Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie is the longest-standing international firm in Venezuela and acts as a primary bridge for global capital navigating the country’s complex legal and regulatory environment. The Caracas-based team is uniquely positioned to advise on the potential reactivation of the oil and gas sector while maintaining a market-leading presence in high-value employment litigation, sovereign debt recovery and cross-border M&A. The practice specialises in large-scale corporate reorganisations and multidisciplinary industrial shutdowns, alongside tax and customs mandates involving substantial VAT refunds for the mining sector. Co-managing partner Ronald Evans chairs the tax and oil and gas practices, focusing on banking and international tax structures for fintech and financial institutions. Of counsel Eugenio Hernández-Bretón leads the energy, mining and infrastructure group alongside the dispute resolution practice, managing mandates that involve complex regulatory and public law hurdles. The employment and labour practice is led by Carlos Felce, a primary strategist for the market’s highest-value executive claims and cassation appeals. María Eugenia Salazar-Furiati is a leader in public law and dispute resolution, specialising in sovereign debt recovery and state-related commercial obligations. Transactional expert Jesús Villegas was promoted to partner in July 2025 and focuses on cross-border acquisitions and market entry strategies. Manuel Marín, who previously held senior management roles at the Venezuelan tax authority (SENIAT), leads on trade and customs matters, particularly regarding tariff changes and tax credit recoveries. The team also includes tax partner Serviliano Abache Carvajal and Gabriel De Jesús, who focuses on sector-specific commercial litigation and precedent-setting moral damages cases. Senior associate Héctor Martínez provides key support across energy, regulatory and dispute resolution mandates, while senior associate Daniel Fragiel is a core member of the employment practice. The offering is further supported by senior associates Adriana Gonçalves, David Mongiovi, Johana De La Rosa and Sebastián Nastari, alongside associate Beatriz Riviere Herrera.