- Managing Partner: Guillermo Acuña
- Partners: Alfonso Rubio, Víctor Ferro, Fausto Viale, Emil Ruppert, Luz María Pedraza, Oscar Arrús, Juan García-Montúfar, José Ignacio Castro, Bruno Marchese, Xennia Forno, César Luna Victoria, Milagros Maraví, Sergio Amiel, Brendan Oviedo, Thomas Thorndike
- Number of partners: : 16
- Number of other lawyers: 51
THE FIRM: Established in 1980, Rubio Leguía Normand has steadily grown to become one of Peru’s leading full-service firms, while maintaining its boutique law firm approach. Its reputation for providing consistently high quality legal services has led the firm to be constantly recognised by prestigious law reviews as one of Peru’s leading firms. Its transactional expertise and international standards make it a regular player in milestone transactions, such as the first issuance of ADR’s in Peru, the largest issuance of sovereign bonds by Peru, the most significant privatisation of a state-owned entity, the first IPO of a Latin American company in London’s Stock Exchange and the first two water project financings in Peru.
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Banking & Finance: The firm has a prominent profile in this practice area due to its participation in landmark transactions. Recent highlights include a loan granted by BBVA and The Bank of Nova Scotia to Milpo for the acquisition of Atacocha shares, advising lenders in a $140m loan to Exalmar and structuring a social fund for Anglo American Michiquillay S.A. to be used in sustainable development projects.
Capital Markets: The firm’s expertise in this area allows the rendering of comprehensive advice on regulatory matters, issuance of securities, investment funds and securitisations. Recent transactions include advising JP Morgan and Bank of America in a $300m international issuance by an SPV for investments in a major pharmacy chain and advising Banco de Crédito del Perú in structuring the issuance of securitised bonds by Hunt Oil Company of Peru LLC, Sucursal del Perú.
Project Finance: The firm’s experience in pioneer project finance transactions makes it a favored choice for lenders and sponsors in relation to infrastructure projects such as toll roads, hydro power plants, transmission lines, health infrastructure and water treatment plants. Extensive work in world class transactions based on payment certificates for advancement of works (CRPAO, RPICAO, etc.) structures has helped it develop a specialised skill set in the practice unparalleled in the market. Recent deals include a loan granted by CAF for the development of the hydro power plant Las Pizarras, the issuance of VAC linked notes for $27m for the Taboada Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as the financing of Villa Maria Hospital, Callao Hospital and Lima Pharmacy Distribution Centers through the issuance of secured notes in the international market.
Mergers & Acquisitions: The soundness of the firm’s M&A practice and its experience in this matters encompasses a long list of leading transactions for the acquisition of distressed companies, acquisition of publicly listed companies and acquisition/sale of groups of companies with multiple layers of ownership. Highlights include the recent acquisition by Volcan Compañía Minera of hydroelectric assets owned by Hidroeléctrica Huanchor and the acquisition by Talma Servicios Aeroportuarios of a group of companies that includes the operator of twelve regional airports.
Mining: The firm’s mining expertise has made it a favoured choice for mining projects. Its broad experience and knowledge allows it to provide advice in all aspect related to mining projects, such as exploration and development agreements and joint ventures, project finance, construction and energy supply agreements, land acquisition and permitting. Recent experience includes projects for Barrick, Newmont, Xstrata and Anglo American.
Energy: The firm’s Energy practice includes advice on electricity project development, electricity project financing, drafting and negotiating PPAs and all contracts required to operate in the market, advising on day to day compliance of electricity market regulation, renewable energy tenders and other electricity market tenders.
Climate Change: The firm has extensive experience advising on the development of projects in carbon regulated and voluntary carbon markets, drafting and negotiating ERPAs, structuring carbon credit tenders, due diligences and assessing legal ownership of emission rights.
Privatisations & Concessions: The soundness of the firm’s administrative practice and its experience in privatisations and PPPs grants it specialised knowledge regarding complex industries. It has participated in significant tenders such as that of the North Terminal of Callao Port, Second Group of Regional Airports, Lima International Airport, Tranche II of the IIRSA Centre Toll Road and the Electric Train concession.
Tax Advisory: The firm’s Tax practice encompasses a broad range of matters, including general tax advisory, sophisticated tax planning, transfer pricing and international trade. It has significant experience on tax aspects of M&A transactions, cross-border financing and investments. The firm is recognised among the top five tax practices in Peru by the World Tax Guide of 2010 and 2011.
Labour & Employment: The firm’s Labour and Employment Practice enjoys a prominent profile in the market. It has broad experience in all aspects of labour and employment law, including hiring plans, income and benefits structures, stock option plans, foreign personnel, collective bargaining, immigration, labour audits and judicial and administrative proceedings.
Dispute Resolution: The firm’s Litigation Practice encompasses every type of complex litigation, including antitrust, administrative, aeronautical, tax, constitutional and commercial litigation. It also has an active practice in arbitration and domestic and international dispute resolution, including investment arbitration settled before ICSID.
INTERNATIONAL WORK: The firm is member of the international TerraLex network.
LANGUAGES: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German and Italian.
CLIENTS
Representative clients include Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Celfin Capital, JP Morgan Chase, Scotiabank, Morgan Stanley, Barclays Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, CAF, Banco de Crédito del Perú, BBVA, Interbank, Citibank, Newmont, Anglo American, Barrick, Bechtel, McCann Erickson, Eletrobras, SAB Miller, Pacífico Vida Seguros and Odebrecht.