The banking and finance department at Araquereyna covers a broad range of services, from corporate finance to capital markets and wealth management advice for leading international investment banks and financial institutions. Pedro Luis Planchart and Juan José Figueroa have recently advised JPMorganChase branches in Bogota, New York and London on Venezuelan banking regulations, as well as continuing to assist international banks in connection with crypto assets, securities, anti-money laundering and compliance regulations. Gustavo Reyna is highly regarded for his experience in securities and exchange control issues. Pedro Ignacio Sosa is another key contact.

The banking, finance and restructuring team at D'Empaire continues to be instructed by leading domestic and international clients on all matters related to banking and finance within Venezuela. Significant financial restructurings are a particular strong suit of the firm, which has recently handled several market-leading matters in this area, including assisting Maurel & Prom with the cross-border restructuring of outstanding debt of $914m owed by Petroregional del Lago. Fulvio Italiani co-leads the practice alongside Carlos Omaña; both partners have expertise in advising financial institutions on regulatory and compliance matters, as well as in real estate transactions, and Omaña is noted for his strength in international financings. Inés Parra, Roberto Mas and Roland Pettersson, whose strengths include corporate finance and debt restructuring, are also key names from the team.

The full-service banking and finance team at Dentons is experienced in handling a variety of matters for leading international financial institutions and banks in areas including acquisition finance, debt restructuring, and debt and equity capital markets, with growing expertise in the fintech space. In addition, the practice is skilled in handling high-profile ESG-related financings. The team also has experience of advising foreign banks on regulatory issues concerning Venezuela and of assisting international investors in relation to the impact of US economic sanctions on their existing projects and asset-based financing deals with state-owned companies. Rubén Eduardo Luján heads the team and advises clients on major financing deals, including energy finance and asset-based finance, while Daniela Jaimes‘ areas of strength include financings in the energy sector and Natalija Vojvodic has experience in project finance transactions, among other areas.

Providing coverage across Caracas, Valencia, Maracaibo and Barquisimeto, Lega provides a full-service offering and has been involved in a wide variety of local and cross-border financing transactions, including assisting international banks with setting up investment funds and with day-to-day operations in Venezuela. Team members have also assisted the Venezuelan government with project finance agreements for petrochemical and industrial plants. José Alberto Ramírez León co-heads the practice and has taken a leading role in financing transactions for international banks, including ING Bank. Fellow practice head Pedro Urdaneta is focused on financial transactions for clients in the private equity, crypto and technology spheres; he also serves as president of the Venezuelan Private Capital Association, Venécapital. Miguel Rivero is another key name from the practice.

Mendoza, Palacios, Acedo, Borjas, Paez Pumar & Cia. advises clients in the financial sector on the full range of transactional, contentious and regulatory matters. The firm has particular expertise in the field of foreign sanctions, where Diego Lepervanche and Luisa Lepervanche (who lead the international sanctions team) advise clients on related insurance, compliance and financial issues, with the assistance of Manuel Acedo Sucre and Luisa Acedo. The team also acts for syndicated lenders in public project financings and restructurings, and is experienced in advising international and domestic banks with regards to their regulatory and contractual matters, with some members serving on the board of directors of major Venezuelan banks and credit committees. Carlos Eduardo Acedo is also noted for his expertise in the insurance and reinsurance sector.

Altum Abogados, S.C. advises on a range of matters within the banking and finance arena, from assisting with financial transactions to advising on exchange control regulations, for a diverse client base which covers the telecoms, agriculture, financial services, retail and automobile sectors. Álvaro Posada Sessarego is experienced in advising foreign and local banks on cross-border financial services and transactions, while Alfonso Porras Machado has experience in corporate finance, capital markets and conflict resolution. At associate level, Froila Eugenia Pimentel and Manuel Domingo, who is noted for his focus on cross-border financial services, are key names, along with senior associate Jose Ignacio Arcaya, who joined from BNM ONTIER in July 2023.

With a team specialised in advising financial institutions across the US, Europe and South America, InterJuris Abogados provides a full service within the banking and finance sphere, and is particularly noted for its experience in the legal aspects of blockchain and crypto assets, with team members having led legal seminars in Venezuela on new legal developments in this space. Based across offices in Caracas, Miami and Madrid, the practice is skilled in cross-border transactions and has a growing international client base. Juan José Delgado advises multinational clients on project financings throughout Latin America, while Antonio Ramírez is experienced in matters of investment promotion and protection. Gonzalo Pérez and José Alejandro Corbán Obadía are other key names in the team.

LEC Abogados is particularly experienced in sovereign and quasi-sovereign transactions in Venezuela, assisting both major financial institutions and multilateral agencies with their lending arrangements. The firm has a strong track record of advising the counterparties on debt restructuring and refinancing transactions with PDVSA, the state-owned oil and gas company. Leopoldo Cadenas advises clients on lending operations and project financing, and has recently been active in assisting Venezuelan business groups with obtaining international private financing. Rodolfo Belloso‘s practice takes in project finance and debt restructuring. Associate Sabrina Pérez Viña is also a name to note.

Baker & McKenzie, S.C. provides services related to acquisition and project finance, as well as securitisations and structured finance, financial restructurings and regulatory issues, with the firm frequently utilising its access to a global network to assist clients with cross-border matters. The key names in the team include Eugenio Hernández-Bretón and Jesús Dávila, who jointly head the practice, and María Eugenia Salazar-Furiati; all three have experience of advising international financial institutions on complex regulatory matters. Senior associates Adriana Gonçalves and Marie Roschelle Quintero are also noted.