Firm Profile

Ayala, Dillon, Fernández Chavero

Latin America Guide 2024

Ranked departments
Ranked lawyers
Latin America

Ayala, Dillon, Fernández Chavero

Contact number

+58 212 952 8448

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About

Provided by Ayala, Dillon, Fernández Chavero
Latin America
Partners: Carlos Ayala Corao, Desmond Dillon Mc Loughlin, Gerardo Fernandez Villegas, Rafael Chavero Gazdik, José Annicchiarico Villagrán
Senior Associates: Marianella Villegas Salazar, Reinaldo Guilarte Lamuño, Bernardo Pulido Marquez
Number of lawyers: 10

Areas of Practice:
Constitutional, Administrative & Public Law
.....................................25%
Corporate, Business Planning & International Transactions ....25%
International Human Rights Law .............................................................25%
Litigation, Dispute Resolution & Arbitration.....................................10%
Labour
........................................................................................................................10%
Other
............................................................................................................................5%

THE FIRM: The firm combines the experience over 20 years of a professional team which has successfully evolved in areas of constitutional, public, private and international law. All partners have completed Master’s degrees in recognised universities in the US and Europe. Most of the members are part time university professors and have worked for international organisations, as well as with law firms and companies in the US and are bilingual, specifically English and French. Clients include a variety of international and local corporations, governmental bodies and entities, financial institutions local investors and individuals. The firm is set up by areas of expertise, coordinated by one or more partners and prepared to provide sound and timely advice to accompany and support the clients and their business objectives. The firm has a strong commitment towards values, social responsibility as well as pro bono work for the needed.
MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Public, Constitutional & Administrative Law: The team has extensive experience in public law with members specialised in urban law, public works, bid tenders, privatisations, takings, environmental law, the municipal system and regulatory aspects of the public sector. The firm has provided numerous local and international companies with consulting services regarding their relationships with government agencies, specifically the firm has ample experience before the banking regulatory agency (“SUDEBAN”), the Fair Price Superintendence (SUNDDE) and in the recent past with the now abolished local consumer protection agency (“INDEPABIS”). The firm also has extended experience in assisting clients in restructuring and reorganisation processes for preparation and protection of confiscations and nationalisation actions by the government. The firm has broad experience in filing constitutional injunctions (amparo); writs of certiorari; actions of unconstitutionality; appeals for interpretation, and other resorts of protection under the Constitution.

Corporate: The firm is specialised and experienced in corporate law and provide services tailored to the business needs of clients, beginning with the incorporation of corporative entities company, complemented by constant advice of activities and the handling of investments. The firm has participated intensively in acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, due diligence processes, company reorganisation, EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) and other mayor infrastructure contracts, cross border transactions, as well as advice in all aspects of business, financial, foreign exchange, tax, insurance and labour law. Separately or jointly, the members have advised numerous national and international private and public sector companies in business and financial negotiations, contracts and legal audits.

International Human Rights Law: The firm has an extensive experience in international law relative to human rights and the defense of fundamental rights before the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Litigation: The firm represents clients in civil, commercial and labour litigation before Venezuelan courts in cases involving civil and commercial contracts, divorce and estate proceedings and has experience in multijurisdictional litigation actions.

Arbitration:
The firm participates in commercial arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings in Venezuela and abroad, including experience in procedures of international arbitration for the protection of investments as expert witnesses (ICSID and other bodies) and in litigation before the Andean Community of Nations.

Labour Law & Social Security: The firm provides services to its clients to set up strategies for their employment and union relations. The firm can handle all labour law issues, including representation before Labour Inspector’s Offices dismissal qualifications (fair and unfair) calculation of labour benefits and all legal claims at all instances before labour courts. Also, the firm has likewise participated in different processes geared to labour restructuring of personnel, change of work conditions and collective labour agreements, and provide services in all social security areas.

Energy/Natural Resources/Mining: The firm has experience in energy, oil and mining law, including the reverse takeover that lead a major mining company to the TSX, the acquisition of the Venezuelan operation of an important mining operator and participated in the formation of the first 50-50 joint venture corporation with the Venezuelan Government.

Environmental:
The firm has experience in assisting clients with regulatory issues and audits and due diligence regarding compliance with environmental regulations.

Other: The firm has also experience in matters related to taxation, tourism, aviation, housing, telecommunications, gaming, asset protection and estate planning, competition/antitrust and antidumping protection, restructuring finance, insurance, franchising, entertainment and sports law and corporate governance.

INTERNATIONAL WORK: The firm is well versed in international human rights law before the UN bodies and the OAS organs of protection (Inter- American Human Rights Commission and the Inter-American Human Rights Court) through individual petitions, urgent actions questionnaires and other modalities as well as through provisional measures. The firm also represents clients in mergers and acquisitions involving cross border and multijurisdictional transactions as well as litigation actions. The firm maintains permanent relations with mayor US, British, European and Latin American law firms and assist all their legal needs in Venezuela.

Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish.

Ranked Offices

Provided by Ayala, Dillon, Fernández Chavero

Venezuela - Head office

Ayala, Dillon, Fernández Chavero rankings

Latin America Guide 2024
Venezuela
Public Law
1 Department
3 Ranked Lawyers
Department
2
Public Law
2
Band 2
Lawyers
1
Carlos Ayala
1
Band 1
2
Rafael Chavero Gazdik
2
Band 2
3
Gerardo Fernández
3
Band 3