BLP
More informationRegional firm BLP significantly strengthened its banking and finance practice in June 2023 with the high-profile hire of Jorge Luis Arenales, founding partner of Arias‘ Guatemala office. Arenales is renowned for his expertise in financial transactions, particularly project finance. The team advises on the full spread of financial matters, from acquisition finance and debt restructuring to syndicated loans and bond issuances, with a strong skill set in multi-jurisdictional transactions. In particular, the practice is consistently active in assisting international lenders, including banks and multilateral financial institutions, while thanks to the firm’s strength in the corporate sphere, major regional companies also make up a substantial portion of its client base. María Inés Arenales, who brings extensive experience in cross-border financial transactions and capital markets matters to the table, leads the team. The growing associate bench includes senior associates Carolina Saadeh, who joined the firm from independent practice in 2022 and has a focus on regulatory matters, and the recently promoted Gustavo Gamboa. Since publication, María Inés Arenales has left the firm for her own practice.
Key clients
- Avianca
- IDB Invest
- Barentz International
- ING Bank
- HSBC UK Bank
- Coöperatieve Rabobank
- Nedbank, London Branch
- Emergent Cold Latam
- Grupo Hencorp
- Reserva las Verapaces I
- Bank of Nova Scotia
- Banco Promérica
Work highlights
- Advised Avianca and its Salvadoran subsidiary, Taca International Airlines, on the structuring of a future flow securitisation of credit card receivables by Grupo Aval.
- Advised IDB Invest on the granting of a senior loan of up to $70m to finance Pantaleon's industrial and agricultural fixed investment plans and working capital needs.
- Advised Grupo Hencorp on capital lending and the acquisition of guaranteed inventories for a foreign entity incorporated in the US.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
María Inés Arenales