Students Hear DU LLM Graduates Discuss Natural Resources-Related Opportunities in Latin America: Opportunities Need Careful Analysis, Students Told

Two Latin American-based natural resources attorneys -- Diego Parravicini and Leonardo Rodriguez -- who earned LLM degrees at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law spoke to more than 30 current students last week in a teleconference originating from Buenos Aires, Argentina. The two gentlemen presented on the opportunities and risks that should be managed as part of mining investment.

Mr. Rodriguez, a 2008 LLM graduate who practices at Marval O'Farrell & Mairal, began by noting the significant growth Argentina has experienced in recent years in the mining sector. He pointed out that Wang Xuelong, General Director at the China Geological Survey, has said, "We believe Argentina is the most appropriate destination for mining investments due to its huge geological potential." Mr. Rodriquez also noted that while Chile and Peru have been extensively explored for natural resources potential, less than half of Argentina has been similarly explored. As a result, in 2009 about $1.9 billion (US) was invested in the Argentina mining industry, a more than 1,000 percent growth rate since 2003. He also pointed to the rapid rise in minerals-related exports during the last decade. Mr. Rodriguez finished his presentation by describing a "favorable legal framework," which has resulted in large foreign investments in Argentina.

Mr. Parravicini, a 2009 LLM graduate who now practices law at Estudio Beccar Varela, spoke about the relative risks of investing in mining in Argentina. He began by noting that some provinces have banned the use of cyanide for mining. He also discussed the taxation on companies with fiscal stability benefits and zoning regulations that need to be taken into account of before investing. He emphasized that some risks need to be evaluated and managed by potential investors.

Looked at as a whole, the joint presentation provided students an excellent view of how these two Latin American lawyers analyze potential mining projects on behalf of their clients.

Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy (ENRL) program, said, "What made the session so valuable was for students to hear what it is like to operate 'on the ground,' to speak, in a Latin American country that has attracted considerable outside investment interest. Few U.S. law schools can boast that they have graduates who are working on a daily basis in Latin America on resources issues that must be undertaken in a considered and careful way by investors."

Lucy Daberkow, Assistant Director for the ENRL Graduate Program said, "DU is very fortunate to have among our graduates Leo and Diego, who are establishing themselves as mining law experts in Argentina and Latin America more broadly. Our current students benefited from hearing Leo and Diego talk about the realities of investing in Argentina, both in terms of the upside and in terms of risks to be managed."

DU has a long history of attracting some of Latin America's best lawyers to the LLM program. These students enrich the overall diversity of the ENRL program as well as contribute to the global nature of how natural resources are taught at DU.

Mr. Rodriguez' presentation can be accessed by clicking here. Mr. Parrivicini's presentation can be accessed by clicking here.

Two DU LLM Graduates Who Practice Law in Argentina to Speak January 27 About Latin American Natural Resources Developments

Two Latin American natural resources experts, Diego Parravicini and Leonardo Rodriguez, who are graduates of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law will speak about recent developments in the Latin American natural resources sector on Thursday, January 27, at the College of Law.

The presentation, which will take the form of a video conference from Buenos Aries, where the two men work, to Denver, will take place in room 270 from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

Mr. Parravicini will address natural resources developments in Argentina while Mr. Rodriguez will talk about Chinese interest in investing in Latin America. There will be time at the end of the presentation for questions and answers.

Mr. Parravicini earned an LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law in 2009. While at DU, he was awarded a Scholastic Excellence Award for International Environmental Law. Following his study at DU, he worked as a foreign attorney at the office of Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP in Denver. Currently he works at Estudio Beccar Varela in Argentina. His practice areas include natural resources and environmental law.

Mr. Rodriguez earned an LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law in 2008. While at DU, he earned the 2007-2008 Outstanding Student Award in the LLM program. Following graduation from DU, Mr. Rodriguez worked as a foreign associate in the mining law department of Holland & Hart in Denver. Mr. Rodriguez, whose current work focuses on mining law, has been a member of Marval, O'Farrell & Mairal since 2000.

Don C. Smith, director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program at DU, said, "The world's need for natural resources is steadily rising. One of the areas of the world where significant opportunities exist is Latin America. We are delighted that Leo and Diego, two of our most accomplished LLM graduates, will share their insights with us. I strongly encourage any students interested in natural resources, environmental, foreign, and business law to join us for what will be an informative and enjoyable session."

Students interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP before January 26 to Mike Dietrich by clicking here.

Diego Parravicini, 2009 LLM Graduate, Writes and Speaks From Argentina

Diego Parravicini, who earned his LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, has had a busy year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he practices law with one of Latin America's most important firms Estudio Beccar Varela.

In November, he was published in EL DERECHO, one of the most prestigious law journals in Argentina. He wrote a paper analyzing the case “Cerro Vanguardia vs. DGI,” in which the Supreme Court of Argentina determined the scope of the fiscal stability benefit set forth by the Argentine Mining Investment Law, within the context of the promotion purposes (fomento) established by such mining fiscal regime. The article’s introduction is below. (The article is available in Spanish, upon request.)

"The system of incentives embodied in the Mining Investment Law 24 196 (LIM) was designed by the National Congress in order to promote the growth of the mining industry in Argentina. Indeed, the framework of benefits established by the LIM was aimed at encouraging the development of the mining sector through the implementation of conditions that decrease the risk of investment and attract capital. One of the most important benefits that the LIM granted to those who abide by it is the fiscal stability, i.e. the protective shield that ensures the investor a thirty year period of unmodified tax burden current to the moment of presentation of their feasibility study. The real extent of this benefit was considered by the Supreme Court's Office (CS) in 'Cerro Vanguardia SA (TF 22172-I) c. DGI.' This paper aims to analyze the ruling of the Supreme Court in the context of the purpose of promotion established in the LIM."

Also in November he gave a presentation at “Argentina Oro y Plata” a seminar organized by Panorama Minero, the most prestigious mining magazine in Argentina. He talked about a bill, currently under revision, by means of which the Congress is trying to prohibit, among other things, open pit mining and the use of cyanide lixiviation techniques in mining. "Pursuant to my analysis, this bill could possibly be challenged on constitutional grounds, since it is not reasonable and affects certain rights protected by our National Constitution," Diego says. The pictures (above) are from the Mining Law Panel.

Diego also writes:

"Last September I won a scholarship to attend a seminar on wind energy launched by the RENAC (Renewables Academy), a private German company that is working on TREE (Transfer of Renewable Energy & Efficienty), a project that was created to promote the transfer of renewable energy technology to individuals or entities from Third World Countries engaged in such business http://www.tree-project.de/. The Seminar, which was held in Berlin, covered the technical, financial and legal aspects of wind energy."

In conclusion, Diego says "2010 has been a great year for the natural resources law practice at Estudio Beccar Varela. Fortunately, I could participate in very important and interesting deals involving mining, oil and gas and energy matters, representing not only project owners, but also multilateral agencies and private financial entities.”

Felicitaciones Diego y buena suerte en 2011! (Congratulations Diego and good luck in 2011!).

Adios a Nuestro Amigo Diego Parravicini/Goodbye to Our Friend

One of the great attributes -- and joys -- of the environmental and natural resources graduate program is the opportunity it provides to expand our own horizons, both in personal and community terms. Last night is a good example of how we all benefit personally and in a communal sense.

Diego Parravicini (LLM graduate 2008) will soon be returning to his home country, Argentina, to join one of South America's leading law firms, Estudio Beccar Varela. Diego has been a wonderful member of our community since first coming to Denver in August 2007, and I wanted to wish him well on his return home. So what better reason for a mid-summer (in the northern hemisphere at least!) cook out.

Joining me in saying goodbye -- at least for now -- were other members of "our community:" Fred Cheever, DU Professor of Law and newly appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Pedro Camacho (LLM 2009, who hails from Spain) and his wife Olga; Cesar Conde (LLM 2008, Mexico); Lucy Daberkow, Assistant Program Director, her husband Eric, and los angeles Amelie and Emma); Kevin Van Dyke (LLM 2008, U.S.) and his wife Meaghan; Denver attorney and nationally known environmental lawyer Lori Potter (whose law firm Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP employed Diego for the year following Diego's graduation) and her husband Eric; and Ines Vergara (LLM 2002, Argentina).

These occasions are bittersweet in many ways. On one hand, those of us who live in Denver are sad to see a friend and colleague leave. But on the other hand, the community that the graduate program represents is a vibrant and energetic one and just because one is not physically here does not mean that they are not here in spirit. Moreover, as all of us in the program work to establish an even more dynamic community, we are reminded about how our lives will likely intersect again in the future based on our shared interests in the environment, in the careful development of natural resources, and in the health of the planet more broadly.

Those who study in the program will never really be "gone" in the sense our community is a global one. Obviously, for some months or years we may reside in one place -- Denver in this case -- and then move to another place. But the ties that bind us as members of this community are strong and enduring.

And so we say to our friend Diego, "Buen suerte en Buenos Aires y hasta muy pronto!" (Good luck in Argentina and see you very soon!)