Carlos Hamann > CMS Grau > Lima, Peru > Lawyer Profile

The projects and infrastructure team at CMS Grau has recently been busy advising clients on regulatory matters, land acquisitions for the development of projects, and PPP contracts, among other areas. Giancarlo Villafranqui heads the practice, leading a nine-strong team to advise clients in matters including real estate, sectoral permits, project finance, and the acquisition of projects and assets. Carlos Hamann is a key contact for matters involving energy and natural resources.

CMS Grau is ‘very dedicated and recognised in the local oil and gas advisory market’. Strong in contentious and non-contentious mandates, the firm advises on licensing and permitting, land acquisitions, regulatory matters, administrative proceedings and arbitrations, and acts for major service providers and exploration, production and distribution companies. Following the departure of Augusto Astorga to an in-house role at Transportadora de Gas del Perú in October 2022, Eduardo Guevara joined the firm in November from Petroperú and now heads the team alongside Carlos Hamann and Jesús Abanto. Guevara brings notable expertise in development, investment and climate change issues; Hamann stands out in commercial matters, permitting, regulatory matters and day-to-day advice; and Abanto, who was promoted to partner in May 2022, advises private and state-owned companies on natural gas transportation regulations and distribution tariffs.

CMS Grau acts for some heavy hitters in the Peruvian electricity industry, including Engie Energia and Enel Distribución, and has a broad offering covering corporate, finance, administrative and regulatory matters, as well as disputes. The team is active in the generation, transmission and distribution sectors and also in the renewables space, where it advises on wind, solar, geothermal and hydraulic projects. The team is jointly led by Ramon Huapaya, Carlos Hamann and Nestor Shimabukuro: Huapaya draws on 20 years of experience in the regulation of public services, concessions and infrastructure issues; Hamann focuses on oil and gas matters; and Shimabukuro stands out for PPPs, regulatory advice and administrative sanctioning proceedings. Senior associate Oscar Alejos also handles administrative law and regulatory matters. Eduardo Guevara joined from Petroperú in November 2022, while Augusto Astorga left for an in-house role at Transportadora de Gas del Perú in October of the same year.

The dispute resolution team at CMS Grau is jointly headed by litigation leader Luis Alberto Linan, international arbitration specialist Michelle Barclay, energy and natural resources specialist Carlos Hamann, public arbitrations expert Ramon Huapaya, and Alessandra Cocchella, who was promoted to partner in August 2022. The practice is experienced in assisting clients in both domestic and international arbitration, and utilises the firm’s international network to assist clients in different jurisdictions. Since publication, the practice has been further strengthened with the February 2024 hire of former Estudio Echecopar member firm of Baker McKenzie International principal associate Javier Ferrero as a partner.

CMS  has a large Latin America-based team (across its offices in offices in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru) which undertake local law and English law engagements. The firm enhanced this offering through a cooperation agreement with Brazilian law firm FAS Advogados, in cooperation with CMS in 2023. It has a strong record in energy (including oil and gas, electricity and renewables). In the renewables sector, it has made an impression in solar, wind and green hydrogen. It has also worked on headline infrastructure projects in Mexico, Peru and other jurisdictions; a Mexico City-based team advised Grupo Typsa in connection with the design, construction, and maintenance of  ‘El Tren Maya’, a railway that will traverse the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Rio de Janeiro managing partner Ted Rhodes is an experienced figure in oil and gas, and offshore projects and transactions; he has a growing presence in renewables. Daniel Rodríguez is a notable name in Bogota, along with Derek Woodhouse and Enrique Lorente Ludlow in Mexico City, and Carlos Hamann in Lima.