Luis Montes

Luis has significant experience in corporate, banking and capital markets law and has participated in significant equity and debt offerings of Brazilian private issuers (both domestic and offshore), banking transactions and projects structuring and financing in Brazil, including construction and financing of power generation (with focus in renewable sources), transmission and distribution, water and sanitation, roads, ports and airports.

Before joining Mayer Brown, Luis worked for another prominent global law firm.

• Banco Itaú BBA S.A., Banco Bradesco S.A. and Banco Votorantim S.A., as Financial Agents, in connection with a up to R$135,000,000 loan granted by the Financial Agents to Energias Renovaveis do Brazil ("ERB") with funds from the Brazilian Development Bank - BNDES for the construction and operation of a biomass power generation plant in the State of Bahia in northeast Brazil (the "Plant"). The Plant will be integrated to a chemical complex belonging to Dow Chemical Co. located at the Aratu Complex in the State of Bahia and is intended to replace the current natural gas-fired boilers of such chemical facilities.
• Banco Itaú BBA S.A. and Banco Caixa Geral – Brasil S.A., the lenders, with respect to a R$155 million project financing granted to EcoSteel Gestão de Águas Industriais Ltda. (a company from the Odebrecht group) in relation to a water treatment plant integrated to Thyssenkrupp’s steel mill located in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
• Darby Administração de Investimentos Ltda., as manager of BMIF - Brazil Mezzanine Infrastructure Fund – Fundo de Investimento em Participações, in structuring and financing the expansion of port facilities related to handling and storage operations of vegetable solid bulk in the Santos Port, the largest and more important port in Latin America. The investment was made through the subscription by BMIF of certain convertible debentures issued by T-Grão Cargo Terminal de Granéis S.A., the port facilities’ operator.
• Darby Administração de Investimentos Ltda., as manager of BMIF – Fundo de Investimento em Participações, in financing the construction and operation of four wind farms of Bioenergy – Geradora de Energia S.A. located in the Northeast region of Brazil. The investment was made through the subscription by BMIF of certain convertible debentures issued by a holding company of Bioenergy group.
• Martifer in connection with the drafting and negotiation of EPC and O&M agreements related to nine wind farm projects in Brazil.
• Banco BNP Paribas, in its capacity of collateral agent, in connection with a loan to be provided by Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social – BNDES to Construtora Andrade Gutiérrez S.A. - Sucursal del Perú, with the purpose of financing the construction of a water treatment plant in a Steel Mill Complex owned by Compañía Minera Miski Mayo S.A.C., an affiliate of Vale S.A. incorporated under the laws of Perú.
• China Development Bank (“CDB”) in relation to the US$750 million term loan facility that CDB made available to Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social - BNDES for the purpose of financing the construction of GASENE - Gas Pipeline Project (Brazil Southeast - Northeast Gas Pipeline).
• Cerona S.A. - Companhia de Energia Renovável (“Cerona”) in relation to the first fully integrated EPC Management contract in the ethanol/renewable energy sector in Brazil, which was entered into by and between Cerona and Engevix Engenharia S.A.
• Cemig Geração e Transmissão S.A. in a joint venture with Usina Alvorada Açúcar e Álcool Ltda., a Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer, for the construction and operation of a biomass power co-generation plant in Brazil.
• Tractebel Energia S.A., a Brazilian subsidiary of Suez International, in a joint venture with Açúcar Guarani S.A., a Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer, for the construction and operation of a biomass power generation plant in Brazil.
• Tractebel Energia S.A. in a joint venture with Dedini Açúcar e Álcool Ltda., a Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer, for the construction and operation of a biomass power co-generation plant in Brazil.
• International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) in connection to the structuring of a Public Private Partnership (“PPP”) project in relation to BR-116/324 road concession in the State of Bahia, Brazil.
• IFC in connection to the structuring of a PPP project in relation to Pontal irrigation project.
• IFC in connection with a certain Loan Agreement entered into between IFC and Hospital e Maternidade Anália Franco S/A (Hospital São Luiz Group) in the aggregate amount of US$34 million. Luis also advised IFC in connection with the execution and delivery of the security documents in order to secure the full and timely payment and performance of the borrower’s and certain subsidiaries’ obligations under the relevant loan agreement and other transaction documents.
• IFC, as Brazilian counsel, in relation to that certain loan agreement entered into between IFC and Estre Ambiental Group. Luis also advised IFC in connection with the execution and delivery of the security documents in order to secure the full and timely payment and performance of the borrower and certain subsidiaries’ obligations under the relevant loan agreements and other transaction documents.

• “Luis Montes, in my opinion, is one of the best attorneys in Brazil. Luis is very complete, not only technically speaking but also with respect to interactions in general, such as meetings and negotiations.” and "Luis Montes – creative, pro-business, simple and direct communication." – The Legal 500 - Latin America, 2023
• “Luis Montes, who is particularly experienced in the infrastructure sector.” – The Legal 500 – Latin America 2023
• “Luis Montes, a ‘skilled negotiator‘, stands out for his experience in the financing of energy and infrastructure projects.” – The Legal 500 – Latin America, 2023
• Ranked as Notable practitioner for Capital Markets – IFLR 1000, 2023
• Ranked as Recommended for Banking and Finance – Latin Lawyer 250, 2023
• Recommend Lawyer for Capital Markets, Banking and Finance, and Restructuring and Insolvency. – The Legal 500 - Latin America, 2023
• Leading for Debt Capital Markets. - Leaders League, 2023
• Excellent for Projects and Infrastructure. - Leaders League, 2023
• Excellent for Banking and Finance. - Leaders League, 2023
• Highly Regarded for Project Finance. - IFLR1000, 2022
• Excellent for Projects and Infrastructure. - Leaders League, 2021
• Ranked as Excellent for Debt Capital Markets in Leaders League, 2021
• Ranked as Highly Recommended for Banking and Finance in Leaders League, 2021
• “Luis Montes is a star and a unique and outstanding attorney, with a solid practical and scholar knowledge of the law.” - Ranked as Next Generation Partners for Banking and Finance and Projects and Infrastructure in The Legal 500 – Latin America, 2021
• Ranked as Highly Regarded in IFLR1000, 2021
• Ranked as Highly Regarded in IFLR1000, 2020
• Ranked as Excellent for Projects and Infrastructure in Leaders League, 2020
• "Luis Montes is 'highly dedicated and business oriented'". – The Legal 500 – Latin America, 2019
• "We’re very happy with his job and would like to highlight the strength of his legal knowledge” - Chambers Latin America, 2018
• "He’s very dedicated to our Project and highlights during negotiations with third parties”; “efficient approach and technical experience” - Chambers Latin America, 2016
• "Young and talented lawyer” - Chambers Global, 2015
• "Efficient approach and technical experience” “It is a pleasure to work with him” - Chambers Latin America, 2015