Hughes & Hughes Abogados

This content can only be accessed by Latin Lawyer subscribers

Founded just before the beginning of the 20th century, Hughes & Hughes is one of the most reputable and respected law firms in Uruguay, certainly the firm with the longest track record in the market. Hughes & Hughes’ respectability, reputation and leadership are based not only on the excellence of its legal work but also on its culture and the way its legal practice is conducted. The firm has had considerable growth during recent years and has successfully built on long-term expertise with a modern, sophisticated and practical approach to business. The firm has participated in the most relevant investment projects, transactions and M&A in the country of the last decade – including the largest FDI ever made. Partners and associates have significant expertise in their respective practice areas, and significant international exposure, most of them having studied and/or worked abroad. Despite the firm having no formal ties on an exclusivity basis with firms abroad, it enjoys an excellent relationship and cooperation with the top US, European and regional firms and is the Uruguayan member of LEGALINK, an international network of top-tier independent law firms practising in the world’s financial and commercial centres. This brings a valuable perspective and proven track record of experience to those clients whose business needs require coordinated and integrated cross-border regulatory, litigation and transactional services. H&H is also the Uruguayan member of FraudNet, an association formed by the International Chamber of Commerce. Hughes & Hughes has an affiliate company (H&H International Consulting) based in Zonamerica Business & Technology Park, one of Uruguay’s main free trade zones, that provides legal, tax and accounting services to users of free trade zones, and international clients. Most of the firm’s clients are international, and leaders in their respective fields such as pulp and wood, oil and gas, banking, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aeronautics, airports, hotels, food and beverages, IT, entertainment, insurance, mining, photography, consumer goods, cosmetics, services, and trade.

Main areas of practice

Corporate/commercial: Corporate/commercial issues are part of the services offered on a daily basis. The assistance includes the incorporation of companies under any form of legal structure, preparation of directors’/shareholders’ meetings; reorganisation, spin-off, or winding-up transactions, share and asset purchase agreements, joint ventures, and shareholders’ agreements. Hughes & Hughes’ lawyers regularly draft and review all type of commercial, distribution, franchise, service, and technology agreements. In the M&A area, Hughes & Hughes has helped accomplish some of the major transactions in a wide variety of industries and businesses.

Banking and finance: Hughes & Hughes provides regulatory advice to commercial and investment banks and other financial institutions, and regularly participates in the preparation and review of significant loans and other credit facilities, promissory notes, trade financing, export credits, and all related financial contracts. In the field of capital markets, Hughes & Hughes has participated in several bond issues, including the largest issue of commercial papers in Uruguay.

Corporate recovery and insolvency: Hughes & Hughes has extensive experience assisting clients regarding bankruptcy proceedings, including financial institutions and brokers. Our experience in this field involves dealing with several jurisdictions and leading with thousands of creditors. This activity has lead to an organised structure prepared to efficiently deal with complex asset recoveries, including those generated by business crime. The know-how acquired in this area has allowed Hughes & Hughes to strongly develop its strategies for an effective search of assets to enable important recoveries. The proven experience and efficiency in this area has lead to an increased demand for these types of services by leading companies from all over the world.

Labour law and employment: The firm has developed a strong practice in this area, managing the labour legal aspects of clients with hundreds and sometimes thousands of employees. Hughes & Hughes has successfully accomplished reorganisation and restructuring schemes for long-standing companies in Uruguay, involving an 80 per cent headcount reduction and avoiding all types of conflicts.

Litigation and arbitration: Hughes & Hughes has an extremely effective litigation and arbitration practice. It counts with a unique team of lawyers deeply specialised in sophisticated dispute resolution, banking disputes, assets fraud recovery, environmental litigation, patent claims and a wide variety of high standard claims.

Real estate: The firm is probably the most experienced firm in the market in this area, having been involved in real estate transactions purchasing over 200,000 hectares of land during the last decade.

Administrative law and government procurement: The firm has been involved in all major bidding proceedings, privatisation processes, public work concessions, and the negotiation and execution of relevant concession and other agreements with the government; in this area, the firm also provides legal assistance to clients of regulated industries such as energy, telecommunications, oil and gas.

Taxation: The firm regularly advises clients to devise appropriate legal structures in the light of the applicable taxation and regulatory requirements in the relevant jurisdictions; the use of free zone system and international tax treaties is considered whenever they may result in benefits for commercial, tax, and financial planning purposes.

Contact: Marcela Hughes (mhughes@hughes.com.uy)

www.hughes.com.uy