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PRACTICE AREA

Cross-Border
Mergers & Acquisitions

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FDI screening, due diligence, SPA negotiation, joint ventures, and post-closing disputes — with particular focus on Iberian and Latin American transactions.

International M&A is increasingly shaped by regulatory complexity. FDI screening regimes can extend closing timelines by months and structurally affect deal economics. Additional EU compliance layers apply to non-EU buyers.
VLO advises strategic and financial sponsors on cross-border acquisitions where Iberian or Latin American targets sit alongside European or non-EU buyers. We cover the full transaction lifecycle: regulatory clearance, due diligence, SPA negotiation, antitrust filings, and the post-closing disputes that often follow complex deals.
Typical engagement length: 3–9 months for transaction work; 6–24 months for post-closing disputes. Deal values typically €10M–€500M+.
QUICK INQUIRY
WHAT WE DO
Send a brief for this practice
Cross-border M&A and post-closing disputes
WHEN CLIENTS COME TO US
Three common scenarios

FDI CLEARANCE

You are a non-EU buyer acquiring an Iberian target. You need FDI screening coordinated with antitrust filings and a timeline that holds the deal together.
POST-CLOSING DISPUTE
An earn-out dispute, a warranty breach claim, or a MAC clause invocation has emerged after closing. You need litigation or arbitration counsel familiar with the SPA.
JOINT VENTURE FORMATION
You are establishing a cross-border JV with Iberian-LatAm operations. You need shareholder agreement enforceability across multiple jurisdictions.
OUR APPROACH
Engagement methodology

SCOPING

Identify all jurisdictions and forums involved

STRATEGY MEMO

Procedural map, merits, fees — 5 business days.

EXECUTION

Local counsel coordinated by VLO partner

RESOLUTION

Settlement, award, or judgment — coordinated.

WHY VLO
Differentiators for this practice
PARTNER OWNERSHIP
One named partner stays on the matter from first call to final outcome. No reassignment, no transition meetings.
Local counsel managed by VLO — clients receive one consolidated reporting in English, not separate bills from multiple firms.
CROSS-BORDER COORDINATION
TRANSPARENT FEES
Fixed-fee, capped, or hourly with monthly caps — chosen at engagement. No surprises in billing.
No press without explicit consent. Confidential by default. Enhanced communications encryption.
DISCRETION
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
Selected practice areas in action.
Examples illustrate the type of matter VLO handles in this practice. Specifics are withheld for confidentiality.
M&A
Cross-border acquisition
Co-counsel on regulatory clearance for non-EU buyer of Iberian target; coordinated antitrust filing simultaneously.
CORPORATE
Earn-out dispute
Acted for European sellers in dispute over earn-out calculation methodology; resolved through expert determination.
M&A
Joint-venture formation
Acted for Iberian sponsor in formation of cross-border joint venture with regional operating partner.
LEAD PARTNERS FOR THIS PRACTICE
ADJACENT PRACTICES
Often combined with
CORPORATE DISPUTES
When post-closing dispute arises.
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When earn-out or warranty claim escalates.
LITIGATION
TAX DISPUTES
When transaction tax positions are contested.
EXPLORE →
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Common questions
Do you act buyer-side or seller-side?
Both. Conflict-of-interest clearance is verified at scoping. Our typical buyer clients are strategic acquirers and PE sponsors; our seller clients are founders and family-owned groups.

We handle commercial M&A, regulatory, and dispute components. Tax structuring is coordinated with specialist tax counsel — often our Tax Disputes team where ongoing positions need to be defended.
Can you handle the full transaction including tax structuring?
What jurisdictions do you cover for M&A?
Direct presence in Iberia and Continental Europe. Latin America through Daniel Ríos's network. Other jurisdictions through vetted local counsel.
Both. PE sponsors often need additional regulatory work which we coordinate with fund counsel.
Do you handle private equity or only strategic M&A?
WE ARE TYPICALLY ENGAGED BY
Who comes to VLO
GENERAL COUNSEL & CHIEF LEGAL OFFICERS
Of European, MENA, and CIS-linked industrial groups facing a cross-border dispute that cannot be resolved within their existing panel. We are typically called when the matter spans more than two jurisdictions or where local counsel coordination has stalled.
CFOs & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS
Of cross-border PE sponsors and family-owned holdings. Engagement triggers: post-closing earn-out disputes, FDI screening for non-EU buyers, tax controversy with international dimension.
HEADS OF SPECIAL SITUATIONS
At credit funds, banks, and institutional creditors pursuing recovery against layered debtor structures. We coordinate parallel enforcement campaigns across multiple jurisdictions as a single integrated mandate.
FAMILY OFFICES & PRIVATE PRINCIPALS
With multi-jurisdictional structures and disputes that require discretion alongside technical complexity. Our boutique model, partner-led engagement, and standing confidentiality protocols make this a natural fit.
Have a M&A transaction or post-closing dispute?
Send the brief — we respond within one business day.
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