Cleary Gottlieb Named “Best Law Firm” in Latin America and Mexico by LatinFinance; Firm also Counsel in Five “Deals of the Year”

LatinFinance magazine named Cleary Gottlieb “Best Law Firm” in Latin America and in Mexico in its annual awards issue, published January 1. The firm’s Latin America practice was profiled in an accompanying article, which discusses the firm’s involvement in various “megadeals” spanning equities, M&A, restructuring and financing. Jaime El Koury, Francesca Odell, Chantal Kordula and Rich Cooper were quoted throughout. The firm’s intention to open an office in São Paulo was also mentioned.

In addition, the firm was counsel in five matters recognized by LatinFinance as “Deals of the Year.” The winning deals include Best Sovereign Bond: Republic of Chile $1.5 billion dual-currency financing (counsel to Republic of Chile); Best Corporate Bond: Southern Copper’s $1.5 billion in 10 and 30-year bonds (counsel to the underwriters); Best Primary Equity Issue: Grupo Comercial Chedraui (counsel to issuer; Mexico’s first IPO since June 2008); Best Follow-On Equity: Petrobras (counsel to issuer; expected to be the largest equity offering ever); and Best Corporate Liability Management: Fibria (counsel to the existing creditor group that permitted the refinancing of Fibria’s debt).

The firm will accept its awards at a dinner that will be held in New York on January 20.

Published monthly, LatinFinance is a magazine that has been covering business, finance, cross-border investment and capital markets in Latin America for two decades. It is a highly respected source on debt, equity, structured finance, syndicated loans, private equity and M&A, as well as multilateral financing, people moves and secondary trading in Latin America.