Profile
Emilio J. Alvarez-Farré focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and financings, having assisted clients in noteworthy and novel transactions throughout Latin America for more than 30 years.
He advised the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Argentina in the privatizations of Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales, S.A., MetroGas, S.A., and Transportadora de Gas del Norte, S.A. He represented Corporación de Fomento de la Producción, the Chilean privatization agency, in the privatization of Emos, the Chilean water company, and the Fondo de Inversiones de Venezuela, the Venezuelan privatization agency, in the privatization of C.V.G. Siderúrgica del Orinoco, C.A., the Venezuelan steel company.° These transactions were the first of their kind in Argentina, Chile and Venezuela.
He advised Bankers Trust Company as lender in the first leveraged buyouts in Argentina.°
He advised Deutsche Bank in structuring and documenting contingent repo facilities to the Central Bank of Argentina to provide systemic liquidity to the Argentine banking system.°
He represented Bio Pappel, S.A. de C.V., the largest paper company in Mexico, in its financial restructurings completed in 2005 and 2009, the first large-scale financial restructurings conducted under the Mexican restructuring law.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Alvarez-Farré prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Concentrations
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Financial transactions
- Joint ventures
- Private equity investments and dispositions
- Capital markets offerings
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented 7-Eleven Mexico S.A. de C.V., as issuer, in its private placement of senior notes.
- Represented Avianca Holdings S.A. (“Avianca”), as borrower, in a US$250 million senior secured convertible term loan facility.
- Represented Avianca., as borrower, in a US$50 million secured credit facility.
- Represented Bio Pappel S.A. de C.V. (“Bio Pappel”), as borrower, in a US$450 million secured syndicated credit facility.
- Represented Bio Pappel, as borrower, in a US$255 million syndicated secured credit facility arranged by Credit Suisse AG in connection with the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Corporación Scribe, a leading manufacturer and seller of paper and notebooks in Mexico.
- Represented Elementia S.A. de C.V. (“Elementia”), as borrower, in connection with a US$200 million unsecured, syndicated credit facility administered by Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior.
- Represented Elementia, as borrower, in connection with a MXN 1.9 billion (US$108.6 million) syndicated credit facility administered by Scotiabank Inverlat S.A.
- Represented Elementia, as borrower, in a MXN 925 million (US$47 million) guaranteed loan made by Citibanamex.
- Advised Santander Investments, as arranger, in the financing provided to Arcos Dorados, S.A. in connection with its acquisition of the Latin American operations of McDonald's.°
- Represented ABN AMRO Bank, N.V.,as arranger, in connection with the workout of a project financing for Avantel, S.A., a Colombian cellular telecommunications company.°
- Represented ABN AMRO Bank, N.V., as facility agent and security agent, in a senior secured financing to Telia Swedtel de Colombia S.A.°
- Represented Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. (“BSCH”), Citibank N.A. and Dresdner Bank Luxembourg S.A., as co-administrative agents, in two companion syndicated credit facilities in an aggregate principal amount of US$1 billion to Enersis, S.A.°
- Represented Banco G y T Continental, as borrower, in a syndicated credit facility administered by Citibank N.A.
- Represented BSCH, as arranger, in a syndicated term loan facility to Bepensa, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican bottling company.°
- Represented BSCH, as arranger, in a syndicated term facility to Industrias Innopack, S.A de C.V., a Mexican packaging company.°
- Represented BSCH, as administrative agent, in two companion syndicated credit facilities in an aggregate principal amount of US$400 million to a Chilean energy company and its Cayman Islands branch.°
- Represented BSCH, as syndication agent, bookrunner and mandated lead arranger, in a US$280 million syndicated loan, the proceeds of which were used to construct the EPIC Hotel & Residences in Florida.°
- Represented BSCH, as administrative agent, in a syndicated credit facility to S.A.C.I. Falabella, a Chilean retail chain.°
- Represented BSCH. and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, as lead arrangers, in a Hermes buyers credit facility, and a companion export refinancing credit facility, to Companhia Integrada Textil de Pernambuco.°
- Represented Banco Santander S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero Santander and Standard Chartered Bank, as administrative agents, in a MXN 422 million / US$111 million Dual Currency Senior Unsecured Credit Facility to Grupo Petrotemex, S.A. de C.V.°
- Represented BSCH, as administrative agent, arranger, and lender, in two companion pre-export advance facilities for Siderúrgica del Orínoco (SIDOR), C.A., the largest private Venezuelan steel producer.°
- Represented Banco Supervielle S.A., as issuer, in connection with the establishment of its medium term note program and the issuance of Fixed Rate Tier 2 Notes thereunder.°
- Represented Banco Supervielle Société Générale S.A., as administrative agent, in a bridge loan, and as underwriter in the subsequent take-out financing through the issuance pursuant to Regulation S of Medium Term Notes, for Transportadora de Gas del Norte S.A., an Argentine natural gas distributor.°
- Represented Bank of America, N.A., as arranger, in a credit facility to Enersis S.A., a Chilean energy company, acting through its Cayman Islands branch.°
- Represented Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, in a credit facility to Enersis S.A.°
- Represented BankBoston, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, and Santander Investment Bank Limited, as arranger, in a syndicated loan to Servicios Financieros Bandera S.A., a Chilean financial institution.°
- Represented Banque Paribas, as administrative agent, in a credit facility for the acquisition of Aluprint S.A. de C.V., a Mexican packaging company.°
- Represented Citibank N.A., as administrative agent, in a pre-export finance facility refinancing for S.A. San Miguel A.G.I.C.I. y F., an Argentine agribusiness.°
- Represented Citigroup Global Markets Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC in a US$1 billion senior bridge loan facility and a US$500 million syndicated term loan facility to Banco de Bogotá S.A.°
- Represented Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF), as lender, in a US$100 million A/B loan facility to Empresa Brasileira de Telecomunicações S.A. (Embratel), which operates the largest telecommunications network in Brazil.°
- Represented CAF), as lender, in a US$100 million A/B loan facility to Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A. – Eletrobrás, the Brazilian public electric utility.°
- Represented CAF, as lender, in a US$75 million bilateral senior unsecured credit facility to Cementos Argos S.A.°
- Represented CAF, as lender, in a US$250 million senior unsecured A/B loan facility to YPF Sociedad Anónima.°
- Represented CAF, as lender, in an amended and restated US$131 million A/B loan facility to Empresa Brasileira de Telecomunicações S.A. – Embratel in Brazil.°
- Represented CAF, as lender, in a US$100 million A/B loan facility to Empresa Brasileira de Telecomunicações S.A.°
- Represented Crédit Agricole, as Administrative Agent, as arranger, in a US$100 million syndicated senior secured credit facility to Pluspetrol Camisea, S.A. in Peru.°
- Represented Crédit Agricole, as Administrative Agent, as arranger, in a US$200 million syndicated senior credit facility to Pan American Energy.°
- Represented Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as arranger, in connection with a US$500 million syndicated senior secured credit facility to P.M.I. Trading Limited.°
- Represented Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala S.A., as borrower, in a US$100 million structured debt facility.°
- Represented Export Development Canada, the Canadian export credit agency, as lender, and Calyon New York Branch, as administrative agent, in a US$100 million A/B loan facility to Empresa Brasileira de Telecomunicações S.A. in Brazil.°
- Represented Grupo KFC, an Ecuadorian company with operations in the quick-food service industry, as borrower, in a US$120 million senior secured credit facility provided by Credit Suisse.
- Represented Grupo Phoenix, a Colombian packaging company, as borrower, in the amendment and restatement of a US$250 million dual-currency secured syndicated facililty.
- Represented Grupo Simsa, a Mexican energy conglomerate, as issuer, in the issuance by its subsidiaries of US$200 million in senior unsecured notes privately place with institutional investors.
- Represented HSBC Bank plc, as arranger, in a US$400 million senior liquidity facility to Banco Itaú, S.A.°
- Represented HSBC Bank plc, as arranger, in a US$500 million senior revolving credit facility to CVRD International, S.A.°
- Represented HSBC Bank USA, as arranger, in a US$320 million senior syndicated term loan facility to Pan American Energy.°
- Represented ING Bank N.V., as arranger, in a US$600 million commercial paper program and backstop syndicated credit facility to BBVA Bancomer S.A., a Mexican financial institution.°
- Represented ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent, in a US$140 million Note Purchase Facility to RBTT Finance (BVI) Limited, a BVI subsidiary of a Trinidadian bank.°
- Represented ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent, in a US$80 million club credit facility to Royal Seed Trading Corp. A.V.V., guaranteed by its parent Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM), a Chilean company which is a global leader in fertilizers, iodine and lithium.°
- Represented Interamerican Development Bank, a multilateral development bank, as lender, in a US$200 million A/B loan facility to Empresa Brasileira de Telecomunicações S.A.°
- Represented International Trade Logistics S.A., and Exolgan S.A., as borrower, in connection with a senior secured term loan facility provided by International Finance Corporation.°
- Represented McKinley Packaging Company, a US subsidiary of Bio Pappel (“McKinley”), as issuer, in its issuance of US$150 million of senior secured notes privately placed with institutional investors.
- Represented McKinley, as borrower, in a secured $100 million acquisition facility arranged by the Bank of Nova Scotia.
- Represented MRO Holdings, Inc., a company with operations in the airline maintenance, repair and overhaul industry (MRO), as borrower, in a US$360 milion secured Term Loan B facility.
- Represented MRO, as borrower, in a US$ 685 million secured Term Loan B facility.
- Represented Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and CAF, as lenders, in connection with the MXN 4.065 billion (approximately US$320 million) securitization of certain revenues of the public registry of property administered by IFREM (Instituto de la Función Registral del Estado de Mexico), an institute created by the State of Mexico.°
- Represented Rabobank International, New York Branch, as administrative agent, in a medium term trade credit facility to Buyatti S.A.I.C.A., an Argentine agribusiness.°
- Represented Santander Central Hispano Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd., as administrative agent, in a syndicated credit facility to a Bermuda investment fund.°
- Represented Santander Investment Bank Limited in a credit agreement refinancing to CAP S.A., a Chilean steel company.°
- Represented Santander Investment Bank Limited in a term loan extension facility to CAP S.A., a Chilean steel producer.°
- Represented Santander Investment Bank Limited, as administrative agent, in a US$120 million Refinancing Facility to Servicios Financieros Bandera S.A., a Chilean financial institution.°
- Represented Virgin Mobile Latin America, as borrower, in a credit facility provided by International Finance Corporation.°
- Represented Alanza Materials Holdings Ltd., a Honduran producer of stone aggregates, in the sale of its business to a US publicly-traded cement company.
- Represented Altio NexteGen Master Fund Ltd., a Cayman Islands investment fund, in numerous equity investments.
- Represented Giant Cement Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation, in the proposed sale of one of its cement divisions to Lehigh Cement Company.
- Represented Bio Pappel in the acquisition of a majority equity interest in U.S. Corrugated Holdings II, Inc., a manufacturer of corrugated boxes.
- Represented Carnival Corporation in a proposed joint venture to develop a cruise port in the Cayman Islands.
- Represented travel technology giant Amadeus IT Group, S.A. (“Amadeus”) in its acquisition of the airline network planning and scheduling business of Innovative Scheduling, LLC (d/b/a Optym).
- Represented Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec ("CDPQ") in its US$445 million co-investment acquisition of Team Health Holdings, Inc., a leading physician services organization. The acquisition was made by funds affiliated with Blackstone, a leading global asset manager, and certain other investors, including CDPQ, in a deal valued at approximately US$6.1 billion.
- Represented Southern Ports Holdings Corp., owners of a 50% interest in the Colombian port operator Compañía de Puertos Asociados S.A., in connection with the COP 407 billion (US$136.5 million) sale by SPH’s former joint venture partner, Grupo Argos S.A., of its equity interests in Compas to investment funds managed by Goldman Sachs.
- Represented McKinley in connection with the acquisition of a paper mill and certain related assets from Nippon Paper Industries USA.
- Represented Industrias Xignux, S.A. de C.V. in connection with the establishment of a joint venture between its Mexican cable division, Viakable S.A. de C.V., and Rea Magnet Wire, Inc.
- Representation of South Mill Mushroom Sales, Inc. in the US$100 million sale of its mushroom supply and distribution business to a U.S. private equity firm.
- Represented), in its purchase of Air Transport IT Services, Inc. from Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, a German public company.
- Represented Amadeus in its Series A venture capital investment in a cloud-based travel technology company focused on the short-term rental market.
- Represented Amadeus in its first round investment in an artificial intelligence company serving online travel search engines and agents.
- Represented Amadeus in its first round investment in a company operating in the travel and tourism industry.
- Represented Amadeus in its first round investment in an architecture and design studio with a portfolio of work in the U.K. and other markets.
- Represented Amadeus in its first round investment in a global technology company specializing in the development of travel consumer products.
- Represented Amadeus in its first round investment in a data analytics company specializing in revenue management services.
- Represented Amadeus in its first round investment in a big data personalization solutions firm operating in the travel and hospitality sectors.
- Represented Amadeus in its first round investment in a cloud-based ticket management and reservation software company.
- Represented Amadeus in its first round investment in an automated pedestrian analytics company
- Represented Newmarket International (an affiliate of Amadeus) in its cash purchase of assets from Hotel SystemsPro LLC, a privately held hotel software company headquartered in the United States.
- Represented Bio Pappel in its acquisition of Grupo Papelero Scribe, S.A. de C.V.
- Represented Elementia in its acquisition of the fiber cement business of CertainTeed Corporation, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain.°
- Represented Infreastructura Internacional in its investment in Sierra Oil & Gas, the Mexican oil company.
- Represented IFC and the IFC Capitalization Fund in their purchase of subordinated notes issued by Banco CorpBanca Colombia S.A.°
- Represented Mexichem, S.A.B. de C.V. (“Mexichem”) in its acquisition of the vinyl dispersion, blending and suspension resin business of PolyOne Corporation, a global provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and solutions.°
- Represented IFC and related funds in connection with an equity investment in Pacific Infrastructure, a holding company owning several companies in Colombia dedicated to logistics and infrastructure for the oil & gas sector.°
- Represented a consortium of private equity firms in its bid to acquire a controlling equity stake in the largest electrical utility in Rio de Janeiro.°
- Represented a consortium of private equity firms in the acquisition of a significant equity position in BRA Transportes Aéreos in Brazil.°
- Represented a minority shareholder in connection with the acquisition of a 10% equity interest in Comunicaciones Celulares, S.A. in Guatemala.°
- Represented a private equity firm in a minority equity investment in International Consolidated Minerals in Peru.°
- Represented a private equity firm in connection with a minority equity investment in Caza Oil & Gas, Inc.°
- Represented a private equity firm in its proposed investment in Inversiones Alsacia S.A. in Chile.°
- Represented a private equity group in its proposed investment in MetroNet, S.A. in Mexico.°
- Represented funds managed by an affiliate of Bank of America Securities in the sale of its interests in Novamedia Ltd.°
- Represented Advent International in its bid to acquire Amanco.°
- Represented Al Gharaffa Investment Company, a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority, in its equity investment in Fisker Automotive Holdings.°
- Represented Church & Tower in its merger with Burnup & Simms, now Mastec, Inc.°
- Represented Cobb-Vantress in its acquisition of the poultry breeding operations of Hendrix Genetics.°
- Represented CAF in its equity investment in Enfoca Discovery I L.P.°
- Represented CAF in its equity investment in the Colombia Opportunity Fund.°
- Represented Corporación Durango, S.A. de C.V. in connection with its disposition of the molded pulp packaging business of Empaques de Cartón Titán, S.A. de C.V.°
- Represented Corporación Durango, S.A. de C.V. in the sale of its McKinley box plant operations.°
- Represented GBH Investments and Swissport, S.A. in the sale of GBH Swissport in Peru.°
- Represented Grupo Financiero G&T Continental in connection with the proposed sale of Banco G&T Continental.°
- Represented Hassad Foods in its proposed equity investment in El Tejar S.A. in Argentina.°
- Represented Mexichem in its acquisition of the AlphaGary plastic compounding business of Rockwood Holdings, Inc.°
- Represented Mexichem in its acquisition of the fluorochemical business of the Ineos Group.°
- Represented Millennium Global Special Situations Americas Fund, Ltd in the sale of its shares in Ancash Mining, Ltd.°
- Represented Ontario Graphite Ltd. in the issuance of a 50% equity stake in Milbox LLC, to BXR Agro B.V.°
- Represented Palladium Equity Partners in its investment in Carpio, Inc.°
- Represented Shaw Capital, S.A., in the acquisition of shares of Ogden Argentina.°
- Represented SphereInvest Americas LLC in the sale of a 46% equity stake in Ontario Graphite Ltd.°
- Represented Symbios Capital in its equity investment in Digitel, S.A., in Venezuela.°
- Represented Symbios Capital in the sale of its equity interest in Phoenix Capital Limited.°
- Represented Telepuerto Internacional de Buenos Aires, S.A. in the sale of all its equity interest in Intelsat S.A. to an affiliate of GE Capital.°
- Represented the Fundación Luis Sarmiento Angulo in its sale of Cocelco to Bell South International.°
- Represented the selling shareholders in the sale of Home Mart to Home Depot in Mexico.°
- Represented the selling shareholders in their disposition of Keytech S.A. in Argentina to AT&T.°
- Represented two private equity firms in connection with the formation of a joint venture to acquire oil and gas exploration and production rights in Texas and Oklahoma.°
- Represented Tyson Foods is its bid to acquire the Mexican operations and assets of Pilgrim's Pride.°
- Represented Tyson Foods, Inc. in a joint venture with Cresud in Argentina.°
- Represented Tyson Foods, Inc. in a joint venture with Godrej in India.°
- Represented Tyson Foods, Inc. in the expansion of its poultry business in Brazil.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Alvarez-Farré prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; International Mergers & Acquisitions, 2016-2025
- Recommended, The Legal 500 Latin America Guide, "Latin America: International," 2021-2025
- "Banking & Finance," 2021-2025
- "City Leaders: Miami," 2025
- "Corporate and M&A," 2021-2024
- "City Focus: Miami," 2021, 2023
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2015-2024
- Listed, IFLR1000, "Highly Regarded," Banking, 2020-2024
- Listed, Chambers Latin America, Corporate/M&A - Latin America-wide, 2020
- Selected, Latin Lawyer, Latin Lawyer 250 - Practice Recognition
- Corporate – M&A, 2020-2025
- Banking & Finance, 2021-2025
- Listed, Chambers Global, Corporate/M&A (Latin America-wide and Foreign Experts - USA), 2015-2020
- Listed, Thomson Reuters, "Stand-Out Lawyers," 2022-2024
- Listed, Acritas Stars™ Independently Rated Lawyers, "Star Lawyers," 2018-2021
- Selected, Acritas Stars Stand-out Talent survey, "Acritas Star – independently rated lawyer," 2019
- Listed, Latinvex, "Latin America's Top 100 Lawyers," 2019
- Listed, South Florida Legal Guide, "Top Lawyer," 2015-2017
- Finalist, Daily Business Review, "Top Dealmaker of the Year – International Financing Category," 2016
- Team Member, "Corporate & Finance - International Counsel in Latin America (Florida-Based)," Chambers Latin America Awards, 2015-2017
- Team Member, "Corporate/M&A – Law Firm of the Year," Chambers Latin America Awards, 2014
Credentials
- J.D., University of Chicago Law School
- M.B.A., The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- Graduate Fellow, Philosophy, Princeton University
-
A.B., Classics, Stanford University
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Florida
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Spanish