Allende & Brea, an influential player in the formation of the Argentine Fintech Chamber, integrates lawyers from its banking, finance and corporate teams with specialists in new technologies, compliance, intellectual property, data protection, consumer, tax and labour, to offer a comprehensive, multidisciplinary service to fintech clients. The team provides essential regulatory and risk mitigation support in a fast moving space, and has worked on matters involving payments (and payment platforms), blockchain, FX regulations, cryptocurrency exchanges and non-fungible tokens. The practice is co-lead by internet and computer-crime specialist, Pablo Palazzi; veteran banking lawyer and payments expert Carlos Melhem; and Jorge Mayora, also an experienced banking and finance lawyer.
Fintech in Argentina
Allende & Brea
Responsables de la pratique:
Carlos Melhem; Pablo Palazzi; Jorge Mayora
Les références
‘Great added value, commitment and goodwill.’
‘Partner Pablo Palazzi stands out for his commitment. He always proposes creative solutions and is aware of the news of the causes that the study leads.’
‘They are distinguished by their knowledge and permanent willingness to provide the best and most comprehensive advice.’
Principaux clients
Banco Industrial
Bitso
Dinero Gelt
Facilita Pay
Google Payments Corporation
Mercado Libre/Mercado Pago
Moni Online
Meta
Quantex
Mastercard Worldwide
Noon Money On line
Openbank Argentina
Openpay Argentina
Rappi
Trend Capital
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Openpay Argentina in relation with its registration as an interoperable digital wallet with the Argentine Central Bank’s Registry.
- Represent Mastercard Cono Sur in the development of cryptocurrency payment programmes enabling cardholders to use Mastercard prepaid cards that are funded with cryptocurrencies.
- Advised Quantex on its incorporation in Delaware, and advised and supported Quantex throughout its initial investment round.
Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie supports financial institutions, global digital leaders and start-ups along the entire fintech value chain, covering crowdfunding, initial coin offerings, alternative financing platforms, blockchain-based diamond exchanges, cryptocurrencies, e-money, open banking matters and payments. The team draws on expertise from multiple practice areas and leverages the firm’s global network to coordinate work for multinational clients across more than 20 Latin American jurisdictions. Veteran financial services' practitioner Gabriel Gomez Giglio, who also chairs the firm’s Latin America banking and finance practice, leads the team. Key support is provided by very active banking and finance partner Francisco Fernández-Rostello.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gabriel Gómez-Giglio
Les références
‘The practice is unique for its in-depth knowledge of Argentine regulation and the highly technical and personal work that its attorneys do.’
‘It team with great technical knowledge and personality. Gabriel Gomez-Giglio is a great specialist.’
Principaux clients
Ebanx
PayPal
Botón de Pago
Prisma Medios de Pago
The Goldman Sachs Group
Disney World
Tencent Holdings
Nium
Amazon
Coinbase
PagoNxt
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Advent International on the acquisition of a 49% stake in Prisma Medios de Pago from 14 banks and and Visa International.
- Assisted Ebanx with the potential launch of a digital wallet in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico.
- Advised Payoneer on setting up its local legal presence and structure in Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Mexico.
Beccar Varela
Beccar Varela has invested in developing a truly dedicated fintech offering for a number of years and is called on by banking and non-banking players in the space for regulatory, structuring, investment, financing and public relations advice. The team handles all the key fintech verticals, including challenger banks, e-wallets, payments, open banking, cryptoassets, crowdfunding and insurtech. Banking and regulatory-focused partner Daniel Levi co-leads the team alongside corporate and M&A partner María Shakespear and banking and finance expert Pablo Torretta.
Responsables de la pratique:
Daniel Levi; María Shakespear; Pablo Torretta
Principaux clients
Nubank
Stripe
Softbank
Ualá
Mercado Pago
SumUp
Modo
Ank
Crypto.com
Ebanx
Principaux dossiers
- Advised a consortium of banks and payment providers on the sale of their remaining stake in Prisma Medios de Pago, Argentina’s most important electronic payments provider, to Advent International.
- Assisted Ualá with all corporate and regulatory matters involved in the purchase of Wilobank; Ualá is a mobile app for managing a master card prepaid debit card in Argentina.
- Advised the shareholders of Atix Labs, an Argentine company dedicated to the provision of blockchain services, on the sale of shares to Globant.
Bomchil
Bomchil brings together expertise from its banking, corporate, tax, technology, IP and compliance teams to provide fintech clients with a comprehensive service that helps them to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving fintech regulatory framework in Argentina. The team works with regulated and non-regulated companies in the crypto, P2P lending, e-payments and crowdfunding segments, providing support on a range of regulatory, structuring, investment and financing matters. Banking partner María Victoria Funes is the key name and leads the practice, with further senior support coming from banking and finance team head Fermín Caride.
Responsables de la pratique:
María Victoria Funes
Les références
‘Bomchil’s team is formidable, with an accurate knowledge of the fintech market and its regulation in Argentina. The predisposition is constant and the services they provide are of a unique quality. It is a peace of mind to have the firm’s advice on compliance and risks in fintech bussines.’
‘Fermín Caride is an excellent person and a better professional. His analytical capacity is extraordinary, addressing all the relevant elements in the consultation. His commitment is constant and he always meets the agreed deadlines. We are lucky to have his support and advice in the fintech business.’
Principaux clients
Más Simple
Tu tasa
DLocal
Wilobank
Invoinet
Ant Group (Alipay)
Huawei
Deezer
ViacomCoS
American Express
Mills Capital Markets
Bloomberg
Rippling
Fortune International Group
Buenbit
Ohana
WiseTech
Akami
Mercado Libre
Redsys Servicios de Procesamiento
Principaux dossiers
- Retained by Mercado Libre to provide day-to-day advice to their regulatory compliance team at Mercado Pago, their payment solutions platform.
- Advised Eduardo Eurnekian on an agreement to sell digital entity, Wilobank, to Ualá.
- Provided advice to Alipay on the regulatory aspects regarding the implementation of a cross border payment processing model.
Marval O’Farrell Mairal
Marval O’Farrell Mairal advises early-stage start-ups, established fintech firms and financial institutions on regulation, anti-money laundering, payments, online lending, blockchain cryptoassets, tokenisation projects and initial coin offerings. The practice is led by Juan Diehl Moreno who has over two decades' experience handling a wide range of transactional and financing matters, and extensive knowledge in e-payments, blockchain and digital banking. Other key names in the team include associates Ignacio Paz and Pedro Colaneri.
Responsables de la pratique:
Juan Diehl Moreno
Les références
‘The team provides comprehensive analysis of all areas in depth. Commitment to the interests of the client. Far superior to other studies.’
‘Commitment and deep analysis of the issues, as well as the search for viable alternatives when the classic traditional law does not offer them, make this practice stand out.’
‘Marval is an excellent firm, with a great track record and expertise in matters of law and fintech business. Their deliverables are of excellent quality, exceeding expectations in each consultation that we have entrusted to them. We are happy to have their support and advice!’
Principaux clients
Mercado Libre
Mercado Crédito
Tech Demeter (Agrotoken)
New Agro Coin
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Mercado Libre on its $4bn credit agreement with Citibank.
- Advising Agrotoken on regulatory matters related to a cashback program in development with a gas station brand to allow users to fill their cars and be awarded with a cashback token.
- Advising New Agro Coin on its project involving a tokenization platform for farm assets.
MBP Partners - Abogados
MBP Partners - Abogados has extensive expertise in complex payments and e-commerce matters, as well as in sophisticated deals involving cryptocurrency and blockchain mandates for major domestic and international clients. Clients praise the team for its regulatory expertise and grasp of Argentina’s fluid fintech regulatory framework. Practice head Ignacio Meggiolaro is known for his expertise in the technology and fintech spaces and covers a broad array of corporate, commercial, M&A, banking and capital markets matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ignacio Meggiolaro
Les références
‘MBP stands out for its response times, the quality of work and for being very up-to-date on fintech issues. In general, they warn us very quickly about news or changes that we must implement in our company.’
‘The firm is full service and interrelates and complements fintech feedback with corporate, tax, contractual, regulatory, exchange, labour advice.’
Principaux clients
MercadoLibre
Banza
Ripio
Ank
PedidoYa (Delivery Hero)
Digipayments
LetsBit
SuperPago
Principaux dossiers
- Assist MercadoLibre on regulatory matters involving its fintech products, including MercadoPago, MercadoCredito and MercadoFondo.
- Assisted Banza on registration before the Central Bank as a digital wallet, as well as on day-to-day matters involving fintech products, payments and lending.
- Assisted Ripio with the launch of a cryptocurrency that operates on the Ethereum platform, as well as the launch of pre-paid cards.
Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen
Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites & Arntsen advises digital banks, payments companies, prepaid-card providers and cryptocurrency exchange platforms on a wide range of regulatory, transactional and day-to-day commercial matters. Vastly experienced corporate finance veteran Diego Redonnet is the main contact and practice head.
Responsables de la pratique:
Diego Redonnet
Principaux clients
BTC Trade
Mecaenpol
Dock Argentina
Briken
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the cryptocurrency exchange BTC Trade on several matters regarding registering a virtual wallet before the Central Bank of Argentina.
- Advised Mecaenpol regarding the establishment of a virtual wallet before the Central Bank of Argentina.
- Advising the Argentine subsidiary of Brazilian fintech services provider, Dock, on the Argentine registration process ahead of a planned launch in the country.
Salaberren & Lopez Sanson (SyLS)
Salaberren & Lopez Sanson (SyLS) is recognised for its deep expertise assisting centralised and decentralised blockchain companies with integration across different verticals in the finance ecosystem. The team’s client roster includes leading blockchain-based metaverse companies, smart contract audit firms and a number of cryptoasset exchanges, who turn to the team for strategic advice on regulatory-compliant and tax efficient business structures. The team is co-led by founding partner Sebastián López Sanson, who is widely acknowledged as one of Argentina’s foremost technology lawyers; and partner Juan Manuel Campos Alvarez, an expert in blockchain-related matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Sebastian Lopez Sanson; Juan Manuel Campos Alvarez
Principaux clients
Decentraland Foundation
Nomic Foundation
DolarApp
Open Zeppelin
Big Time Studios
Monster League Studios
The Coca-Cola Company
Principaux dossiers
- Provide ongoing legal advice to the Decentraland Foundation, which protects the IP and decentralisation of Decentraland, a blockchain metaverse governed by a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), which pioneered in the use of NFTs and tokens.
- Assisted with the corporate structuring and incorporation of the Nomic Foundation which develops ‘hardhat’ (developer tools for the Ethereum environment), as well as advice on regulatory matters.
- Assisted with the corporate structuring of Big Time Studios, a blockchain gaming company using a play-to-earn model, NFTs and tokens. We provide ongoing advice on several legal matters, including corporate, tax, labour, data privacy and regulatory matters.