Latin America Energy, Mining & Infrastructure Hot Topics Guides 2021

Maria Fernanda Furtado joined the Firm in 1996 and became a partner in 2006, leading the tax practice at the Rio de Janeiro office ever since. Acting on the oil and gas, mining and infrastructure industries, Maria Fernanda has a wide breadth of experience in international taxation, mergers and acquisitions and indirect taxes. Among her clients, we highlight Chevron, Queiroz Galvão, Fugro, EDF Renewables, Petrobras, Transocean, Seadrill, Schlumberger and Total Eren.
*Trench Rossi Watanabe and Baker McKenzie have executed a strategic cooperation agreement for consulting on foreign law.

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Jose Roberto Martins is a Principal in Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados, Rio de Janeiro office. Trench Rossi Watanabe and Baker McKenzie have executed a strategic cooperation agreement for consulting on foreign law.

Roberto Grané is a transactional and regulatory partner in Baker McKenzie’s Buenos Aires office. He has been recognized as a leading practitioner by Chambers Latin America. Clients benefit from his more than 20 years of extensive domestic and international experience. Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, Roberto served as in-house counsel to one of the major telecommunications companies in Argentina, and a law clerk with the Civil Courts of Buenos Aires. He is a professor of contract law at the Buenos Aires University and a visiting professor in several local universities.

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Ezequiel Artola is a partner in the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure Practice Group in Buenos Aires. He advises clients on a variety of complex transactional, general commercial and regulatory matters, with emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial agreements and corporate practice. Ezequiel was assistant professor of commercial and civil contracts at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, and has written articles related to mining, oil and gas, and distribution and agency agreements.

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Henrique Kruger Frizzo joined the firm in 2004 and became a partner in 2014. He is the leader of the Life Sciences group and also integrates the Public and Regulatory Law group. He acts in the preparation of legal opinions and consultations on topics of his expertise, including tenders and contracts with the government, public service concession contracts and public-private partnerships. He has experience in complex negotiations with the government and assists clients in structuring effective government relationships. He also acts in the identification of irregularities and illicit acts in contracts and relationships with the government and in the area of sales to defense and public security agencies, including in the structuring of technological compensation agreements.
In the Healthcare sector, he advises pharmaceutical, medical device and other companies in the sector on a wide range of matters, including transactions involving commercial agreements and complex negotiations with the government and health technology transfer agreements. He also advises clients on market access strategies, including procedures for the incorporation of new health technologies into SUS and ANS, and represents companies in CMED administrative proceedings. Henrique prepares consultations involving clinical research and regulatory issues, reviews promotional materials, and acts in administrative litigation involving local health authorities and ANVISA. Additionally, he provides support in compliance issues, digital health and analysis of the constitutionality/legality of legislation. Due to his expertise, he participates in the drafting of bills of law and regulations for the industry.
In Public Law, Government Affairs, Regulatory and Compliance, he has extensive experience in corporate investigations, with a focus on government procurement and corruption, and their respective consequences in the civil and administrative areas. We assist clients in defining strategic decisions regarding the results of the investigation and participate in the defense before or during the negotiation with the civil and administrative police authorities responsible for the cases.

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Bruno Duarte is a Senior Associate in Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados São Paulo office.  

Antonio Ortuzar Jr. is head of the Mining Practice Group for the Santiago-Chile office and Joint Coordinator of the Latin America Energy, Mining, Chemicals and Infrastructure Group, for which he contributes his significant experience in the infrastructure sector. He has been consistently ranked in Chambers and Partners as a Tier 1 attorney for Energy and Natural Resources.

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Mirco Hilgers advises on legal matters related to Chilean mining law. He also has extensive experience and deep local knowledge in matters related to natural resources, energy and infrastructure. Mr. Hilgers is a frequent columnist on mining and energy legal issues in Diario Financiero, Diario Estrategia, Diario El Pulso, Revista Minería Chilena and Qué Pasa Minería. He was nominated as one of the Chilean Leading Lawyers for natural resources law by Qué Pasa in 2013, and by The Legal 500. Chambers Latin America 2015 ranks him as an up-and-coming partner. He is currently professor of Chilean mining law at the Universidad Alberto Hurtado.

Alejandro Mesa leads the Firm’s Energy Law practice in Bogota and serves as the Latin American Regional Coordinator of the International Commercial & Trade Practice Group. He has over 12 years’ experience advising on oil and gas and power generation and transmission matters. Also, Mr. Mesa has participated in several major projects and project finance transactions. Mr. Mesa was recognized for his energy practice in the 2011 edition of Chambers Latin America. He is also listed in the inaugural ranking for Best Lawyers of Colombia. Mr. Mesa is currently a professor of technology transfer contracts at the El Rosario University in Bogotá, and has been an assistant professor of contract law at the Los Andes University. He is a member of the Colegio de Abogados Comercialistas.

Daniel is a lawyer with over 18 years of experience in the corporate, energy, project finance and infrastructure fields. He has advised numerous clients, including multinational public and private corporations, local corporate groups, private equity funds and financial entities, real estate developers and investors, manufacturers and retailers.

Yuriria Mascott joined Baker McKenzie as a legal consultant in April 2019. Prior to this, she worked as the undersecretary of transportation of the Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT), appointed by the President of Mexico. She has also worked as the general director of the Mexican Postal Service, has headed up the acquisitions department and supply management of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and has held advisor positions for the Airports and Auxiliary Services Administration (ASA) and the SCT. Yuriria has also worked in several law firms, some of which specialize in criminal law and in aeronautical and corporate law. She was also a member of the Corporate Legal Consortium, S.C.

Juan Carlos de los Heros is the managing partner of Estudio Echecopar and Chair of Latin America Capital Markets Steering Committee. He focuses mainly in the areas of banking and finance, and infrastructure. He has been listed in International Who's Who of Professionals, Chambers & Partners Latin America and Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in project finance. Prior to joining the Firm, Juan Carlos was an international lawyer in the global project finance group of an American law firm.

Dr. Eugenio Hernández-Bretón has been practicing law since 1981. His main practice areas are energy and natural resources, as well as international and domestic arbitration and litigation. He also advises on international family and wills and estates law. He has been recognized by top legal directories including Chambers & Partners and Who’s Who Legal. Dr. Hernández-Bretón is an elected member of the Venezuelan Academy of Political and Social Sciences, the Instituto Hispano Luso Americano de Derecho Internacional and the International Academy of Comparative Law. He is a tenured professor of law at Universidad Central de Venezuela, Universidad Monteávila and Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. He has authored three books and more than one hundred law articles.

Maria Eugenia Salazar has more than 15 years of experience and became partner in 2010. María Eugenia is very active in investment protection and international arbitration as well as in public law, in particular on telecommunications and energy. According to Chambers María Eugenia is described by market insiders and peers as a key partner very active in the dispute resolution arena, and as a "a very able lawyer." Legal 500 also recognizes María Eugenia as a key player in investment arbitration; energy and natural resources, environmental and public law. María Eugenia is a respected authority on several areas of law in Venezuela, and her expertise is regularly solicited by leading publications and organizations.

Joaquim de Paiva Muniz is a partner and head of the arbitration team in Trench Rossi Watanabe. Joaquim has an LL.M. from the University of Chicago and is the chair of the Arbitration Commission of the Rio de Janeiro Bar (OAB/RJ) and coordinator of arbitration courses of the Rio de Janeiro Bar, including a lato sensu graduate course. Joaquim is an officer of the Brazilian Arbitration and Mediation Center, which is the largest of its kind in Rio de Janeiro, as well as an author of many books, including the Arbitration Law of Brazil: Practice and Procedure (Juris Publishing, 2nd Edition 2015) and Curso Básico de Direito Arbitral (Juruá, 4rd Edition 2017). Joaquim can be reached at joaquim.muniz@trenchrossi.com.

Nicolas Arboleda is a senior associate in Baker McKenzie's Bogota office, leading the mining and metals practice. Nicolas has over 12 years' experience in mining, energy and infrastructure, having participated and championed several cross-border transactions in the Americas, Africa and EMEA regions. He is a highly experienced professional in transactions and projects on mining and power sectors. Prior to joining the Firm, Nicolas was Legal Vice President of the "La Luna" mine-to-power project in Colombia. Nicolas has also worked as legal counsel business development for QKR Corporation, a private equity fund in London and Qatar, legal advisor to a BHP Billiton's Project NOSS (at Cerro Matoso) and as an associate at other renowned international law firms. Nicolas also teaches as a professor in Mineral Law and Sustainable Development at the Los Andes University.

Jorge joined Baker McKenzie in 1986. He is a Principal in the Mexico City and Juárez offices. He is currently the head of the Firm’s National Transactional Practice Group in Mexico. He is the Commercial Notary Public (Corredor Público) Number Four for the State of Chihuahua. He was an associate professor at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey from 1986 to 1992 and associate visiting professor at its graduate programs in 1995 and 1996. He was Chairman of the Economic Development Council (DECJ) in Ciudad Juárez from 2006 to 2008 and of the Council for the Economic Development for the State of Chihuahua (CODECH) in 2008. He is also a former Chairman of the Mexican Institute of Financial Executives (IMEF).

Valentin Paniagua represents clients in mining and corporate transactions. He has extensive experience in project finance, acquisitions and sales of companies and assets. He advices clients on the different commercial, regulatory, corporate and litigation aspects related to the development of mining activities and natural resources. Recognized for his mining experience, Valentin has been ranked in several leading publications including Chambers Global, Chambers Latin America, IFRL 1000, Legal 500 and Latin Lawyer. He has also been recognized in Who’s Who of Mining Lawyers, for 10 consecutive years.
Estudio Echecopar is a member firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein

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Ina Maria Drago is a partner at Estudio Echecopar. She has a background in corporate law with a broad knowledge of the legislation applicable to natural resources activities and advises clients in all aspects related to the start-up and development of natural resources projects.

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Benjamín Torres-Barrón leads Baker McKenzie's Energy, Mining & Infrastructure Practice Group in Mexico. Mr. Torres-Barrón is listed as a recommended lawyer by Who’s Who Legal for oil, gas, and project finance in Mexico and was named by Chambers Latin America as one of the country's leading lawyers in the energy and natural resources practice. For several years, he has been acknowledged by the magazine Petróleo & Energía as one of the 100 leaders in Mexico's energy industry. He is a professor of the Master’s Degree in Energy and Sustainability Law at Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon and of the Diploma Degree in Energy at Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez.

Maria del Carmen Tovar has participated in the process to promote private investment in companies and concessions both as counsel to the government and to bidders. She is recognized for her extensive knowledge of processes and contracts involving the State. She regularly acts as counsel in national and international arbitrations related to investments and public services and public works.

Ines Vazquez is a partner in Estudio Echecopar. Prior to joining the Firm, she was the head of Latin America Power's Legal Department for two years, during which she gained wide experience and was exposed to transactions in multiple jurisdictions. She has worked on privatization and concession procedures in the electric power sector for private clients, as well as in bidding processes of public services concessions in general. She also has a solid background in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, financing, and has participated in several acquisition transactions and sale of companies, assets and shares participations, including mergers, spin-offs, reorganizations and other structures, both domestic and international. Additionally, Ines has contentious and non-contentious construction practice based on domestic and international arbitration, advising both private and state owned companies.

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Gino has extensive experience in hydrocarbons exploration and production, as well as in the commercialization of natural gas and liquids in the local and international market, from the Camisea Consortium. Before joining the Firm, he was a legal advisor of Tecpetrol, where he was part of several highly specialized working groups for negotiations related to Peruvian natural gas, both with public and private entities, local and international, including international arbitrations. He also has experience in public sector entities in hydrocarbons, such as Perupetro and Osinergmin.

Adam Milgrom is a Senior Associate in Trench, Rossi e Watanabe Advogados São Paulo office. Trench Rossi Watanabe and Baker McKenzie have executed a strategic cooperation agreement for consulting on foreign law.

Mariana Villegas Mendoza is an associate in Baker McKenzie's Bogota office. She joined Baker Mckenzie in 2012 as a member of the Energy, Mining and Infrastructure group in Bogota, and she has also been a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group. In 2011, she received the Germán Cavelier prize, for an essay titled, "El Tratado De Libre Comercio Entre Estados Unidos Y Colombia: La Diferencia De Alcances Jurídicos En Uno Y Otro País."

Marco Nieto Vázquez is a partner in Baker McKenzie's Energy, Mining & Infrastructure Industry Group in Mexico City. He has over 17 years of international consulting experience in the private sector, the Mexican public sector, and international energy-related organizations. He has also served as an external consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency, leading professional missions for some Central and South American governments on issues of energy modelling and planning and was part of the Energy and Infrastructure team in PwC in Mexico.