Miguel Viale > CMS Grau > Lima, Peru > Lawyer Profile

Ideally situated within a globally integrated network, the capital markets team at CMS Grau advises on international bonds, local bond and commercial paper offerings, as well as regulatory, operational and tax matters. The firm counts financial institutions, private and public investors, and domestic investment funds among its key clients. The leadership trio comprises Miguel Viale, Diego Peschiera and Juan José Hopkins. Viale’s key strengths include bank lending and stock market transactions, while Peschiera handles senior and subordinated debt issues under Rule 144A/Reg S, and Hopkins assists fintech start-ups with their entry into the Peruvian market.

In the banking and finance arena, CMS Grau is recognised for its experience in financing projects in the renewable energy, oil and gas, mining and retail industries. Leveraging its international network to undertake cross-border deals, the firm advises on traditional lending, equity funds and trusts, and often liaises with its tax and regulatory teams. The offering is co-led by Miguel Viale, who concentrates on complex international transactions involving collateral structures and financing, and project finance in the hydroelectric sector, and Juan José Hopkins, who assists start-ups with fintech, venture capital and seed funding matters. Diego Peschiera is noted for his work on syndicated loan operations and the structuring of medium-term financing. Senior associate Cinthia Canepa handles the drafting and negotiation of financial contracts, while associate Andrea Paiba advises on general corporate law matters.

With strengths in the real estate, electricity and financial services industries, CMS Grau’s corporate and M&A group advises domestic and global clients on restructuring work, corporate governance matters, and the structuring and negotiation of joint development agreements. The offering is co-led by managing partner Juan Carlos Escudero, who focuses on assisting corporate institutions with the structuring of M&A deals, and Miguel Viale, who handles international transactions which involve collateral structures and financing, often in the oil and gas sector. Juan José Hopkins is noted for his work in the fintech and venture capital spaces, and primarily advises start-ups on their seed funding and digital business requirements. Senior associate Cinthia Canepa concentrates on securities and corporate matters, while associate Andrea Paiba handles various project finance deals.

CMS Grau represents clients from across the mining, energy, oil and gas, retail and real estate sectors, with an offering that covers project financing, environmental permitting, land ownership issues and dispute resolution. Giancarlo Villafranqui Rivera leads the group and is equipped with a wealth of experience in project development, PPPs and concessions and has an excellent track record in handling administrative procedures. On the corporate side, Miguel Viale handles M&A, project financing and corporate conflicts for clients in the natural resources sector, with a special focus on mining, gas and hydroelectric projects.

CMS has a mix of international and local law expertise in relation to Latin America. Having maintained a Rio de Janeiro office for many years, it then linked up with a local Sao Paulo firm to establish FAS Advogados, in cooperation with CMS in 2023. The international firm has further offices in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The multi-office Latin America practice has close links to international commercial lenders and development banks, along with a range of regional borrowers. It has developed a notable record in financings by European lenders to Latin American borrowers. The team has a long history of headline acquisition financings, project finance, restructurings and receivables-based credit agreements. In Chile, Jorge Allende Destuet is the key names, along with Sergio Rodríguez-Azuero and Daniel Rodríguez in Colombia. Diego Peschiera and Miguel Viale are prominent banking practitioners in Peru. Mexico City partner Raul Zepeda has led a series of major financings, including large project financings in the jurisdiction. Ted Rhodes heads the Brazil desk from London. Former Santiago-based partner Fernando De Cárcer left the firm in April 2024.