Partner, New York

Practice Description

Marcello Hallake focuses his practice on the representation of U.S. and European companies, financial institutions, and investment funds in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, privatizations, private equity, and other financing transactions in Latin America and around the globe. In addition, he represents Brazilian and other Latin American companies and financial institutions in U.S. financing and cross-border transactions.

Mr. Hallake is the past Chair of the Committee on Inter-American Affairs of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of various not-for profit organizations including Brazil Foundation, CDI International, and the Inter-American Culture and Development Foundation. Mr. Hallake is a frequent speaker at international law conferences and is the author of the "Wall Street" column in Jornal do Brasil.

Representations

• Representation of France Telecom in various M&A, financing and privatization transactions throughout Latin America including:

  • France Telecom's investment in Intelig Telecommunicaçoes Ltda., the Brazilian long-distance telecommunications "mirror" company, in a $1 billion joint venture with Sprint and National Grid, including restructuring and sale;
  • Intelig's approximately $500 million vendor financing with Alcatel and Nortel;
  • France Telecom's acquisition of a majority interest in the privatization of CTE, the national El Salvador telecom company, and France Telecom's subsequent sale of its interest to America Movil;
  • France Telecom's acquisition of a majority participation in Transmisiones y Participaciones, a Dominican Republic start-up telecom company;
  • France Telecom's investment in Telecom Argentina a company listed in the NYSE, jointly controlled with Telecom Italia, including the subsequent sale of its interest to local investors;
  • The representation of France Telecom in other joint venture transactions and privatizations in Central America, including Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama;
  • The representation of France Telecom in connection with the sale of its interest in Intelsat
  
  

• Representation of Petrobras in connection with M&A transactions in the U.S., Ecuador, Chile, and Japan

• Representation of Petrobras in connection with the P-53 and P-55 platforms in Brazil

• Representation of Brazilian pension funds Previ, Petros, and Funcef in the acquisition of Telecom Italia's interest in Brasil Telecom and in connection with the subsequent agreement to sell their interest in Brasil Telecom to Telemar

• Representation of Vitro in connection with cross-border M&A transactions in Mexico and Central America

Distinctions/Honors

• Chambers Latin America (Projects); 2010

• The International Who's Who of Oil & Gas Lawyers, 2010

Presentations/Publications

• "Suape and the Environment: Challenges and Opportunities for Brazil," Recife, Brazil, June 1, 2010
  

• "Agribusiness Financing in Brazil," New York Stock Exchange, May 26, 2010
  

Activities

• Co-founder/Director, Brazil Foundation

• Co-founder/Director and President, CDI International (Committee for Democracy in Information Technology)