Guyer & Regules

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Guyer & Regules is proud to be considered as Uruguay’s blue chip firm and first choice for international and domestic complex legal, accounting and tax work. Such reputation finds its grounds on its solid team of internationally trained professionals and the largest and most experienced group of partners in the country, who has become its clients’ trusted adviser.
Guyer & Regules has been recognised by Chambers & Partners as ‘Uruguayan Law Firm of the Year’ for a second consecutive year, being ranked in Band 1 in every area in which it renders services and being the only Uruguayan firm in Band 1 in banking & finance, corporate/M&A and dispute resolution. Additionally, it is the Uruguayan firm with the largest amount of lawyers ranked, with the most in Band 1 and the only ‘Star Individual’.
The firm has also been granted the award ‘Uruguay Tax Firm of the Year 2010’ by International Tax Review (Euromoney).
Notably in January, the firm assisted the world’s largest consumer dairy company, Schreiber Foods, in acquiring a stake in three Uruguayan companies.

Main areas of practice
Banking and finance: With a premium clientele of banks and financial entities, the firm participated in the first transactions in fields such as syndicated loans, investment funds, public work trust structures, issuance of preferred shares through ADR, US privately placed securities, venture capital structures, and others. This placed the firm as the first choice in the banking and finance area and the most active player in the market; it is not by chance that competitors acknowledge that the firm is present in 80 per cent of deals. The firm has participated in all Uruguayan debt issuances and exchanges in the international markets in recent decades, representing underwriters and lead managers.
Corporate/M&A: The firm participated in the first merger of pension fund administrators, in several mergers of banks, several company spin-offs, transfer of assets, equity investments and company acquisitions, including Stora Enso’s acquisition of ENCE’s forestry assets – the largest M&A deal in Uruguay. The firm also acted on several privatisation and utility concession proceedings in different areas (port, airline, fuel, alcohol, gas, cement, transport and airport).
Accounting and tax: The accounting department has been chosen by many multinational corporations for the outsourcing of their local and international work. The firm also has one of the strongest teams in international tax planning with highly personalised services.
Real estate: The real estate department is the largest and most experienced in Uruguay. It has a very strong presence in agribusiness and forestry investments representing some of the most important investors. It is also extremely active in tourism and residential developments.
Litigation: Litigation is a landmark of Guyer & Regules’ practice. The firm’s prominent litigators specialise in complex litigation and arbitration, generally involving high-profile cases.
Labour: The department excels for its services both in advisory and litigious labour matters. It has represented all of the Uruguayan financial entities in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the banking union and the government.
Telecommunications:The firm has advised Telefónica since its entry in Uruguay, as well as several telecom entities: cellular, long distance and data transmission services; call centres; long distance carriers, satellite and teleport operators, among others.
Energy: The firm advised the government on oil regulation issues, in the alternatives and mechanisms for the search of a strategic partner for the state-owned oil company and in the purchase by Petrobras of a controlling interest in Montevideo’s gas distribution company. It also helped to put in place the Uruguayan natural gas pipeline and advised relevant foreign businesses in contracting with the state-owned power company for the purchase and sale of electricity and in the development of wind parks and biomass power plants.
Aviation: The firm has vast experience on aviation matters, advising many international carriers on issues related to aeronautical permits, regulations, claims and financing
Insurance: Since the repeal of the state insurance monopoly, the firm has been busy building its insurance practice and represents many of the main international players.