Beccar Varela > Buenos Aires, Argentina > Firm Profile

Beccar Varela > The Legal 500 Rankings

Argentina > Compliance Tier 1

The Beccar Varela compliance team is led by respected compliance and anti-corruption practitioner Maximiliano Nicolás D’Auro, who clients single out for his ‘practical approach to resolving matters’ and proactive engagement. White-collar crime specialist Manuel Beccar Varela and Francisco Zavalía, who has experience in compliance and corporate crime, are additional key names. The firm was the first full-service player in Argentina to incorporate white-collar crime expertise into its compliance offer and provides a comprehensive internal investigations and criminal proceedings service. The team also advises local and international clients on the design and implementation of compliance programmes, as well as conducting customer and supplier due diligence and on-boarding.

Argentina > International trade and customs Tier 1

Advising national and international clients, Beccar Varela is ‘always available and has a very good understanding about the legislation, as well as the administrative and political structure of the trade authorities’. The practice group covers the spectrum of issues arising from the import, transit, and export of goods, including international distribution agreements, international sale of goods, dispute settlement, trade remedies, anti-dumping investigations, import licenses and e-commerce regulations. Augusto Vechio has a broad practice, handling issues related to international trade, World Trade Organization rules and Mercosur, along with unfair competition, consumer law and economic regulation matters. He co-leads the team with Guido Krolovetzky, whose focus is customs law related to domestic, regional and international laws and regulations regarding the sale of goods. At associate level, the key name is senior associate Camila Corvalán.

Argentina > Public law Tier 1

Beccar Varela provides specialised public law advice to local and international clients in a range of sectors, including transportation, infrastructure, the life sciences and technology. The ‘excellent’ team is one of the ‘best in the country’ and handles a variety of work at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Areas of expertise include public procurement, bid processes, public works, infrastructure concessions and public-private partnerships (PPPs). The team also advises on matters involving government contracts, public finance, zoning and highly regulated industries. Juan Antonio Stupenengo (highlighted for his ‘technical skills’) co-heads the practice alongside veteran practitioner Oscar Aguilar Valdez, who has extensive public law and disputes expertise. At senior associate level, Juan Pablo Perrino stands out for his ‘technical and practical knowledge’, while Santiago Barbarán brings his public sector experience -at both provincial and national levels- to bear.

Argentina > TMT Tier 1

Beccar Varela’s broad TMT practice provides a full-service offering to infrastructure and service providers, content developers, entertainment companies and technology developers. The team stands out in the areas of data protection and data privacy, as well as handling a range of software licensing, outsourcing, cloud computing and confidentiality agreements. Sector specialisms include mobile, satellite, broadcasting, digital media, fintech, technology and e-commerce. Senior partner Emilio Beccar Varela is a key name in the area and focuses on media and entertainment, telecommunications, IT, IP and corporate advice. He co-leads the team with Florencia Rosati, whose practice centres on contentious advice in the TMT space. At associate level, senior Mariana Lamarca Vidal handles legal, corporate, contractual advisory and litigation regarding trade marks and patents and copyright, entertainment, e-commerce, privacy and personal data protection, and new technologies.

Argentina > Banking and finance Tier 2

The ‘great team’ at Beccar Varela stands out for its strong transactional expertise and is also active in project finance and banking regulation. During the last 18 months restructuring and liability management deals have accounted for a significant volume of transaction flow, with the firm representing global banking syndicates on a number of complex, cross-border deals. The firm has sustained a steady flow of borrower-side engagements too, advising corporates on capital markets and regulatory matters. The quartet of Pablo Torretta, Luciana Denegri, Daniel Levi and Maximiliano Nicolás D’Auro co-lead the practice. Torretta’s practice includes regulation, restructuring and project finance, although he is best known for his in-depth forex expertise, while Denegri stands out for her capital markets work. Levi, who also co-leads the firm’s fintech practice, has helped to the position the firm strongly in digital banking and online payments. D’Auro, in turn, has broad banking and finance law experience, with specialist expertise in the areas of compliance and anti-corruption. The firm strengthened its senior ranks with the April-2022 promotion of Felipe Videla and Lucía Degano (who works out of Montevideo) to the partnership. Seniors María Victoria Pavani (capital markets); and Gonzalo Javier Ochoa (banking/foreign exchange regulation) are the key figures at associate level.

Argentina > Competition and antitrust Tier 2

The competition and antitrust department at Beccar Varela handles enforcement, merger control, investigations, counselling and compliance. As well as acting in a range of litigation related to cartels and abuse cases, the team has particular expertise in cement and automobile cartels, credit-card investigation abuse cases and matters related to leniency. Agustín Waisman is a go-to name for competition and antitrust, consumer protection and gaming law. He co-leads the team with Augusto Vechio, whose strengths include international trade, World Trade Organization rules, free trade agreements, consumer law and economic regulation. Senior associates Camila Corvalán and Mercedes Pando are also active in the area. Since publication, Corvalán has also been appointed head of the firm's new Public Affairs practice - effective as of November 2022.

Argentina > Consumer law Tier 2

The ‘market leaders and trainers of local jurisprudence in the field‘, Beccar Varela ‘s practice encompasses consumer defence, dispute resolution and product liability advising local and international clients on consumer protection, administrative law, customs, compliance and associated intellectual property matters. Dispute resolution specialist Gonzalo García Delatour; Agustín Waisman, who co-leads both the consumer protection and competition/antitrust practices; and Federico Sosa, whose practice takes in complex litigation, class actions and bankruptcy, are the key figures. Sosa also has niche expertise in advisory regarding distribution and sales representative contracts. Senior associates Noelia de Belder (antitrust / consumer law) and Rocío Alejandra Labán (civil & commercial litigation), are also noted.

Argentina > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Beccar Varela is a ‘true partner’ to corporate and M&A clients, who seek the firm out for advice on complex, cross-border transactions  as well as ongoing corporate advisory support. Venture capital and private equity work is an area of particular strength, with the team leveraging firm-wide expertise in technology to win high profile technology-driven M&A work from international financial sponsors. Financial services, agribusiness and energy are other particularly active sectors for the practice. Veteran M&A lawyer Roberto Crouzel co-leads the team alongside the ‘creative and original’ María Shakespear, ‘excellent’ Alejandro Poletto and Ramón Moyano, whose practice areas include project finance, private clients, private equity and venture capital. Other key senior names include Roberto Fortunati, who heads the firm’s natural resources department, and the well-reviewed private equity and M&A specialist Tomás Allende. A pipeline of younger talent includes partner Carolina Serra (company law, M&A and banking & finance); counsel Eugenia Radaelli (M&A, corporate advisory and banking & finance); and senior associate Lucía Degano (M&A, agribusiness, private equity, finance law and corporate law).

Argentina > Dispute resolution Tier 2

‘Very orderly and methodical’, Beccar Varela has extensive dispute resolution and arbitration experience, advising plaintiffs and defendants. The firm handles complex litigation and corporate disputes across all stages of litigation, covering class actions and commercial and civil matters for domestic and global clients across multiple sectors. In arbitration the team is experienced in local and international arbitration, including investment cases. The practice is led by a quartet of partners. Gonzalo García Delatour handles civil and commercial litigation, insolvencies, bankruptcies and arbitrations; Eduardo José Güemes is an expert in complex civil and commercial litigation; Martín Gastaldi is a restructuring specialist and Federico Sosa‘s practice is centred on complex litigation, class actions, and insolvency and bankruptcy. A deep bench of disputes-specialised senior associates includes Pilar Lodewyckx Hardy, Fernando Kreser, Rocío Alejandra Labán, Sofía Deferrari, Victoria Rabasa and Máximo Capón.

Energy and natural resources > Electricity Tier 2

Advising on up, mid- and downstream electricity matters, Beccar Varela has considerabe experience in generation, transmission and distribution, as well as with major power consumers, PPAs and self generation projects. The team works with national and international clients in the thermal, hydro, wind, solar, biogas, hydrogen and geothermal power segments, as well as assisting with international bids and concession contract renegotiations. Recent matters include advising China’s State Grid International Development (via Chile’s Claro & Cía) on the Argentine aspects of its $3bn acquisition of Naturgy’s Chilean subsidiary Compañía General de Energía; namely, the spinning off of Argentine subsidiaries Agua Negra (controller of Energía San Juan), Gasnor and Gasmarket. The practice is an active member of the Argentine Renewable Energy Chamber (“CADER”) and is co-led by José Carlos Cueva, who focuses on energy and natural resources law; and Ricardo Castañeda , whose expertise includes M&A, corporate law, project finance and energy.

Argentina > Insurance Tier 2

Beccar Varela provides ‘pragmatism and humility along with years of experience and knowledge of the market that make the insurance team an excellent choice’. The firm’s insurance and reinsurance team advises key sector players and brokers on general, annuity, life, and policies linked to financial loans and services. The practice is experienced in the formation and sale of insurance companies, the transfer and sale of customer portfolios, corporate issues, regulatory matters and litigation in the area, including class actions. Insurance specialist Daniel Seoane has ‘experience as a lawyer in house, which adds an extra plus to his advice’. He leads a team that includes senior associate Agustín Luis Duarte, who focuses on insurance and reinsurance law, and advises clients on regulatory, corporate and litigation matters.

Argentina > Labour and employment Tier 2

‘Expeditious, assertive and customer-oriented’, Beccar Varela‘s labour and employment team is praised for its initiative and for combining ‘technical knowledge’ with ‘practical realities’. The practice – which has supported clients through the Covid-19 period with advice on work permit requirements for key talent during border closures, as well as post-pandemic return to work policies – provides a full service labour offering for national and international companies across all sectors. Immigration matters, contracts, compensation plans and adapting internal law policies to Argentine legislation are all key areas of work, with the team also active in contentious labour litigation, executive dismissals and large scale layoffs and restructurings. The practice also handles collective bargaining and M&A mandates. Labour and social security practitioner Álvaro Galli, who specialises in the hiring and dismissal of senior employees, compensation structures and expatriate regimes, is practice head. Key associate support comes from María Belén Medina, the ‘excellent’ Santiago Hernán Taboada and Romina Possetti.

Argentina > Life sciences and healthcare Tier 2

Active across the spectrum of healthcare and pharmaceutical industry matters, Beccar Varela has expertise in regulation related to pharmaceutical products and medical devices, clinical trials, commercial transactions, intellectual property, dispute resolution and M&A. The team has a track record in cross-border life sciences work, including corporate and regulatory registrations, and advising on partnerships with local industry players. At the firm for over 15 years, practice head Ana Andrés, was raised to the partnership in April 2022; she is regarded as ‘fluent in industry-specific technical issues and other sector-specific matters, as well as the general principles of civil and commercial law’. Dedicated support comes from young senior associate Julieta Sol González. Sadly, however, senior partner and former practice co-head Emilio Nicolás Vogelius passed away in June 2022.

Argentina > Real estate Tier 2

A ‘great connoisseur of the market’, Pedro Nicholson co-leads Beccar Varela‘s real estate team in conjunction with M&A specialist Pedro Silvestri; together they provide ‘great management of all the legal issues of a real estate development in Argentina’. The practice represents real estate owners, project developers, property managers, lenders and investors active in a range of projects across sectors, including commercial offices, housing, shopping centres, hotels, condominiums, mixed-use developments and industrial plants. As well as advising on real estate matters such as land use, zoning, environmental and permitting regulations, the practice can draw from multidisciplinary expertise within the firm to assist with acquisitions, sales, financing and the restructuring of assets.

Argentina > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 3

The ‘reliable’ and ‘responsive’ Beccar Varela bankruptcy and restructuring team advises national and international clients from a range of sectors on financial restructurings and bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings. The team handles out of-court negotiations, prejudicial proceedings and credit recovery, and is also a strong litigation offering, representing clients before national and provincial courts. In and out-of-court financial liability restructurings constitute another busy area. Insolvency, bankruptcy and dispute-resolution expert Martín Gastaldi co-leads the practice alongside private equity-focused Tomás Allende, banking specialist Pablo Torretta and capital markets practitioner Javier Luis Magnasco. Federico Sosa, who has been raised to the partnership, is another key name and focuses his practice on complex litigation, class actions, insolvency, and bankruptcy.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 3

With ‘high experience in the laws and regulations of Argentina in the mining field’, Beccar Varela  can advise along the length of the industry’s value chain, including investors, producers, exploration companies and service and equipment suppliers. The practice group’s activity is centred on mining transactions, corporate governance and advice on negotiating and drafting easement agreements with surface rights holders and landowners, as well as assisting with provincial permitting issues. M&A, banking and project finance specialist Roberto Fortunati   is head of the team and has a lengthy track record in the sector. However, the September 2022 departure of key senior associate Marcos Moreno Hueyo is a loss. Tax specialist senior associate María Luján Callaci  is also active in the area.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 3

Beccar Varela‘s multidisciplinary practice has built an impressive track record in the hydrocarbons sector, representing clients throughout the industry, notably on upstream exploration matters and downstream commercialisation and distribution, along with service suppliers, offshore projects and energy-use efficiency initiatives. It is particularly experienced in sector-specific agreements such as farm-ins/outs, production sharing, joint ventures, EPC and operating agreements, and also advises on bidding processes, the drafting of concession agreement and the renegotiation of concession contracts. On the regulatory front, it works at both national and provincial levels, as well as on cross-border deals, and assisting with market entry strategies. Energy specialist (power and hydrocarbons) José Carlos Cueva has been a partner at the firm for 20 years and has profound experience of all aspects of the oil and gas sector, including  economic regulation and public bidding processes; he co-leads the team with finance specialist Roberto Fortunati, who has similarly vast knowledge of the oil-and-gas industry, his past experience including time spent in house at Amoco Oil Company. The practice was further boosted by the spring-2021 arrival of Ricardo Castañeda; while primarily oriented toward the electricity segment, he also undertakes hydrocarbons work and brings additional M&A, corporate law and project finance experience to the team. However, former senior associate Gonzalo Viña moved in house as senior legal counsel at Fortescue Future Industries in November 2021.

Argentina > Environment Tier 3

Manuel Frávega joined Beccar Varela in February 2022 after the departure of Angeles Murgier in 2021. Frávega focuses on environmental law, as well as bringing experience in corporate, public law and litigation, gained during his time managing environmental law departments in global companies. His team has particular expertise in due-diligence related to the environmental aspects of corporate transactions, notably transaction prices, guarantees and eventual responsibilities in M&As, transfers of on-going concern, purchase of assets, concession contracts, and the installation of industrial premises. The practice also provides multidisciplinary advice on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) business models.

Argentina > Intellectual property Tier 3

Active across a broad swathe of industries, Beccar Varela’s IP caseload takes in agribusiness, life sciences, sports, technology and the arts. The team provides IP law enforcement and litigation expertise, as well as assisting clients with contract negotiation and drafting, with the patent and trade mark unit handling the coordination and prosecution of copyrights, trade marks, patents and utility models. In addition to his deep knowledge of IP law, practice co-head Emilio Beccar Varela also provides expertise on media and entertainment, telecommunications, IT and corporate advice. Fellow co-head Florencia Rosati focuses on litigation related to trade marks, patents and copyright law.

Argentina > Tax Tier 3

‘Extraordinary’ tax lawyer Santiago Montezanti fronts a Beccar Varela tax team that clients describe as ‘well-structured’ and ‘technically very good’. Despite a testing market backdrop, the team has sustained a high volume of transactional work, advising on the tax aspects of multiple M&A, joint venture and restructuring deals across the real estate, telecommunications, media and fintech sectors, among others. Senior associate María de los Ángeles Olana, who advises on local and international tax matters and handles litigation work, is another key name in this young team, alongside Enrique Lopez, who has broad tax law expertise, and Fernando Botello, who handles both advisory and dispute mandates.