Photo: J. Albert Diaz/ALM

Greenberg Traurig, which two months ago lost several partners and associates who were part of its Latin America team, has hired Hogan Lovells partner Oscar Stephens as a corporate shareholder in New York to be part of its Latin America practice.

Stephens will work closely with Greenberg’s Miami and Mexico City offices. Stephens focuses his practice on representing issuers, borrowers, underwriters, and lenders in capital markets and general financing transactions in Latin America. He is a native of Chile and conducts business in both English and Spanish.

“Having had the opportunity to work with Oscar many times over the years, I am proud that he is now part of [our] team,” Marc Rossell, co-chairman of the firm’s Latin America practice, said in a statement. “He is an experienced lawyer with a passion for client services, who understands the importance of serving as a trusted advisor.”

The addition comes less than two months after Morrison & Foerster launched a Latin America practice in Miami by poaching four corporate and cross-border partners from Greenberg.

In the wake of the departures, Greenberg Traurig announced the elevation of Mexico City office managing partner José Raz Guzmán and Rossell to co-chairmen of the firm’s Latin America practice.

Oscar Stephens

Stephens has assisted corporations, financial institutions, and sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities in Latin America in cross-border deals, ranging from unsecured debt issuances to highly complex structured finance products. His experience will be valuable to Greenberg and its clients, Guzmán said.

Stephens also said the move to Greenberg would be valuable for his clients.

“My clients already know Greenberg Traurig’s LatAm brand, reputation, and its team, one of the largest in the world, with nearly 100 lawyers in New York, Mexico, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C.,” he said in a statement. “I am really excited to be able to share those resources with them. Additionally, I look forward to working with Marc, who is a longtime colleague and a highly respected capital markets attorney.”

Hogan Lovells did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the departure.