As one of the first international law firms to service client interests in Latin America and the Caribbean, we have the ability to provide advice on local Brazilian law issues through our association firm in Brazil, Tauil & Chequer Advogados (T&C).

The strength of our practice is having a dedicated team of mostly bilingual or trilingual lawyers that fully understand the legal and political challenges within the local landscapes and have the cultural and business skills to work effectively in the region. Our clients include US, European and Asian companies and financial institutions with business interests in the region, as well as a wide range of corporations and financial institutions headquartered in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Banking & Finance

The lawyers in our Latin America Banking & Finance practice represent financial institutions and companies throughout the region in the full range of financing activities, including secured and unsecured financing, acquisition financing, project financing, and structured finance transactions, from traditional loans to the most complex securities offerings.

Projects and Infrastructure

Our Projects and Infrastructure team regularly represents sponsors, investors, developers and financial institutions (including ECAs and DFIs) in project development and financings throughout Latin America. Our experience includes advising on projects in the power, renewables, oil, gas and pipeline, mining, toll road, port, and infrastructure sectors.

We advise on the full range of project financing techniques, including senior and subordinated lending, equity investments, and leveraged lease transactions. We also have extensive experience in preparing and negotiating all types of project-related agreements, including partnership agreements, power purchase agreements, transmission agreements, fuel supply contracts, management agreements, engineering, procurement and construction contracts, and operating and maintenance agreements.

Capital Markets

Mayer Brown has wide-ranging capital markets experience in Latin America and the Caribbean. We regularly represent issuers, underwriters and placement agents in offerings by Latin American and Caribbean companies, including high-yield and investment grade bonds, medium- and short-term notes, as well as bonds collateralized by a diverse range of receivables and equity securities. In addition, we counsel Latin American companies and their creditors on restructuring transactions, tender offers, exchange offers, consent solicitations and negotiated restructurings.

Corporate/M&A

The lawyers in our Latin American Corporate/M&A practice represent a broad spectrum of public and private companies, private equity and leveraged buyout firms, special committees, closely held companies, management groups, and individuals across the region. We also regularly advise regional, national and global investment banks in their roles as financiers or financial advisors in M&A transactions. We have particular knowledge of the energy and natural resources sectors, where our team has extensive experience in transactions related to oil and gas, LNG, power, and mining across the region. Whatever the transaction, we are known for delivering both top-level client service and creative solutions to complex problems.

Energy

Within Latin America, we offer experienced bilingual teams with in-depth experience in each of the major energy sectors, from oil and gas to renewable energy and power. We devise creative solutions to complex problems. Mayer Brown’s Energy team has advised oil, natural gas, pipeline, coal and electric power companies; liquefied natural gas project developers; and renewable energy providers as they develop, acquire, structure and finance the deals that fuel their growth.

Banking and Finance

• City of Barranquilla. Represented Deutsche Bank AG in connection with a US$100 million senior credit facility for the City of Barranquilla, Colombia.
• City of Bogota. Represented City of Bogota, Colombia, as borrower, in an unsecured loan from Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA) guaranteed by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. This was the first guaranteed loan to a city in Colombia that was denominated in local currency.
• Tesorito. Represented Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Banco Santander, S.A, in a syndicated financing for the development, construction, commissioning, finance, ownership, maintenance operation and use of a 200MW natural gas-fired thermal power plant in Colombia.
• Cerro Verde Copper Mine Refinancing. Represented The Bank of Nova Scotia and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. in connection with a US$350 million senior unsecured revolvinger credit facility for Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde S.A.A.
• Multibank. Represented Panamanian bank Multibank Inc., as borrower, in connection with a US$119.5 million unsecured credit facility.
• Clara. Represented Goldman Sachs Group in a US$150 million credit line to Mexican start-up CF Tech, S.A. de C.V. (Clara), which lends to corporations and helps manage their spending.
• Xeplelin. Represented Goldman Sachs in a senior secured revolving credit facility up to US$140 million for Latin American Fintech Xepelin.

Projects and Infrastructure

• Sao Paulo Line 6. Represented Acciona, on a R$6.9 billion (US$1.34 billion) financing deal with Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) to develop the largest public-private infrastructure project under construction in Latin America: Line 6 of the São Paulo subway in Brazil.
• Autopista Pacifico 2. Represented the lenders—Itaú, SMBC, BNP Paribas and CDPQ—in the Colombian Peso 839,999.97m (US$219 million) local currency financing of the Pacifico 2 Toll Road Project in Colombia. The proceeds will be used by Odinsa and John Laing to refinance the peso tranche of Colombia’s Pacífico 2 toll road after completing a refi for the concession’s dollar-denominated debt in 2021, where we also advised the lenders.
• Loma Blanca and Miramar Wind Projects. Represented Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd (“Goldwind”) as Guarantor and its five Argentine subsidiaries as Borrowers, in a US$ 270 million, four-year syndicated Green Loan facility.
• Interchile Project. Represented Interchile, a subsidiary of Colombia's Interconexión Eléctrica (ISA), as borrower in the senior secured greenfield project financing arranged by a club international banks and a VAT facility arranged by Chilean banks and as issuer in the subsequent $1.2 billion in project green bonds. The debt is backed by the cash flows of 11 transmission projects in Chile that Interchile owns. The original financing was named Best Power Deal 2016 by LatinFinance and the project bond refinancing was named Latin America Power & Overall Deal of the Year 2021 by Proximo and ESG Deal of the Year 2021 by LatinFinance.
• Metro de Panama’s Line 1. Represented Deutsche Bank, SMBC and Global Bank Corporation in connection with a US$160 million purchase of CDNOs (Certitficados de No Objeción) issued by the Panamanian government in connection with the Metro de Panama’s Line 1 Extension Project from Consorcio Línea Panamá Norte.
• Bracell Pulp Mill. Represented the lenders in the US$980 million financing to expand a pulp mill in the city of Lençóis Paulista, São Paulo.

Capital Markets

• Global Bank. Represented Panamanian bank Global Bank Corporation, as originator, in the establishment of a Diversified Payment Rights program and the issuance of the Series 2021-1 Loans and Series 2021-2 Notes for up to US$125 million and US$100 million respectively in favor of Global Bank Corporation and Marcia North Gate Limited, a Cayman special purpose vehicle.
• Banco Pichincha. Advised Goldman Sachs, as sole structuring agent and placement agent, in the second series of notes issued by Ecuadorian bank Banco Pichincha (the largest in the country) under its diversified payment rights (DPR) securitization program, consisting of US$300 million principal amount of Series 2022-1 Fixed Rate Notes.
• Carrasco Airport Refinancing (Uruguay). Represented Goldman Sachs in a refinancing that offers to exchange any and all of the 6.875% Senior Secured Guaranteed Notes Due 2032 and any and all of the 6.875% Cash/7.875% PIK Senior Secured Guaranteed Notes due 2032 for newly issued 6.875% Senior Secured Guaranteed Notes due 2034. Concurrently with the exchange offer, the issuer offered the newly issued 6.875% Senior Secured Guaranteed Notes due 2034 in an aggregate principal amount of up to $52.9 million in a private placement.
• Costanera Sur Road Project. Represented the concessionaire in obtaining US$170 million financing to complete works on the Costanera Sur project in Paraguay. Consorcio del Sur – owned by Spanish business group Eurofinsa and Paraguayan engineering company Topografía y Caminos –raised US$130 million in a private placement of notes by a special purpose vehicle (SPV).
• Landulpho Alves Refinery. Represented Diatoms Inc., an infrastructure finance company, in connection with a US$500 million mezzanine note offering along with a $50 million equity offering. The note and equity offering proceeds were used to pay part of the purchase price for the acquisition of the Landulpho Alves Refinery, sold by Petróleo Brasileiro S.A., Brazil's state-owned petroleum company, to MC Brazil Downstream Participacoes, a company owned by the Mubadala Capital group.

Corporate M&A

• Talos Mexico. Advised Houston-based independent offshore exploration and production company Talos Energy Inc. (Talos) on the sale of a 49.9% interest in Talos Mexico, the company’s Mexican subsidiary, to Zamajal, S.A. de C.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo Carso. 
• Lithea Sale. Represented LSC Lithium B.V. in connection with the sale of all of the outstanding shares of Lithea Inc., the owner of the Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes lithium mining properties located in the Province of Salta, Argentina, to GFL International Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., for a total consideration of $962 million.
• Rothy’s Acquisiton. Represented Alpargatas S.A., a Brazil-based, global footwear company, in its $475 million Series B investment in Rothy's, Inc., an online retailer of eco-friendly footwear, bags and accessories.
• Project Mexico HAPS. Represented Waterwheel Capital Management, a US based institutional investor with a focus on non-performing assets and the Greek market, in its €3.2 billion investment in the mezzanine and junior notes of the Project Mexico HAPS securitization, a portfolio comprising of commercial and residential properties, auto-loans and corporate credits.
• EC Waste Investment. Represented 3i Group plc in closing a US$315 million majority investment in EC Waste, the largest vertically integrated provider of solid waste services in Puerto Rico, from private equity firm, Post Capital Partners LLC.
• Casa Lumbre. Represented Mexican spirits company Casa Lumbre in a variety of corporate matters, including:
  
  • In its participation in a joint venture company, Backlit Investments Corp., for the distribution and commercialization of a mezcal spirit, through Contraluz Cristalino, S.A.P.I. de C.V., a subsidiary incorporated for such purposes.
  • In the MXN$801,000 acquisition of Grupo Rosaguin, S.A.P.I. de C.V., a company in the alcoholic beverage industry.
  • In the joint venture with Lights Out Media, Inc., for the distribution and commercialization of the products of Tequila Defrente, S.A.P.I. de C.V.

Latinvex Top Law Firms 2023

Mining – Top 5

Project Finance – Top 10

Energy – Top 10

Legal 500 Latin America 2023

Banking and Finance: International Firms

Capital Markets: International Firms

Corporate M&A: International Firms

Projects and Energy: International Firms

Banking and Finance: Mexico

Projects and Infrastructure: Mexico

Corporate M&A: Mexico

Energy and Natural Resources: Mexico

Banking and Finance: Brazil*

Projects and Infrastructure: Brazil*

Corporate M&A: Brazil (Tier 1)*

Energy and Natural Resources: Brazil (Tier 1)*
 

Latin Lawyer 250 2023

Project finance & infrastructure

Energy

Banking & finance

Corporate and M&A

Deals of the Year

• São Paulo Metro Line 6 Project—Transport Deal of the Year by IJ Global, Latin America PPP Deal of the Year and Overall Latin America Deal of the Year by Proximo, Deal of the Year: Project Finance by IFLR, Infrastructure Financing of the Year: Brazil by LatinFinance and Transport Deal of the Year by Project Finance International (PFI), who noted that, “the sheer size and importance of the project and lengths taken to get this financing done over the years mean it stands out as Latin America’s premiere PPP deal in 2022.”
• Interchile Project/Green Bond Refinancing—Latin America Power & Overall Deal of the Year 2021 by Proximo and ESG Deal of the Year 2021 by LatinFinance.
  
• Acajutla Power Plant (El Salvador)—Infrastructure Financing of the Year: Central America 2020 by LatinFinance.
  
• Trans-Jamaican Highway (Jamaica)—Infrastructure Financing of the Year-Caribbean 2019 by LatinFinance.
• TAG Pipeline (Brazil)–2019 Latin America M&A Deal of the Year by IJ Global, Oil & Gas Financing of the Year and Cross Border M&A Deal of the Year 2019 by LatinFinance. 
  
• CRC Transmission Project (Chile)–2019 Latin America Transmission Deal of the Year by IJ Global.
  
• Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 copper mine project (Chile)–Americas Mining Deal of the Year 2019 by Project Finance International.
• Bioceanico Highway (Paraguay)–Bond of the Year 2019 by LatinFinance.
• Naranjal and Del Litoral Solar Power Plants (Uruguay)–Latin America: Structured Bond Deal of the Year 2019 by Bonds & Loans Latin America.
• Centrais Elétricas de Sergipe (Brazil)—Best Bond and Best Infrastructure Financing (Brazil), LatinFinance 2018 and IJ Global “Latin American Power Deal of the Year” 2018. 
• Celeo Redes Operación (Chile)—Best Power Financing, Best Bond and Best Infrastructure Financing (Andes) LatinFinance 2017.
• Kingston Container Terminal Expansion (Jamaica)—North America Port Deal of the Year 2016, IJ Global and Best Port Financing, LatinFinance 2017.
• Bermuda Airport–North America Airport Deal of the Year 2017 by IJ Global.
• Campo Palomas (Uruguay)–2017 Project Finance Deal of the Year, Bonds & Loans Latin America.
• Aruba Green Corridor--Best Infrastructure Financing: Caribbean 2016 by LatinFinance.
• Rutas de Lima Toll Road (Peru)–Best Local Currency Financing; Best Road Financing; and Best Infrastructure Financing (Andes), LatinFinance 2015 and 2014 PPP Deal of the Year by World Finance magazine.
• Parque Eólico Marcona/Tres Hermanas (Peru)–Best Renewable Energy Financing, LatinFinance 2015.
• ACI Airport SudAmérica (Uruguay)–Best Airport Financing, LatinFinance 2015.
• Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde (Peru)–Best Mining Financing: Best Loan 2014 by LatinFinance magazine.
• Abengoa Transmisión Sur (Peru)–Latin American Transmission Deal of the Year2014.
• Orosí Wind Farm (Costa Rica)–Latin America Wind Deal of the Year 2013 by Project Finance magazine.
• Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (Puerto Rico)–North America Transport Deal of the Year 2013 by Project Finance magazine.
• Oaxaca II and Oaxaca IV Wind Farms (Mexico)–Latin American Project Bond Deal of the Year 2012
• Via Parque Rimac toll road (Peru)—Latin American PPP (Public-Private Partnership) Deal of the Year 2012
• Huascacocha Water Infrastructure (Peru)—Latin America Water Deal of the Year 2010 & Project Finance Deal of the Year 2011.
• Nuevo Pemex (Mexico)—Latin America Power Deal of the Year 2010 & Latin America Deal of the Year 2010.
• Boleo (Mexico)–‘Latin America Mining Deal of the Year 2010’ Project Finance International & ‘Exploration and Development Funding Award 2010’ Mining Journal Awards.
• Baja (Mexico)–‘Exploration and Development Funding Award’ Mining Journal Awards 2010.
• Odebrecht Drill Ships (Brazil)—Americas Deal of the Year 2009 & Best Project Finance Deal 2009
• São Paulo Rodoanel (Brazil)—Transport Deal of the Year 2009.

*Through Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown