What We Do
Practice Areas
Practice Areas
Public Law and Regulatory Matters
The partners of the firm have extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, complemented by rigorous academic training and work. We advise and/or represent our clients in both administrative and judicial settings, particularly in matters related to:
· Acting before any state entity or body;
· Challenging administrative acts or rulings in both administrative and judicial venues;
· National and international public bids;
· Execution of administrative contracts (renegotiations, re-determinations, claims, and defenses);
· Conflicts arising from administrative contracts;
· Infrastructure projects and public-private partnerships;
· Judicial disputes in administrative and constitutional law, including urgent processes, injunctions, and cases involving property rights, at all levels;
· Defense in administrative inquiries and other sanctioning procedures;
· Special administrative procedures.
Contact:
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Several partners at SBWM have a significant and distinguished background in the Judiciary, which, along with their professional experience in top-tier firms, has allowed the firm to be consistently recognized and distinguished in the market. SBWM has successfully advised and represented its clients in all types of litigation, particularly:
· In all matters related to insolvency and bankruptcy, as well as debt restructuring, including extrajudicial processes;
· In all types of cases involving property rights, including damages, executions, and recoveries;
· In corporate disputes;
· In contentious-administrative litigation;
· Before the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation;
· In cases of very high complexity due to their interdisciplinary nature;
· In collective proceedings;
· In collaboration on international processes as local representatives;
Contact:
Damián Burgio, Germán Wetzler Malbrán, Miguel J. Haslop, Santiago J. García Mira, Fernández Dussaut Martín, Matías A. Rivera
Arbitration
- The extensive experience of the partners at SBWM in their various practice areas has allowed them to stand out in the arbitration scene, both locally and internationally. Our professionals have participated not only as party attorneys but also as arbitrators and/or experts. SBWM has advised and/or represented its clients in:
– Domestic and international arbitrations in Argentina and abroad under the Rules of the International Chamber of Commerce;
– International arbitrations abroad under entities such as the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Santiago (Chile) and the Arbitration and Mediation Center of Quito (Ecuador);
Locally, the firm has vast experience in cases before the Arbitration Tribunal of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, the Business Mediation and Arbitration Center (CEMA), as well as in ad hoc arbitrations;
– Review (nullity) proceedings of arbitration awards before the judiciary;
– Enforcement of Arbitration Awards.
– Additionally, we assist and advise our clients in the best choice of the most suitable type of arbitration for their needs and its corresponding contractual implementation.
Contact:
Diego Salaverri, Santiago J. García Mira, Damián Burgio, Germán Wetzler Malbrán
Labor Law
- Advisory services on labor matters affecting a wide range of businesses and industries, including construction, manufacturing, energy, retail distribution, and other services.
Advice on determining collective and union framing; union negotiations; drafting collective bargaining agreements and company agreements; guidance on the election of union delegates.
Negotiation and drafting of employment contracts, company regulations, social security plans, suspension, and termination of the employment relationship.
Implementation and modification of compensation structures such as stock option programs, pension plans, stock purchase plans, bonus policies, and programs to retain, engage, and incentivize employees and management.
Adaptation of international policies to Argentine law.
Reorganizations and restructurings, mass layoffs, voluntary retirement plans, preventive crisis procedures, and negotiations across all areas to facilitate reorganizations.
Severance of senior officials and participation in company audits in cases of corporate fraud.
Advice on occupational risk and labor medicine.
Advice on expatriate personnel regulations and immigration law.
Contentious labor matters and dispute resolution; advisory services on the implementation and application of a disciplinary regime.
Training courses for HR and Legal staff of companies.
Contact:
Mergers and Acquisitions
- Seasoned practice in domestic, international and regional mergers and acquisitions, both on the seller and purchaser side.
- Private foreign investments.
- Foreign investments by Argentine and/or regional investors.
- Planning, structuring and negotiation of joint ventures, collaboration agreements and other corporate or partnership structures.
- Legal due diligence, including coordination and supervision of due diligence for regional transactions.
- Investment agreements and strategic alliances. Shareholders’ agreements.
- Domestic and cross-border corporate reorganizations.
- Coordination of auction sales.
- General advise to Private Equity Funds.
- Filings and advisory in enforcement actions related to antitrust matters.
Contact:
Diego Salaverri, Martín Fernández Dussaut, Tomás Arnaude, Pablo Fernández Pujadas
Capital Markets
- Registration of companies with the national securities and exchange commission (CNV) and general advice with respect to public offerings of securities.
- Initial public offerings of equity, debt securities, and other securities (options, warrants, etc.), both in the domestic and international markets (Reg S – 144A, Reg D issuances).
- Financial trusts and other securitizations.
- Share buybacks, debt securities, and other negotiable securities, including public tender offers.
- Derivatives transactions and other types of operations related to equity and other negotiable instruments.
- Squeeze-out transactions and public offering delisting.
- Advice in enforcement proceedings initiated by the CNV.
Contact:
Diego Salaverri, Roberto Lizondo, Pablo Fernández Pujadas
Agricultural Business and Real Estate
-
Investments by foreign entities and individuals.
-
Investments by Argentine entities and individuals abroad, including investments made as limited partners in private equity, venture capital, and fixed asset funds.
-
Structuring of investments and real estate developments.
-
Financing of real estate projects.
-
Advisory on transactions involving the buying, leasing, construction, development, marketing, and management of properties and real estate ventures.
-
Acquisitions of agricultural companies engaged in farming and livestock.
-
Structuring of agricultural.
-
Legal audits (due diligence).
-
Drafting and negotiation of rural contracts.
Contacto:
Leonardo Bujía, Martín Fernández Dussaut
Trust Services
- We offer trust and registration services for various types of private transactions (not included in public offerings), whether or not we have acted as legal advisors in them.
Through our affiliate Escrow Services S.A., we provide such services acting as:
– Share and/or other securities registration agent
– Trustee
– Collateral agent
– Escrow agent
– Notification agent
– Depository or custodian of securities, etc.
Contact:
Martín Fernández Dussaut
Financing Operations
- General advice to financial entities and borrowers.
- Secured and Unsecured Loans and Syndicated Loans.
- Acquisition financing
- Project Finance
- Collateral Trusts
- Real Estate and Agribusiness financing
- Foreign Exchange Controls Regulations
- Audits and Legal Due Diligence with respect to regulatory matters.
- Portfolio acquisitions and securitization
Contacto:
Roberto Lizondo, Pablo Fernández Pujadas, Santiago Freyre
Debt Restructuring
- Advisory and representation in preventive bankruptcy proceedings and insolvencies.
- Representation of creditors in credit verification processes, creditors’ committees, purchasing insolvent companies, and executing guarantees.
- Representation of creditors, bondholders, borrowers, issuers, trustees, and financial advisors/placement agents in extrajudicial restructurings, preventive extrajudicial agreements, and debt exchange agreements.
- Negotiation of corporate debts, including advisory services in judicial and extrajudicial restructuring processes.
- Preparation of payment or exchange offer prospectuses and processing of regulatory approvals.
Contact:
Damián Burgio, Germán Wetzler Malbrán, Roberto Lizondo, Pablo Fernández Pujadas, Matías A. Rivera
Insurance Law
- Advisory for the establishment, acquisition, or merger of insurance companies.
- Advisory to insurers on regulatory matters, corporate, and company issues.
- Advisory on permitted investments and productive investments.
- Drafting of retirement, life, and group life insurance policies.
- Advisory on claims and handling of disputes and litigation issues.
- Representation of insurers in class actions filed by consumer associations regarding tariff issues and the use of alleged abusive clauses.
- Legal audits (due diligence).
- Representation and defense of clients before the National Insurance Superintendency and consumer protection agencies.
Contact:
Germán Wetzler Malbrán, Leonardo Bujía, Matías A. Rivera
General Corporate
- Comprehensive advisory on corporate and business matters for national and foreign clients.
- Company registrations and filings.
- Participation in shareholder meetings and board meetings.
- Holding positions on boards and in supervisory roles.
- Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts (franchise agreements, licensing agreements, distribution agreements, among others).
- Compliance with informational and regulatory regimes.
- Advisory on local and international commercial matters.
Contact:
Martín Fernández Dussaut, Leonardo Bujía, Matías A. Rivera, Pablo Fernández Pujadas
Energy and Natural Resources
SBWM views Energy and Natural Resources as an integral and interdisciplinary topic where aspects from various areas of specialization converge. Thus, our team not only assists clients with regulatory matters and those strictly related to the industry, but has also developed significant expertise in M&A, Capital Markets, and litigation related to the sector, as well as its corporate aspects and Antitrust Matters. SBWM offers its clients advisory and/or representation in:
– Energy purchase and transportation contracts, with particular experience in import and export contracts;
– Bidding for hydrocarbon concession grants;
– Assignments of permits and concessions;
– Renewable energy projects;
– Joint Operating Agreements;
– Energy swaps;
– Procedures before granting authorities and/or regulatory bodies;
– Litigation and arbitration; and
– Public offerings of securities and/or shares of companies in the sector.
Contact: