Profile
Oscar Stephens is a trusted advisor to sponsors, developers, and financial institutions in renewable energy and infrastructure financings, bringing more than twenty years of experience across the U.S. and emerging markets to every engagement. His practice encompasses a broad range of lending and capital markets transactions, with particular depth in cross-border work throughout Latin America — one of the world's most complex and compelling regions for energy and infrastructure investment.
Oscar's transactional experience spans the full spectrum of sophisticated financings: unsecured and secured syndicated facilities, Rule 144A and Regulation S note offerings, private placements under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, and intricate structured financings of all kinds. He represents banks, borrowers, and issuers in term and construction loans, project bonds, acquisition and leveraged financings, high-yield bond offerings, future flow securitizations, and receivables- and asset-backed financings — consistently delivering clarity, sound judgment and a business-oriented approach to transactions of significant complexity.
In renewable energy and infrastructure, Oscar has developed particular expertise representing sponsors and operators of solar projects, wind farms, international airports, highways, and port terminals. His industry knowledge extends further into oil & gas, banking, financial services, fintech, technology, telecom, manufacturing, and agriculture and food & beverage — giving him a comprehensive understanding of the sectors his clients navigate.
Oscar also counsels growth-stage corporations entering the U.S. market, advising on holding company structures, multi-jurisdictional operations, and venture capital funding. He regularly represents foreign financial institutions on New York law matters and multi-currency facilities, and advises sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities on U.S. securities law compliance.
Conducting business fluently in both English and Spanish, Oscar brings a genuinely bi-cultural and pragmatic perspective that proves invaluable in cross-border transactions. His command of civil law traditions throughout the Americas — combined with deep expertise in non-recourse financing, public-private partnerships, concession and offtake agreements, and BOOT/BOT structures — positions him to navigate the legal and commercial complexities that define the most challenging international deals. This combination of legal fluency, cultural insight, and practical problem-solving has been a defining strength throughout his career.
Concentrations
- Energy
- Infrastructure
- Project finance
- Capital markets
- Private placements
- Financial institutions
- Securitization and structured finance
- Securities and financial regulatory advice
- Company formation
- DFI, ECA, and sovereign wealth finance
- Disclosure and reporting obligations
- Distressed asset management, refinancing, and restructuring
Áreas de Atuação
Experiência
- Represented a Chilean VAT lender as U.S. counsel in the US$495 million financing for the construction of a battery energy storage system with an estimated aggregate nameplate capacity of approximately5 MW, a renewable photovoltaic plant with a nominal capacity of approximately 160 MWAC of solar photovoltaic capacity and 175.5 MW battery capacity in Chile.
- Represented a Chilean VAT lender as U.S. counsel in the US$55 million Holdco equity financing for the construction of a battery energy storage system with an estimated aggregate nameplate capacity of approximately5 MW, a renewable photovoltaic plant with a nominal capacity of approximately 160 MWAC of solar photovoltaic capacity and 175.5 MW battery capacity in Chile.
- Represented a Chilean VAT lender as U.S. counsel in the US$250 million financing for the construction of data centers in Chile with a combined capacity of 23 MW and their corresponding transmission lines, with an US investment-grade offtaker.
- Represented a Spanish IPP developer in the US$48 million financing for the construction and development of a utility-scale solar photovoltaic project with a capacity of approximately 109.76 MWp in Chile.
- Represented a Chilean renewable energy developer in the restructuring of its existing liabilities resulting in a pre-pack Chapter 11 proceeding, resulting in the issuance of US$264 million of take-back senior secured notes, US$14 million of super priority notes and US$160 million of convertible notes.
- Represented a U.S. sponsor in a US$202 million private placement refinancing of 21 photovoltaic project companies in the United States, resulting in the refinancing of its original tax-equity financing.
- Represented a UK-based renewable energy fund in arranging the financing for the acquisition, construction and development of up to 20 photovoltaic project companies in Chile, with an expected total aggregate capacity of 169 MW.
- Represented a Chilean bank as U.S. counsel in the US$150 million private placement refinancing of 38 photovoltaic project companies in Chile.
- Represented a government-controlled Trinidadian company in the US$100 private placement issuance of notes secured by the revenue of a port located in Port of Spain.
- Represented a Colombian private equity fund in the mezzanine financing via private placement for the acquisition of the minority interests in two port operator companies in Colombia, for an aggregate of $55 million.
- Represented a Chilean renewable energy developer in the financing of a portfolio of 24 PMGD photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of 72 MWp, estimated at $86.6 million.
- Represented a Chilean VAT lender as U.S. counsel in the financing of the acquisition of a portfolio consisting in 20 photovoltaic project companies in Chile, with an expected total aggregate capacity of 101 MW.
- Represented a Uruguayan airport operator in the restructuring and issuance of $246 million in notes, issued in reliance on Rule 144A/Regulation S.
- Represented a Chilean renewable energy developer in the offering and issuance of a $403 million green bond for the refinancing of two wind farms in northern Chile.
- Represented a Mexican renewable energy sponsor in a $57 million syndicated loan facility to finance the acquisition of small-scale solar projects in Mexico.
- Represented a Chilean VAT lender as U.S. counsel in the financing of the development and construction of 160 MWp solar photovoltaic project located in Valparaiso, Chile, and its transmission line.
- Represented a Chilean VAT lender as U.S. counsel in the financing of construction of 231.5 MWp solar photovoltaic project located in Chile.
- Represented a Chilean lender as U.S. counsel to finance the development and construction of four solar photovoltaic projects located in Chile under the PMGD regime.
- Represented a Uruguayan airport operator in the restructuring of $200 million in notes, and the issuance of $195 million at PIK notes issued in reliance on Rule 144A/Regulation S.
- Represented a Mexican sponsor in the structuring of a $240 million facility in connection with a 300 mwac PV photovoltaic power plant in Mexico.
- Represented an issuer in the offering of $500 million of notes issued by a Trinidad & Tobago government-controlled entity in reliance of Rule 144A/Regulation S.
- Represented the initial purchaser in the offering of $400 million of notes issued by a Salvadoran government-controlled entity in reliance of Rule 144A/Regulation S.
- Represented a Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition vehicle (SPAC) in a business combination with a Chilean fruit producer and exporter.
- Represented a Mexican issuer in the offering and issuance of $300 million of notes privately placed with institutional investors in reliance of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, in connection with the acquisition of an electric transformer company in the United States.
- Represented a U.S.-based in an "at-risk capital" facility to the sponsors of a SPAC.
- Represented a U.S. banking institution in an "at-risk capital" facility to the sponsors of a SPAC.
- Represented the initial purchaser in the offering and issuance of $100 million, and the subsequent reopenings for $40 million and $21 million in notes issued by a Paraguayan meat processing company, sold to investors in reliance of Rule 144A/Regulation S.
- Represented a Salvadoran bank in the issuance of a series of notes under its merchant voucher securitization program for $100 million to a commercial bank.
- Represented an Ecuadorian bank in a repo transaction with a U.S. commercial bank for US$200 million.
- Represented an Ecuadorian bank in the issuance of a series of notes under its diversified payment rights securitization program for $100 million to a commercial bank.
- Represented an Ecuadorian bank in the issuance of a series of notes under its diversified payment rights securitization program for $200 million to a group of investors, to support female-owned small and medium business enterprises in Ecuador.
- Represented a sovereign-controlled Ecuadoran bank in a US$500 million facility provided by a U.S. commercial bank, partially guaranteed by a multilateral entity.
- Represented a Mexican real estate developer in a US$150 million facility with a private credit lender secured by hospitality projects in Mexico.
- Represented a Mexican real estate developer in a US$75 million facility for a Canadian bank for the acquisition of industrial property in Mexico.
- Represented a Chilean private equity fund in a US$28 million secured facility provided by a private credit lender secured by the assets and equity in a waste-management operating company.
- Represented a sovereign-controlled Chilean mining company in a US$30 million unsecured facility provided by a multilateral entity.
- Represented a Polish borrower in connection with a US$4 billion and US$2 billion financing transactions with a U.S.-based multilateral entity for defence purposes.
- Represented a Chilean real estate holding company (beneficially owned by one of the largest family offices in the country) in a US$40 million facility secured by real estate assets provided by a private credit lender.
- Represented a Chilean investor as creditor in connection with a major Chapter 11 reorganization of a large telecommunications company.
- Represented a U.S. commercial bank in the structuring of an asset-backed facility related to a Mexican sponsor’s auto-loan financing business line in the United States.
- Represented a Mexican bank in the structuring of an asset-backed facility related to a German sponsor’s iron ore operations in Mexico.
- Represented a Mexican real estate developer in a US $68 million facility for a Canadian bank for the acquisition of industrial property in Mexico.
- Represented a Wisconsin-based electric transformer company in a US $150 million facility with a Canadian bank, for the refinancing of existing debt and working capital.
- Represented a Salvadorian bank in a US$30 million facility from a French development bank to support female-owned small and medium business enterprises in El Salvador.
- Represented a Mexican borrower in a $370 million syndicated loan facility, in connection with the acquisition of an electric transformer company in the United States.
- Represented a NY-based private equity firm in a $47 million facility to a Puerto Rican fund secured by assets in Puerto Rico.
- Represented a Boston-based private equity fund in a $35 million facility to an agricultural Argentine company secured by assets in Argentina and Brazil.
Reconhecimento & Liderança
- Team Member, The M&A Advisor, "Cross-border Restructuring of the Year (US$100 million to $1 billion)," 2025
- Listed, IFLR1000, "Notable Practitioner," Capital Markets: Debt, 2023-2025
- Listed, Legal 500 Latin America, 2020-2023 and 2025-2026
- International Firms: Capital Markets, 2020-2023
- International Firms: Banking and Finance, 2021
- International Firms: Projects and Energy, 2023 and 2025-2026
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Finance > Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt Offerings, 2022
- "Recommended Lawyer," 2022
- "Other Key Lawyer," 2022
- Listed, Thomson Reuters, "Stand-Out Lawyers," 2025-2026
- Selected, Latin Lawyer, "Latin Lawyer 250 - Practice Recognition: Banking & Finance," 2020, 2022, and 2024-2026
- Selected, Latinvex, “Latin America's Top 100 Lawyers: Capital Markets,” 2018-2021
- Listed, Diario Financiero, "One of the Most Influential and Promising Chilean Attorneys Abroad," 2020
- Chambers Global, Banking & Finance (Experts Based Abroad – Chile), 2013
- President, North American-Chilean Chamber of Commerce, 2022-2025
- Board of Directors, Gabriela Mistral Foundation, Inc., 2023-Present
Credenciais
- LL.M., Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
- J.D., cum laude, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
- New York
- Republic of Chile
- Espanhol, Native