Cleary Gottlieb Named to 2027 Latin Lawyer 250 International Elite

Cleary Gottlieb has once again been named to the “International Elite” in the 2027 edition of the Latin Lawyer 250, which recognizes the international firms operating at the very top of the region’s legal market — a distinction the firm has held every year since the category was introduced.

Latin Lawyer’s profile of the firm notes that Cleary’s “Elite standing in the region is best understood through decades of landmark achievements on behalf of corporations, banks, and sovereigns alike, as well as its deal volume and consistent involvement in the market’s most significant transactions.”

The firm has been recognized for its elite services in the following practice areas:

• Anti-Corruption Investigations and Compliance: “Cleary is widely regarded across Latin America and internationally for its leading white-collar defense, enforcement, and investigations practice.”
• Arbitration: “Cleary’s disputes team has broad experience in commercial, investor-state and inter-state arbitration before leading tribunals, acting on complex energy, mining, infrastructure, and telecommunications disputes.”
• Banking and Finance: “Cleary leads the way when it comes to the number of clients among the region’s 100 largest banks. With 37 of them on its books, it is the most popular international firm among these clients.”
• Capital Markets: “Cleary is a cut above the rest when it comes to capital markets, and it is a practice it continues to invest in through organic growth. It wins an important – if not the lion’s share – of work in all the region’s main markets.”
• Corporate and M&A: “Cleary’s prominent corporate and M&A team routinely assists clients who are seeking to make cross-border acquisitions, enter joint ventures, or make other investments and divestments in Latin America.”
• Environmental, Social, and Governance: “Building on its excellent capital markets and finance reputation in Latin America, Cleary was an early starter on sustainable debt offerings and loan transactions for many of the region’s largest corporations and banks.”
• Litigation: “Cleary has deep experience in complex cross-border litigation and arbitration, underpinned by longstanding relationships with Latin American sovereigns.”
• Private Equity: “Cleary largely concentrates on transactional work with private equity clients, working for investors buying assets in the region and advising target companies.”
• Project Finance and Infrastructure: “Cleary has a well-established and growing presence in project finance. The firm draws on its broad transactional supremacy to deliver a solid project finance offering.”
• Restructuring and Insolvency: “Cleary’s top-tier bankruptcy and restructuring practice group advises clients on a high volume of high-profile matters, including cases and transactions involving novel structures, landmark decisions, and legal and business ‘firsts.’”

Notably, Cleary earned more elite practice area recommendations than nearly any other firm ranked, underscoring the sheer breadth of the firm’s regional capability.

Cleary’s Energy practice also stands out as a key sector, built on longstanding relationships with state-owned entities like Petrobras, Pemex, CFE, ENAP, and YPF, alongside a strong presence in transportation, retail, infrastructure, consumer goods, financial services, telecom, and healthcare.

The Latin Lawyer 250 reviews the leading Latin American law firms (and international firms operating in the region) by drawing upon decades-long research, a deep understanding of the market, and feedback from corporate counsel.

Learn more about Cleary’s rankings (subscription required).