Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados > Buenos Aires, Argentina > Firm Profile

Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados > The Legal 500 Rankings

Argentina > Banking and finance Tier 2

The ‘extremely competent and experienced’ banking and finance team at Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados has a strong borrower-side transactional focus, advising on the financing aspects of complex cross-border M&A deals, as well as liability management and restructuring mandates. The practice also advises corporates and financial institutions on central bank and regulatory matters. On the lender side the firm counts a cohort of US, Asian and European banks among its client base. Diego Parise, a corporate-finance partner with extensive capital markets experience, leads the practice, with key support from fellow partner Julio Martínez, who handles capital markets, securitisation and project finance engagements. Project finance and debt restructuring expert Natalia Rauchberger, capital markets lawyer Matías Olcese and fintech-focused senior counsel Nicolás Fernández Madero  round out the senior team. Specialist senior associate Juan Vignolo undertakes acquisition, corporate and project finance, along with capital markets’ matters; associate Belén Justiniano left for JP Morgan in July 2021.

Argentina > Compliance Tier 2

Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados advises national and international companies on all aspects 0f anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, terrorist financing prevention, data protection and sanctions compliance. The practice has unique experience working on negotiations with overseas authorities, including the US Department of Justice, and has developed distinctive knowledge of US, UK and EU regulatory regimes, in addition to its expertise in Argentine anti-corruption law. The team is led by name partner Cristian Mitrani and Mariela Inés Melhem, who has extensive compliance expertise. Partner María Paula Díaz, who specialises in anti-corruption legislation, general compliance matters and privacy law, is also a key name.

Argentina > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados is noted for its experience in large, complex deal processes and its advice to local and international clients on M&A, strategic alliances, joint ventures, green field projects and other similar transactions. The practice also has a roster of multinational clients that it advises on day-to-day matters, including the negotiation of commercial agreements and cross-border corporate reorganisations. Diego Parise, who has extensive experience in the structuring, negotiation and execution of M&As, joint ventures and financing transactions, leads the practice with key senior support from the deeply experienced Siro Astolfi, who is also known for his expertise in competition and antitrust law. Aixa Sureda is another important name, bringing experience across a broad range of transactions to the fore. Highly-regarded industry veteran and firm founder Cristian Mitrani  also remains active in the practice. Up-and-coming talent includes younger partners Mercedes Rodríguez Giavarini  and Carlos Trogolo Eliçabe; and senior associates Fiorella Belsito  and Bruno Fiorino.

Argentina > Labour and employment Tier 2

Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados advises on domestic and international employment and social security issues, ranging from day-t0-day employment work to the labour aspects of M&A deals. The team, which stands out for is ability to ‘interpret business needs and come up with creative ideas to solve complex problems’, has a strong track record in collective bargaining, contractual and relocation matters. Companies also seek the team out for counsel on managing industrial action, business downsizing and negotiating severance packages, restrictive covenants, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements. Labour litigation and disputes in administrative and judicial proceedings constitute another area of expertise. ‘Reliable, professional and precise’ name partner Julio Caballero heads the practice with support from a strong bench of talent. Lorenzo Gnecco has focused his practice on collective bargaining and social security matters through a 40-year career, while Jorge Pico, who supports clients with a ‘wealth of experience’ and ‘technical excellence’, handles employment, collective bargaining, and social security work. Partners Felicitas de Achával, who has extensive experience in expatriations, international assignments, and M&A; labour disputes expert Rita Payarola; and social security and M&A lawyer Esteban Valansi round out a deep senior team which was further strengthened with the promotion of Ana Clara Gómez Casadei to the partnership in July 2022.

Argentina > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 3

Respected public law and dispute resolution partner Horacio Ruiz Moreno fronts the bankruptcy and restructuring team at Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados. The practice advises domestic and international debtors, creditors and trustees on reorganisations and bankruptcy litigation.

Argentina > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

Known for cross-border experience in competition and antitrust matters, Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados assists with merger filings and antitrust proceedings across Latin America, the EU, Canada, China and the US. The firm advises on commercial behaviour and the avoidance of anticompetitive practices, as well as on the establishment of competition compliance programs and internal investigations. Aixa Sureda has expertise in competition and antitrust law conerning both local issues and cross-border transactions. She co-leads the practice with Cristian Mitrani, who provides counselling on competition law infringement cases and internal investigations. Senior associate Evangelina González Soldo is another key name in the team and specialises in M&A, as well as on antitrust and competition.

Argentina > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados litigates on civil and commercial matters and advises clients across a range of administrative procedures. The team also undertakes contentious work related to labour, IP, regulatory issues, insurance and tax, and is often sought out to defend clients in class actions initiated by consumer associations. The practice handles matters at all levels of the Argentine justice system and is also active in domestic and international institutional arbitration proceedings. Conflict prevention and management is another strong area. The practice is co-lead by Horacio Ruiz Moreno, who specialises in administrative law, public services regulation, arbitration and mediation; and Cristian Krüger, an expert in administrative law, public contracting and regulation. Experienced public law specialist Rafael González Arzac provides additional partner-level support, with corporate partner Carlos Trogolo Eliçabe, who also has an active civil and commercial litigation practice, another key name.

Energy and natural resources > Mining Tier 3

The experienced Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados' practice advises on all phases of mining projects, from finance, development and construction to commercialisation, regulatory matters and day-to-day operations. The team has particular experience in the lithium segment, where it is particularly active in M&A but also brings together multidisciplinary strengths from across the firm to advise on a range of cross-border investments, project finance and mine development. Matías Olcese is the name to note; he focuses on regulatory, finance and M&A transactions in the mining industry. He co-leads the practice with corporate and finance specialist María Paula Terrel who has extensive mining-sector experience; she is currently working out of Santiago, Chile.

Energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 3

Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados' practice advises domestic and foreign clients across the spectrum of oil and gas issues, with key strengths being structuring upstream assignments, farm-outs and downstream corporate M&A, as well as assisting midstream developers construct infrastructure pipelines. It also assists with the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of contracts; representation before national and provincial administrations, and has strong regulatory expertise. Practice head Mariana Ardizzone is an expert in energy law and combines first class service standards with ‘great knowledge of the industry’. Other key figures in the practice group include María Recondo, whose practice straddles corporate matters and energy and natural resources - her prior experience includes time at both Tecpetrol and YPF; and Horacio Ruiz Moreno, who heads the firm's administrative law and business regulation practice - he has acted as the statutory controller of entities such as Ecogas, Gas Natural Ban and Transportadora de Gas del Sur. On the corporate and finance fronts, Julio Martínez has deep knowledge of transactional and financing matters across the entire energy sector, as does Diego Parise (who led on Raízen's $950m acquisition of Shell's downstream assets back in 2018), while Aixa Sureda is more fully focused on energy sector M&A.

Argentina > Intellectual property Tier 3

Known for its cross-border expertise, Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados advises on the registration, protection and licensing of IP assets across the key areas of patents, trade marks, trade secrets, copyright, entertainment and technology. Licensing and disputes are particular strengths for the team, which also handles a range of prosecution, protection and enforcement matters. Ignacio Bérèterbide leads the practice and specialises in IP prosecution and litigation, as well as general advice and transactional matters. Key support comes from experienced senior counsels Manuel Alonso (trade mark and copyright protection, license agreements, pre-registration analysis, registered trade, and copyright litigation) and Rita Colombo (designing and execution of transnational IP protection strategies, IP portfolio analysis and IP-related agreements in cross-border projects, IP contract negotiation and domain name recovery).

Argentina > Public law Tier 3

Experienced transactional, dispute resolution and public law partner Horacio Ruiz Moreno leads a Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados public law team that advises clients on international public tenders and disputes, as well as offering support on project financing for large infrastructure projects. The practice is particularly prominent in the natural resources and life sciences sectors, but also covers other regulated industries including chemicals, transportation and automotive. In addition, the team is regularly sought out to advise on the public law aspects of M&A transactions and assist clients through regulatory disputes and negotiations with governments related to asset expropriations. Rafael González Arzac, who has broad administrative law, public contracting and public services regulation expertise, is another key name, alongside Néstor Buján, who advises international organisations, governments and private clients on contentious and non-contentious public law and dispute resolution matters. Administrative and environmental law specialist María Laura Lede Pizzurno focuses her practice on regulated industries, including natural resources, life sciences and infrastructure. Associate Luciana Casagrande moved to Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen in January 2022.

Argentina > Tax Tier 3

The ‘excellent’ Corina Laudato leads a Mitrani Caballero & Ruiz Moreno Abogados tax team that clients praise for its responsiveness and technical expertise. The team’s roots lie in tax structuring and tax planning work in M&A, joint ventures and financing, with the practice also known for providing tax and estate planning advice to families and high net worth clients. More recently the practice has also gained a higher profile in litigation matters. Other key names include tax and customs expert Gloria Gurbista and international corporate restructuring and governance specialist Juan Ignacio Soma. Associate Juan Manuel Iglesias Mamone, who has litigation experience and also advises on the tax aspects of M&A and cross-border investment, is recognised for his ‘collaborative spirit’ and ‘responsible provision’.