Linklaters, a global law firm with a large and growing presence in Latin America, has elevated a New York-based projects lawyer to its partnership.
Vijaya Palaniswamy has worked extensively on energy and infrastructure projects, helping numerous clients during the bidding, structuring, financing, and development phases of deals. Clients he has worked with include Samsung, KOSPO, GDF Suez, and GNL Quintero.
In a discussion with IFLR1000, Palaniswamy expressed his appreciation for working at a law firm with a lockstep model, which, in his view, helps avert the competition among partners, practices, and offices seen at other firms.
“For example, recently on some of the work we have done with Asian clients, we have had a team with six of Linklaters offices represented including London, Hong Kong, New York and Seoul. This cross-border collaboration is typical of many of the deals we advise on,” Palaniswamy said.
At this juncture, Palaniswamy sees abundant opportunity for projects work in Peru, which has received a great deal of interest in the secondary market, with companies moving in to acquire projects originally developed domestically with help from Peru’s government or from international development agencies. Chile’s northwestern region also benefits from widespread interest, and people are particularly excited about the energy program that ENAP has begun to prepare.
“Chile and Peru are leading our list in terms of countries with opportunities within the renewables space. Mexico is close as well, but has had some environmental/social issues that have hindered some foreign investments,” he said.
“I think you’re seeing a lot of interest on the part of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese companies to invest in South America because of the attractive returns the region provides compared to domestic growth. Chinese companies appear to have gotten a leg up by their early investments into Africa, and Korean and Japanese countries now see Latin America as a very attractive target where they can compete on a more equal footing,” Palaniswamy added.