Latham & Watkins has hired a partner duo from Clifford Chance in New York to bolster its Latin America and capital markets practice.

Gianluca Bacchiocchi and Guido Liniado will join the firm’s corporate department and energy and infrastructure industry group, and will primarily advise clients on energy and infrastructure deals across Latin America. 

Marc Jaffe, global chair of Latham’s corporate department, said: “[Bacchiocchi and Liniado] have rightfully earned reputations as market-leaders, with both the track records and well-established relationships throughout Latin America to make them an incredible asset to our clients. They are wonderful additions as we continue to invest in and extend the firm’s reach in the region.” 

The pair have built up their practice advising banks, institutional investors, development finance institutions, financial sponsors and corporate entities on a wide-range of deal-related debt, from leveraged finance and project bonds to structured finance and asset-backed securities.

Tony Del Pino, global chair of Latham’s Latin America practice, said: “Gianluca and Guido are two of the market’s leading lights in the Latin America energy and infrastructure space. They are widely regarded for their practical, business-focused approach and understanding of the key issues, risks and business drivers affecting deals in jurisdictions throughout Latin America.”

Bacchiocchi spent six years at Clifford Chance, having joined from DLA Piper at the start of 2015. He previously had stints at Greenberg Traurig and Mayer Brown. Liniado, meantime, was at Clifford Chance for just over seven years, joining as an associate in October 2013 and working his way up to partner in May 2019. He also had a brief spell at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, having started his career at Argentinian firm Bruchou Fernandez Madero & Lombardi in Buenos Aires.

Del Pino added: “Their addition will significantly enhance our leading Latin America practice at a time when many clients are navigating landmark business transactions in the region.” 

The duo’s arrival follows the return of Latin America-focused partner David Penna, who rejoined the firm last November from the Office of Strategic Initiatives at the US International Development Finance Corporation, where he served as senior vice president. Penna is a partner in the firm’s finance department and a member of the project development and finance and Latin America practice groups. He is based in both Washington DC and New York.

Last September, McDermott Will & Emery unveiled a Latin America practice with a brief to develop “myriad opportunities” in the diverse region.

Other firms to have recently launched, or relaunched, their Latin American teams include Squire Patton Boggs, which appointed Alejandro Peña-Prieto to lead a 20-partner executive committee tasked with growing the firm's practice in the region, where it has one office, in Santo Domingo, and Polsinelli, which has based its new Latin America practice in Miami.