MERCOSUR - Argentina

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

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Marval O’Farrell Mairal’s marquee corporate and M&A practice is a consistent presence in Argentina’s largest and most sophisticated M&A deals, advising international and local corporates and private equity firms on a wide-range of cross-border and domestic transactions in multiple sectors. In recent years the firm has become increasingly prominent in pan-regional deals, coordinating transactions across Latin America, mirroring work historically led by US firms in the region. The size and range of expertise within the practice is unmatched and sees the firm called on to provide advice on day-to-day business matters, corporate structures and restructurings, with close integration with the highly-rated tax department a further differentiator. Highly experienced and respected corporate lawyers Pablo Artagaveytia and Pablo Viñals Blake co-lead a team of exceptional depth and experience. Firm chairman and formidable M&A lawyer Santiago Carregal; veteran transactional specialist Pablo Garcia Morillo; and private equity and venture capital expert Diego Krischcautzky are key figures in the group. The department’s roster of senior lawyers also includes Diego Chighizola, who has a strong practice in agribusiness and real estate transactions; and Barbara V Ramperti, an M&A lawyer with particular expertise in the acquisition of new business lines, joint ventures and reorganisations. A younger generation of partners – including  María Macarena García Mirri and María Laura Bolatti Cristofaro – provide further high level support, with the practice also able to call on the vast experience of the iconic Héctor Mairal for strategic advice and counsel. María Virginia Canzonieri, who focuses on commercial and corporate law matters and M&A transactions, is a key figure at associate level.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The difference with Marval is that the team is highly qualified, dynamic and has a structure that allows any project to be pushed forward. In turn, it has the widest range of specialties. The partners are very committed to their customers.’

  • ‘Barbara Rampert is creative, efficient, responsive and knowledgeable. Ricardo Ostrower stands out for his analytical thinking, efficiency, knowledge and strategic insight.’

  • ‘Diego Krischcautzky is experienced, pragmatic and open to debate.’

  • ‘Compared to other firms, the speed and quality of the work provided by Marval is at another level.’

  • ‘Excellent professionals who are attentive to client needs.’

  • ‘Pablo Viñals Blake is indeed an outstanding human being. On one hand he is highly sophisticated and sharp, on the other, he has a great sense of humor combined with an extraordinary ability to negotiate.’

  • ‘Diego Krischkautzky and Macarena Garcia Mirri formed a solid team, achieving effective advice that contemplated various edges and interests that covered not only Corporate issues but also complex legal situations.’

Key clients

  • Merck Sharp & Dohme Argentina
  • Edmond M Safra
  • Danone
  • Nike
  • Adecoagro
  • Mondelez
  • Diagnósticos de Ámerica
  • Stellantis Group
  • Lamb Weston International
  • Boulan

Work highlights

  • Assisting Merck Sharp & Dohme Argentina with the reorganisation of its business with particular attention on the local structure of transactions made in the transfer of shareholding and a potential demerger.
  • Advised Danone on the search and creation of a strategic alliance for its water and flavoured water business in Argentina, which took two years and led to the creation of a joint venture between Danone and CCU.
  • Advising sports giant Nike on the sale and restructuring of its business in Argentina and Uruguay.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Héctor Mairal

Hall of fameMarval O’Farrell Mairal

An expert in administrative and business law, he has been involved in matters of high complexity and importance as advisor to national and international companies, dealing with company mergers, purchases and sales of banks and businesses, property development projects, formation of temporary business alliances, business contracts, loans and financing. He has advised in legal transactions in the field of hydrocarbons, including project financings, transfer of concessions, licenses and privatizations. As an administrative law specialist he has advised in numerous public bids and Government contracts, and in litigation arising from them.

Leading individuals

Pablo A. Artagaveytia

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

Pablo A. Artagaveytia has been a partner at Marval O’Farrell Mairal since 2000. His area of specialization is centered on commercial and corporate law. His professional work includes all areas of commercial law, advising on stock purchase agreements, distribution agreements, legal auditing, structuring of local companies, foreign business operations and general legal assistance particularly focusing on the Mercosur region. In 1998 and 1999 he seconded Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal in the Brazilian firm Demarest & Almeida.

Santiago Carregal

Hall of fameMarval O’Farrell Mairal

Santiago Carregal is the Head of the Banking and Finance Department and Chairman of the firm. He specializes in corporate finance and has represented companies and investment banks in public offerings, private placements and tender and exchange offers, structured and project financings and mortgage securitization involving a variety of equity, debt and hybrid instruments. Santiago is also very active in M&As handling a number of notable transactions, and has extensive experience in restructuring and workouts.

Diego Krischcautzky

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

His practice is focused on commercial, corporate and insurance law. He has broad experience in M&A transactions, structuring and financing of private equity investments; corporate governance; counseling and structuring of insurance products; advising major international companies and investment funds.

Pablo Viñals Blake

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

Pablo Viñals Blake leads the Private Equity, Venture Capital and Agribusiness Groups. Pablo was involved in the privatization program carried out by the Argentine government during the 1990s and has represented domestic and multinational companies, private equity and hedge funds and financial institutions in their ventures in Argentina including almost all of the largest M&A, agribusiness and project financing transactions held in Argentina in the last two decades. He has also assisted local and foreign investors in M&A, agribusiness and project financing deals in other Latin American countries, such as Chile, Uruguay and Brazil, and advised multilateral financial institutions such as the IFC and the United States Eximbank on their Argentine operations.

Next Generation Partners

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Pablo Artagaveytia Pablo Viñals Blake