Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is a major force in Latin America M&A and private equity transactions. Its core team of Latin America specialists have an intense focus on corporate and private equity deals with extensive experience of transactions across the region, including key jurisdictions such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile. With its Latin America team located in New York and Sao Paulo, it has successfully leveraged the firm’s global reputation in the private equity space; the Latin America team now represents many of the biggest asset managers in the world, along with Latin America-focused funds. The group has advised KKR on a series of major transactions and strategic programmes, including the expansion of open access fibre optic investments in Latin America and its acquisition of approximately 1,100 wireless communications towers in Colombia from Tigo Colombia, a subsidiary of Millicom; this is an example of its successful targeting of the digital infrastructure industry, along with real estate, financial services, tech and retail. Todd Crider heads the Latin America group, splitting his time between New York and Sao Paulo, and remains a market leader in strategy M&A and private equity deals. Grenfel Calheiros heads the Sao Paulo office and is pivotal to the firm’s M&A work in Brazil. Juan Francisco Méndez is another senior member of the group with additional experience in M&A and private equity, while Juan Naveira has also made a big impact in private equity deals. Borja Marcos and Gabriel Silva are making a further impression, with Silva making a valuable contribution to the firm’s standing in digital infrastructure. Sao Paulo counsel Luiz Noronha provides further senior support. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. Since publication, Calheiros has been appointed co-head of the firm's Latin America practice - effective as of December 2025.