DLA Piper Perú > Lima, Peru > Firm Profile

DLA Piper Perú > The Legal 500 Rankings

Peru > Real estate Tier 1

DLA Piper Perú offers clients ‘great knowledge of the real estate and construction business’ and the team acts for high-profile domestic and international clients in transactions, disputes, regulatory matters, administrative issues and corporate mandates. The team, which is led by Hernán Velarde, is well versed in cross-border deals, and leverages its international network for support when necessary. Velarde is recommended for land use matters, urban planning, permitting, contracts, construction and financing matters and is supported by four associates: Andrea Pinillos, Yaritza Rivera, Katia Pinedo and Rosa Villalón. Pinillos and Pinedo are notably experienced in civil, registration and urban planning matters, while Rivera is a name to note for due diligence on transactions and lease agreements, and Villalón handles permitting and administrative matters. Associate Johana Quezada left the firm in December 2022.

Peru > Banking and finance Tier 2

DLA Piper Perú is well placed to handle multi-jurisdictional transactions by virtue of its broad international network, and often works in tandem with other offices. Under the leadership of Sergio Barboza, who has ‘a solid reputation at the transactional and regulatory level’ and Ricardo Escobar, the practice continues to act for borrower and creditor clients in financings, banking-related corporate work and regulatory matters. It is well versed in deals in the infrastructure, telecoms, energy, mining, and oil and gas sectors, and acts for banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and investment fund managers. Barboza has 20 years of experience in banking and capital markets matters; Escobar acts for foreign and domestic clients on financing transactions; and principal associate Reyna Silva-Santisteban handles a range of contractual, corporate, financial and administrative matters. Juan Carlos Ramírez and Nelly Espinoza are also key contacts at the principal associate level, with Espinoza bringing expertise in regulatory and compliance matters. Associates Farah Torres and Ricardo Mercado are also noted.

Peru > Dispute resolution: Arbitration Tier 2

DLA Piper Perú‘s arbitration practice is jointly headed by Carlos Nuñez and Hernán Jordán, who each have more than two decades of experience in arbitration. The practice’s construction and project matters division is led by Nuñez, while Jordán leads the commercial arbitration aspect, which has sector specialisms such as mining, energy, finance, insurance, retail and transport. The firm is well placed to utilise its vast international network in cross-border arbitrations, as demonstrated by its experience in handling arbitrations before the ICC and ICSID. Other key team members include associates Billy Franco, Alessandra Iannacone and Alejandro Tello.

Peru > Dispute resolution: Litigation Tier 2

DLA Piper Perú‘s dispute resolution team offers clients advice on various contentious matters, including real estate rights, commercial disputes, constitutional cases, contractual litigation and private international law. The team utilises its global network to assist clients in cross-border disputes, with co-heads Guillermo Hesse and Hernán Jordán adept at handling international litigation. Of counsel Javier Abusada, with more than 20 years’ experience as a litigator, is also a key contact for tax, administrative sanctions and telecoms matters. Associates Alejandro Tello and Ricardo Geldres are also names to note for litigation.

Peru > Projects and infrastructure Tier 2

DLA Piper Perú‘s projects and infrastructure team is headed by Carlos Nuñez, who is especially adept at advising clients on the formation and execution of public and private infrastructure projects. The practice is able to offer its clients - which include names such as Minsur and Consorcio Ríos del Norte - an international approach to matters by virtue of its global network. Recent work for the team includes advice to Concesionaria Vial Sierra Norte on the execution of a concession contract and assisting Aguaytía Energy del Perú with a construction contract and related arbitration. At the associate level, Victor Velásquez is a name to note for the construction of both public and private works, while senior associates Reyna Silva-Santisteban, Ramiro Rubio and Julio Villanueva are key contacts for issues such as government contracting, advice during the contract execution stage, and connected disputes.

Peru > Capital markets Tier 3

DLA Piper Perú stands out for its experience handling cross-border deals for domestic and multinational companies, where it leverages its global office network. The team acts for issuers and underwriters in public equity and debt capital transactions, such as IPOs, follow-on offerings and listings in international markets, and is also known for the offering of investment-grade and high-yield bonds, including Rule 144A and Regulation S transactions. Sergio Barboza heads the firm’s banking and finance and capital markets offerings with over 20 years of experience, while senior associate Nelly Espinoza, a key member of the team who leads on high-profile deals, is recommended for compliance, day-to-day operations and sanctioning proceedings. Farah Torres is another key senior associate, who focuses on regulatory advice, financing and debt issues.

Peru > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

DLA Piper Perú acts for large local and multinational clients and leverages its large global network to handle cross-border deals. It advises companies on the full life cycle of deals, from due diligence and structuring to negotiation and preparation of documents, to post-transaction issues. It also stands out for its ancillary expertise in private equity and venture capital matters, antitrust and competition issues, and general corporate governance. The team is led by Luis Vargas, Fernando Lanfranco and Janilú Badiola: Vargas handles corporate transactions in the construction, energy and real estate sectors; Lanfranco deals with corporate, civil and financial law; and Badiola advises on day-to-day corporate and commercial issues, and deals in highly regulated industries.

Peru > Dispute resolution: White-collar Tier 3

The white-collar criminal law practice at DLA Piper Perú benefits from the firm’s expansive global network, with practice head José Marcelo Allemant leading a team of four lawyers in Peru. Allemant specialises in preventative strategies for private companies, as well as the defence of preliminary investigations and criminal proceedings. Senior associates Marco Antonio Bustinza and Danae Beteta are experienced in corporate criminal law and economic criminal law, respectively. Associate Espitz Beteta specialises in criminal defence and the prevention of crime, and junior associate Jhoel Julca is another key contact for white-collar criminal law matters.

Peru > Labour and employment Tier 4

DLA Piper Perú‘s employment practice benefits from the firm’s international presence and is active in a variety of sectors, including mining, finance, telecoms, retail and real estate. Practice head Cecilia Guzmán-Barrón leads a team of five lawyers and is particularly active in matters such as designing strategies for hiring processes and managing complex lay-offs. The team also offers assistance to clients in relation to collective negotiations, policy reviews, audits, and health and safety at work matters. Senior associate Flavia Granados is a key contact for matters such as productive decentralisation and both domestic and international hires.

Peru > Tax Tier 4

DLA Piper Perú is well positioned to handle regional and international matters thanks to its broad global network, and often works in conjunction with other offices on cross-border matters. The practice is active in the finance, construction, agricultural and mining industries and advises on corporate matters, such as M&A, restructurings and reorganisations, and is also active in private client work for ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals. Practice head Erik Lind offers solid international experience and is supported by senior associate Luis Miguel Sambuceti and associate Rainer Carrillo.

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

DLA Piper LLP (US)’s sizeable Latin America team in the US alongside practitioners in the region itself, provides a solid platform for a growing banking and finance practice. The firm has built an enviable client base, particularly Latin American borrowers, and is widely recognised for its geographic spread of engagements in project finance and large restructurings. The team was further strengthened by the hire of Latin America banking and finance specialist Robert da Silva Ashley from McDermott Will & Emery LLP in April 2023; splitting his time between New York and Miami, he brings wide-ranging experience in project finance and corporate lending, including wind and solar projects. Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja is co-regional head of Latin America banking and finance, and is another experienced figure in project finance and general corporate lending. Mexico City partner Edgar Romo and Lima’s Sergio Barboza, are also co-regional heads of the group, and are key figures within the team, along with José Sosa-Lloréns in Puerto Rico. Raul Farias, who splits his time between San Diego and New York has made a big impression in cross-border financings and refinancings, and has also led on a series of large-scale restructuring engagements; he was the lead partner in advising Mexico-based Crédito Real on its $2.9bn global debt restructuring encompassing six different jurisdictions and more than 45 different creditors.