The MHR Regional Legal Platform introduces foreign investors and local regional clients to the top energy team in Argentina, one of the most relevant oil & gas jurisdictions in Latin America. This leadership is verified by the rankings in the main international legal publications, including Chambers & Partners, of the last ten years, providing MHR full knowledge to manage the risk factors affecting Projects to be developed in the Latin American energy sector.
Referenced Cases
Our team has advised companies in a broad range of Oil & Gas transactions in Latin America, including:
Bolivia
Advised Transredes S.A. in a gas transportation project consisting in the construction of a 360 km, 18-inch pipeline up to the Bolivian -Brazilian border that continued in Brazil up to Cuiaba, Matto Grosso, to connect the main Bolivian gas producing areas with a power plant in Cuiaba, Brazil.
Advised the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the drafting and negotiation of joint venture agreements for the “Bermejo” block.
Advised Transredes S.A. (an Enron/Shell joint venture) in several gas transportation projects, including the Gas Transboliviano Project, a US$ 2 billion project that comprised the construction of a 3,150 kilometers, 32/24 inch pipeline between Río Grande, Bolivia and several major consumption centers in Brazil. The pipeline had an initial capacity of 9 million cubic meters per day and scheduled expansions of up to 20 million cubic meters per day.
Chile
Represented CMS Gas & Transmission Storage in a USD 730 million project that consisted in the construction of a 900 km, 20-inch pipeline that connects the gas fields in northern Argentina to a 700 MW power generating plant in northern Chile, and supplies energy to several copper mining operations.
Advised El Paso Energy, which, in partnership with Nova Gas, ENAP, Gasco and YPF, engaged in a USD 400 million project for the construction of a 500km gas pipeline from Neuquén, Argentina, to Concepcion, Chile. Assisted Array Technologies in corporate matters related to its agency in Chile.
Peru
Advised GeoPark in its acquisition of a 75% interest in a joint venture with PetroPeru (the state-owned company of Perú), including carrying out investments of over USD 100 million.
Uruguay
Advised Pan American Energy (BP – Bridas), Wintershall and British Gas PLC in connection with a pipeline constructed across the Río de la Plata river between Buenos Aires and Montevideo. The USD 120 million project comprised a 215 km (including 50 kms below the riverbed), 24-inch pipeline to Montevideo with an initial capacity of 2.5 million cubic meters per day.
Venezuela
Advised IFC in the drafting and negotiation of joint venture agreements with PDVSA and other oil companies for the “Colon” and “Quiamare-La Ceiba” blocks.
Head
Coordinators
José A. Martínez de Hoz
- Resident in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- More than 35 years of experience in oil and gas transactions and project finance.
- Chairman of MHR
José A. Martínez de Hoz
- Resident in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- More than 35 years of experience in oil and gas transactions and project finance.
- Chairman of MHR
“Star individual José Martínez de Hoz Jr is “an eminence in oil and gas issues,” according to a client, while another market source confirms: “José deserves the star recognition.” He remains Argentina’s leading hydrocarbons practitioner, frequently advising premier oil and gas companies on high-value mandates. Martínez de Hoz boasts expertise acting across the supply chain, with a strong focus on midstream regulatory matters. He is a founding partner of the firm and acts as co-head of department.” (Chambers Latin America 2021)
Tomás Lanardonne
- Resident in Neuquén, Argentina.
- More than 10 years of experience in oil and gas, conventional and renewable energy, mining, and natural resources-related litigation and arbitration.
- Co-head of the MHR Oil & Gas team.
“Department co-head Tomás Lanardonne is “very effective and knowledgeable of the oil and gas sector,” one client is quick to report. Lanardonne advises clients from the firm’s Neuquén office and focuses his practice on counselling companies on the exploration and exploitation of the Vaca Muerta formation.” (Chambers Latin America 2021)