MERCOSUR - Argentina

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

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One of the largest and most experienced public law-focused teams in Argentina, Marval O’Farrell Mairal is sought out by local and international clients for its deep expertise across a wide range of administrative and public law matters. The team handles public-private partnerships (PPP) and big ticket infrastructure projects, and has assisted a number of clients to navigate public procurement processes and secure or renew major government tenders and concessions. Sensitive regulatory negotiations, subsidies and supply deals are also areas of activity for the practice group, as are public law disputes work  – including contentious tariff annulments, and Central Bank-regulation and concession-contract disputes. The team is also active in investment disputes and international arbitration proceedings involving the state. Public ethics and the public law aspects of M&A are other areas of expertise. The formidable Héctor Mairal is one of the country’s foremost administrative law experts and co-leads the team with experienced administrative practitioner María Lorena Schiariti and Enrique Veramendi, a regulatory and administrative specialist who also undertakes constitutional and administrative litigation. The practice draws on a strong bench of supporting talent, including experienced dispute resolution partner Gonzalo Santamaria, and associates Milagros Ibarzábal (supply agreements) and Sofia Cimmarusti (public contracts and procurement).

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘An extraordinary team. Absolutely committed to the client, rigorous to the maximum and creative.’

  • ‘Enrique Veramendi, Hector Mairal, Ricardo Ostrower and Julio Cesar Rivera standout for their rigour and quality.’

  • ‘Marval are excellent lawyers. They know the law in theory and practice and they are very easy to work with.’

  • ‘I have worked with Enrique Veramendi and I cannot recommend him highly enough.’

Key clients

  • Autopistas del Sol
  • WeWork
  • DEME Group
  • Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
  • Grupo Concesionario del Oeste
  • GE Healthcare
  • Netflix Argentina
  • Tecpetrol
  • Webuild
  • Abertis Infraestructuras
  • Claro
  • Pedidos Ya
  • Consorcio ART
  • Skanska
  • Flybondi
  • BBVA
  • Telecentro
  • DirecTV
  • General Motors
  • Mercedes Benz
  • Loma Negra �� Ferrosur
  • Medtronic
  • Puma Argentina
  • Arcos Dorados
  • Compañía Mega
  • Mercado Libre

Work highlights

  • Representing and advising Autopistas del Sol and Grupo Concesionario del Oeste in relation to high-profile judicial and ICC arbitration proceedings related to the potential nullification of concession contracts.
  • Assisting Dredging International with challenging its initial disqualification from an Argentine Port Authority bidding process for acquisition of dredging services of the Paraná–Paraguay waterway.
  • Assisting Mercado Libre with challenging an Argentine Central Bank regulation requiring financial entities to record e-wallet deposits with the Central Bank.

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

María Lorena Schiariti

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

A specialist in Administrative Law, she has intervened in matters of high complexity and impact, providing comprehensive advice on issues related to her areas of practice. Due to the wide variety of her international clients, during the last decade she has also advised on issues related to public ethics, anti-corruption and transparency policies, with a focus on interactions with public officials, particularly within the context of government contracts and procurement processes.

Enrique Veramendi

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

He provides advice on public law, economic regulation and administrative contracts to clients in the energy and public utilities’ sectors, as well as in other regulated industries (pharmaceutical companies, banks, agribusiness and insurance firms). He also has a broad experience in constitutional litigation and litigation against administrative agencies.

Next Generation Partners

Gonzalo Santamaría

Marval O’Farrell Mairal

Partner since 2021, Gonzalo’s areas of expertise are Administrative and Energy Law as well as other regulatory matters. He specializes in electricity, public utilities, infrastructure and government contracts. His practice is currently focused on power transactions, advising clients in connection with several renewable, thermal and co-generation projects. Gonzalo’s electricity practice includes advising power generators, project developers, EPC and BoP contractors, turbines and panel suppliers, private off-takers and financial entities, among others.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Héctor Mairal, María Schiariti, Enrique Veramendi