Thanks to a combination of top-notch legal expertise and extensive industry knowledge, Guyer & Regules has earned a coveted position as a leading firm in the Uruguayan market. Its esteemed transactional prowess is over 100 years in the making, and it shows no sign of taking its foot off the accelerator. Its elite reputation distinguishes it as one of the two most sought-after and prestigious firms in the country.
The Uruguayan government navigated the covid-19 pandemic with more tact and ease than many of its Latin American neighbours, even turning to Guyer & Regules to help negotiate contracts with vaccine producers. The firm stayed on track during the rocky pandemic period – thanks in part to its investment in technology and legal software – and remains optimistic about the future of Uruguay’s economic growth.
Guyer & Regules’ global-minded leadership is steered by highly accomplished partners that continue to attract a star-studded roster of clients from all over the world, which is a pull also for vastly experienced talent from rival firms. Its lawyers are often educated at Ivy League institutions and have held positions at international law firms.
The firm has a solid international reputation in transactional work. This is corroborated by Guyer & Regules’ appearance on Uruguay’s sovereign debt transactions, including a recent offering worth some $1.2 billion.
The firm’s ability to tap into a steady stream of cross-border work with impressive ease and dexterity is a testament to its impeccable reputation. Such recognition for its broad-sweeping market knowledge is an important draw for its prominent client roster, time and again, and has built a rock-solid foundation for adding new names to that list. One of the most familiar names on its books is Brazilian state-owned oil group Petrobras. Telefónica and LATAM Airlines are other recent clients.
Guyer & Regules has a sizeable helping of some of the most sought-after clients on the market, which gives a clear indication of the industry expertise at play here. The firm represents international clients operating across the full spectrum of sectors, including financial, retail, agribusiness, internet, software, real estate, fintech, energy and oil and gas industries. Citibank, BBVA, Itaú Unibanco and Unilever are some of the firm’s most well-known clients. International giants such as Latin American heavyweights América Móvil and FEMSA further boost that list. Recent research into “Who Represents Latin America’s Biggest Companies”, conducted by the Latin American Corporate Counsel Association (LACCA) which is affiliated to Latin Lawyer, finds that out of the top 100 largest companies operating in Latin America, Guyer & Regules advises over a quarter. This is a remarkable figure in light of the compact size of Uruguay’s market compared to local counterparts.
Guyer & Regules is well-equipped to oversee a variety of transactions in Uruguay’s booming fintech market. In recent years, the firm made history when it advised on a $200 million funding round for Uruguayan fintech company dLocal. The financing pushed the company over the billion-dollar valuation threshold required to become Uruguay’s first unicorn. The firm recently helped Argentinian property advertisement group Navent when it was acquired by Brazilian counterpart QuintoAndar, a deal that was awarded Deal of the Year by Latin Lawyer in 2021. The aerospace sector is solidly on Guyer & Regules’ radar, and the firm plans to invest in innovation towards making the most of these growing areas.
Year after year, Guyer & Regules records a high volume of deals in the M&A, project finance and capital markets groups. However, its competition on the world stage would not be complete without the matching capabilities of its non-transactional departments. The firm tends to oversee overly complex antitrust, tax and litigation work, where vastly experienced lawyers represent household name organisations. It also helped with the passing of Uruguay’s merger control reform last year. This expansive spectrum of expertise feeds into a multidisciplinary approach that allows Guyer & Regules to market itself as a one-stop firm in terms of legal services, often leading clients to return for several matters.
The firm uses a lockstep compensation system, which according to a senior partner fosters healthy relationships across the staff. Guyer & Regules is strongly dedicated to promoting diversity both within its employees and the wider local legal market. Its diversity committee is highly active and has helped conduct unconscious bias training to reduce incidences of prejudice.
The firm’s international reach is partly thanks to its membership in some of the most recognised international law firm alliances. Links to these organisations help Guyer & Regules to consistently refresh its outlook and reflect on and adapt to the latest trends affecting the region.
Management
In January 2023, Guyer & Regules unveiled a new executive committee and announced that Nicolás Piaggio and Nicolás Juan will replace Nicolás Herrera as the firm’s two new co-managing partners.
Offices
Guyer & Regules’ head office is in Montevideo and it has a base in the city’s free trade zone – an important pull for international clients. The firm also maintains an office in the popular tourist hotspot Punta del Este, while it is planning to open an office in the affluent suburb of Carrasco in Montevideo to meet client demand.
Alliances & networks
Guyer & Regules is a member of Lex Mundi, World Services Group, Multilaw, World Law Group, Club de Abogados and Interlex.