María LuisaCánovas

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New York + 1.212.326.3926

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María Luisa Cánovas has more than 25 years of experience in a diverse corporate practice focused on cross-border M&A, joint ventures, private equity, and restructurings. Her practice focuses on cross-border M&A throughout Latin America, where she has extensive experience in the energy, infrastructure, pharma, media, retail, and hospitality sectors.

María Luisa has worked on substantial matters with public companies such as Sanofi, PepsiCo, and News Corporation; private equity funds such as Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, and Playa Hotels & Resorts; and Latin American-based companies such as Betesh International and Livsmart Américas. She routinely negotiates matters in Spanish, Portuguese, and French and drafts agreements in English governed by New York law.

Prior to joining Jones Day, María Luisa's representative experience included advising News Corporation in a series of complex transactions with DirecTV, Globo, Grupo Televisa, and Liberty Media in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia.

María Luisa is a regular speaker at international legal conferences and a frequent author on articles on cross-border M&A. María Luisa is a director of the U.S.-Mexico Bar Association and a former director of Paz y Cooperación, a Spanish non-for-profit. She is a member of the Madrid Bar Association.

María Luisa serves as the chair for the Women's Initiative and We LEAD immigration programs of Jones Day's New York Office. She is also a member of the Firm's Diversity Committee.

Experience

  • Sanofi sells 12 brands to Hypera PharmaJones Day advised Sanofi in the sale to Hypera Pharma of 12 over-the-counter and prescription brands in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, including mouthwash Cepacol and antipyretic AAS.
  • Solvay sells barium, strontium and sodium percarbonate businesses to Latour CapitalJones Day advised Solvay S.A., a publicly listed chemical company based in Brussels, Belgium, on the combined sale of its technical-grade barium and strontium business in Germany, Spain and Mexico, and its sodium percarbonate business in Germany to Latour Capital.
  • Portobello Capital portfolio company acquires BDS Natural ProductsJones Day advised Portobello Capital Gestion SA SGEIC in connection with the acquisition by portfolio company Sabater Spices of BDS Natural Products, a California based producer of botanical and spice ingredients in the North American market, and a key supplier to the food, nutraceutical, and tea industries.
  • Sanofi sold pack of OTC brands to Laboratorios SanferJones Day advised Sanofi in the sale to Laboratorios Sanfer of eye drops Irix in Argentina, the antiseptic Isodine in Mexico and Colombia, and the anti-inflammatory Lonol in Mexico.
  • Sanofi sells pharma manufacturing plants in Venezuela and ColombiaIn two different transactions, Jones Day advised Sanofi in the sale of its pharma manufacturing plants in Venezuela and in Villa Rica, Colombia.
  • The Bank of Nova Scotia provides $80 million financing to ENAP for expansion of offshore O&G facilitiesJones Day advised The Bank of Nova Scotia in connection with a US$80 million multi-draw term loan financing to ENAP Sipetrol Argentina S.A., a subsidiary of the Chilean state-owned company Empresa Nacional del Petróleo, a leading vertically integrated oil and gas E&P company in Latin America and the guarantor of the borrower's obligations under the loan facility.
  • Investcorp International acquires Agromillora CatalanaJones Day advised Investcorp International Ltd. in its acquisition of a majority stake in Agromillora Catalana, S.A., parent holding company of an international group engaged in the production, propagation, and genetic development of woody trees species and rootstocks for agricultural use, from Nazca.
  • INVEX Infraestructura acquires Trafigura Mexico Holding B.V.Jones Day advised INVEX Infraestructura 4, S.A.P.I. de C.V. in the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Trafigura Mexico Holding B.V., which in turn owns 99.99% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of PPM Energy, S.A.P.I. de C.V.
  • Spanish engineering companies issue repackaged notes from PDVSAJones Day advised Spanish engineering companies in connection with the issuance of repackaged notes from Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).
  • Citibank and BBVA-led syndicate of lenders provide $150 million financing to ENAP for expansion of offshore O&G facilitiesJones Day advised Citibank N.A. and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and certain of their respective affiliates as co-lead arrangers and as lenders in connection with a US$150 million multi-draw term loan financing to ENAP Sipetrol Argentina S.A., a subsidiary of the Chilean state-owned company Empresa Nacional del Petróleo, a leading vertically integrated oil and gas E&P company in Latin America and the guarantor of the borrower's obligations under the loan facility.
  • Livsmart acquires controlling interest in largest producer and distributor of fruit juices not-from-concentrate in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and PeruJones Day advised Livsmart Americas, S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Central American Bottling Corporation, in the acquisition, through Livsmart Holdings S.A. (a Panamanian company) and Brookville, S.L. (a special-purpose Spanish company) of a controlling interest in El Carmen, S.A., the largest producer and distributor of fruit juices not-from-concentrate in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Peru through their Citric brand.
  • Leading international group forms joint venture with Devanlay and Lacoste to distribute and sell Lacoste products in Mexico and sixteen other Latin American countriesJones Day represented a leading international group in its joint venture with Devanlay S.A. and Lacoste Holdings, S.A.S. in connection with the distribution and sale of Lacoste products in Mexico and sixteen other Latin American countries.
  • Grupo Investa acquires RBS MexicoJones Day advised Grupo Investa, S.A.P.I. de C.V. in the acquisition of RBS Mexico.

    • The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.

    Handled the acquisition by Tiendas Efe, a consortium formed by Linzor Capital Partners and Grupo Wiese, of La Curaçao, the largest home appliance retailer in Peru, which was named "Private Equity Deal of the Year 2012" by Latin Lawyer.

    Represented DirecTV Latin America and Sky Brasil in their merger, in which DirecTV acquired the interests of News Corporation and Liberty Media in Sky Brasil.

    Represented Fox International in a strategic acquisition of a content provider in Colombia.

    Handled the disposition by a large hospitality group of three hotels in the United States.

    Handled the acquisition by a publicly traded Spanish company of a group of companies in Israel and the United States in the water treatment industry sector.

    Handled the acquisition by a subsidiary of S.A. La Nacion, the Argentine media company, of Impremedia, the leading Hispanic news and information company in the United States.

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    February 2022 Commentaries

    Another Sweeping Wave of Resource Nationalism in Latin America: How to Protect Your Investment

    MARCH 2021 Commentaries

    Latin America M&A—the Year Ahead: Activity and Trends

    August 25, 2020 External Publications

    Why Are Distressed Latin American Companies Seeking U.S. Insolvency Protection?, Latin Lawyer

    August 3, 2020 External Publications

    Restructuring Options Available to Argentine Companies With Assets in the U.S.A., Abogados.com.ar

    July 15, 2020 External Publications

    Latin America M&A’s: Fourth Quarter Comeback?, Latinvex

    June 2020 External Publications

    Chapter 11? A Restructuring Alternative for Big Companies (in collaboration with Morales & Besa (Chile); El Mercurio Newspaper (Chile)

    March 2020 Commentaries

    Latin America: Top Legal Concerns Facing General Counsel in 2020

    June 8, 2019 External Publications

    Jones Day partner is featured in article on Spanish Executives In Wall Street, Expansión

    January 2018 External Publications

    Jones Day partner talks Argentina M&A, investment, economy: BNamericas

    May 2016 Commentaries

    Credit Default Risk in Latin America: A Regional Outlook
    View All

    Additional Publications

    • March 20, 2021
      The Woman Negotiator Workshop - The Ruth Bader Ginsburg Women in Law Conference, Columbia Law School

    Speaking Engagements

    • April 5, 2022
      M&A Introduction – Master in International Law, Fordham Law School
    • January 12, 2022
      Webinar Panel: On Ramp to the Profession; New York City Bar
    • October 26, 2021
      Negotiating Workshop for Lawyers - Commercial Real Estate Seminar - Southern Methodist University Law School
    • July 19, 2021
      Cultural Pitfalls in International Negotiations - U.S. Business Law Academy - Columbia Law School
    • June 24, 2021
      Introduction to Cross-Border Negotiations - Commercial Real Estate Seminar - Southern Methodist University Law School
    • March 20, 2021
      Negotiation Workshop: The Woman Negotiator - Ruth Bader Ginsburg Luncheon - Columbia Law School
    • December 1, 2020
      Webinar Panel: Opportunities and risks for business in Mexico: From the new USMCA to a post-COVID world; Control Risks
    • November 10, 2020
      Webinar Panel: Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America: 2020 and Beyond; Dallas Bar Association, International Law Section
    • October 5, 2020
      Webinar Panel: Mexico 2020 and Beyond - Fighting corruption and uncertainty in investors’ rights in the midst of a pandemic; American Chamber México (Monterrey)
    • September 16, 2020
      Interview: Impact of COVID-19 in Law Firms; Latin Counsel
    • August 11, 2020
      Webinar Panel: Mexico 2020 and Beyond – Critical Issues to Monitor, moderator; U.S. Mexico Bar Association
    • June 24-25, 2020
      Negotiating For Lawyers Class - Commercial Real Estate Seminar - Southern Methodist University Law School, Dallas, Texas
    • June 18-19, 2019
      Trump and Trade – Risks, Opportunities, and Challenges for Latin American Companies, speaker, Posse/Jones Day Event, Colombia
    • March 29, 2019
      Distressed M&A Opportunities, speaker, IBA Mergers and Acquisitions in Latin America Conference 2019
    • March 13, 2019
      Cross-Border Negotiations, speaker, Sanofi's M&A Team
    • June 5, 2018
      "Retos y Avances de la Diversidad de Género como Factor de Desarrollo Económico", speaker, Jones Day Client Event
    • May 23, 2018
      Legal Overview of a Cross-Border M&A Transaction, speaker, Seminario Máster Acceso Abogacía, Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE) Madrid, Spain
    • March 15, 2018
      The Impact of Protectionism in M&A Transations, speaker, Biennial IBA Latin American Regional Forum Conference
    • March 16, 2017
      Financing Investments and M&A in Latin America, speaker, IBA Mergers and Acquisitions in Latin America Conference
    • March 12, 2015
      Development of private equity in Latin America, speaker, IBA Mergers and Acquisitions in Latin America Conference
    • March 11, 2015
      Women in the Profession Conference, WIP leader, Vance Center for International Justice
    • November 3, 2014
      Spain: Global Platform for International Business and Investment
    • October 15, 2014
      Doing Deals in Latin America: Current Developments, Opportunities & Challenges
    • March 24, 2014
      Assessing Investment Opportunities in Spain: An Outlook for 2014
    • March 12, 2014
      2014 Biennal IBA Latin American Regional Forum Young Lawyer's Training Programme, speaker, Universidad de Montevideo (UM)
    • Diciembre 2013
      Jornada "Nuevos retos en Gobierno Corporativo para las empresas españolas", organizada por ESADE y Kreab Gavin Anderson

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