Cynthia Urda Kassis > A&O Shearman > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

The fruit of a merger betweeen two global heavyweights, A&O Shearman fields an impressive Latin America-focused finance practice that has presence and profile in the acquisition finance, export finance, structured finance, corporate lending, and restructurings and refinancing segments. The group represents a healthy array of financial institutions (including Barclays, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas and Banamex),  along with various DFIs and ECAs, as well as institutional investors, corporates and private equity funds. The team further demonstrates particular experience in corporate lending and is making a further impression in growth areas such as sustainability-linked finance and ESG-related loans. Senior partner Denise Grant  has deep bank finance, and project finance and development experience, and an enviable trajectory in Latin America financings throughout the region. Metals and mining specialist Cynthia Urda Kassis is also active in project and development finance across the region; while co-head of the Americas projects, energy, natural resources & infrastructure group, Dorina Yessios is noted for energy and infrastructure financings. New York-based Sami Mir is co-head of the US agency practice and is pivotal to the firm’s connections to ECAs, MLAs, DFIs and commercial lenders; while Todd Koretzky (banking, leveraged finance, corporate finance and private credit) is highlighted for acquisition financings in the region. Promoted to the partnership in 2022, dual-qualified (New York/Peru) Augusto Ruiloba is another key member of the team and is particularly noted for acquisition financings in the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors, particularly in Mexico, Chile and Peru. Now based in Washington DC, dual-qualified (New York/Brazil) counsel André de Paiva Teixeira focuses on project and leveraged financing as part of his broader corporate transactional practice. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. Since publication, Sao Paulo-based Bruno Soares and New York’s Joseph Stefano have both left the firm – in February and April 2024 respectively

While the full impact of the combination has yet to be fully demonstrated, as of May 2024 A&O Shearman is a reality, its constituent legacy firms have bequeathed it a lengthy trajectory in Latin America energy and infrastructure projects sectors. The former Shearman team have long been active in Chile (having worked on a series of major projects including desalination plants, electric generation, power and renewables projects), and more generally, have extensive experience throughout the region – including Central America, Dominican Republic and Argentina – on matters ranging from power and renewables to mining and natural resources, oil and gas, and transport infrastructure projects. The former A&O team brings particular profile in agency finance (which has seen it land a number of significant mandates in the region), and frequently advises DFIs and ECAs in headline financings; it also represents a multitude of commercial lenders, alternative lenders and sponsors. A key figure for energy and infrastructure matters, New York partner Dorina Yessios has been growing her profile in digital infrastructure projects, alongside more traditional renewables and power transactions. With much of her focus on the Americas in their entirety, Cynthia Urda Kassis is a recognised authority in the mining and metals sector and also works more broadly across the energy and infrastructure segments. In Washington DC and New York respectively, Jean Lee and Sami Mir are at the forefront of project financings driven by ECAs, MLAs and commercial lenders. Dual-qualified (Peru/New York) Augusto Ruiloba was elected to the partnership in June 2022 and has worked on headline deals in Chile, Panama and across the region; while Robert O’Leary was similarly promoted in 2023 and -as a fluent Spanish speaker- is also heavily focused on Latin America. Since publication, Soares has left the firm, moving to DLA Piper LLP (US) in February 2024.

‘One of the most active firms in the area of project finance’, with the ability to ‘provide a keen understanding of what’s going on in the market at any time’, A&O Shearman advises marquee industry players alongside a wealth of financial sponsors and asset managers on a broad range of renewables and energy transition assets, as well as large-scale infrastructure projects that includes airport expansion work, toll road developments, and university utility ventures – amongst others. Los Angeles’ Dorina Yessios heads up  the US projects, energy, natural resources and infrastructure practice and is lauded for her ‘ample experience in Latin American markets’. Scott Cockerham joined the Washington DC office from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in 2023 to add further tax equity financing and tax credit transaction expertise to the group, with a strong focus on renewables work, while the Los Angeles-based Matthew Nesburn‘s broad skillset is frequently utilized by clients engaged with early stage energy projects. Jennifer Wnek is a key figure in New York for renewables financings, with recent work highlights heavily featuring large-scale solar portfolios. Infrastructure specialists Kent Rowey and Jillian Ashley operate out of New York and Los Angeles respectively and have extensive experience counselling on the full asset lifecycle, and boast a number of significant projects in their book of work that includes the JFK New Terminal One PPP and the SH 288 toll road in Texas. New York’s Nisim (Niso) Matari is a crucial supporting presence on infrastructure matters relating to lenders, sponsors and investors, while the Washington DC-based Michael Sykes has a growing practice primarily focused on federal income tax issues. John Marciano left the practice in October 2023. Sam Kamyans left the firm in June 2023, while Greg Lavigne departed in October 2023. Following the merger of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling, the practice has further expanded its capabilities. Shearman & Sterling LLP‘s client roster comprises of a host of large-cap private sponsors, multinational lenders, and government agencies who engage the firm for representation in big-ticket, consequential PPP transactions – from the structuring, procurement, development and financing. Key components of the firm’s varied work include transport and aviation projects, domestic and international desalination facilities, microgrid developments, and university campus and utility upgrades. The practice is chaired by the highly experienced Cynthia Urda Kassis, who advises on complex cross-border energy and infrastructure projects with the capabilities to preside over bespoke financing structures. Paul Epstein is highly active and is a key name for major government agencies such as the US Department of Transport, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Department of Energy, advising on financing and development issues. Mona Dajani  left the firm in December 2023, whereas Jorge Medina departed in January 2024 and former practice co-head Daniel Sinaiko left in April 2024.