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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘All partners are involved in the transactions and do not leave the junior team alone in front of clients. The expertise of the team is a strong point to emphasise. They know what the bank is looking for and needs, and they make their recommendations based on precedents, making an appropriate risk assessment.'
‘Ally de Padua: knowledgeable about different topics; providing solutions proactively to any difficulties; always on top of all the workstreams to get things to the finish line; proven expertise in complex transactions.’
Key clients
- Barclays
- JP Morgan
- BNP Paribas
- Banamex
- Volcan
- Alicorp
- Transelec
- BBVA
- Scotiabank
- Citibank
Work highlights
Represented a group of lenders in connection with a $1.54bn three-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility for Comisión Federal de Electricidad de México.
Advised five of the largest electric generation companies in Chile including AES Gener, Colbun, Enel, ENGIE and Generadora Metropolitana on the $1.8bn securitisation of the interest-bearing dollar denominated securities received by consumers pursuant to the 2022 MPC Law.
Represented BBVA in a loan to Ci Banco, solely in its capacity as trustee and administrator under a credit agreement with Terrafina as borrower.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Cynthia Urda Kassis
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Augusto Ruiloba
Practice head
Cynthia Urda Kassis; Denise Grant