Houston’s proximity to Mexico and broader Latin America, along with its status as one of the world’s primary energy hubs, means that it has become a focal point for firms that target the region. Its Hispanic population of nearly 3m demonstrates its cultural and language links to Latin America. Over the years, law firms have benefitted from the liberalisation of Mexico’s energy markets, though president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who led the country until October 2024, put a brake on foreign investment; new president Claudia Sheinbaum is expected to follow a similar line to her predecessor. While Mexico’s more protectionist stance has been disappointing to Houston’s legal community, the growth of nearshoring, where manufacturing and supply chains have developed to help serve the US economy, has begun to provide some opportunities to firms. The positives for the Houston legal market is that its own efforts to diversify, to embrace renewables and energy transition, have afforded it further openings for projects and transactions throughout Latin America. Moreover, its growing standing as an international arbitration centre, exemplified by a huge international arbitration team at King & Spalding LLP, means that the legal market has been able to capitalise on the steady pipeline of disputes that emanate from the region, including both investor-state and commercial arbitrations.

Akin has built a prominent standing in the energy sector through its Houston office, with a significant portion of this focus directed at Latin America. The office has an extensive background in oil and gas, liquified natural gas (LNG), renewables and mining projects and transactions, along with building its name in the energy transition field. Matthew Kapinos is co-head of the firm’s projects and energy transition practice, has an established record in project development, acquisitions and divestitures, particularly in oil and gas, LNG and renewables. Counsel Eduardo Canales is another key figure in M&A, joint-ventures, private equity investments and project development matters in Latin America, primarily in the energy sector; he has worked with colleagues in London and elsewhere on a series of recent M&A transactions in Mexico’s oil and gas industry.

 

Baker Botts L.L.P. is a Houston giant with a long history in Latin America projects and transactions. It has continued to develop its standing in oil and gas (including upstream, midstream and downstream), LNG and renewables, including M&A, project development and project finance matters, while furthering its presence in energy transition, particularly green hydrogen projects. Mexico has been its primary market over the years, in part due to Houston’s proximity and the cultural connections of partners and associates, although the firm has a broad geographic outlook with substantial engagements in Chile, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Costa Rica. Carlos Solé, a native Spanish speaker, is chair of the Latin America practice and deputy department chair of the global projects group; he has an extensive record in LNG and renewables and continues to work on projects in Mexico and throughout the region. David Jetter provides further senior expertise in LNG along with energy transition matters; he led the team that advised HIF Global on its development of a green hydrogen to e-fuels project in Chile.

Clifford Chance LLP launched a Houston office in 2023 as it sought to cement its global standing in the energy sector. Though part of a national and international strategy, the new office brings it even closer to Latin America and its energy markets. In January 2024, the new office recruited counsel Joshua Bernard, a fluent Spanish speaker who has an extensive record in Latin America M&A. Bernard, whose background spans strategic M&A, joint ventures and private equity investments, is able to capitalise on the firm’s existing standing in the energy sector. The already large Houston office is expected to make a sizeable impact, including with the presence of David Sweeney, an experienced figure in Mexico’s upstream oil and gas sector, including acquisitions, divestitures and project development engagements.

 

Haynes and Boone, L.L.P. has a substantial presence in Houston (having originated in nearby Dallas), and has directed considerable effort and resources to growing its Latin America practice; it originally launched a Mexico City office in 1994. The Houston office houses a substantial number of senior Latin America experts. With a continued focus on inbound and outbound transactions involving Mexico, along with substantial emphasis on project development, project finance and commercial disputes, the firm has also built its reputation across the Latin America region, including Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Central America. It is noted for its background in representing oil and gas majors on their interests and transactions in Mexico, and has developed a further presence in solar power. Ricardo Garcia-Moreno is managing partner of the Houston office, a prominent name in oil and gas, along with renewables, including deals in Mexico right down to Argentina. George Gonzalez splits his time between Houston and Mexico City and has a major focus on Latin America, particularly oil and gas transactions in Mexico, although he is active in multiple industries and Latin American jurisdictions. Senior counsel Brad Richards has extensive international experience, including multiple transactions and projects involving Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Odean Volker provides further litigation and arbitration expertise in relation to Latin America disputes, while Alberto de la Peña, who divides his time between nearby Dallas and Mexico City, is co-chair of the international practice group, and licensed to practice in Mexico and Texas.

Hogan Lovells US LLP has a strong team of Houston-based professionals that have a substantial focus on Latin America oil and gas transactions and projects. While much of the office’s focus is on oil and gas, especially in Mexico, it does have a strong presence in other industries such as insurance, along with other jurisdictions, including Ecuador. Admitted to practice in Venezuela and a foreign legal consultant in Texas, Bruno Ciuffetelli is hugely experienced in oil and gas, and also has a background in representing sovereigns and quasi-sovereigns, especially the Republic of Ecuador and other Ecuadorian sovereign entities. Additionally, Ciuffetelli has expertise in joint ventures, construction contracts, license and technology transfers, and project finance, and is also noted for Latin America financings involving Chinese lenders and sovereign debt restructurings. Carlos Ramos Miranda splits his time between Houston and Mexico City, notably advising clients in multiple energy and infrastructure matters, including oil-and-gas contracts and regulatory matters, along with insurance M&A and regulatory work; among numerous Latin America transactions, he led the team that advised Petrobal on the sale of a 50% interest in an oil-and-gas exploration and extraction contract with the Mexican government. David Locascio provides further expertise in upstream oil and gas, LNG and power. Houston managing partner Bruce Oakley and Aaron Crane are experienced names in Latin America disputes.

 

King & Spalding LLP's commitment to Latin America has grown enormously in recent years and is evident in the number of Houston-based practitioners that have a focus on the region. From construction and project development to white-collar crime and investigations, and international arbitration, Latin America is very much central to the Houston office’s practice. Indeed, the firm’s Latin America international arbitration work stands far ahead of all competitors in Houston, operating at the forefront of commercial and investment treaty arbitration; the team features a number of Latin American natives and senior practitioners who are fluent in Spanish and/or Portuguese. Partners Doak Bishop, who is co-head of the international arbitration practice group, along with Roberto Aguirre Luzi and Craig Miles, the co-heads of Latin America international arbitration, are all seasoned practitioners that have specialised in the region for years; Miles now splits his time between Houston and the firm’s nascent Miami office. Fernando Rodriguez-Cortina is an emerging talent in international arbitration, especially in Mexico cases, and has also been active on other recent matters involving Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Scott Greer leads the global construction and energy transactional practice; he has an established record in Latin America matters, especially in oil and gas, LNG, petrochemicals, power and mining. David Lang is another key figure in LNG projects, while Brandt Liebe provides further senior expertise in white-collar defence, investigations and compliance matters.

Mayer Brown's Houston office has a fine record in energy and resources transactions in Latin America, with the team frequently working alongside colleagues in Mexico City, and in Brazil through its associated firm Tauil & Chequer Advogados. Houston partners Pablo Ferrante and Jose Valera are Argentinian and Peruvian respectively, with a reputation for energy-related transactions in Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Dominican Republic. Both partners are particularly known for oil-and-gas deals, but also operate across the energy sector and in other industries, particularly renewable energy and mining. It is a force in Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector, notably advising CGX Resources on its interests in the Guyana-Suriname Basin, including securing funding for its offshore exploration well in Guyana’s Corentyne block by agreeing to farm out a portion of its interest to Frontera Energy Guyana Corporation. The Houston team also played a key role in advising Talos Energy on the sale of a 49.9% interest in it's Mexican subsidiary, Talos Mexico, to Zamajal, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Grupo Carso. Global head of energy, Alexandre Chequer, is focused on oil-and-gas transactions and projects in Brazil and elsewhere in the region; he splits his time between Houston and Tauil & Chequer Advogados's office in Rio de Janeiro.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s Houston office is home to the core of the firm’s Latin America practice. The team is steeped in energy expertise, including project development and finance, M&A and joint ventures. It has developed an impressive client base, particularly a growing number of large Mexican corporates and financial institutions, along with other multilatinas and a series of private equity houses and asset managers. The team remains noted for energy transactions, including oil and gas, renewables and energy transition deals, and is a growing force in infrastructure projects outside of the energy sector. The Houston group is noted for its cultural affinity with Latin America, with many of its senior practitioners having lived and worked in the region. John Crespo is co-head of the Latin America team, an expert in M&A, joint ventures and project development in multiple jurisdictions across the region, particularly regarding oil and gas. Native Spanish speaker Humberto Padilla Gonzalez is a versatile practitioner with a fine record in M&A, restructurings, private equity investments, along with general corporate, regulatory and securities matters, especially in Mexico. Native Portuguese speaker Felipe Alice is admitted to practice in Brazil, New York and Texas, and maintains an active presence in cross-border Brazil deals, including inbound and outbound transactions, along with matters outside of the jurisdiction.

Paul Hastings LLP's Houston office is an emerging force in Latin America M&A, and energy and infrastructure matters, frequently working closely with colleagues in New York and other offices. Luis Gomar has a background in representing clients in their investments and growth throughout Latin America, especially Mexico, notably in energy and infrastructure project development and M&A transactions. Rocio Guadalupe Mendoza is a partner in the infrastructure and energy group, specialising in representing multiple upstream and midstream oil and gas clients, and delivering wide-ranging expertise in conventional energy, renewable energy and clean technology.

Reed Smith LLP's Houston office has a major focus on Latin America, primarily through its thriving international arbitration practice. Mexico disputes are a real forte for the Houston-based team, along with cases involving Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil. Many within the group are fluent or native Spanish speakers. Houston partner Francisco Rivero is head of the Latin America business team and has an outstanding record in international arbitrations involving the region, especially Mexico, notably ICC arbitrations over energy and infrastructure disputes, along with other commercial cases. Often working alongside Rivero, Arturo Muñoz Holguin was promoted to partner in 2023 and has a background in representing clients in conventional and renewable energy disputes, along with joint venture and commodities cases in Latin America. William Russell was also elevated to the partnership in January 2024, having impressed in a series of oil and gas, construction and commercial cases.

 

Sidley Austin LLP has a core team of experienced Latin America specialists in Houston, primarily with a focus on oil and gas, LNG, power, renewables and energy transition, benefitting further from the firm’s efforts to grow its presence in LNG and renewables in New York and Washington DC. The team is particularly known for project development and M&A, most notably in Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Mexico. The firm’s reach in Latin America extends beyond the broader energy sphere, into segments such as aviation and digital infrastructure transactions. It is also noted for its increasing presence in private equity deals, including high-value investments in a variety of jurisdictions. Experienced partner Brian Bradshaw is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, and has an extensive background in project development and finance, along with M&A in the oil-and-gas, LNG and power sectors; more recently he has worked on a series of energy transition projects, including hydrogen and renewable natural gas (RNG). Timothy Chandler also has a major focus on Latin America, particularly oil and gas, power, infrastructure and minerals projects, along with asset acquisitions and disposals. Licensed to practice in Mexico and Texas, counsel Eduardo Marquez Certucha has a history of working on conventional and renewable energy, mining, and transportation transactions.

Squire Patton Boggs's Houston-based Latin America specialists are primarily known for their work in Brazil, particularly in relation to oil-and-gas and chemicals transactions, along with renewables (including wind and solar), energy transition, industrials and manufacturing, and technology deals. The team works on a steady flow of inbound and outbound matters. The group also specialises in anti-corruption, compliance and investigations. Admitted to practice in Brazil and New York, native Portuguese speaker Paula Galhardo is head of the Brazil desk at the firm and previously practised in Brazil before moving to the US in 2006; she has served as regional legal counsel to a US publicly traded chemical company that has a presence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.

Vinson & Elkins LLP has longstanding connections to Latin America through its Houston office. It has a history of working on upstream oil-and-gas transactions and projects in Mexico, which has broadened out into a region-wide practice that covers LNG, transport infrastructure and digital infrastructure, among other areas. The Houston office is a growing force in Latin America-focused international arbitration, notably with the elevation of key figure Peter Danysh to the partnership in January 2024. Counsel Timothy Tyler is another senior name with a background in Latin America disputes. Both frequently work alongside international arbitration colleagues in New York and London, with Danysh being part of the team that represented Panama Canal Authority in a series of ICC arbitrations against Grupo Unidos por el Canal, a consortium of European and Panamanian companies hired to design and build the third set of locks as part of the Panama Canal expansion project. James Loftis is global head of international disputes and also has a background in Latin America-related international arbitration. Alan Alexander is a partner in the energy transactions and projects team, with a notable background in Latin America oil and gas, power, clean energy and renewables deals.

 

Largely Houston-based, White & Case LLP's Latin America M&A practice has made a big impression on the market in recent years. The Houston team has an extensive record in energy and power transactions, along with financial services and technology deals. Private equity and growth capital deals, particularly in the fintech sector, have become a feature of the practice, as are real estate transactions connected to nearshoring in Mexico. The Houston team naturally has a strong connection to Mexico, along with Brazil and Chile, while it has achieved further growth in Peru, Costa Rica and other jurisdictions. William Parish continues to impress in energy and power deals, recently leading the team that advised Aramco on its planned acquisition of 100 per cent of Esmax Distribución (Esmax), the diversified downstream fuels and lubricants retailer in Chile, from Southern Cross Group. Rodrigo Dominguez has a background in energy and power, and is a pivotal figure in growth capital and technology transactions. Emilio Grandío is another Latin America specialist in Houston, with an active presence in M&A and private equity. Associate Luisa Muskus also impresses.

Winston & Strawn LLP's Houston office has a history of working on Latin America transactions, primarily Mexico deals. Much of its work centres on the oil and gas industry, involving capital flows between the US and Mexico; this includes both inbound and outbound transactions. More recently, inbound transactions have dominated, including Latin American family offices and corporates that are investing in US oil-and-gas assets. Mike Blankenship is co-chair of the firm’s energy and infrastructure industry group, managing partner of the Houston office and has a background in energy transactions involving Mexico. Paula Hinton leads the Houston commercial litigation practice and brings further experience in Latin America disputes, including international arbitrations and the enforcement of judgments involving Latin American assets and entities. Michael Murphy is an additional dispute resolution specialist of note. The Houston office forms part of fast growing Latin America practice, which is primarily located in New York and Miami.

Womble Bond Dickinson's Latin America group is led by José Luis Vittor, who also heads the firm’s oil and gas practice. He and the team have a background in project development and M&A in the energy and infrastructure sectors, along with the negotiation of oil-and-gas supply agreements. Francisco Balduzzi is another pivotal member of the Latin America group, an expert in energy and natural resources, and co-chair of the mining practice group; he has further experience in oil-and-gas and mining asset acquisitions and divestitures, along with joint ventures, cross-border contracts and international arbitrations. Both partners are admitted to practice in Argentina and are foreign legal consultants in Texas.