Herbert Smith Freehills bolsters its Finance practice with new Of Counsel Luis Clouet

The Madrid office of Herbert Smith Freehills further strengthens its banking and finance practice, headed by partner Armando García-Mendoza and which also brought in Sergio Cires as partner only in January, with the hire of Luis Clouet as new of counsel.

Boasting more than 15 years of professional experience, Clouet advises and represents investment funds, financial institutions, multilateral agencies, commercial and investment banks, tenderers, project companies, issuers and sponsors in financial transactions of all kinds, including project financing in the energy and infra sectors, sophisticated project bond deals, multicurrency financing and high-yield debt. His expertise also encompasses Rule 144A, Regulation S and 4(a)(2)-format debt deals in the capital markets, representing issuers, investors, investment funds, placement agents and financial institutions.

Clouet is also an expert in cross-border corporate financing, as well as asset financing, M&A financing and commercial transactions. He has represented private corporates and listed companies in the context of international commercial and investment arbitration proceedings in the energy sector.

Before joining Herbert Smith Freehills, Clouet was senior associate in the banking, finance and capital markets department in Clifford Chance's New York office. He has garnered accolades in the most prestigious legal directories, such as Legal 500 USA 2021 (Recommended Lawyer Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power) and International Finance Law Review (Rising Star of the Year).

Clouet has a Degree in Law from the Faculty of Law of Universidad de Buenos Aires, a Masters' Degree in Oil & Gas Law from the same university and a Masters' Degree in International Business Regulation, Litigation and Arbitration from the Faculty of Law of the University of New York. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 2016.

According to Eduardo Soler Tappa, managing partner of Herbert Smith Freehills in Spain, "hiring the leading experts in their field such as Luis will enable us to further strengthen a practice that is due to see considerable growth and activity going forward". He went on to add that, “We will continue to add the best professionals to a top-class team as part of our commitment to offer our clients the best possible advice".

Armando García-Mendoza commented "Luis has the ideal profile and qualities to strengthen our team, offering an additional multijurisdictional dimension to our finance practice. Hiring Luis is highly significant from a strategic standpoint and is totally aligned with the firm's objectives to invest in private capital".