Tavarone, Rovelli, Salim & Miani’s full-service banking and finance practice covers private and public debt and trust issuances, loans, corporate finance, export credit finance, project finance, sovereign debt and general regulatory matters. The ‘flexible and dynamic’ team is particularly well-known for its track record in infrastructure and project finance and has significant experience working with government entities and public banks, most notably on high-profile municipal and provincial debt restructurings. Energy and mining financings are another active source of work. Marcelo Tavarone, who specialises in project finance, securitisation, debt restructuring and derivatives; and private equity and acquisition finance expert Federico Salim co-lead the practice alongside the ’fast and attentive’ Julieta De Ruggiero (banking, finance and capital markets; project finance, securitisation and debt restructuring) and Francisco Molina Portela (capital markets, project finance, debt restructuring, and banking and securities regulation). At associate level, following the departure of senior Facundo González Bustamante to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's New York banking practice as a foreign associate (and to undertake his LLM), semi-senior Ximena Sumaria is the key contact. Intermediate associate Fiorella Ascenso moved to Banco Galicia in March 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Tavarone is very strong in business and finance. It stands out for the close relationship of the partners with the client and the tailor made service tailored to the client. They are very flexible and dynamic, it is a pleasure to work with them.’
‘Marcelo Tavarone and Julieta De Ruggero are two excellent professionals, very fast and attentive to queries, deep when necessary and synthetic when the subject does not require further depth. It is important that a firm understands this difference and accompanies the client in their needs. In administrative law, Nicolás Eliaschev stands out, an intelligent, trained and practical professional.’
‘In the banking and financing area, we work with partners Marcelo Tavarone and Julieta De Ruggiero and their team of associates: - Marcelo Tavarone is one of the most recognized lawyers in the banking practice in Argentina. We have resorted to his advice on many occasions for the implementation of loans and capital market operations. He has a strategic vision of the business that is of great value to us in order to structure our transactions efficiently. In addition, he is one of the best experts on exchange issues, which is why he is an obligatory source of consultation when making decisions about the feasibility of structuring many operations. We highly value his 24x7 availability and immediate response to all queries, which is essential for us to be able to accompany the business in making decisions with the immediacy that our industry requires. His excellent predisposition, quality and warmth in the service he provides makes a difference. - For her part, Julieta De Ruggiero is a partner with extensive experience in financing operations and capital markets and has accompanied us in structuring loans and issuing negotiable obligations on various occasions. Her dedication and availability is absolute, accompanied by high-quality care, both professionally and personally, with a pro-deal and customer-oriented attitude that is highly valued by all parties. In addition to her legal level and knowledge of the market in which she operates, we highlight her negotiation capacity and flexibility to achieve a successful closing of the operations on which she has accompanied us. - The team of associates in the banking and financing area is one of excellence: proactive, with 24x7 availability, very collaborative and willing to help and solve the difficulties that arise in the transactions that we have shared, regardless of which side of the transaction they are on. Its legal level and its excellent predisposition stand out, which is a registered trademark of the firm in which they plunge.’
‘The team is balanced in terms of attention, so it is always clear who is the right professional depending on the complexity of the matter, beyond the fact that the partner in charge is always 100% involved in the subject. It is valued that they can make quick interconsultations with other practice groups at the firm on issues that require related expertise (corporate, M&A, litigation).’
‘Juliet De Ruggiero and team are always available and quick to respond. They seek to find a regulatory or practical solution so that the business advances with the minimum possible risk. They are generous with the output and do not stay in conservative responses.’

Key clients

Korea Trade Insurance Corporation
Fast Food Sudamericana (Starbucks/Burguer King)
Banco del Sol
Banco de Inversión y Comercio Exterior
Bank of America/Merrill Lynch
BNP Paribas
UBS
Credit Suisse
Central Puerto
MSU
KfW IPEX Bank and Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbau
HSBC Bank Argentina
Banco de la Provincia de Córdoba
Albanesi/Generación Mediterránea/Central Térmica Roca
Aerolíneas Argentinas
Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires
Bunge
Banco CMF
Molinos
Orazul Energy Cerros Colorados
5D+ Capital
Cargill
Loma Negra
Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires

Work highlights

Counsel to UK energy group SCC Power on the acquisition of electricity generation assets in Argentina from Stoneway Capital.
Counsel to the mandated lead arrangers on a $411.9m financing project for Posco Argentina.
Counsel to the arrangers and underwriters on the issuance of $135m in notes by SPI Energy.