Our Fields of Work

Hughes & Hughes has built a global-scope legal practice. The specialization of our professionals in different law areas and in the different industrial and business activities carried out by our clients has enabled us to encompass world globalization. Accelerated changes in today's business world require from our attorneys prompt adaptation and close attention to identify and meet our clients needs and the needs of our new foreign clients willing to develop activities in Uruguay.

In this respect, we are proud of having been chosen by major multinational companies well established in Uruguay to handle their affairs, on the grounds that our firm is a pioneer in advising enterprises developing activities that are new to our country.

Although corporate and business matters represent our core activity, Hughes & Hughes is fully equipped to provide comprehensive legal assistance in line with the strategic planning needs of international and domestic clients, whether already operating in Uruguay or merely exploring business and investment opportunities in the country. In addition to the topics described in the next sections, the qualifications, training, and expertise of our professionals allow our firm to successfully provide legal advice in areas such as civil law, maritime and aeronautical law, environmental law, mining and energy law, telecommunications, securities, entertainment, migration and residence, real estate, insurance, consumer protection, and product liability.

Our clients operate in different fields comprising oil and gas, banking, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aeronautics, airports, hotels, forestry, food and beverages, IT, entertainment, insurance, mining, photography, consumer goods, cosmetics, services, and trade.

Business and Corporations

Since 1919, when our firm registered a branch of a company belonging to the Shell Group, to this year's handling the financing of the largest investment project ever developed in Uruguay, Hughes & Hughes has never ceased offering guidance to major multinational companies.

Corporate issues such as the incorporation of companies under any form of legal structure for clients newly arrived to the Uruguayan market as well as for those already established in our country are part of the services we offer on a daily basis. Our assistance includes the preparation of shareholders' meetings; reorganization, spin-off, or winding-up transactions, and any relevant issues.

Decades of work in this field have helped us acquire substantial experience in the drafting of corporate bylaws, shares and assets purchase agreements, joint ventures, and shareholders' agreements. In the day-to-day activities of a high number of multinational companies doing business in Uruguay, Hughes & Hughes provides the drafting and revision of all business, distribution, franchise, service, and of technology agreements.

In the M&A area, Hughes & Hughes has helped accomplish some of the major transactions in a wide variety of industries and businesses. Our firm provides counseling to both sellers and buyers, and is directly involved in structuring and implementing these transactions. In this respect, we have developed an expertise in due diligence reviews, advising our clients during the decision-making process, and in assessing any existing contingencies.

Our international practice is supported by frequent and extensive worldwide travel by many of our attorneys. This experience gives us a thorough understanding of foreign business cultures and legal environment, which provides us with essential knowledge and tools when offering advice to the foreign investor acquiring equity, arranging for financing, or entering into different types of agreements.

Banking and Financing

In this field, Hughes & Hughes provides regulatory advice to commercial and investment banks and other financial institutions. The starting point of our services is obtaining domestic and offshore licenses.

On behalf of financial institutions and corporate borrowers, we have participated and been involved in the preparation and review of loans and other credit facilities, promissory notes, trade financing, export credits, and all related contracts. Together with our notarial department, we handle pledges, mortgages, and other sureties for the benefit of the lender.

Hughes & Hughes' experience in project financing, asset-based financing, and lease transactions includes tourism, hotels, industrial plants, and mining projects.

In the field of capital markets, we have participated in the largest issue of commercial papers in Uruguay.

Administrative Law and Government Procurement

The development of business between the private and the public sectors has increased our expertise on all aspects of administrative law. Our work has been mainly focused on bidding proceedings, privatization processes, and public work concessions.

Returning assets to the private sector may require legal services for both sides, the private client and the governmental agency involved. Hughes & Hughes has acted on behalf of both such parties.

Our firm has developed a special team led by lawyers and supported by a qualified staff to regularly prepare and submit, working together with our clients, proposals to bids and other government procurements. We take pride in highlighting that when working in bid proceedings, due to our infrastructure, technology, and trained staff, our clients usually choose to prepare their proposals at our premises.

Our expertise in this area covers also the follow-up of proceedings, and the negotiation and execution of any required agreement with the governmental agency involved. The active role we played in all major bidding proceedings that have taken place in Uruguay during the past years has given Hughes & Hughes a broad experience in the interpretation of the applicable general bidding regulations and practices and of the statutes of individual governmental agencies. Our participation in past bids comprises airlines, telecommunications, oil, gas, computer technology, airports, and the supply of a wide variety of goods and services.

An important part of our tasks requires dealing directly with the Government. We have had a significant performance in negotiating with the Government different contracts in the field of oil, regarding distribution, bunkers, and aircraft refueling.

Telecommunications and Information Technologies

Our Telecommunications and IT Group provides a full range of legal services to clients involved in all aspects of this ever-changing industry, assisting clients to achieve their goals in complex business and funding transactions, and in the regulatory, legislative, and litigation arenas.

Hughes & Hughes´ clients include large multinational corporations as well as small recently-created companies seeking to provide new, state-of-the-art services, covering a wide range of industry segments such as Cable TV, Satellite Services, Internet Services, Wireless Operators, Radio and TV, Telephone, Tower and Site Owners, etc.

Labor Law and Employment

Working within a strongly regulated labor system has required from our lawyers a high specialization and a great ingenuity. The vast experience acquired by our team has resulted in a command of the subject, to such an extent that certain members of our firm have actively participated in the development of regulations.

In this area, legal prevention is, above all, a critical factor. Given the poor flexibility of the labor environment, our efforts are devoted to creating structures that may comply with the regulations in force but still allow companies to conduct their business in line with the requirements of their international organization.

Our daily practice includes all matters required to meet employers' needs. Our tasks include drafting labor contracts and handbooks at all levels; developing and implementing personnel policies, evaluation and compensation mechanisms, and incentive programs; tailoring stock-option and retirement plans; developing sensitive personnel dismissal and severance packages; drafting and negotiating collective bargaining agreements; and managing individual and collective disputes.

We are familiar with the procedures for obtaining work permits for overseas executives transferred to Uruguay and with immigration matters generally.

Hughes & Hughes has successfully accomplished reorganization and restructuring schemes for long-standing companies in Uruguay, involving an 80% headcount reduction and avoiding all types of conflicts.

The ongoing advice we offer includes OSHA and environmental issues.

Our lawyers regularly participate in hearings at the Ministry of Labor, the Social Security Office, and labor courts. In this respect we are proud to show a remarkable rate of success in administrative claims and lawsuits.

Taxation

When providing advice on our clients' transactions or developing business structures, Hughes & Hughes focuses on the tax implications of the deal.

The tax matters handled include planning corporate and contractual transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, joint ventures, guarantees, lease and transfer of business and assets, and financing.

The use of the Uruguayan offshore companies, free zone system and international tax treaties is considered whenever they may result in benefits for commercial, tax, and financial planning purposes.

We help to devise appropriate legal structures in the light of the applicable taxation and regulatory requirements in the relevant jurisdictions.

In the absence of laws and regulations, and on a preventive basis, we cooperate with the Tax Office in the creation of solutions for new activities.

We handle tax disputes and, where necessary, litigation on tax issues.

Mercosur and Foreign Trade

The current integration process at the regional level and worldwide requires detailed and timely information on the undergoing changes. As part of our services, we provide support on trading instruments to well-established domestic and foreign clients as well as to newcomers attracted to the region. Our clients are regularly updated on the legal developments that may increase their competitiveness in the new regional framework.

Intellectual Property

Hughes & Hughes is specialized in providing legal advice with respect to patents and trademarks, copyrights, and the closely related fields of computer, technology, and telecommunications rights.

In particular, we are well experienced in prosecuting, defending and enforcing such rights in administrative and court jurisdictions.

The administrative filing and registration of intellectual property is carried out through the mediation of associated firms.

Litigation and Arbitration

Although we mainly engage in offering consultative and preventive services, Hughes & Hughes conducts litigation in commercial, corporate, administrative, labor, tax, and customs matters.

Mediation and arbitration, as well as other alternative dispute resolution methods are currently used as an alternative to traditional litigation. We always seek an expeditious and cost-effective solution to our clients' disputes.

In our role as corporate lawyers, in court we mainly act as defendants. Hughes & Hughes has, however, been long recognized for its success in litigation, negotiation, and out-of-court settlements.

Our tradition and expertise in litigation has allowed us, over time, to provide preventive solutions as soon as a conflict has arisen. The knowledge gained from each case is capitalized and applied to the future benefit of our clients.