Rafael Grillo Avila is a finance associate in the San Diego office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the Project Development & Finance Practice.

Rafael has represented corporate borrowers, private equity sponsors, funds, commercial banks, and other financial institutions in a variety of financing transactions, including secured and unsecured acquisition financings, renewable energy royalty financings, fund financings, and liability management exercises. Rafael has also represented companies and investors in general corporate governance matters.

As part of his pro bono practice, Rafael has represented clients in connection with matters pertaining to immigration, sustainability, and community development.

Rafael earned his law degree from University of California, Berkeley School of Law, with a focus on business law. Before joining Latham, Rafael was a finance associate at another leading international law firm. Prior to law, Rafael worked on environmental and economic policy at the international, national, and state levels.

Rafael’s experience includes advising:

  • Knox Lane in connection with its investments in HighGround Restoration Group, Inc., a national residential services platform focused on mitigation and restoration services, and HealthCare Experts Squared, a leading education, information, and services platform serving healthcare professionals*
  • HGGC in connection with the sale of its stake in Better Being Co., LLC to a syndicate of global investors led by Snapdragon Capital Partners, LLC*
  • Alpine Investors on its US$3.4 billion single-asset refinancing of Apex Service Partners*
  • Xpansiv, an Australian-based environmental markets platform, in connection with its A$125 million capital raise*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • California

Education

  • JD/MA in Jurisprudence & Social Policy, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
  • AB in Politics, Princeton University

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Spanish