Todd Koretzky > A&O Shearman > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

The fruit of a merger betweeen two global heavyweights, A&O Shearman fields an impressive Latin America-focused finance practice that has presence and profile in the acquisition finance, export finance, structured finance, corporate lending, and restructurings and refinancing segments. The group represents a healthy array of financial institutions (including Barclays, JP Morgan, BNP Paribas and Banamex),  along with various DFIs and ECAs, as well as institutional investors, corporates and private equity funds. The team further demonstrates particular experience in corporate lending and is making a further impression in growth areas such as sustainability-linked finance and ESG-related loans. Senior partner Denise Grant  has deep bank finance, and project finance and development experience, and an enviable trajectory in Latin America financings throughout the region. Metals and mining specialist Cynthia Urda Kassis is also active in project and development finance across the region; while co-head of the Americas projects, energy, natural resources & infrastructure group, Dorina Yessios is noted for energy and infrastructure financings. New York-based Sami Mir is co-head of the US agency practice and is pivotal to the firm’s connections to ECAs, MLAs, DFIs and commercial lenders; while Todd Koretzky (banking, leveraged finance, corporate finance and private credit) is highlighted for acquisition financings in the region. Promoted to the partnership in 2022, dual-qualified (New York/Peru) Augusto Ruiloba is another key member of the team and is particularly noted for acquisition financings in the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors, particularly in Mexico, Chile and Peru. Now based in Washington DC, dual-qualified (New York/Brazil) counsel André de Paiva Teixeira focuses on project and leveraged financing as part of his broader corporate transactional practice. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise. Since publication, Sao Paulo-based Bruno Soares and New York’s Joseph Stefano have both left the firm – in February and April 2024 respectively

A&O Shearman‘s leveraged finance practice advises a range of leading investment and commercial banks, financial institutions, direct lenders, and financial sponsors across various types of debt financings. The team is particularly well-equipped to advise clients on high-yield debt offerings, special situations lending and restructurings. Practice head Jake Mincemoyer leads the New York-based team and is equally capable of assisting lender-clients with both syndicated and private credit arrangements. The team also features Todd Koretzky, whose practice spans the syndicated loan and direct lending markets and ranges from middle-market to large-cap transactions. Joseph Furst is also a name to note, especially for his knowledge of cross-border commercial finance transactions. Ally de Padua was promoted to the partnership in 2023. Following the 2024 merger of A&O Shearman and Shearman & Sterling LLP, the practice now includes Gus Atiyah who is well versed at assisting equity and debt funds with raising fund-level financings; Michael Chernick whose versatile practice spans syndicated lending, direct lending and private credit fund work; Maura O’Sullivan whose expertise lies in cross-border financings and Frank Oliver who was promoted to partnership in July 2023. Joel Moss departed from the firm in March 2023.