Marval OFarrell Mairal

Our Firm

Founded in 1923, Marval O’Farrell Mairal is the largest law firm in Argentina. A market leader at both local and Latin American levels, the firm has been providing sophisticated, high-quality advice to international and local clients for 100 years.

The firm comprises over 300 lawyers and has wide experience of international business issues and the complexities of cross-border transactions. Our unmatched strength allows us to react quickly and to simultaneously handle large, complex and time-consuming transactions without compromising on quality.

We have a strong focus on high-end corporate and finance transactions and the largest, most active litigation and arbitration practice in Argentina. Our leading intellectual property department has unrivalled experience. We are also a market leader in a wide range of other key practice areas including tax, fintech, labor and employment, competition/antitrust, energy and natural resources, compliance, anticorruption and investigations, administrative and public law, insurance and reinsurance, telecommunications, media and technology, as well as real estate and construction.

All our teams are led directly by highly experienced partners and carefully tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients.

Our History

The Firm was originally started in 1923 by two brothers, Juan and Enrique de Marval, as an agency specializing in industrial and intellectual property matters. During its first years, Marval O’Farrell Mairal overcame several local and international crises, such as the Wall Street crash of 1929, World War II, and many changes in Argentina’s government administration.

Thanks to the incorporation of Jorge E. O’Farrell in 1938, the Firm launched its new name: Marval & O’Farrell. With O’Farrell´s arrival, the legal department was set up, allowing for the expansion of the Firm’s business law areas of practice, especially general commercial law, tax law and industrial property law.

The new legal department, where many of the lawyers could communicate fluently with their clients in English, French and German led to the Firm being recognized abroad. The Firm quickly gained an international clientele and reputation, and became known as one of the most prestigious law firms not only in Argentina but also in the region.

Over the ensuing years, the Firm continued to grow, and by 1962 it had to move offices from the iconic Shell building to larger premises.

In 1989, the Firm became a founding member of LexMundi, the world's leading association of independent law firms, offering legal advice around the globe.

It was not until 1991 that the firm acquired the name Marval O’Farrell Mairal, after the arrival of Héctor A. Mairal.

The Firm’s relationship with international law firms has been reinforced over the years. Marval O’Farrell Mairal has cultivated strong relations with the leading law firms in the United States, Europe and Latin America.

In 1997, the Firm implemented a new trainee program, and since then the program has trained more than 500 young lawyers. In 2001, the Firm became an active member of the Pro Bono and Public Interest Committee of the Buenos Aires Bar Association.

The Firm continued to grow despite many setbacks in Argentina and in 2001 it grew approximately 150%. In 2007, it acquired a second office to accommodate its growing numbers. The Firm kept both sites for 10 years until it moved to a single site, large enough to house the whole firm, in the heart of the city of Buenos Aires.

With strong ties to the art world, in 2017, Marval O' Farrell Mairal reinforced its cultural values by launching MarvalArt, an initiative closely linked to Pro Bono practice, which donates an important percentage of the sale of the artwork to sponsor one of the NGOs that the Firm supports.

With its continued growth, the Firm currently comprises more than 300 professionals. It offers a wide range of legal services to local and foreign commercial and investment banks, important local and multinational companies, public sector clients and international credit organizations.

The Firm has received multiple recognitions, such as Who’s Who Legal’s Argentina Law Firm of the Year, Managing IP Law Firm of the Year and several Latin Lawyer Deal of the Year awards, as well as the most important award in the legal sector: Chambers & Partners’ Latin America Law Firm of the Year award.

Thanks to its lawyers’ talent, dedication and commitment, Marval O’Farrell Mairal has set up a unique network that has made it one of the most prestigious law firms across the globe