Dorina Yessios > A&O Shearman > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

A&O Shearman, the result of a merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling in May 2024, brings together two strong Latin America practices. The legacy Allen & Overy Latin America team advised a variety of agency lenders, banks and sponsors in large-scale and headline engagements, making further headway in energy transition and renewables across the region and with a notable impact in digital infrastructure, including fibre to the home (FTTH) and data centre projects. The Shearman & Sterling team had a mix of corporate borrower and bank lender relationships, remains at the forefront of mining and metals (including critical minerals), along with renewables and energy transition, infrastructure (especially transportation and water), power, and oil and gas. The combined team, then, brings together complementary skills and experience, providing the single group with a larger client base and a broader range of sectors and geographic activity. Brazil, Chile and Mexico are primary markets for the amalgamated group along with Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, Central America and the Caribbean. Dorina Yessios co-heads the Americas projects energy, natural resources and infrastructure team, and has forged much of the firm’s growth in digital infrastructure and energy transition matters in Latin America. Washington DC-based Sami Mir is pivotal to the firm’s agency lender relationships, including IDB Invest; while Jean Lee, also in Washington DC, provides further senior expertise in agency financing matters. A leading name in mining and metals projects in Latin America, Cynthia Urda Kassis is global co-head of the projects energy, natural resources and infrastructure group and leads the mining sector team. Augusto Ruiloba is dual-qualified in Peru and New York, and has furthered the firm’s expertise in critical minerals, power generation and transport infrastructure. Robert O’Leary was promoted to partner in July 2023 and has major focus on Latin America projects. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. Bruno Soares left Allen & Overy, prior to the merger.

A&O Shearman brings together two highly-rated Latin America teams from legacy Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling. The May 2024 merger of the firms means the combined entity is at the forefront Latin America financings and restructurings, and has extensive connections agency lenders, commercial banks, corporate borrowers, private equity sponsors and sovereign wealth funds. The large Latin America team is a leader on financings in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Paraguay, along with other markets such as Panama and the Dominican Republic. It is widely recognised for expertise in the energy transition (including green-hydrogen financings), renewables and digital infrastructure sectors, along with critical minerals. It has also achieved further growth in sustainability-linked loans and remains a force in refinancings. Denise Grant is a leading name in acquisition finance and corporate loans with an extensive record across the region. Cynthia Urda Kassis is global co-head of projects, energy, natural resources and infrastructure, with a major focus on Latin America’s mining and metals sector. Augusto Ruiloba is dual qualified in New York and Peru, impressing in power and mining financings in Chile, Panama and the Dominican Republic. Promoted to the partnership in July 2023, Robert O’Leary has a background in renewable energy, natural gas, natural resources and transmission financings. Dorina Yessios is US co-head of energy, infrastructure and natural resources, and remains noted for renewables and digital infrastructure financings. Washington DC partner Sami Mir (appointed as a Latin America-practice co-director in August 2024, along with Grant) is key to the firm’s agency-lender relationships, especially IDB Invest, and has an extensive record in Latin America. Todd Koretzky and Ally de Padua are key partners in acquisition and leveraged finance; both advised the lead arrangers and a consortium of Peruvian and non-Peruvian banks on the syndicated financing for KKR’s proposed acquisition of a majority interest in PangeaCo and the existing fiber optic networks of Telefónica del Perú and Entel Perú. Bruno Soares has left the firm. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Under the leadership of Dorina Yessios in New York, the project finance department at A&O Shearman has developed specialized PPP capabilities and is well equipped to handle all stages of the PPP lifecycle. The team additionally showcases expertise in renewable energy projects and strategic project M&A. The practice’s diverse roster of clients spans private equity and infrastructure fund managers, multinational lenders and government agencies. Based in New York, Cynthia Urda Kassis is a key contact for corporations, financiers and development institutions, and offers expertise on project finance, joint ventures and restructuring. Kent Rowey, who splits his time between New York and Los Angeles, is well versed in the full asset lifecycle of infrastructure projects. New York’s Paul Epstein is a leading attorney in the PPP space and is sought by major government agencies. Other key practitioners include Nisim (Niso) Matari, who is based in New York and stands out for his capabilities in complex finance transactions and credit arrangements. Daniel Sinaiko departed the team to Latham & Watkins LLP in April 2024.