Clifford Chance > Sao Paulo, Brazil > Firm Profile

Clifford Chance Offices

Clifford Chance
RUA HELENA 260
6 TH FLOOR
04552-050 SÃO PAULO
Brazil
Visit website 55 11 3049 3188 55 11 3049 3198

Clifford Chance > The Legal 500 Rankings

Latin America: International firms > Capital markets

Clifford Chance has established Latin America-focused capital markets teams in New York and Sao Paulo. Responding to difficult market conditions, the firm has managed to achieve growth in both equity and debt engagements, including follow-on offerings, sovereign and quasi-sovereign issuances, securitisations and structured debt. It has continued to make an impression in sustainability-linked offerings. With its experienced capital markets group in Sao Paulo, it has sustained a solid deal flow, including offerings by financial institutions. Peru, Colombia and Panama are also key markets, while the firm has an impressive track record in Mexico deals. The team features a raft of native Spanish and Portuguese-speaking lawyers with New York, English and Spanish law qualifications. Jonathan Zonis is co-head of the Latin America practice and an experienced figure in capital markets offerings, including sovereign transactions. Hugo Triaca is another experienced partner with a primary focus on Latin America. Sao Paulo managing partner Anthony Oldfield and fellow Sao Paulo partner Patrick Jackson, along with counsel Anja Pfleger Andrade, provide specialist expertise and experience in Brazil equity and debt offerings. Mariana Estévez continues to make an impression having been made partner in 2023. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Zonis

Testimonials

‘Clifford Chance provided exemplary support in the transaction.’

‘Hugo Triaca is a magnificent lawyer who always stands out from other law firms. He is very skilled at negotiating the terms of contracts, always concentrating on ensuring that the transaction ends successfully.’

‘Highly prepared and qualified team. They can understand complex aspects of the business in depth to apply in transactions.’

‘Patrick Jackson is very available and can quickly offer solutions to complex problems that guarantee security for the company.’

 

Key clients

IDB Invest

JP  Morgan

Banco Santander

Petroperú

Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF)

Credivalores-Crediservicios

Scotiabank

Goldman Sachs

BofA

Allianz

LNG Energy

Sabesp

Eletrobras

Banco Itaú

Work highlights

  • Advised IDB Invest as purchaser of record in connection with an A/B purchase facility for the sale and purchase of up to $1.8bn MPC Securities issued by a segregated fund administered by the Chilean Treasury.
  • Advised Credit Suisse on a $656m Galápagos marine conservation-linked debt for nature swap.
  • Advised JP Morgan and Banco Santander, as lead arrangers, in connection with the refinancing of the project finance debt incurred to finance the construction and development of the Pamplona-Cúcuta 4G toll road in Colombia.

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A

Clifford Chance targets Latin America corporate and M&A work, primarily through its New York and Sao Paulo offices. In addition, the launch of a Houston office in 2023 has enabled the firm to bolster its standing in energy transactions in Latin America, particularly in Mexico; Spanish speaking counsel Joshua Bernard joined the Houston team in January 2024 from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, bringing Latin America-specific expertise in M&A, joint-ventures and private equity transactions. Over recent years, the firm’s efforts have centred on South America, particularly energy and infrastructure transactions, and financial sponsor-led deals. It frequently advises consortiums on their bids for brownfield and greenfield projects. In Sao Paulo, the large team has developed a fine record in financial institutions M&A and fintech transactions, along with energy and infrastructure. The Sao Paulo office is also working with private capital investors in the distressed asset space. The firm’s connections in Asia and the Middle East have also brought it a number of M&A and investment engagements relating to Latin America. Sao Paulo managing partner Anthony Oldfield is a leading name in Brazil M&A and is a growing force in venture capital and fintech transactions in the jurisdiction. Splitting her time between Sao Paulo and New York, Thais Garcia (‘highly visible in LatAm and a stand-out M&A partner‘) has become a pivotal figure in the team, particularly in representing private equity and financial sponsors in their investments in energy and infrastructure assets. New York’s David Brinton remains a prominent figure in energy and infrastructure transactions, including financial sponsor-driven deals in Latin America. New York-based Carla Ruggero (dual-qualified in Argentina and New York) was promoted to the partnership in May 2024 and continues to advise a range of financial sponsors and Latin American corporates. Madrid based Javier Amantegui and Samir Azzouzi are also active in Latin America private equity transactions.

Practice head(s):

Anthony Oldfied

Testimonials

‘Strength in regional market knowledge and can draw from within the firm globally on required industry expertise. Top team, no question about it.’

‘Thais Garcia is highly visible in LatAm and a stand-out M&A partner.’

‘I particularly highlight the deep understanding of the legal and commercial complexities surrounding the transactions. It is a firm that is distinguished by a commitment to excellence in its work and outstanding results and its speed in response at each stage of the process. The firm not only provides first-class legal advice, but also acts as a strategic advisor, working closely with clients to identify and capitalise on opportunities, mitigate risks and ensure the success of each transaction within the client’s required timelines.’

Key clients

Actis

Iberdrola

Eurofarma

Cubico

Zuma Energía and its shareholder China Power International Holding

JCHX Mining Management Co

Cinven

Work highlights

  • Advised ISA Chile on its joint venture with Transelec and China Southern Power Grid International, through the Yallique Consortium, regarding their joint bid for the construction and operation of Chile’s Kimal-Lo Aguirre line, a 1,400km electricity transmission line with a planned capacity of 3,000MW; estimated value of $1.3bn.
  • Advised Iberdrola on the sale of 50% of the shares in Neoenergia Transmissora to the GIC Group.
  • Advised State Grid International Development on its over $1bn sale of an aggregate stake of approximately 26% in the Singapore holding company of its Brazilian subsidiary, State Grid Brazil Holding.

Clifford Chance > Firm Profile

Clifford Chance is one of the world’s pre-eminent law firms, with significant depth and range of resources across five continents. As a single, fully integrated, global partnership, it prides itself on its approachable, collegial and team-based way of working. The firm always strives to exceed the expectations of its clients, which include corporates from all the commercial and industrial sectors, governments, regulators, trade bodies and not-for-profit organizations. It provides them with the highest quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Main areas of practice
Capital markets: the capital markets practice concentrates on securities transactions and other products sold into the capital markets. The practice is founded on a full-service US and UK securities law capability, complemented by local securities law expertise in each of the key financial centers. It provides practical, integrated legal advice covering the full spectrum of global capital raising activities including public and private domestic and international offerings of traditional debt and equity securities as well as convertible and other derivative and structured securities.

Corporate: the corporate practice handles some of the world’s largest and most complex M&A transactions. It combines global transaction capability with a full service of US, English and civil law expertise in the key financial centers across Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. In addition to mainstream M&A, the firm also encompasses leading specialist practices in: commercial contracts, competition and antitrust, communications, energy, healthcare, financial institutions, funds, investment banking, insurance, media and technology, and private equity.

Finance: Clifford Chance’s finance practice is the leading international finance practice of any law firm. The practice provides highly commercial and practical advice across the full spectrum of financial products including syndicated lending and leveraged and acquisition finance, asset finance, derivative products, project finance, financial regulatory, insolvency, restructuring and structured finance.

Litigation, dispute resolution and risk management: the firm has experience in virtually all segments of the business and financial markets across multiple jurisdictions. The lawyers work with clients to resolve disputes efficiently and effectively – whether through arbitration, litigation or other techniques.

Real estate: Clifford Chance’s leading real estate practice offers US, UK, European and Asian real estate capability. The practice advises the real estate industry’s leading players on the entire property ‘life-cycle’ from the initial acquisition, development, leasing, joint venturing and financing through to the final exit, as well as tax structuring, PFI/PPP, corporate outsourcing, planning, environment and litigation.

Tax, pensions, employment and incentives: Clifford Chance has one of the world’s largest international tax groups within a single law firm. The firm is uniquely placed to provide leading edge advice to clients, and the practice is structured on an integrated global basis. Local tax groups within the practice work closely with areas such as securitization, securities, M&A, corporate restructuring, private equity, real estate and funds.

The pan-European VAT group advises on all areas of VAT and has particular strength advising on novel and complex issues in the structured finance, financial services, corporate finance and real estate sectors.

The team of experienced employment, employee benefits, ERISA, immigration and pensions specialists work with clients from a wide range of sectors to address local and cross-border issues.

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Anja Pfleger Andrade photo Anja Pfleger Andrade Anja Pfleger Andrade is a counsel in the São Paulo office of… View Profile
Patrick Jackson photo Patrick Jackson Patrick Jackson is a partner in Clifford Chance’ Global Financial Markets group,… View Profile
Anthony Oldfield photo Mr Anthony Oldfield Anthony Oldfield is the managing partner of Clifford Chance’s São Paulo office… View Profile

Staff Figures

Number of Partners : 556
Number of other fee-earners : 3295

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