Paul Hastings LLP

Paul Hastings LLP underwent a period of considerable change during 2023 with the arrival of Grissel Mercado and counsel Maria Larsen from A&O Shearman (now A&O Shearman), along with the departure of Michael Fitzgerald and a senior team. The promotion of Alex Herman to the partnership in 2024, gives the refreshed Latin America capital markets team an all female leadership rank. Much of the legacy practice had centred on Mexico, but now the new senior team has spread its emphasis to Peru, Chile, Colombia, Central America and the Caribbean. Now working with a number of sovereign issuers, the team collaborates closely with energy and infrastructure colleagues on financing projects through the bond market, especially in Colombia and Chile. It remains known for large-scale debt and high-yield debt offerings and has developed a significant record in ESG and sustainability-linked transactions; prior to joining the firm, Mercado and Larsen advised Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) on a number of blue bond and social bond offerings. The group also continues to work with a number of major oil companies on their capital markets fundraisings and remains well connected to financial institutions, including commercial banks and development banks. All named individuals are based in New York.