Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi Abogados

This content can only be accessed by Latin Lawyer subscribers

Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi is one of Argentina’s leading full-service law firms and regularly advises major international and domestic banks and companies in connection with the establishment, development and ongoing operation of their business. The firm has handled some of the largest transactions involving Argentine parties or assets, including many landmark mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity offerings, and corporate reorganisations. Additionally, the firm has also been involved in some of the most important conflicts before judicial, administrative and arbitration courts, and other alternative dispute resolution procedures. The firm is also well known for its tax & customs practice.

The firm is member of Affinitas, an Ibero-American alliance of law firms promoted by Garrigues with associate firms in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Spain, and Taxand, which today has more than 2000 tax professionals, including Taxand advisers in almost 50 countries. Taxand provides high quality, integrated tax advice worldwide.

Main areas of practice

Banking & finance: The firm regularly represents domestic and international financial institutions and has vast experience in, among others, secured and syndicated lending, acquisition finance, IPOs, mandatory tender offers, structured finance and project finance. The firm also regularly advises ABA (Argentine Banking Association) and MAE (Mercado Abierto Electrónico). Among the most relevant transactions of 2011 in which the firm has played a leading role include our legal assistance to Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities, Goldman, Sachs & Co, Itaú BBA, Morgan Stanley, Raymond James and Santander Investment in the sale by Repsol of YPF’s shares for approximately US$1.07 billion representing approximately 7.1 per cent of YPF’s share capital.

Capital markets: We have acted as underwriters’ counsel in almost every international bond offering made by Argentina in recent years, and we were sole Argentine counsel to the local and international deal managers for Argentina’s restructuring of its US$88 billion debt in 2005 (the largest sovereign restructuring in the history of world financial markets). In 2011 the firm represented Banco de la Provincia de Córdoba SA, as lead arranger, in the issuance of secured notes by Empresa Provincial de Energía de Córdoba for an aggregate amount of US$565 million. We also have a substantial track record in structuring secured finance transactions for Argentine provinces, and have participated in virtually all international bond offerings and major IPOs made by Argentine corporate issuers in recent times.

General corporate: The firm is recognised as having one of the most effective corporate departments in Argentina. The firm’s knowledge and expertise in the regulatory, competition law, corporate and business transactions fields makes it a preferred choice of counsel for any complex matter. The firm has advised its clients in many of the most significant corporate matters and transactions both at home and abroad, and has a long-standing history of representing a substantial number of the main local and foreign corporations. Such exposure gives the firm an advantageous position to understand and handle matters in a very challenging legal and economic environment. The firm is well known for an approach to all corporate work based on giving pragmatic and commercial advice, facilitating the resolution of intricate issues and problems that would otherwise thwart smooth and effective implementation.

Litigation, international arbitration & bankruptcy: The firm regularly handles litigation before federal and local courts and administrative authorities, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution procedures. The litigation practice is led by a former judge of the Commercial Court of Appeals, and includes other former members of such courts. The firm is involved in many significant cases, in matters such as bankruptcy, banking and financial litigation, class actions, international and domestic arbitration, insurance administrative proceedings and highly complex litigation before national and local courts.

Mergers & acquisitions: The firm has been involved in some of the most significant M&A transactions of the last decade, representing sellers, buyers or financial advisers in many industry sectors. Additionally, we have been repeatedly listed among the top M&A firms in Argentina by, among others, Chambers and Partners and International Financial Law Review.

Tax & customs: The firm’s tax department has been ranked over the years as one of the most important tax specialists in Argentina by International Tax Review (ITR). In September 2011, ITR awarded the firm with the ‘Argentine Tax Disputes Firm of the Year’ award. This recognition is added to the two awards already won in 2009, ‘Argentine Tax Disputes Firm of the Year’ and ‘Latin American Tax Disputes Firm of the Year’ (first Argentine firm that received this regional award). Our practice group also provides advice through its customs and foreign trade practice group, handling all aspects of customs planning, compliance and litigation (including, among others, antidumping investigations) and international trade foreign exchange issues.

www.bfmyl.com