Mendoza, Palacios, Acedo, Borjas, Páez Pumar & Cía

Number of partners worldwide: 17
Total number of lawyers worldwide: 28

Firm Overview:
MENPA is recognised by peers, clients and key stakeholders as a leading firm in the Venezuelan legal market. As a full-service firm with over a hundred years history, it advises top national and foreign clients. It has a very strong team of attorneys with business and administration formation and experience; lawyers who have served as public servants and counsels to international organizations and corporations; members of board of directors and committees of clients and commercial chambers; law professors; human rights defenders; active arbitrators; academicians, published authors and renowned lecturers, among others. The firm is uniquely positioned to develop its clients’ interests in complex times, but also in emerging situations, since it has extensive experience in privatisation processes and major project financings in key areas such as oil, steel and telecommunications, debt restructurings, acquisitions and private equity, and corporate finance. During the last years, Menpa has also become a leading firm on emerging law issues, under the guidance of a renewed leadership. Menpa has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, with special emphasis on female talent development, and a longstanding pro-bono practice. Menpa is also recognized by its respect for legal and value mandates. The above was strengthened in 2023 by the incorporation of four new reputed partners in the Corporate and Tax areas. Overall, the team provides dynamic, strategic and sound advice, that combines strong legal knowledge with a practical approach.

Main Areas of Practice:

Banking, Corporate Financing & Insurance:
MENPA is a leading firm in this area, advising major banks and insurance companies, both foreign and national. Insurance practice, banking issues, project finance and debt restructuring are part of its strongest areas. The firm also provides day-to-day advice regarding regulatory framework, compliance issues, corporate and contractual matters, as well as litigation. MENPA is also very active regarding emerging issues, such as cryptocurrencies, fintech and international sanctions.

Corporate & Capital Markets:
MENPA assists many important international companies with their corporate needs, their activities and their subsidiaries in Venezuela. The firm’s expert advice includes aspects which range from strict corporate law, to more specialized issues such as governance and compliance. The firm assists clients in dealings with the securities authority (new products, administrative procedures, takeover defences, listing and delisting of securities, etc). Menpa designs and organises complex and efficient corporate structures.

Mergers & Acquisitions:
A top firm regarding M&As, MENPA is also the leading law firm working on private equity matters. It assists transnational corporations and private equity firms, in global and local acquisitions: from negotiating the deal to conducting the due diligence in all relevant areas (labour, contracts, insurance and banking, corporate, real estate, regulatory matters, tax, etc.), to finally structuring, implementing and documenting the transaction itself. With regard to private equity transactions, MENPA advises clients on the acquisition and its funding. It designs the structure for the investments, drafts the corresponding agreements, negotiates with investors and implements the investment itself.

Energy & Natural Resources:
The firm has a long history in this area, having advised the original oil companies in Venezuela since the beginning of the oil era. Menpa advised PDVSA and later handled the major investments in oil and energy projects (Hamaca, Petrozuata, Fertinitro, Profalca) for the bank lenders and the issuers, and assisted them up to and including the nationalisation processes. MENPA now continues its assistance regarding energy and natural resources and their financing, currently representing lenders and corporations that provide services to the national oil and electricity companies. Always looking forward, MENPA also advises on alternative energy solutions and energy transition.

Litigation & Arbitration:
The firm’s litigation department is one of the best and largest in Venezuela. It offers top legal services and absolute transparency in dealing with the authorities. This is particularly important to clients subject to extra-territorial anti-bribery laws, such as the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act. MENPA works very closely with international firms in handling important litigation for clients in Venezuela and advising on Venezuelan law regarding proceedings conducted abroad. MENPA's partners are experienced and sought-after arbitrators.

Labour:
MENPA's extensive experience in labour law and litigation differentiates the firm. It handles collective bargaining negotiations and litigation at every level. Menpa advises important Venezuelan companies and local subsidiaries of international corporations with regard to general labour policies and documentation of labour relationships, unions, issues of safety and health and work stoppages.

Public Law:
The team has extensive expertise on regulatory issues. Exchange control regulations, foreign investment protection, price controls and consumer protection, sanitary permits, and competition issues are part of MENPA'S core practice; as well as advising its clients regarding rigorously regulated areas, such as insurance, banking and finance. MENPA also assists clients in their projects with the Venezuelan state or state-owned companies. Finally, MENPA has a long history in privatisation processes.

Tax:
MENPA's tax experts give general tax assistance to local and foreign clients, concerning their exposure and the application of the Venezuelan tax regime, in order to obtain efficient tax management and avoid claims. Tax work includes planning and litigation at administrative and judicial levels, including the Supreme Tribunal.

Languages:
English, French, Italian, Spanish.

Clients:
Among the more significant clients the firm has represented in the last few years are the following: Andritz Hydro Gmbh; Alimentos Polar; Aon; Asea Brown Boveri (ABB); Banco do Brasil; Banco Nacional de Crédito; Banco Venezolano de Crédito; Banesco; Cámara de Aseguradores; Citibank, N.A.; Cemento Andino (a Grupo Argos subsidiary); DHL; Embajada de Chile and Consulado de Chile; Fidens Sociedad de Corretaje de Seguros and Grupo Fidens; Formiconi; Four Seasons Corporation; Grupo Austral; Genia Care Pharmaceutical; Grupo Bios; Grupo Orbis (formerly Grupo Mundial) and its subsidiaries Corporación Grupo Químico, Venezolana de Pinturas, Pintacasa and Química Integrada INTEQUIM; Grupo Perret; Industria Venezolana Transporte Operativo C.A.(formerly Iveco Venezuela); Laboratorios Elmor (former subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals); Lexington (AIG); Mercantil Banco Universal; Metropolitan Distributors; Merck and MSD Farmacéutica; Miranda Capital; Mudanzas Global; Munich Re and Munchener de Venezuela; Real Seguros (formerly Zurich Seguros); Shlumberger; Solsica C.A. (former Emerson Energy -now Vertiv- subsidiary, and sole distributor of Vertiv and Emerson Electric products); Telefónica and Telefónica Venezolana; The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Servicios de Venezuela; Uniglass LLC; Vocem (formerly Atento, a subsidiary of Telefónica); Voith Hydro Ltda; Zurich Insurance.

Website: www.menpa.com
Twitter: @Menpa_Abogados
Instagram: menpa_abogados