In the second half of 2010, M&A is the growth practice area in Latin America. The region is being described as a driver for the global economy, and companies in Asia, North America and Europe, in retail, natural resources, telecoms, infrastructure and just about every other sector, want to be able to take part in the region's strong outlook for growth - by buying existing businesses in the region. Meanwhile, the region's companies, with solid value credentials, better corporate governance than ever, and excellent home market prospects, are looking beyond their borders for growth. Latin America's leading M&A lawyers describe this moment as one of the busiest of their careers.

However, challenges remain, and not only around pricing of targets. Many of the region's governments are looking to regulate takeovers in a more stringent way, requiring counsel to be fully up-to-the-minute on the fast-changing legal framework. Targets may be less willing to be bought in this climate, meaning a growth in hostile takeovers, which are legally intensive deals. The uptick in multi-jurisdictional deals also means counsel must be more aware than ever of the challenges posed by a legally diverse region.

At this critical moment in the development of regional M&A, Latin Lawyer presents a major one-day conference, bringing together the best legal minds from international and local private practice, the banking and finance community, the in-house world, and regulatory bodies.

Conference co-chairs - Paul Schnell and Richard Aldrich of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Paulo Cezar Aragão and Francisco Müssnich of Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão Advogados

NEW SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED:

Jose Luis Freire, TozziniFreire Advogados

Eduardo Samara, General Atlantic

Eduardo Centola, UBS Brazil

Fernando de Magalhães Furlan, CADE

Veronica Serra, Pacific Investimentos

Pablo Trad Cepeda, Mijares, Angoita, Cortes y Fuentes SC

Alexandre Silva D'Ambrosio, general counsel, Votorantim Group

Marcelo Martins, CFO, Cosan

Paulo Henrique de Oliveira Santos, head of M&A, Votorantim Group

Bruno Ferla, general counsel, Camargo Correa

Pedro Mariani, general counsel, AmBev

Fernando Shayer, head of legal, Tarpon Investmentos

Jon Bisgaier, BTG Pactual

Alberto Bragança, Xavier, Bernardes, Bragança, Sociedade de Advogados

Enrique Bruchou, Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi

Jorge Carey, Carey y Cia

Todd Crider, Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Maria Cristina Cescon, Souza, Cescon, Barrieu & Flesch Advogados

José Maria Eyzaguirre, Claro y Cia

Joe Flom, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Sergio Galvis, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Nick Grabar, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Fulvio Italiani, D’Empaire Reyna Abogados

Alejandro Linares, Gomez-Pinzon Zuleta Abogados

Carlos Alberto Moreira Lima, Jr, Pinheiro Neto Advogados

Carlos Mello, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados

Allen Miller, Chadbourne & Parke LLP

Jose Antonio Payet, Payet Rey Cauvi Abogados

Joao Ricardo de Azevedo Ribeiro, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr e Quiroga
Advogados

Henrique Vergara, BM&F Bovespa

8.30 - 9.00 Registration

9.00 - 9.45 Prospects for M&A: the business and financial perspective

A panel of bankers and business people from the region’s largest financial institutions and companies will give us their forecast for M&A prospects in 2011, in Brazil and across the region and globe.

Moderator: Paul Schnell, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Paulo Henrique de Oliveira Santos, Votorantim
Marcelo Martins, Cosan
Eduardo Centola, UBS Brazil

15 minute coffee break

10.00–10.45 Where US law ends and Latin American law begins

As regional deals proliferate, the interplay of US and local law considerations has become much more complex, requiring a skilful blend of international norms into Latin American realities. This panel will investigate how to get deals done inside that grey area.

Moderator: Richard Aldrich, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Carlos Alberto Moreira Lima, Jr, Pinheiro Neto Advogados
Carlos Mello, Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice Advogados
Sergio Galvis, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Allen Miller, Chadbourne & Parke LLP

30 minute coffee break

11.15-12.00 Regulating takeovers as public company ownership evolves

As companies evolve from a controlling shareholder model to ownership by a broad base, securities regulators are shifting their focus from protecting minority shareholders to finding a new balance of rights and obligations of the bidder, the target and the target’s shareholders. This panel will investigate the regulatory developments behind the shift and look forward to how this will play out in 2011.

Moderator: João Ricardo de Azevedo Ribeiro, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados
Henrique Vergara, BM&F Bovespa
Todd Crider, Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Fernando de Magalhães Furlan, CADE

15 minute coffee break

12.15- 13.00 Hostile takeovers

As targets get snapped up in the M&A boom, Latin America is seeing an increase in hostile takeovers – but how real is the threat? As well as measuring the trend, this panel will look at what form hostile takeovers will take, how they will be defended, and what role increased shareholder activism will play.

Moderator: Paulo Cezar Aragão, Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão Advogados
Jon Bisgaier, BTG Pactual
Maria Cristina Cescon, Souza, Cescon, Barrieu & Flesch Advogados
Nick Grabar, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

13.00 Lunch

14.30 – 15.30 General counsel perspective

Leading general counsel will discuss acquisition strategies within Brazil, regionally and globally, as well as the key issues which crop up from deal to deal – including their recurring “do’s and don’ts” for outside advisors.

Moderator: Francisco Müssnich, Barbosa, Müssnich & Aragão Advogados
Joseph Flom, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Bruno Ferla, Camargo Correa
Pedro Mariani, AmBev
Fernando Merino, CSN
Alexandre Silva D’Ambrosio, Votorantim

15 minute coffee break

15.45-16.30 Around the region

This panel will investigate key M&A developments across countries in the region, and the main similarities and differences in getting high-profile deals done.

Moderator: Alejandro Linares, Gomez-Pinzon Zuleta Abogados
Enrique Bruchou, Bruchou, Fernández Madero & Lombardi
Fulvio Italiani, D’Empaire Reyna Abogados
Jose Antonio Payet, Payet Rey Cauvi Abogados
José Maria Eyzaguirre, Claro y Cia
Jose Luis Freire, TozziniFreire Advogados

15 minute coffee break

16.45-17.30 Private equity

Private equity deals in Latin America are picking back up dramatically after the crisis, with billions raised ready to spend. What is the focus of investment, in terms of both countries and industries, and what is the availability and use of credit? What role can local partners play, and what are the legal and regulatory hurdles?

Moderator: Alberto Bragança, Xavier, Bernardes, Bragança, Sociedade de Advogados
Fernando Shayer, Tarpon Investmentos
Jorge Carey, Carey y Cia
Eduardo Samara, General Atlantic
Pablo Trad Cepeda, Mijares, Angoita, Cortes y Fuentes SC

17.30 CLOSE

18.30 CESA cocktails

All delegates are invited to the annual CESA cocktail held at the Jockey Club