Firms To Watch: Labour and employment

The raising of labour and migratory specialist Mercedes Nin to the partnership at Bragard Abogados marks the firm out as one-to-watch in the labour and employment sector. The practice handles the full range of labour matters, both collective and individual, with Nin demonstrating a particular strength in contentious matters.

Labour and employment in Uruguay

Ferrere

The large team at Ferrere is among the strongest choices in Uruguay’s labour and employment space, and exhibits ‘solid knowledge and capabilities, availability and reliability’. Its specialists participate in some of the market’s most complex and high-profile labour litigation cases, as well as dealing with non-contentious labour matters such as advising on due diligence, collective bargaining and negotiations with unions and the government, and internal compliance and in-house training courses. Clients work in such diverse sectors as banking, logistics, energy, technology, retail and agribusiness. Standout work highlights include assessing Finnish company UPM in all labour matters associated with the construction of its new pulp mill, including ensuring compliance with social security and health and safety standards for construction workers; and handling negotiations with the Uruguayan Medical Union (SMU) on behalf of Camsu. Leading figure Verónica Raffo co-heads the practice, along with expert litigator Nelson Larrañaga; and Alberto Baroffio, who is active in collective bargaining matters relating to the construction, energy and finance sectors. At associate level, the key contacts are Giselle Cardoso, Florencia Fitipaldo and Alejandra Añón.

Responsables de la pratique:

Verónica Raffo; Alberto Baroffio; Nelson Larrañaga


Les références

‘The team members collaborate well with each other.’

‘Verónica Raffo, Alberto Brause, Cristina Muñoz and Martín Cerruti display strong knowledge, availability, technical reports and reliability.’

‘Excellent team.’

Principaux clients

Uber


Mercado Libre


Globant


Nestlé


Abbott Laboratories


Sabre


Katoen Natie


Enercon


H&M


JC Decaux


Genia (Dasa Group)


Banco Nación


Despegar


Orpea


Casmu


Globalization partners


Velocity


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Riogas on day-to-day labour issues, including collective negotiations and individual relations with its workers.
  • Assisted Genia Laboratory with a recategorisation of its  payroll in order to be aligned with health industry requirements.
  • Assisted Terminal Cuenca del Plata with its negotiations with the government and union.

Guyer & Regules

Guyer & Regules‘s labour team carries out the range of non-contentious employment work, as well as related litigation. The group’s core experience includes representing financial entities in collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the banking union and the Uruguayan government. Domestic and international clients belonging to the FMCG, retail, insurance and luxury goods sectors also feature heavily on its client roster, and appreciate the lawyers’s ‘knowledge of the corporate practice of international companies’. The department’s robust advisory offering encompasses the drafting of employment contracts, assisting with terminations and carrying out internal audits, as well as data privacy matters. Leonardo Slinger heads the practice and specialises in labour lawsuits and union conflicts – he is singled out for his ‘level-headedness, vast knowledge and experience’; of counsel María José Poey handles labour advisory and social security work for local and foreign companies. At senior associate level, Santiago Madalena (labour advice on mobbing and workplace harassment, M&A) and Daniela Risso (labour audits and workplace training on health and safety) provide key support. Since publication, Madalena has been promoted to the partnership - effective as January 2024.

Responsables de la pratique:

Leonardo Slinger


Les références

‘The team is technically solid with good knowledge of the corporate practice of international companies.’

‘The perfect combination of in-depth legal knowledge and practical experience in the matters. Leonardo Slinger is undoubtedly a key figure – he exhibits level-headedness, vast knowledge and experience.’

‘Excellent availability, knowledge of the practice area, rapid responses, practicality.’

Principaux clients

Citibank


Itau


Sura


Unilever


Divino


Mapfre


Trafigura


E D F Man Braux


Oracle


Grupo Schandy


Goldman Sachs – Tienda Inglesa – Julius Baer


Private Banks Association of Uruguay (ABPU)


Danone


Bollore


Asapp


Ocean Network


Allaxis


Magna Motors


Banco de Valores


Natixis


Omya


Jam City


TCS Consultancy


Cencosud


Frigorífico Carrasco


Porto Seguro Seguros


Cemento Artigas


Amazon


Marco Financial


Grupo Piero


Wabi Pay


Perficient


Rolex


Remote


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisted the World Bank with its overview assessment of Uruguay by identifying discrepancies with standards and recommending solutions.
  • Advised Amazon Web Services on setting up its business in Uruguay, handling employment contracts, benefits, job conditions, data privacy and terminations.
  • Assisted Punktal with a former employee’s claim alleging unfair dismissal, mobbing and unregistered salaries.

Hughes & Hughes

The team at Hughes & Hughes is a strong choice for labour and employment matters, commended as ‘excellent professionals with first-class technical skill’. It is sought out by start-ups, as well as longstanding corporations including Adidas, Siemens and Pernod Ricard, for its expertise on complex negotiations with unions, collective bargaining agreements and labour litigation. Enrique Radmilovich leads the practice and is experienced in litigation and labour negotiations, frequently advising companies in the forestry, hotel, food and chemical industries. At associate level, María Durán participates in collective negotiation and in the prevention and settlement of individual conflicts; María Noel Sayanes is well-versed in litigation; and Rafael Sanguinetti assists on all matters. The group was strengthened with the November 2022 hire of associate Camila de la Vega from Tibor Deutsch & Asociados.

Responsables de la pratique:

Enrique Radmilovich


Les références

‘The multidisciplinary and dedicated team is made up of excellent professionals and provides first class technical attention.’

‘The work of the team’s members is very well-coordinated.’

‘A very professional team with a quick response time; they work with commitment and speed to solve the issues that are raised.’

Principaux clients

UPM – Forestal Oriental


Lojas Renner Uruguay


Baluma (Enjoy Hotel & Casino Punta del Este)


Adidas


Siemens


Air Liquide


Pinturas Inca (Akzonobel)


Dirox


SC Johnson & Son


Adecco


Camposol


Yazaki


Akuo Energy


Moviport


Novartis


Cardiomovil


Grupo San Miguel


Metronics Logistics


Transcanada Pipelines


Pernod Ricard


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised UPM on collective negotiations with its union and executed a collective bargaining agreement.
  • Assisted Grupo San Miguel with union negotiations.
  • Assisted Air Liquide Uruguay with union negotiations.

Posadas

The practice at Posadas assists with labour due diligence, terminations and reorganisations, the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and the management of relationships with trade unions. In addition, the team is skilled at drafting employment contracts and benefits packages, overseeing hiring processes and handling immigration and social security issues. Clients include domestic companies and foreign multinationals that work in retail, aviation, manufacturing, technology and logistics. Non-contentious advisory work is the specialism of practice head Mariana Fernández, and senior counsel Alejandro Castello negotiates employment conditions and manages relationships with unions. At senior associate level, Gonzalo Gari and Maria Florencia Novaretto handle litigation and assist with collective bargaining negotiations.

Responsables de la pratique:

Mariana Fernández


Les références

‘The level of service and attention to the client’s needs stands out above many other legal services that I have had with other companies.’

‘They are always attentive to our needs, and with a knowledge of what they are talking about that makes it a pleasure to listen to them.’

‘It is a very good firm, with quick responses and adapted to the reality of the business.’

Principaux clients

Aerolineas Argentinas


Ford Uruguay


Frog Stores


Tramontina Comercialización y Representaciones Uruguay


Cargill Uruguay


Pedidos Ya


Situal


Huawei Technologies


Axionlog Uruguay


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented Aerolineas Argentinas in 15 judicial claims brought against former employees of the former handling service company Sofivial.
  • Advised Ford on the installation of its office in Uruguay.
  • Assisted Tramontina with labour and social security matters pertaining to its installation in Uruguay.

Castellan Abogados

The labour practice at Castellan Abogados is highly valued for the 'experience and in-depth knowledge they possess in all areas of employment law’. The team focuses on preventative work, drafting disciplinary guidelines and contracts and carrying out internal labour audits for a balance of local and international corporations from diverse sectors such as construction, manufacturing, automotive, communications and healthcare. The ‘excellentMariana Casella leads the practice and has strong experience advising companies from the metallurgical and construction industries, providing consultancy services and representing clients in court. Associate Macarena López focuses her practice on collective and individual labour law matters, specialising in contentious and administrative litigation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Mariana Casella


Les références

‘Responsibility, willingness and interest in every case.’

‘What truly makes Castellán attorneys stand out is their deep commitment to their clients. Their level of experience and knowledge of our industry is outstanding, which gives us great confidence in his ability to resolve any legal situation we face. Compared to other studios, they stand out for their personalized and thorough advice. In addition, their outstanding qualities include an exceptional ability to analyze and understand the most complex details of our company and industry, as well as an ability to find creative and effective solutions.’

‘Mariana Casella has shown exceptional commitment to the company, providing expert legal advice and ongoing support.’

Principaux clients

Royal IHC


Kia Motors Uruguay


GrandVision Uruguay


Las Acacias


Club Urunday


Europartners


Maxion Montich Uruguay


Carmen Steffens


Fischer Montajes


Germe / Pimentón


Club de Golf del Uruguay


Alva Creative House


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisted Las Acacias with labour due diligence regarding its acquisition by the Brazilian food manufacturer M. Dias Branco.
  • Assisted Club de Golf del Uruguay with multiple labour lawsuits following the termination of its contract with a bankrupt supplier.
  • Assisted a Uruguayan textile company with its union negotiations.

Dentons Jiménez de Aréchaga

The ‘excellent multidisciplinary team' at Dentons Jiménez de Aréchaga handles employment and benefits-related litigation and collective bargaining matters on behalf of multinational corporations, and also carries out corporate and governmental investigations. The firm’s strong offering across other practice areas in Uruguay and its international presence enable it to handle cases seamlessly for international clients. Practice co-head Diego Viana specialises in litigation and collective bargaining matters. Alongside him, Ignacio Demarco advises companies in labour disputes and audits, reorganisations, negotiations with unions and social security matters. Senior associate Mateo Robledo has his strengths in labour litigation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Diego Viana; Ignacio Demarco


Les références

‘Excellent multidisciplinary team that keeps the client informed of all developments.’

‘Ignacio Demarco is always attentive and available.’

‘The response is excellent, when the assigned lawyer is not there, another one immediately attends you and cares about your situation. The advice is relentless, and there is follow-up on the issues, something that many times in other places comes to nothing. The administrative part is very clear and simple.’

Principaux clients

Retop


Marfrig


Codere Group


Candysur


Banco Santander


Viscofan


Socur


Uruguayan Association of Wholesale Importers


Sportradar


CAE


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised CAE on its acquisition of Sabre’s airline operations portfolio.
  • Assisted Cipriani Group with due diligence relating to the reconstruction of the San Rafael Hotel.
  • Represented Banco Santander in a labour complaint filed by a former executive regarding his dismissal for misconduct.

Arcia Storace Fuentes Medina Abogados

The team at Arcia Storace Fuentes Medina Abogados handles the key labour issues and has particular skill in collective bargaining, health and safety issues, due diligence and disputes. Dolores Storace is the main contact and is recognised for her handling of both contentious and advisory issues. Carolina Sarroca is the name to note at associate level.

Principaux dossiers


Bergstein Abogados

Bergstein Abogados‘s labour group is best known for its counsel on contentious dismissals, particularly for senior staff. Leonardo Melos specialises in litigation and is the name to note for labour disputes and union negotiations. Alongside him, associate Mariana Pisón‘s expertise covers labour litigation, collective bargaining, social security, and industrial and commercial safety and hygiene. Junior associate Rodrigo Felló provides practice-wide support.

Principaux dossiers


Brum Costa Abogados

The scope of the work carried out by the labour and employment practice at Brum Costa Abogados encompasses preventative and advisory matters, collective bargaining and litigation. Corporations from the food, renewables, automobile, logistics and agribusiness sectors are mainstays on its client roster. Gustavo Gauthier steers the group and is experienced at carrying out negotiations with unions, as well as the range of preventative labour work; head associate Nicolás Gómez specialises in litigation.

Responsables de la pratique:

Gustavo Gauthier; Nicolás Gómez


Principaux clients

Lifan Motors


Saman


Faurecia


Alur


Ducsa


Fotmer Life Sciences


SGS


Forestier Pose


Arrozur


Galofer


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisted Lifan Motors with a lawsuit brought by a former employee seeking financial compensation.
  • Assisted Fundación Iberoamericana with a lawsuit brought by a former employee claiming unfair dismissal.
  • Assisted a former employee of Casmu with her claim to compensation for dismissal.