Every year, Chambers and Partners releases its annual ranking of lawyers and law firms in different practice areas. In order to collect this information, the Chambers Latin America team conducts interviews with clients and colleagues.
Below we transcribe a summary of the results for our firm. For more information, we suggest going to the website of Chambers and Partners: www.chambersandpartners.com/latinamerica
TAX The tax department is one of the jewels in the crown of this full-service corporate firm. Peers have absolutely no doubt that the eight-strong team "remains amongst the market leaders". Characterised by their " excellent tax knowledge and outstanding client service", the lawyers are praised for their " depth of preparation in the tax field and related litigious issues". Apart from its work in judicial and administrative tax proceedings, the department offers a full range of services, from tax due diligence and tax planning to tax-led transactional structures. Department head Alberto Tarsitano has a superb reputation for his broad-ranging tax practice. "He´s simply one of the best tax lawyers in the country", commented one peer. A former secretary of the national tax court, he also has considerable experience in tax litigation. María Inés Giménez has "a fine profile in local contentious work", ehere she demonstrates "great technical ability".
BANKING & FINANCE The finance group at this firm enjoys the loyal following of a number of clients in the financial services industry, particularly international banks."Extremely reliable and deeply knowledgeable," the lawyers deliver a "sophisticated end product."The past couple of years have witnessed the emergence of the "hard-working and committed" Alexia Rosenthal.She was recently promoted to partnership and clients say that "having her on side gives complete peace of mind."
CORPORATE / M&A Clients highlight this team´s technical knowledge, negotiation skills and quality work. The group is renowned for its advice on local financial and corporate matters, and observers also point out its expertise in insurance, projects and tax issues. It recently acted for Rio Tinto on the sale of two potash projects to Vale, one located in Argentina and the other in Canada. Naldo F Dasso is the primary contact on the team, which also attracts praise for its personalised attention and quick responses.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION Alberto Di Ció is highly experienced and is "ever present and deeply knowledgeable".
ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES: MINING This team is involved in the majority of significant projects presently in development in Argentina. Clients appreciate Luis Lucero´s mining expertise and business-oriented advice. Peers credit him with having put together "a very talented and reliable team", which includes "outstanding youngster" Andrés Villarreal.
ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES: OIL & GAS The eight-strong team at this full-service firm continues to perform strongly in the energy sector, handling work both upstream and down. The economic slowdown has been accompanied by a rise in regulatory, contractual and day-to-day consultations, especially regarding joint ventures, while litigation has become an option of last resort. Movement in the biofuels subsector has slowed drastically, but the team has experience in natural gas, gas liquified products and their transportation and distribution. On the finance side of the energy sector, the firm notably counselled Deutsche Bank as security trustee on Emgasud´s USD 250 million debt offering. Peers are quick to recommend Marcelo Lamesa for his knowledge of the sector, while Nicolás Dilernia has in-house experience at YPF and focuses more on hydrocarbons.
