Bruchou & Funes de Rioja offers a comprehensive trade and customs service that handles tariff classifications, customs valuation, import and export licensing, unfair trade practices, foreign exchange controls and free trade agreements. Clients also turn to the practice for support across a broad range of contentious customs matters. Mining, agribusiness and oil-and-gas are areas of particular strength. Team lead Eduardo Mallea is known for his expertise in litigation, dumping and the foreign exchange aspects of foreign trade matters; with María Laura Bacigalupo a specialist in planning foreign trade operations, especially in the agro-export, mining, and hydrocarbon industries, providing high-level senior support. At senior associate level, Andrea C. Callegari focuses on customs litigation matters and Sebastian Lerner’s practice include international logistics and import regimes. Since publciation, Callegari has been promoted to 'expert consultant' - effective as of March 2024.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team is very committed to excellence, ethics and compliance, close to the client and their current and potential needs, anticipating the impact of regulatory developments, eager to learn about changes in the business, looking beyond the specific and towards the strategic. Very solid when presenting their advice and conclusions to the client, with a partnering style that does not neglect its role as legal advisor, in terms of the compliance that must be recommended and safeguarded. Regarding the transformation as a service provider company, they have implemented tools, digital technologies and PDT strategies for their own management and also that of their clients. Regarding resources, I see good talent management, promoting a leadership model that includes comprehensive behaviors and values, bringing through young professionals without leaving them "alone" in front of the client. They have DEI policies aligned with development needs, seeking the training of "complete" professionals from a technical and human perspective. The treatment of the client is one of the highest respect.’
  • ‘The comprehensive and strategic technical excellence of each of them is absolutely remarkable, demonstrating a deep commitment to offering the client clear alternatives so that they can make the best decisions. Even when the advice they offer on a topic is not what the client wanted to hear, its foundations show that commitment to excellence and the result is a relationship of trust that allows working without doubt about the path to follow. This commitment also implies its permanent search to know its clients and their businesses, an objective that implies an additional effort given the field in which we operate. Among the outstanding professionals, I would like to highlight: partner Maria Laura Bacigalupo of the International Trade and Customs area who has provided support and participated in in-depth analyzes over the last few years on extremely complex issues regarding the agroexport industry; her professional solvency, her ethics, her humility as a person and her conduct as a "good business woman" (why not say it?) are an invaluable support for our management.’
  • ‘Bruchou provides an excellent service, always focused on the particular needs of our business. The firm is agile in its responses and has a solid and sizeable team with great experience in the area.’
  • ‘I'd highlight their know-how in the agro-export industry. Maria Laura Bacigalupo is the partner of the customs law department who stands out for her commitment, professionalism and integrative view of the problems she is faced with solving.’
  • ‘The advantage of this office is its high-quality customer service and fast times. They always have experts in various subjects ready and it is easy to obtain a complete service quickly. Excellent performance of the exchange market team, which is critical in Argentina currently. In general, the areas with which I interact have a similar level.’
  • ‘In the customs area, Eduardo Mallea stands out for high performance and high standards in a complex area to manage that includes very asymmetric levels of participants. With great detail and dedication to the client, Liban Kusa is a guarantee of seriousness and knowledge. José Bazán, an expert in foreign exchange markets, banks and financing, has a direct and executive style and generates trust in a short time; by virtue of his experience he can be empathetic and flexible to corporate needs and time-lines that are so changing in the Argentine dynamic.’

Key clients

  • Molinos Río de la Plata
  • Petronas E&P Argentina
  • Vista Oil & Gas
  • Nabors International Argentina
  • SPI Energy (formerly Araucaria)
  • Glucovil
  • Cargill
  • Expro
  • Bunge
  • Compañía Agroindustrial La Oriental
  • NewSan
  • Halliburton
  • Genneia
  • MSU Energy
  • YPF
  • Molinos Agro
  • Minas Argentinas
  • Minera Andina del Sol
  • Barrick Exploraciones Argentina
  • Yamana Gold
  • Stracon International Argentina
  • Vestas Argentina
  • Equinor
  • Boston Scientific

Work highlights

  • Advise Cargill on a variety of foreign trade matters involving exports and proceeds settling, import operations requiring special authorisations, and the review of customs operating points.
  • Defended NewSan in a dispute with the Argentine Customs Service for alleged misclassification of exports.
  • Advised Vista Oil & Gas on negotiations allowing special authorisation to store its overproduction in oil tankers moored in Argentine national waters.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
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Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Eduardo Mallea