Santiago Fontana is a member of the FERRERE Corporate and Commercial as well as Mergers and Acquisitions groups. He focuses on foreign investment, mergers and acquisitions and general commercial and corporate matters. Santiago worked in FERRERE’s Bolivia office from 2005 to 2006, developing a good understanding of the local market and the needs of foreign investors in that jurisdiction. He also has a strong connection to FERRERE’s Brazilian clientele, with a level of expertise that led Chambers Global to recognize him as a Brazil Foreign Expert based abroad.

Santiago has participated in numerous high profile foreign investment projects, as well as mergers and acquisitions (both local and cross-border). He participated in the chief meatpacking plant purchase and sale transactions in Uruguay in the last two years (including the first Chinese investment in Uruguay in this sector). Santiago also participated in high-profile deals such as the sales of the local operations of Outfront Media (outdoor advertising) and Affinia International (automotive). He also participated in the purchase and sale of renewable projects in Uruguay.

Santiago has extensive experience in government procurement processes and government-related work, both for private companies and government entities. He has also assisted international companies in their strategic and corporate matters, including Weyerhaeuser, Volt Information Sciences, IBM, Tyco, CBS Outdoor, Edenred, Lactalis, Parmalat, ExxonMobil, COSAN, Petrobras, and Vale.

During his time at FERRERE’s Bolivia office, Santiago advised companies involved primarily in the oil and gas and mining sectors. In 2006, he assisted Occidental Petroleum in the renegotiation of its contracts with the Bolivian government, following nationalization of the hydrocarbons industry.

 Memberships

• Inter-Pacific Bar Association* International Bar Association
• International Bar Association
• Uruguay XXI