BKM | Berkemeyer has continued to build on its antitrust practice, led by Carla Sosa and Manuel Arias, taking on a number of new clients recently, including Banco Continental. The firm handles a wide range of matters for both national and international clients, including merger control filings, claims of anticompetitive conducts and consultations on antitrust issues. The firm has been involved in many cases that have been processed before Conacom. Along with Sosa and Arias, the team is led by figurehead Hugo Berkemeyer. At the associate level, Andres Nasser, Alvaro Rojas, Manfredo Ramirez and Leyla Apud are active members of the team.
Competition and antitrust in Paraguay
BKM | Berkemeyer
Responsables de la pratique:
Hugo Berkemeyer; Carla Sosa; Manuel Arias
Les références
‘BKM compares very favorably with the rest of the other firms. Very high level.’
‘Experience and training are the elements that make them stand out.’
‘BKM is singled out from its peers in Paraguay by mastering antitrust/competition legal framework in a jurisdiction where antitrust enforcement is still incipient.’
Principaux clients
Traton
Banco Continental
Raízen
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Raízen on the merger filing process before Conacom, following its acquisition of a 50% stake in Barcos & Rodados.
- Advised Prosegur after the competition authority accused it of failing to comply with its obligations during a merger filing process.
- Advised Çimsa on its merger filing process before Conacom following its acquisition of Cemex’s white cement business outside of Mexico and the US.
Ferrere
Ferrere has a specialised practice dedicated to antitrust law, with a team that handles complex investigations on anticompetitive conduct. The firm has extensive experience in competition law, advising clients on anticompetitive practices and on best practices in their day-to-day business. The group advises multinational, regional and local clients on the full range of practice-related matters, including merger control. The team also includes economists who specialise in antitrust law. Verónica Franco has developed and led the competition practice since 2017, when the first merger control notification was made in Paraguay. Associate Fernanda Benítez advises local and international clients on both concentration operations and the mitigation of anticompetitive practices.
Responsables de la pratique:
Verónica Franco
Les références
‘Excellent quality, very superlative compared to other offices in the country.’
‘Verónica Franco is an excellent lawyer.’
Principaux clients
Hidrovias do Brasil
Itaú
Cervepar (Anheuser Busch-Inbev)
ADM
BASF
ICG Strategic Equity Fund III-A
Credicentro
Leoni
Bimbo
Grupo Vazquez
Syngenta
Adama Agriculture
Beiersdorf
Roche
Cargill
J&F Investimentos
Principaux dossiers
- Advised J&F Investimentos on obtaining merger control clearance related to its acquisition of Vale’s local entity, Transbarge Navegaciones.
- Advised Grupo Vázquez on merger control clearance related to the acquisition of local company J. Fleischman.
Vouga Abogados
The competition and antitrust team at Vouga Abogados continues to benefit from the experience and expertise of senior associate Cecilia Vera, a specialist in competition law since its enactment in Paraguay. The firm is involved in significant transactions in the Paraguayan market, including merger notifications and approval processes involving Conacom. The team is led by Rodrigo Fernández, who has experience in a range of areas related to competition law, and handles merger filings and the negotiation of conditions with, and representation of clients before the authority. Rodolfo Guillermo Vouga's significant experience includes the representation of clients in asset acquisitions. Associate Luis Torales offers advice on competition law with a focus on the telecoms and pharmaceuticals sectors.
Responsables de la pratique:
Rodrigo Fernández
Les références
‘Vouga’s business language is characterised by its ability to convey complex legal issues in simple terms. The firm is always quick to adapt to new legal landscapes in our ever-changing commercial projects, always keeping in mind our ethos and the necessities of our business and our stakeholders with practical solutions, transparent billing, and quick turn-around.’
‘Rodrigo Fernández is a stand-out from the firm and is always available, with a deep understanding of our commercial operation and an extensive knowledge of Paraguayan’s legislation and jurisprudence, which lead to practical and cost-efficient solutions. Rodrigo immerses in the necessities of our company and communicates in an easily applicable business-oriented language.’
‘They have facilitated the relationship and raised their discrepancies, always showing themselves willing to exploit the most diverse solutions to the problems raised by the application authority.’
Principaux clients
Paraguay Energy Operaciones y Logistica SRL (Paraguay Energy)
Paresa (Coca-Cola)
Corporación Paraguaya Distribuidora de Derivados de Petróleo S.A. (Copetrol)
British-American Tobacco
Principaux dossiers
- Representing Copetrol, a leading local player with nationwide presence, in investigations proceedings brought by competition authority.
- Advised a major local subsidiary in the analysis, from the competition perspective, of a new law regulating the use of recycled plastics.
- Advised in an unprecedented, major logistic cooperation agreement between two local subsidiaries of large multinationals.
Mersán Abogados
The competition and antitrust team at Mersán Abogados represents national, international and multinational clients. The firm offers advice on anti-competitive behaviour and practices, concentration operations and matters of regulation related to antitrust law. Diego Zavala Serrati and Tomás Mersán lead the team, with support from associate Federico Martinez.
Responsables de la pratique:
Diego Zavala Serrati; Tomás Mersán
Principaux clients
Maersk Line
AMX Paraguay
Ball Corporation