Antonio Arias is a Partner at DLA Piper Argentina, he co-leads DLA Piper Argentina’s M&A Department and leads its Venture Capital Department. Antonio also serves as Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Latin America Regional Group for Emerging Growth and Venture Capital.
Antonio specializes in advising international and local clients doing business in Argentina and in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture capital in Latin America; he also advises local and international clients on corporate matters. Antonio counsels large technology companies such as Ericsson, Proofpoint, DEPT Agency, Innovid Inc., Avenga, Gameloft, Vivendi, Booking.com. He also advices large Private Equity companies acting in the region, such as Advent International, The Carlyle Group, Oaktree, Cornerstone, CIVC Partners, Patria, and 3i, and large banks such as Banco Votorantim, Citibank, The Royal Bank of Canada, and Banco Itaú. Among other clients that stand out in his portfolio we can point out Tyson Foods, The Scoular Company, Seaspan Corporation, Lactalis, Brasil Foods.
Antonio is also a specialist in advising startups throughout different stages of their corporate life, from pre-seed to later stage and exits, including in the creation of their legal structure, financing rounds (from pre-seed and seed (SAFEs; Convertible Notes) to equity rounds (Series A, B, and later), and in regulatory affairs and cross-border expansion. He has advised clients to qualify as investees of Y Combinator. Among other startups, he has recently advised Karvi, Bookaway, Elevva, Colegium, Crehana Education, El Callao, Uali, Digiventures, Hopper, Plataforma 10, Bel Community, Gympass, Hubbing.
Additionally, he has substantial experience in credit facilities, project finance and capital markets. Throughout his career he has led and actively participated in the issuance of corporate bonds and equity and sovereign bonds (including under Reg S and Rule 144A) secured and unsecured, other secured and unsecured financings, corporate and sovereign debt restructurings, banking transactions, listing of shares in the NYSE and Buenos Aires Stock Exchange for local and foreign companies, and cross-border project finance transactions.
Antonio is regular counsel to one of the largest renewable energy project developers in Argentina and other companies acting in the energy sector. He has advised clients in the context of the RenovAr renewable program and thermal energy projects, including but not limited to concession and tender offer proceedings, drafting and negotiation of EPCs, O&Ms and other agreements and documentation.