Energy

The Latin American Network Home

Overview

Industry Focus

Delivery Of Legal Services

Representative Transactions

Members

Client Alerts


Argentina
  • Represented Chevron Overseas Petroleum Inc. in the acquisition of Petrolera Argentina San Jorge S.A. (the second largest oil producer of Argentina), the largest acquisition of a non-government owned company in Argentina. 
  • Represented Pioneer Natural Resources Company in the $1.2 billion acquisition of Chauvco Resources, Ltd. 
  • Represented Southeastern Drilling Co. in the negotiation of the first oil and gas contract in Argentina, during President Frondizi's term. This pioneer contract covered one thousand wells for drilling in the Patagonia region. 
  • Advised a leading U.S. energy marketer on cross-ownership restrictions in Argentina and Brazil for purchase/sale/trading of natural gas, power, energy commodities and financial derivatives.
  • Represented U.S. seismic acquisition company in the formation of a local branch to provide seismic services in Argentina.
  • Represented Perez Companc S.A. in the privatization (construction, operation and concession) of the Mexican Merida III pipeline project, as a member of the consortium formed with Nova Corporation and The Williams Companies, with an anticipated investment of over $200 million. 
  • Representation of Chevron San Jorge S.A. in the acquisition of Alberta Energy's assets in Argentina.
  • Representation of Chevron San Jorge S.A. in the bidding rounds for oil and gas areas called by the province of Neuquen, Argentina.

 

Bolivia
  • Counsel to Gas Transboliviano S.A, which operates the biggest pipeline in Bolivia , the Bolivia Brazil Pipe Line.
  • Counsel to Pacific LNG consortium formed by Repsol YPF, British Gas and PanAmerican Energy for the implementation of the Pacific LNG Project, which requires an estimated investment of US$ 5 to US$ 7 Billions.
  • Counsel to Transredes S.A since 1997, the major oil and gas transportation company in Bolivia .
  • Counsel to GasOriente Boliviano Ltda. which owns and operates the Rio San Miguel-San Matías-Cuiabá Pipeline.
  • Counsel to Pride International Bolivia Ltd. in the purchase of drill towers and other equipment.
  • Merger of BHP Petroleum (Sucursal Bolivia ) Inc. into BHP Boliviana de Petróleo Inc. (Sucursal Bolivia ).
  • Counsel to Pan American Energy S.A. which partially owns Chaco S.A. and E&P company operating in Bolivia .
  • Counsel to BHP Billiton Boliviana de Petróleo INC. (SUCURSAL BOLIVIA ) in the sale of its participation in oil fields to REPSOL YPF E&P BOLIVIA S.A.

Brazil
  • Represented oilfield products manufacturer in negotiation and documentation of joint venture with Brazilian partner to sell oilfield products and equipment to Petrobas.
  • Represented the State of Rio de Janeiro in the legal due diligence and preparation for privatization of Companhia Estadual de Gás do Rio de Janeiro - CEG, and for RIOGAS, including the preparation of the Regulatory Framework for the Rio de Janeiro State gas industry.
  • Represented Norwegian Company in bid for operation of offshore drilling rig in connection with ANP-sponsored Brazil Round 1.
  • Represented a U.S energy company in the debt and equity financing of drilling rigs to be used by Petrobas.
  • Represented a U.S. energy marketer in the preparation of multiple natural gas transporation, distribution and marketing contracts.

Chile
  • Represented ENAP, the Chilean national petroleum company, in drilling contracts, seismic acquisition contracts, joint ventures, and acquisitions throughout South and Central America, as well as international natural gas supply contracts.
  • Represented Petro Servicio Corp., a Chilean petroleum company, in their operations in Chile and abroad, including drilling contracts and joint ventures with YPF S.A. and TOTAL Austral.
  • Assisted with syndicated credit facility provided to Empresa Nacional de Petroleo (Chilean National Oil Company).
  • Represented the German company Ferrostaal A.G. in the formation of a joint venture with Refinerias de Petroleo Concon S.A. (RPC) to construct and operate a DIPE plant; and in connection with a loan to RPC involving collateral guarantees to Kreditaustalt für Wiederanfbau.
  • Represented the Chilean company, Compania General de Electricidad, in bids for electricity projects in El Salvador and Argentina.
  • Represented the Chilean construction company Salfa Montajes S.A. in the formation of a joint venture to construct the thermoelectrical plant of EDELNOR in Tocopila, Chile.
  • Represented Electrogas in the court process of constitution of servitudes for a pipeline project.
  • Advised a group of investors regarding the formation of a joint venture to control Minasgas S/A Distribuidora de Gas Combustivel.

Colombia
  • Advisors to a syndicate of international banks led by ABN AMRO BANK N.V. acting as administrative agent, in a US$1,460 million loan granted to Empresa de Energía de Bogotá S.A. E.S.P., E.E.B. (Colombia), to finance the acquisition by its wholly owned subsidiary Transportadora de Gas del Interior S.A. E.S.P., TGI, of the natural gas transportation assets of Ecogas. The original US$1,460 million loan was partially assigned by EEB to TGI. Financing included creating corporate vehicles and the issue of Senior Regulation S and Rule 144A notes; TGI International Ltd. issued US$750 million due in 2017 and EEB International Ltd. issued US$610 million due in 2014. Lawyers: Partners Jaime Herrera and Mariana Posse and associates Alvaro José Rodríguez and Carolina Sánchez.
  • Advisors to Boytec (Chile) - Geotec (Colombia) for the definition of the legal structure for a mining exploration project in Colombia. Lawyers: Partner Juan Guillermo Ruiz and associates Mario Criales and Verónica Peláez.
  • Counsel to the International finance corporation IFC, in an equity investment of US$15 million in Petrotesting Holdings. Lawyers: Partner Francisco Urrutia and associate Paola Morales.
  • Advisors to IFC and Natixis (France) in the loan granted to Petrotesting in an amount of US$30 million.Lawyers: Partners José Alejandro Torres, Francisco Urrutia and associate Paola Morales.
  • Counsel to Termocartagena (Colombia) in the approx. US$17,5 million sale of a power plant to EMGESA, part of the Spanish Endesa group. The significance of the transaction is that the company was in a restructuring process (Ley 550). Lawyer: Partner Daniel Posse.
  • Advisors to Colombian four pension funds and Chilean foreign investors in the US$170 million acquisition and financing of the Termotasajero coal-fired power generation facility. Lawyers: Partners Jaime Herrera, Mariana Posse and Juan Guillermo Ruiz and associates Alessia Abello, Claudia Caballero, Carolina Camacho y Mario Criales.

Costa Rica
  • Represented a U.S.-based wind farm developer in the negotiation of a concession for a 20 megawatt wind farm project in the Lake Arenal area of Costa Rica.

Mexico
  • Acted as lead Mexican counsel to the Mexican government in connection with structuring the deregulation of the Mexican electricity market, including drafting the necessary constitutional and legislative amendments. 
  • Represented multinational consortium, comprised of The AES Corp., Grupo Hermes S.A. and Nichiman K.K. in its winning bid for the BOT contract for the 440 MW Merida III power plant.
  • Represented Mexican construction company in negotiation and drafting of an EPC contract with Samsung Engineering and Chiyoda consortium bidding for project to modernize and reconfigure Francisco I. Madero refinery operated by PEMEX Refinación.
  • Represented onshore drilling company in amendments to, and termination of, drilling services contract with CFE for drilling and work-over on geothermal wells.
  • Represented Mexican company in obtaining various permits to operate cogeneration facilities.
  • Represented U.S. bank in connection with structuring synthetic lease financing for production platform purchases for PEMEX. 
  • Represented U.S. bank in connection with financing for Mexican company guaranteed by various Mexican trusts in connection with PEMEX platform project.
  • Represented U.S. seismic acquisition firm in the formation of a branch authorized to carry out domestic and international bidding for PEMEX projects in the Gulf of Mexico. 
  • Represented onshore drilling company in connection with lease of rig and provision of drilling services to PEMEX contractor.
  • Represented U.S. oilfield services company in buy-out of Mexican partner from drilling fluids joint venture in Villahermosa, Tabasco.
  • Represented drilling fluids company in connection with bid to PEMEX for oil cuttings incinerator facility.
  • Represented major U.S. oil company in evaluation of restrictions under Mexican Constitution and regulatory laws for development of a proposal for Burgos basin gas development project.
  • Represented Malaysian consortium in connection with potential bid for natural gas pipeline for Merida III power plant.
  • Represented U.S. LNG marketer in connection with construction of natural gas pipeline and natural gas liquification in Sonora.

Peru
  • Negotiated and drafted the Joint Venture Agreement for a consortium formed to bid on the concession for the construction of the Mantaro-Socabaya Electrical Transmission Line; drafted the EPC Agreement for the construction of the transmission line.
  • Represented Australian company in negotiation of joint operations agreement and production sharing agreement for offshore projects.
  • Represented a consortium of Enersis, Chilectra, and Grupo Endesa in the privatization of the distribution companies Eléctrica de Lima Norte, S.A., Eléctrica de Lima Sur, Eléctrica de Chancay, S.A., and Eléctrica de Cañete, S.A.
  • Represented the consortium of Coastal Power Production Corp., CMS Energy Corp., and Powergen, PLC in the privatization of the generating company Empresa de Generación Eléctrica de Lima, S.A.
  • Represented Nassau branch of First National Bank of Boston in loan to Comericializadora Industrial La Molina, S.A. with corporate guarantees issued by Mobil Oil de Peru S.A. and Mobil Corporation.
  • Represented U.S. seismic acquisition company in the formation of a Peruvian limited liability company to provide seismic services in Peru.

Venezuela
  • Represented U.S. land drilling contractor in the preparation of multiple bid packages, including a form of land drilling contract and exceptions lists, for numerous PDVSA oil and gas drilling rig operators.
  • Represented a U.S. company in the formation of a consortium to bid on the construction on a BOT basis of two LNG facilities for PDVSA.
  • Represented an independent E&P company in the qualification and evaluation of a bid in connection with the Third Operating Agreement Round for reactivation of marginal oil wells in the State of Monagas.
  • Represented a consortium of international and domestic companies in the qualification and evaluation of a bid and further negotiation of contracts for operation and development of oilfields during the Third Operating Agreement Round held by PDVSA. 
  • Represented a consortium of international and domestic companies in the qualification, evaluation and ensuing negotiation of a joint operating agreement and profit-sharing agreement relating to the Golfo de Paria Este oil exploration and exploitation concession. 
  • Represented the consortium of EPC general contractors of crude oil production, transportation and treating facilities, in negotiating a strategic association between PDVUS and international E&P companies (Petrozuata, Sincor and Cerro Negro).
  • Represented a consortium to bid for and negotiate an EPC contract for gas compression and LNG facilities for PDVSA. 
  • Represented polyethylene plant owners in connection with the completion of a plant and subsequent restructuring of its project financing. 
  • Assisted EPC general contractors in connection with contracts for the completion of propylene, methanol, ethylene and gas compression plants.

 

Other Countries
Belize
  • Represented Australian company in negotiation of joint operations agreement and production sharing agreement for offshore projects.

Bolivia

  • Represented land drilling contractor in preparation of multiple bid packages, including a form of land drilling contract and exceptions lists.
  • Represented U.S. seismic acquisition company in connection with the formation of a local branch to carry out local seismic projects.
  • Represented a U.S. drilling fluids company in the purchase of the assets of a Bolivian oil field services firm.

Ecuador

  • Represented U.S. seismic acquisition company in connection with the formation of a local branch to bid on local seismic projects.