DLA Piper LLP (US) has a large US-based Latin America team based across its New York, Miami, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, San Diego and Houston offices, backed by teams in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico. It has established expertise in cross-border acquisition finance and project finance in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Mexico and Brazil are its primary markets, though it has a significant presence in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Central America, along with the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. It now represents a range of borrowers and sponsors, along with banks, DFIs and MLAs. The firm has expanded its presence in acquisition finance and project finance through a series of senior lateral hires in recent years, notably Bruno Soares who joined in February 2024 and has established the firm’s foreign legal consultancy in Sao Paulo. Bank regulatory matters are another strength for the Latin America team. New York-based Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja is co-leader of the US-Latam finance group and is an experienced figure in project finance for multilateral agencies, commercial lenders, sponsors and project companies; she has played an integral role in developing the team’s connections to European DFIs and MLAs. Robert da Silva Ashley splits his time between New York and Miami, and is a recognised specialist in Latin America project finance and acquisition finance, particularly in Mexico. Puerto Rico-based José Sosa-Lloréns is a leader in banking regulatory matters. Mexico’s Edgar Romo and Chile-based Mauricio Halpern are also key partners.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team was highly competent and could adjust to our specific needs operating in the challenging business environment. Furthermore, the team helped us navigate through all the legal challenges of this process. ’
‘The individuals that worked with us were exceptionally competent, experienced and dedicated into making the process as smooth and efficient as possible for our company. I would like to particularly express our highest satisfaction with Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja. Her expertise and input were critical to the success of this closing. She was always very dedicated and swift in all her interventions.’
Key clients
- Tuhabi
- Nordic Trustee
- HSBC
- Summit Ridge Capital Partners
- Grupo INICIA
- Xinfra Fibra E
- NWI Healthcare Properties
- North West Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust
- NWI Brazil Properties
- Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria
- Innergex
- FMO
- KFW
- BIO
- EDFI MC
- Solengy
Work highlights
Advised Tuhabi, the Mexican affiliate of Habi, Latin America's first unicorn in the PropTech sector, on closing an up to $50m debt facility with IDB Invest, the private sector arm of the IDB Group.
Advised a cohort of foreign bondholders represented by Nordic Trustee as priority creditor, in the context of the $472m judicial reorganization of major Chilean salmon fishing company, Nova Austral.
Represented certain affiliates of Putney Capital Management in connection with a $325m multi-currency tranche, senior-secured and widely syndicated credit facility co-arranged by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and The Bank of Nova Scotia to finance the acquisition of the remaining 50% equity interests in Diaco, and Gerdau Metaldom.
Practice head
Francisco Cerezo; Margarita Oliva Sainz de Aja; Edgar Romo; Mauricio Halpern