Rodrigo Ibarra

Rodrigo has advised a wide range of national and international companies engaged in power generation, hydrocarbons, telecommunications, banking and finance, industrial sector in general, as well as in trade, agro-business and touristic services. He has also worked on several complex transactions that have involved multi-jurisdictional and multidisciplinary teams, for the structuring and/or acquisition of diverse companies and/or project financing of power generation companies and companies in other sectors. Rodrigo has provided support at the offices of the firm in Panama City in several opportunities.

• Rodrigo advised CMI Energía, one of the largest renewable energy businesses in Latin America, focusing on wind, solar and hydro technologies, in a Green Bond Issuance and a Loan facility Agreement secured by shares. The proceeds of the bond will be used to finance green projects in the categories of renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, and clean transportation. CMI Energía anticipates that this bond will help execute its sustainability priorities and support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• The transaction involved a combination of (i) US$700 million 6.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 (the Notes) issued by Investment Energy Resources Limited (IERL), and (ii) a US$300 million loan (the Loan Facility) provided to IERL by a syndicate of Central American banks. Both the Notes and the Loan Facility are guaranteed by operating subsidiaries of IERL (the Guarantors) and are secured by a pledge of CMI's common stock in the Guarantors.
• Rodrigo advised New Fortress Energy, through its local company NFE (Nicaragua Development Partners LLC, Sucursal Nicaragua) during the legal study of pre investment phase related with the construction of the first liquified natural gas power plant in the country with a capacity of up to 300MW, as well as, in the negotiation of the Power Purchase Agreement with the distributors DISNORTE and DISSUR for $700,000,000.00. He has also advised in different aspects of the Project, including the regulatory, contractual, real estate, and permitting matters before Nicaraguan authorities. This plant will be the first gas-based power generation plant in Nicaragua and the largest generation plant in the country to date. The project is quite complex because it is the first time that a gas-based power generation plant in the country will be developed and there are certain regulatory challenges that must be reviewed and/or negotiated with the Government of Nicaragua in order to be able to complete the project , including regulatory gaps, environmental and tax matters. Currently, Rodrigo is also coordinating all legal matters associated with the construction of a gas pipeline and an acqueduct, as part of the second phase of the Project. Arias Nicaragua continues assisting NFE in this project.
• Rodrigo advised Equinor with the negotiation, drafting and signing of amendments to 4 concession contracts signed with the State of Nicaragua for the exploration and exploitation of an area of about 16,000 km2 in the offshore Nicaragua´s Pacific coast. These amendments were relevant as they modify key terms and conditions concerning operations and activities under each of the 4 concession contracts that were affected due to the COVID-10 pandemic. Furthermore, the amendments came after the law that created the National Company for the Exploration and Exploitation of Hydrocarbons (ENIH) was passed, whereby ENIH was to hold all the rights of the Nicaraguan Oil Company (Petronic), including the rights of the concession contracts to be amended. Such changes in the Nicaraguan legal framework added another level of complexity to the transactions, as it was the first where the Nicaraguan regulator approved the amendment with Petronic leaving the concession contracts and ENIH entering into it.
• Rodrigo advised New Fortress Energy Inc., in the issuing of a private offering of $1,000 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2025 (the “Notes”). The Notes will bear interest at 6.750% per annum and will be issued at an issue price equal to 100% of principal, plus accrued intererests

• Corporate and M&A
• Competition/antitrust

• Energy
• Oil and gas
• Real estate

• International Bar Association (IBA)

• Diploma in Management and Leadership, Keyser University, Nicaragua (2020)
• Diploma in Business Administration for Lawyers, INCAE Business School, Costa Rica and Nicaragua (2015)
• Master degree in Globalization Law, Universidad de Navarra, Spain (2012)
• Grade in Law and post-graduate studies in Corporate Law, Universidad Americana, Nicaragua (2009)