, along with Mexico. Latin America group head Fernando Alonso is a hugely experienced Latin America specialist with extensive equity and debt financing expertise and a strong track-record in advising both lenders and borrowers. Washington DC partner Vera Rechsteiner is another experienced figure in Latin America financings, including energy financings and structured finance. Uriel Mendieta and Fernando Margarit are also pivotal members of the Latin America group with financing expertise, while Houston-based special counsel Doris Rodríguez is a prominent practitioner in energy financings, particularly in the oil and gas segment. Washington DC’s Alejandro Silva and Siddharth Sethy also provide extensive Latin America financings expertise, including for DFIs and MLAs. Named individuals are based in Miami unless stated otherwise.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP‘s core Latin America team is based in Miami, led by the hugely respected Fernando Alonso. Like Alonso, the Miami group is versatile and multi-talented, operating across the M&A, financing and projects fields, among others. The group has an especially strong record in the financial services sector, having advised on a series of landmark M&A transactions over the years. The group has also made its mark in digital infrastructure and subsea cable-system projects. In particular, the practice has achieved prominence in Central America, although is active throughout the region, including in Ecuador, Brazil and other jurisdictions.  Uriel Mendieta is another multi-faceted lawyer, covering M&A, financings and sanctions engagements, among other matters. Fernando Margarit is a leader in the specialist niche of subsea cable-system projects. Gustavo Membiela left the firm in May 2022.

With a team of Latin America specialists primarily based in Washington DC, Houston and Miami, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP‘s broad-based practice handles large-scale project developments, project financings and energy M&A,. The group has solid connections to multilateral development banks, non-bank lenders and investment corporations in Washington DC and elsewhere, including IDB Invest and IFC. It continues to have a strong focus on Central America, along with other key economies, such as Chile, where the firm is working on new green hydrogen projects. Fernando Alonso leads the Latin America practice and is a versatile practitioner with an extensive record in financings to banks and financial institutions in the region. Vera Rechsteiner is a key figure in Washington DC where she has strong connections to IDB Invest and other financial institutions. Uriel Mendieta and Fernando Margarit are also key figures, along with Washington DC counsels Siddharth Sethy and Alejandro Silva, and Houston-based special counsel Doris Rodríguez.