Martínez de Hoz & Rueda is the dominant legal adviser in the Argentine oil-and-gas industry and has established itself as market reference point on all aspects of oil-and-gas law - including exploration, production, transportation, distribution and marketing. With offices in the capital of Buenos Aires, as well as the country’s shale gas hub, Neuquén, the firm is the first port of call for domestic and international players seeking support on hydrocarbon concessions and renegotiations, unconventional hydrocarbon operations, and oil-and-gas infrastructure development (including pipelines and LNG terminals). A large portfolio of retained global oil-and-gas players also rely on the team for assistance in complex multi-contract, multi-party disputes and arbitrations. The practice’s network of international clients has seen it step beyond its core Argentine market and take on work in other Latin American jurisdictions, including Peru and Uruguay. The practice is co-led by a formidable team of senior oil-and-gas specialists that includes José Martínez De Hoz, a market authority on hydrocarbons law and related arbitration matters; the vastly experienced energy lawyer Pablo Rueda, who oil-and-gas clients have turned to for counsel for more than 30 years; and Tomás Lanardonne, who leads the firm’s prolific Neuquén office and has a long track record in oil-and-gas transactional and regulatory matters. Further partner back-up is provided by public law specialist Juan Cruz Azzarri; Jimena Vega Olmos, who specialises in oil-and-gas law, government contracts, and project financing; and recently promoted partner Marcos Blanco, who covers oil-and-gas, project finance, M&A, and dispute resolution matters. Former associate Valeria Celesti exited to an in-hous role in August 2024.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Exceptional regulatory and business knowledge. They provide valuanle, practical advice.’

  • ‘José Martinez de Hoz, Pablo Rueda, Tomás Lannardone and Jimena Vega Olmos form on of the best teams of lawyers in this field.'

  • ‘The team holds extensive experience in oil-and-gas, which guarantees their clients top-level advice. Leaders in the sector. They come highly recommended.'

  • ‘The firm's lawyers have great technical knowledge, while demonstrating a marked focus on meeting the needs of their clients.’

  • 'Committed, efficient and knowledgeable about the subject.'
  • 'The professionals at the MHR firm have extensive experience in oil and gas matters, which guarantees their clients first-class advice. Several of its members are leaders in the O&G industry, which makes the firm highly recommendable.'
  • 'The MHR team is clearly a leader in oil & gas advice in Argentina. They are influential not only in the drafting of projects but also in the conduct of business in the field. Although they have competition (Bruchou for example) in my experience they make a favorable difference based on their pragmatism and knowledge of the business.'
  • 'As always, I highlight the participation of Valeria Celesti, Pablo Rueda, firm founder Jose Martinez de Hoz and his son, and Tomas Lanardonne.'

Key clients

  • Chevron
  • CAPSA/CAPEX
  • Compañía de Hidrocarburo No Convencional
  • Compañía General de Combustibles
  • Delta Patagonia
  • Enerflex
  • Equinor Argentina
  • ExxonMobil
  • International Finance Corporation
  • Harbour Energy
  • Mitsui & Co
  • Oleoductos del Valle
  • Pan American Energy Group
  • Patagonia Energy
  • PECOM Servicios de Energía
  • Petroquimica Comodoro Rivadavia
  • Phoenix Global Resources
  • Pluspetrol
  • President Petroleum
  • Schlumberger
  • Total Austral
  • Trafigura Group
  • Transportadora Gas del Sur
  • Tullow Oil
  • Wintershall DEA Energía
  • YPF

Work highlights

  • Advising Argentine national oil company YPF on the development of an integrated LNG project, which includes an offshore floating platform and a greenfield liquefaction facility.
  • Advise Pluspetrol Peru, operator of the Camisea gas field, on the development of its contract management strategy in relation to the future supply to a liquefaction plant owned by Peru LNG.
  • Represented Harbour Energy, as Argentine counsel, in connection with a global transaction involving the acquisition of Wintershall Dea’s upstream assets in Norway, Germany, Denmark, Argentina, Mexico, Egypt, Libya and Algeria, as well as its CO2 Capture and Storage licenses in Europe.

Lawyers

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Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

José Martínez de Hoz, Pablo Rueda, Tomas Lanardonne