Antonio Del Pino, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Latin America Practice, advises companies, private equity firms, and financial institutions on cross-border acquisitions, divestitures, financings, and restructurings involving Latin America and the United States.

Mr. Del Pino brings almost three decades of experience navigating complex transactions on behalf of sophisticated clients doing business in Latin America. His practice focuses on M&A and private equity transactions in the region, leading Latham to the top of the market in the space. The firm regularly tops the regional league tables for M&A and private equity transactions in the region.

He combines keen market insights with bilingual language skills to handle matters across industries, with a particular focus on the infrastructure, energy, and financial services sectors.
In recognition of his commercial work and industry leadership, Mr. Del Pino was an appointed member of the United States State Department’s Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Council of the Americas.

Mr. Del Pino regularly advises on pro bono matters involving Latin America, Africa, and Asia. His work includes representing Acción International in connection with investments in microfinance institutions around the world. He is also a former member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee. 

Mr. Del Pino regularly represents clients on strategic transactions in Latin America and has represented buyers and sellers on some of the most significant M&A transactions in the region over the last several years. Some examples of his work include:

  • GIP in connection with multiple transactions involving complex financings, including: 
    • The joint venture with Grupo Romero to acquire a 50% stake in Trabajos Maritimos (Tramarsa), a Peru-based port infrastructure platform
    • The acquisition and corresponding acquisition financing of Atlas Renewable Energy, a clean energy company that develops, builds, and operates solar and wind projects in Latin America, from private equity firm Actis
    • The acquisition of Saavi Energia, the fourth largest independent power producer and the largest privately held stand-alone power generator in Mexico, from Actis
    • A significant minority investment in Chile Renovables SpA, renewable energy affiliate of AES Andes SA, from AES, which garnered multiple deal of the year awards including 2022 Renewable Energy Financing of the Year by LatinFinance Project & Infrastructure Finance Awards
  • Telefónica in connection with several transactions in Latin America including:
    • A cutting-edge, deal of the year award-winning agreement with KKR to form a joint venture to develop Chile’s fiber optic to residence sector and related financing arrangements, which was awarded 2022 Digital Infrastructure/Telecoms Financing of the Year LatinFinance Project & Infrastructure Finance
    • Agreement with KKR to establish Colombia’s first nationwide open access fiber optic network and related financing arrangements, which was awarded 2022 Americas Digital Infrastructure Acquisition of the Year by IJInvestor
    • The sale of its subsidiaries in Guatemala to America Movil
    • The sale of its subsidiaries in Nicaragua and Panama, to Millicom International
    • The sale of its subsidiary in El Salvador to Jaguar Capital 
    • The sale of its subsidiary in Costa Rica to Liberty Latin America
  • American Airlines on its US$200 million investment agreement with GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A., Brazil’s largest airline, and exclusive commercial partnership to create the broadest network in the Americas
  • Tresalia Capital in the sale of Kio Networks, a prominent Mexican data infrastructure company to Isquared
  • Softys, a Chilean company, in its acquisition of Ontex Mexico
  • HIF, a Chilean group, in a cutting-edge investment from EIG, Porsche, and Baker Hughes to develop a global platform of green hydrogen projects 
  • Grupo Aval and its subsidiaries in connection with the Avianca’s chapter 11 restructuring and a structured financing related to ticket sales, which was awarded 2022 Corporate Restructuring of the Year by LatinFinance
  • Grupo Aval in several acquisitions of banks and other financial services business including its acquisitions of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Panama and BBVA Horizonte in Colombia
  • IFM Global Infrastructure on four related complex investments in infrastructure assets in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Spain valued at over US$5 billion, including its acquisition of OHL Concesiones for €2.7 billion, which was awarded Latin American Private Equity Deal of the Year in 2018 by Latin Finance 
  • CDPQ in connection with its acquisition of a 80% stake in Enel Green Power’s renewable power portfolio in Mexico for US$1.4 billion, which involved an innovative build, transfer, and operate model; this deal was been shortlisted as 2018 infrastructure Deal of the Year by Infrastructure Investor
  • Linzor Capital in several acquisitions and divestitures in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, including its recent US$1.1 billion acquisition of GE Capital’s equipment lending and leasing platform in Mexico
  • Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund in connection with several investments and bids in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico
  • Telecom Italia on several investments in Argentina and Brazil
  • Webhelp in connection with the acquisition of OneLink, an innovator in digitally-enabled CX, BPO and technology services supporting tier one brands throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America
  • Duke Energy in connection with several investments in power projects in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Peru
  • Repsol in several transactions in Argentina, Ecuador, and Venezuela
  • Grupo Rios (a Colombian group) in several strategic transactions in the transport sectors in Chile and Colombia
  • Foster Wheeler in connection with acquisitions in Brazil and Mexico
  • Cencosud on several transactions in the region including an acquisition in Brazil and joint venture arrangements in Argentina
  • Oaktree in connection with investments in the cold storage business in Brazil and Chile
  • Kio Networks in connection with several transactions involving data infrastructure and communication assets in Mexico, Spain, and Central America including its auction sale of its Mexican communications infrastructure business to American Tower for approximately US$500 million
  • Cartesian Capital in connection with investments in Brazil and Mexico including Circle K Mexico and Metronet
  • Indigo Partners in connection with several investments in the Latin American airline industry including its acquisition of a significant interest in Volaris of Mexico and its investment in Jet Smart in Chile and Argentina
  • GE Capital in several significant acquisitions and divestitures including its sale of Compañia Samalayuca in Mexico, and the purchase and subsequent sale of BAC-Credomatic, a financial institution operating in 10 countries in the region to Grupo Aval, for US$1.9 billion and Banco Colpatria of Colombia to the Grupo Pacheco of Colombia
  • Andes Mining and Energy (a Chilean power and gas infrastructure company) on several transactions in the Chilean power infrastructure market including its joint ventures with EDF to acquire four power plants from AES and related financing, to develop a solar power project in Santiago, and its investment from EIG Partners
  • Digital Realty in its US$1.8 billion acquisition of Ascenty, a Brazilian data center company with operations in Brazil and Chile
  • Sempra on its agreement to acquire a minority interest in Transportadora de Gas del Peru and sale of its Argentine assets
  • Quiñenco, the holding company controlled by the Luksic family, in its agreement to acquire all of Terpel’s operations in Chile
  • BlackRock on several investments in Brazil and Mexico including its investment to upgrade Pemex’s Madero refinery
  • Carlyle Group on several acquisitions and divestitures including sale of Arabela, HTC, and ULA in Mexico
  • Hortifrut (a leading Chilean berries producer) in its Joint Venture with Munger Group
  • Proinversion in connection with the concession of a wastewater treatment system for Lake Titicaca
  • Metronet (a Mexican telecom infrastructure company) in its leveraged acquisition of Diveo Mexico and eventual sale to Kio Networks
  • Ospraie Partners in connection with its investment and sale of its interest in Fermaca, a leading owner and developer of midstream assets in Mexico for approximately US$750 million
  • Eton Park in connection with investments in Mexican financial sector
  • Ashmore Colombia in connection with investments in Andean and Central American energy, telecom, and other infrastructure sectors
  • Procaps, a leading Latin American pharmaceutical manufacturing company based in Colombia, in connection with a minority investment from the IFC
  • Saturn Shareholder representative in connection with Albertson’s sale of a significant minority interest in Casa Ley in Mexico
  • Orbiain in connection with its acquisition of Sylvin Technologies
  • JH Partners in acquisition of Neutral, an operator of duty free shops in Uruguay 

Thought Leadership

  • “Our Dedicated Latin America Practice” Latham & Watkins Article (February 2022)
  • “SmartCapital Newsletter (Issue 18)” Latham & Watkins Newsletter (June 2011)
  • “SmartCapital Newsletter - US Edition, Issue 4” Latham & Watkins Newsletter (September 2006)

Bar Qualification

  • New York

Education

  • JD, New York University School of Law, 1994
  • BA, Fordham University, 1991
    cum laude, in cursu honorum

Languages Spoken

  • Spanish
  • English