Paul Hastings hires partner to head proposed Brazil office

Paul Hastings has recruited partner Roberta Bassegio – a New York and Brazil-qualified energy and infrastructure specialist – from Brazilian law firm Veirano Advogados to head its proposed new office in São Paulo, which would be the firm’s first in Latin America.

Paul Hastings’ plans for a São Paulo office are subject to regulatory approval.

In 2015, Paul Hastings has advised on a number of significant Latin American deals, including the $4 billion bank financing for the new International Airport in Mexico City, and the $850 million revolving credit facility for Fibra Uno.

The firm also had a role in the arrangement of the $3 billion loan that financed Blackstone’s acquisition of GE’s Mexican commercial mortgage portfolio.

Michael Fitzgerald, chair of Paul Hastings’ Latin America practice group, said: “We took a big step forward in broadening our footprint in Latin America when we added finance lawyers Robert Kartheiser and Cathleen McLaughlin in March and bringing on Roberta – who is one of a select group of finance and projects lawyers with experience in both Brazil and New York – builds on that momentum.”