Hermenegildo Altozano

Practice Areas

Energy | Infrastructure | International arbitration | M&A | Private Equity | Commercial contracts | Corporate & company law matters

Career

Hermenegildo is the partner who leads the Pinsent Masons’ Energy and Infrastructure department in the Madrid office. He regularly advises on energy projects and operations both, in Spain and Latin America and has extensive experience in investment protection and arbitration in Latin America. Hermenegildo joined Pinsent Masons from Bird & Bird, where he was head of the Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure practice.

Given the unique expertise of Hermenegildo Altozano in Cuba, where he has been advising foreign investors for more than 25 years, Pinsent Masons has established a Cuban Desk. Hermenegildo Altozano has his legal title validated and registered with the Ministry of High Education of the Republic of Cuba.

Hermenegildo is considered by the main international law directories (Chambers & Partners) to be the top expert in foreign investment in Cuba, where he regularly advises some of the main market players in the energy (power, oil and gas), infrastructures (airports), natural resources (mining), aviation, agribusiness, tourism and food and beverage industries.

He formed part of the legal team which first designed the rules governing the electricity market in Spain in 1997. He has also advised private investors in conflicts relating to the energy industry in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Cuba.

He is co-director of the Energy and Regulation Forum of the foundation Fundación para la Investigación sobre el Derecho y la Empresa (FIDE), has been director of the Energy Law program at Instituto de Empresa (Madrid) and associate professor of Private International Law at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (Madrid).

He was awarded Best energy lawyer in Spain (Client Choice Award) by the International Law Office in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. He was also voted Lawyer of the Year in 2012 and 2016 by Best Lawyers for the Natural Resources industry. In autumn 2012, Hermenegildo’s team was awarded Spanish Energy Law Firm of the Year by Acquisition International. In 2017, 2018 and 2020 his practice was awarded by Chambers & Partners Latin America Awards as International Counsel in Cuba and, additionally, recognised as Star Individual within Corporate/Commercial work in Cuba.

Professional Memberships

• Member of Madrid Bar Association (ICAM)

• Member of the Academic Council of Fide Foundation

Languages Spoken

• Spanish

• English