Bruchou & Funes de Rioja provides gold-standard counsel to a premier banking and finance client base and is a consistent presence on the biggest, most complex and most innovative banking and capital markets transactions in Argentina. The ‘consistently excellent’ practice is known for the quality and breadth of its offering, providing distinctive expertise and deep market know-how across loans, debt and equity capital markets, structured finance, acquisition finance, project finance, securitisation and liability management. Acting for both debtors and creditors, the team boasts an impressive roster of local and international banking clients and is also a go-to adviser for companies in the energy, natural resources and agribusiness sectors, among others. Influential banking lawyer and firm chairman Hugo Bruzone leads the team, with a practice covering banking, finance, capital markets and regulation. Founding partners Enrique Bruchou and Carlos Lombardi bring additional senior level experience to the practice’s heavyweight top bench, with impressive support from an ambitious cohort of younger partners that includes the ’outstanding’ José María Bazán, Alejandro Perelsztein, Matías López Figueroa and Analía Battaglia. Bazán, who also sits on the firm’s executive committee, advises banks, private equity funds and corporations in local and international banking and capital markets transactions and is particularly active on infrastructure and energy matters linked to the government PPP programmes. Battaglia centres her practice on debt restructuring, project finance and infrastructure matters, while Perelsztein is best known for handling local and international capital markets transactions and project finance (predominantly in infrastructure and energy). López Figueroa advises on banking and corporate financing transactions, including trade financing. At associate level, experienced seniors Lucrecia von Petery and Leandro Belusci (who have both spent time in Milbank’s New York office) fronting a talented group of upcoming younger lawyers; clients highlight Ramón Poliche as a name to note. However, the well-regarded Sofia Gallo moved in house at Inviu in March 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘José Bazán is outstanding as a banking lawyer, he is highly qualified on all the new regulatory issues that are fundamental in Argentina. Analia Battaglia and Alejandro Perelztein are also references and great partners. Of the most juniors, I highlight Ramon Poliche and Leandro Belusci.’
‘The Bruchou team is always at the forefront and keeps us up to date with the latest market regulations. They are a constant source of consultation for us.’
‘The lawyers I deal with in Bruchou stand out, in addition to their knowledge, for their constant availability and predisposition. For us that is very important, to be able to locate them quickly to solve any query. In particular, both Leando Belusci and Ramon Poliche, who are the associates with whom I work the most, fulfill their role perfectly. The same applies to the partners Alejandro Perelsztein and José Bazán.’
‘The team is very strong, complements each other excellently and has high quality and speedy management and internal and external communication management. They are very skilled when it comes to contacting the right person to solve an issue and they are also pragmatic when it comes to closing issues in an executive manner.’
‘Pragmatism, simplicity and a great vocation for communication and comprehensive management.’
‘I particularly highlight the technical solvency of the team, the availability they have for each query or job that we require of them, which shows the centrality they have in the client. They permanently seek to meet the business objectives that we set in each operation.’
‘The team leaders are really very technically solvent. A great experience in banking law and with the banking regulator, which makes them highly trustworthy. I particularly highlight the main partners Hugo Bruzone and Jose Bazan.’
‘The distinctive practice of this superlative team of lawyers is their personalised attention at all levels, both Seniors and lawyers, and timely response timing 7 days a week, 24hrs a day - including local holidays if necessary. They run a training and selection school for their lawyers.’
‘Efficiency, speed of response and knowledge in the resolution of issues. They do not stop following up on the issues under treatment against deadlines with private companies and control agencies. They are very good professionals and better people in their treatment. Matías López Figueroa, Estanislao Olmos, Leandro Belusci, Carlos Lombardi.’
‘Dedication, focus and contract negotiation strategy.’
‘The team is the best. I have been working with them on a project with more than 10 years and the team has not only been stable (with minimal turnover) but they have always known how to bring experts from different areas to the table who have contributed a lot to the conversations. And by this I mean banking, exchange, bankruptcy, etc. The response time with answers is almost immediate, demonstrating the degree of commitment. The quality of the work is excellent and the proposals that they have brought to the table to solve complex problems have been very innovative and have allowed solutions to very complex situations.’
‘The degree of knowledge and commitment to the projects is what differentiates this team from any other. Our main reference has been Analia Battaglia. Analia has always responded to us in a timely manner, providing innovative ideas, facilitating discussions with other entities, and always seeking the best solutions for our demands.’
‘José Bazan, Leandro Belusci, Leandro Exequiel Excellent delivery, immediate availability and technical knowledge.’
‘Responsability and compromise; excellence in knowledge.’
‘Total dedication to the case. Senior and deep involvement to understand the complexities and solutions. Excellent command of financial issues (in addition to legal ones) Large team and available to meet all the needs of the cases. I especially highlight Alejandro Perelsztein, Hugo Bruzzone, Analía Battaglia and also Ramón Poliche for the factors mentioned above.’
‘In this area of practice the firm has a very well armed team with solid technical knowledge and many years of experience in the field.’
‘Alejandro Perelzstein is a very active lawyer in the field, with a lot of experience, great technical knowledge and is available whenever you need him. Leandro Belluschi is an associate with a very good projection.’
‘Detailed knowledge of the client's situation is essential when structuring solutions. José Bazán is a benchmark in the industry and a strategic partner when structuring financing solutions. The close relationship with the client and his quick response is a distinctive characteristic of the team.’
‘José Bazán: Excellent interpersonal relationship providing an efficient and complete response at the time. Quick responses and work methodology. Leandro Beluschi: Excellent interpersonal relationship.’

Key clients

Itaú Unibanco
Citigroup Global Markets
JP Morgan Securities
Adcap Securities Argentina
Banco BBVA Argentina
Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires
Banco Santander Río
Banco Macro
Goldwind Group
Inter-American Investment Corporation
Grupo Werthein
Grupo Supervielle
MSU
Aguas y Saneamientos Argentinos

Work highlights

Advised Itaú Unibanco and Banco Santander in connection with a $300m term loan agreement granted to Tecpetrol.
Assisted Citigroup Global Markets, JP Morgan Securities and Santander Investment Securities in Arcor's $372m international note exchange transaction.
Advised Aguas y Saneamientos Argentinos on a $500m international exchange offer.

Lawyers

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