Chambers Virtual Forum - ESG in Latin America: Legal Trends, Opportunities and Challenges
About this webinar
Chambers is pleased to present Chambers Virtual Forum – ESG in Latin America: Legal Trends, Opportunities and Challenges, which will take place via Zoom.
ESG issues are critical tools for sustainable long-term value creation at corporations. All corporations will find increasingly challenging to sustain long-term growth without considering ESG issues. Corporations must address the impact of their strategies on climate change, environment, or on communities throughout their supply chains. Financial entities, private equity funds and asset managers must consider ESG factors in their funding and investments. Risk assessment, measuring and disclosing specific metrics are becoming either standard or mandatory in many jurisdictions to enable comparisons and performance in ESG issues. This webinar will analyse the impact of ESG in Latin America over four sessions and a Q&A.
Event Details:
2:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Jonathan Block, Latin America Research Director
Jonathan joined Chambers in 2015 as a Researcher on the Latin America team before being promoted to Senior Researcher, Assistant Editor and finally Deputy Editor in charge of Mexico, Central America and Latin America-wide. He has previously completed work experiences in the legal and real estate sectors. Jonathan graduated in Politics from the University of Nottingham and has completed postgraduate studies in Law. He is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational French and Hebrew.
Alejandro Isaac, Partner, Finance and Capital Markets at Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.
Alejandro Isaac is a partner at Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez where he specializes in Banking and Finance, Restructuring and all type of lending matters. He represents national and international financial institutions (including several major local and international banks), as well as institutional borrowers (including numerous private equity funds), in a wide range of secured and unsecured financings in various industries. Mr. Isaac’s experience includes commercial financings, acquisition financings, real estate financings, infrastructure project financings and general project financings. Alejandro has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in the areas of banking and finance by The Legal 500. And in terms of publications, he co-authored the piece “Investment in Mexico: Changes in Investor Preference, Loan Standardization and Documentation, and Bankruptcy Laws Create the Opportunity for Term Loan B Issuances and Other New Investment Products in Mexico” from the International Law Quarterly published in “Insolvency and Corporate Reorganization” (2016).
Ana Karen Mora, Head of ESG for FIBRA UNO
Director of sustainability at Fibra Uno and Fundación FUNO; Chair of the ESG Committee at the Urban Land Institute and of the sustainability committee at the Mexican Association of Fibras and the Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks. She participated in the development of the first sustainability-linked credit in Latin America, as well as in the structuring of conservation plans for mangroves in Japan and the Philippines, as well as in other research studies on eco-feminism and sustainable agriculture in India. She holds a master's degree in environmental governance from the United Nations University in Tokyo and a specialization in sustainable finance from Oxford University. She is an International Relations graduate from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico.
Carlos de Icaza, Partner, Real Estate and Environment at Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.
Carlos de Icaza is a partner at Creel, García–Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, where he coordinates the Real Estate and Environmental law practice groups. For over 20 years, Carlos has worked on the most innovative and complex real estate transactions and has represented major industrial groups, real estate investment trusts, development companies and private equity funds, involved in the industrial, tourism, retail, and housing sectors. On the Environmental side, he advises clients in a wide scope of regulatory, arbitration, litigation and transactional matters throughout Mexico. Carlos is currently the District Council Chair of the Urban Land Institute for Mexico for the period July 2020-June 2023. He is a frequent speaker on real estate, environmental and ESG matters and has authored several articles thereon. He has been ranked as Band 1, Tier 1 or equivalent by various global legal guides and rankings and has taught Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM).
Mariuz Calvet, Head of Sustainable Finance for Mexico and Latin America for HSBC
Mariuz Calvet has a law degree from Universidad Anáhuac México and a degree in International Relations from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She also holds a Master's degree in Latin American Studies obtained with a CONACYT scholarship in the United States. Her professional career includes more than 16 years in Corporate Sustainability, specializing in the financial sector. She acted as Vice President of Sustainability at Citibanamex, Executive Director of Sustainability and Responsible Investment at Grupo Financiero Banorte and currently works as Director of Sustainable Finance for Mexico and Latin America at HSBC. She chaired the ESG Committee of the Mexican Stock Exchange and is a board member of a large number of organizations related to sustainability and sustainable finance issues. She was part of the Founders Group of the Principles for Responsible Banking and part of the LATAM Committee of the Principles for Responsible Investment, both from the UN.
Mercedes Haddad, Partner, Finance and Capital Markets at Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.
Mercedes Haddad is a partner at Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez and focuses her practice on capital markets and banking and finance law. She is member of the Board of Directors, heads the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and acts as Ombudsperson. Mercedes has been involved in some of the most innovative Capital Markets and Banking and Finance transactions in Mexico. She represents foreign and domestic financial institutions, borrowers, underwriters, issuers, multilateral development banks, and private equity funds in Capital Markets transactions, structured finance (including secured and unsecured financing, commercial financing, acquisition financing and real estate financing), asset securitizations and derivative transactions. Mercedes is recognized as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking and Finance by prestigious publications such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and IFLR1000. She has also been distinguished as LACCA approved by the Latin America Corporate Counsel Association.
Valentina Villa, Counsel and Director of Social Responsibility at Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.
Valentina Villa's is Counsel and Director of Social Responsibility at Creel, García-Cuellar, Aiza y Enríquez; her practice focuses on real estate, M&A, and banking and finance. Valentina has experience in complex real estate transactions and due to her representation of public funds and international experience, Valentina has earned valuable knowledge on successfully negotiating FCPA, ERISA, OFAC, among other relevant regulatory matters for transnational clients. As part of her leadership in Social Responsibility, our Firm’s policies have been reformed to meet international best practices and comply with the local regulatory framework, she has also established a program of awareness workshops on Organizational Diverse Culture and Regulatory Framework. Valentina is Board Member of Appleseed and its Gender Equality Committee and, in addition, she is Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of the Urban Land Institute for LatAm, where she promotes accessibility and better cities for all.
Eduardo Rodríguez-Rovira, Partner, Head of Latin American Practice, Uría Menéndez
Eduardo Rodríguez-Rovira holds degrees in law (1988) and business economics (1989). He also has a Licence spéciale in European Law from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (1990). He joined Uría Menéndez in 1990 and is a partner since 2000. He is the head of the Latin American practice group. He was seconded for almost three years (2001-2003) to the Buenos Aires office. Eduardo has over 30 years of experience advising clients in commercial law matters, with special focus on the finance, tourism, and hotel industry sectors. He usually advises European companies in transactions in Latin America and Latin American companies conducting business in Europe.
Hernando Padilla, Partner, Finance, Corporate and M&A, PPU Colombia
Partner at PPU with a practice that focuses on matters related to Finance of Capital Markets and Corporate/M&A. Mr. Padilla represents a variety of local and foreign clients in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, private equity and other corporate matters in Colombia and the United States. Among many others, he has represented Platinum Equity Partners, Tecnoglass, Grupo Energía de Bogotá and General Atlantic. Mr. Padilla is also a member of the Finance Practice where he has advised international underwriters in multiple bond issues including TPL, BBVA, Promigas and Ecopetrol as well as sponsors and financial institutions in the financing of 4G road projects. Mr. Padilla has a Law Degree from Universidad de Los Andes (1997) and a Postgraduate Degree in International Corporate Law from the same institution (1997). In addition, he has an LL.M. from Northwestern University School of Law (1999) and a Certificate of Management from Kellogg School of Management (1999). Mr. Padilla is licensed to practice law in Colombia and the State of New York.
Jerónimo Carcelén, Partner, Mining, Environment and Sustainable Development, PPU Chile
Lawyer admitted to practice in Chile and Ecuador, his practice focuses in legal advice to governments and multilateral entities on their mining public policy and legal frameworks, and to private companies on matters dealing with mining investments, acquisition of mining projects, mining-related dispute resolution and arbitration. He has participated in the negotiation of contracts between mining companies and host-States; in international investment arbitrations; and in drafting public policies and legal and regulatory frameworks for mining in more than 15 countries. Mr. Carcelén is in the board of directors of Casa de la Paz, the foremost Chilean NGO promoting dialogue, participation and environmental education; in this capacity, he has participated in the jurisprudential study to update participation standards for energy projects, and in promoting business and human rights standards. Currently, Mr. Carcelén is pursuing a PhD in Law at the University of Western Ontario, where he investigates about Mining Development Agreements.
Rafael Lengua, Partner, Mining, Environment and Sustainable Development, PPU Peru
Admitted to practice in Peru and New York. LL.M. at Columbia Law School (James Kent Scholar). Head of PPU’s Mining, Energy and Environmental Department in Peru, with broad experience on mining, environmental, energy, corporate, M&A and financial transactions. Has worked at Cleary Gottlieb in New York and Sao Paulo and been General Counsel of Minera Miski Mayo (a former JV among Vale, Mosaic and Mitsui) and advisor to the President of the Council of Ministers of Peru. Is a current member of the Entrepreneurs Advisory Committee "Hambre Cero" of the World Food Programme. His practice focuses in providing legal and strategic advice to mining and energy companies and financial institutions and funds on their investments, transactions, projects, operations, and disputes in Peru.
Bernardo Andrews, Chief Executive Officer, Genneia (largest renewable generator in Argentina)
Bernardo holds a master’s degree in economics from UTDT in Argentina. Previously studied economics in Universidad de Buenos Aires, for which he holds a degree in Economics. He has been the CEO of Genneia since 2021 and was appointed CFO of the company after 5 years. Genneia is a leader in renewable power generation in Argentina. Bernardo is professor of Project Finance for the master’s degree in Finance, in Torcuato Di Tella University (UTDT). Previously, Bernardo was Director of Finance in Corporación América, and CFO of CGC, the energy Branch. For eleven years, he developed a career at Engie (former GDF Suez) acting as Portfolio Manager, Finance Director, Regional CFO and Regional Head of Corporate Finance. Earlier, Bernardo held various roles at Enron Corporation.
Javier Rodríguez Galli, Partner, Oil and Gas / Energy Transition at Bruchou & Funes de Rioja
Javier Rodriguez Galli has been a legal reference for the energy sector in the oil and gas field for more than 30 years with a large experience in corporate governance matters, transactional work, and regulatory advice. In more recent years, following the path of oil and gas clients and their needs to reduce their carbon footprint, he has become legal and regulatory advisor on energy transition strategies, including the shift to cleaner energy sources, emissions reduction, and carbon offsetting.
José Bazán, Partner, Banking and Capital Markets/Green Financing at Bruchou & Funes de Rioja
José Bazán has developed his entire career at the Firm as a member of the Firm’s Banking & Finance team. In June 2020, José was elected member of the Executive Committee of Bruchou & Funes de Rioja. In his daily practice, he advises banks, private equity funds and corporations in local and international banking and capital markets transactions. He has participated in a significant number of transactions involving securities and regulatory matters and has vast experience in green financing.
Pablo Crimer, Senior Associate, Environmental / ESG at Bruchou & Funes de Rioja
Pablo Crimer is a senior associate of the Environmental Law Department at Bruchou & Funes de Rioja with in-depth experience on a wide scope of ESG matters of varied industries. He has 15 years’ experience providing legal advice on environmental, social and sustainability matters to corporations. He focuses on environmental liability, ESG, climate change, compliance, permitting, litigation, public policy, amongst others. His recent work features advice on stakeholder engagement, indigenous people consultation, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, regulatory advocacy, supply chain ESG due diligence, climate, and emissions reduction projects, amongst others.
Pablo Vera Pinto, Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder, Vista Energy (second largest shale oil producer in Argentina / to become net zero by 2026)
Pablo Vera Pinto is co-founder and CFO of Vista, a leading company in the development of Vaca Muerta created in 2017. Previously, he held the position of Director of Business Development at YPF Argentina during the period from October 2012 to February 2017. Prior to this, he served as Director of Transformation at YPF from May 2012 to September of the same year. During his time at YPF, he led the execution of more than 20 transactions for the sale of companies, assets and joint ventures with international partners for the development of Vaca Muerta.He was a member of the board of directors of the fertilizer company Profertil (a partnership between Agrium of Canada and YPF), of the electricity generating company Central Dock Sud S.A. (a partnership between Italy's Enel, YPF and Panamerican Energy) and the gas distribution company Metrogas S.A. (controlled by YPF and acquired from British Gas in 2012).Previously, he was a member of a private investment group focused on restructuring, where he gained experience in operational and financial management as Restructuring Manager, Finance Director and General Director of the companies controlled by the group. Also, he worked in strategic consulting at McKinsey & Company in Europe, and in investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston.He is an Economist from the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in Buenos Aires and has an MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.
Chambers Events sponsorship opportunities
For any queries relating to the sponsorship opportunities, or to secure your preferred session, please contact our Business Development Manager
Contact Us