A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman's large Latin America team is the combination of the landmark merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling. The combined group has extensive experience in renewable energy, conventional power, infrastructure and mining projects. More recently it has experienced further growth in energy transition and digital infrastructure projects. The team has strong connections to a mix of sponsors, developers, project companies and lenders (including commercial banks and development finance institutions). Cynthia Urda Kassis is global co-head of energy, natural resources and infrastructure and leads the mining sector group; she recently led the team that advised El Espino on the financing of its copper mining project and processing facilities in the Coquimbo region of Chile. Dorina Yessios is US head of energy, natural resources and infrastructure, and is building the firm’s presence in digital infrastructure projects, along with other infrastructure and power matters; she led the group that advised EdgeConneX on the upsizing and expansion of its data centre financing with Natixis as lender. Washington DC-based Sami Mir is co-head of the Latin America industry group and is a pivotal figure for the team’s representation of multilateral agencies and export credit agencies. Augusto Ruiloba, a Peru native who is dual qualified in Peru and New York, is an emerging talent, as is Robert O’Leary, who was promoted into the partnership ranks in 2023 and has led a number of major projects in the renewable energy, energy transition and transportation sectors. All named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.