The ESG team will be led by partners María Fernanda Mierez and Manuel Frávega.

“The firm is deeply committed to collaborating in the strengthening of a more sustainable society; its professionals with expertise in different practice areas provide comprehensive ESG solutions to clients in the formation of legal structures for triple-impact businesses, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions and other transactions; environmental law and climate change; impact investing, including social, green and sustainable (SVS) bonds, carbon credits, microfinance, private social investment and philanthropy,” the firm said in a statement.

The ES department also specializes in advising clients on obtaining social licenses to operate, as well as advising on corporate governance, compliance and risk assessments. The firm’s team also provides advice on administrative law related to national, provincial and/or municipal tenders; dispute resolution and litigation; value chain and sustainable procurement protocols; human rights and business; and alignment of ESG legal strategies with SDG goals.

Horacio E. Beccar Varela, managing partner, stated that "I am very proud of the new conformation of this department, which has already been providing the most complete service offering in Argentina in each ESG pillar. We have worked very hard for several years to strengthen and consolidate our expertise across the spectrum, as well as to demonstrate that we practice what we preach. I am confident that clients will appreciate the depth and breadth of what we offer."

For her part, Fernanda Mierez, partner and co-head of the firm's ESG and corporate law departments, highlighted the social and corporate governance aspects: "Social commitment and inclusion is part of our DNA. We participate in financial inclusion initiatives by advising our major financial clients on impact investments and SVS bond issuance, including the implementation of innovative regulatory changes, such as allowing non-profit organizations to participate in the domestic capital market”.

She also highlighted the firm’s “understanding of corporate governance, which allows us to advise our clients on board regulations that incorporate the impact lens, as well as to observe our own practices and transparently report on our own progress through our corporate sustainability reports".

For his part, Manuel Frávega, lead partner of the environmental law and climate change department and co-head of the ESG department, highlighted the firm's unique service offering: "At the beginning of 2022, Beccar Varela was the first firm in Argentina to specifically incorporate climate change into its legal services, advising clients on climate change risks and compliance in their operations and value chains. Our environmental due diligence encompasses sustainable and green business practices, including related social issues such as community involvement in environmental licensing processes. We are confident that this innovation in climate change has served to complement and complete a comprehensive ESG practice”.

As part of Beccar Varela's ongoing commitment to innovation and environmental, social and corporate governance issues, it was the first full-service law firm in Argentina to join the United Nations Global Compact, as well as to issue a Corporate Sustainability Report, being the only firm in the country to do so. It was also a pioneer in inaugurating a Public Affairs Department in 2022, the year in which it celebrated its 125th anniversary.