Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. houses a leading corporate and M&A team over 40-lawyers’ strong which is lauded for its ‘outstanding experience and knowledge in all areas’. Billed by one client as ‘by far the best M&A team in Mexico’, the practice group is well-equipped to advise on sophisticated M&A transactions involving both publicly and privately-traded companies in regulated and unregulated industries. Domestic and multinational corporations, real estate investment funds, private equity funds, global development institutions and investment banks all feature on its client roster, and recent headline matters include advising Apollo Global Assset Management on the conversion of its DIP loan into an equity interest in Grupo Aeromexico (valued at $1.5bn); and Aimia on the divestiture of a $558m, $48.9% equity stake in loyalty program operator PLM, which thereby becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of the airline. The practice is co-led by seasoned M&A heavyweight Jean Michel Enríquez along with Jorge Montaño, who majors in private equity, venture capital and capital markets transactions. Additional key partners include Eduardo González, who frequently advises private equity firms on follow-on acquisitions and liquidity events; and Humberto Botti, who handles domestic and cross-border acquisitions and divestitures. Providing ‘clear, strategic, tailored solutions, on time… and with a clear 360° vision of the risks and how to mitigate them’, real estate-focused practitioner Carlos del Río and younger M&A partner Diego Barrera comprise ‘a duo the likes of which you are unlikely to find at another firm’. Former practice co-head Iker Arriola, who focuses on M&A, corporate law and antitrust matters, is now resident partner at the firm’s Madrid office, which officially opened its doors in January 2023; while Esteban Valadez (M&A, private equity, joint venture and complex real estate transactions) who was promoted to partner the same month, rounds out the senior bench. A deep associate bench includes seniors Gerardo Zimbrón, who has 15 years’ M&A experience; and Edgar Ancona, who undertakes M&A, PE, joint ventures, minority investments and asset sales. Since publication, Zimbrón has been raised to the partnership and Ancona promoted to counsel - effective as of January 2024.
Corporate and M&A in Mexico
Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jean Michel Enríquez; Jorge Montaño
Les références
‘They have a solid team with outstanding experience and knowledge in all areas, which provides the client with a complete vision to make tailored, timely, and strategic decisions.’
‘Willingness to find clear, strategic, tailored solutions, on time, professional, and with a clear 360° vision of the risks and how to mitigate them. Carlos Del Río and Diego Barrera are a duo the likes of which you are unlikely to find at another firm.’
‘It is by far the best M&A team in Mexico.’
Principaux clients
Grupo Axo
Kohlberg Kravis Robets & Co.
Ualá
Santander
Accel KKR
Apollo Management
Marubeni Corporation
Southern Cross Group
Advent International
Altamont Capital
Blackstone Group
Infinitum Electric
Tekni Plex
Glisco Partners
Steel Dynamics
Tenedora Akaan
InfraRed Capital Partners Limited
Soluciones e Inversiones en Salud Integral
Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft
Altán Redes
ISIBIT
Emergent Cold LatAm Management
Veritas Capital Fund Management
Hidden Harbor Capital Partners
Brand Velocity Group
Advent International
Compagnie Plastic Omnium
Latécoère
Aimia Inc
Davidson Kempner European Partners
Alma Nundi Insuritech Fund
Nord Anglia Education
Aterian Investment Partners
Macquarie Asset Management México
Micross Components
General Atlantic
High Ridge Brands
Trilantic North America
One Rock Capital Partners
InfraRed Capital Partners Limited
Wendel Group
Lincolnshire Management
Continental Gain Company
Julius Baer Group
Dewell Express
ABC Group
F Prime Capital
Northgate
Genomma Lab International
Nestlé
Brook & Whittle
Evertec Inc
Bain Capital
Holcim
Middleground Capital
Principaux dossiers
- Counsel to ABC Technologies Holdings on the $255m acquisition from MPE Partners of 100% of dlhBOWLES, Inc.
- Legal counsel to Mitsui & Co, Tokyo Gas Co, Chubu Electric Power Falcon and Tohoku Power Investment Company on the $197.5m sale of 100% of the capital stock of MT Falcon Holdings (the owner of six Special Purpose Vehicles which own and operate five natural gas fired power plants and a gas pipeline), plus the prepayment of existing indebtedness equivalent to $163.4m.
- Mexican counsel to Arcosa (a provider of infrastructure-related products and solutions), on the $275m sale of its steel pressure storage tank business to Black Diamond Capital Management, through its Mexican subsidiary, Vessel of America.
Galicia Abogados S.C.
The ‘outstanding’ corporate team at Galicia Abogados S.C. boasts an impressive track record in the corporate and M&A space. Domestic and cross-border M&A, private equity and strategic investments, joint ventures, buyouts, divestments, and spin-offs are notable strengths. Infrastructure, real estate, energy, financial services, retail, hospitality and telecoms are particular sectors of expertise. Recent headline matters include advising KPS Capital Partners on the $767.4m acquisition of a majority interest in a newly incorporated entity which will hold the primary products division of Tate & Lyle (among other assets); and representing loyalty program operator PLM Premier in the $558m sale by Aimia of its 48.9% equity stake to Aeromexico. The group is co-directed by José Visoso, whose practice centres on M&A, financings and real estate mandates; and Ignacio Pesqueira, who is primarily dedicated to advising private equity funds and companies with capital raising and other corporate finance matters; the pair are also the firm’s co-managing partners. The corporate bench also includes name partner and veteran corporate practitioner Manuel Galicia; Christian Lippert, who in addition to handling M&A, has particular antitrust and compliance expertise; Héctor Kuri, who has niche experience advising on mining transactions; Ramiro Sandoval, in turn noted for his work on real estate mandates; and the ‘first class‘ Ricardo García, who has a notable focus on tech and e-commerce transactions. The group was further strengthened with the notable lateral hire of former Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. corporate practice c0-head Carlos Obregón Rojo in August 2022. At associate level, a strong bench of transactional and corporate all-rounders includes seniors Roxana Schäfer, ‘emerging talent‘ María Fernanda Luna, Mariana Islas, Florent Patoret and Ximena Armengol. In an additional innovative step, the firm has also recruited Enrique Argüello – formerly in-house at Telefónica – as the firm’s own general counsel, effective as of November 2022. Since publication, Patoret has been raised to the parntership - effective as of December 2023.
Responsables de la pratique:
José Visoso; Ignacio Pesqueira
Les références
‘Galicia is outstanding in M&A and corporate law. It is a firm that has been ahead of others, not only in terms of technology, inclusion and diversity, but also in its management style. Partners allow new talent to grow and give them trust from the start. They have the flexibility to adapt to the client’s requirements regarding the structuring of quotes. They also have the flexibility to seek and find solutions to complex problems.’
‘The lawyers are technically very competitive and they have good experience. They are fully available to customers. It is a firm that is characterised by having highly professional members and at the same time true business partners. They ensure that the project complies with the legislation at all times. Ricardo García is first class and María Fernanda Luna is an emerging talent who will undoubtedly be among the best in a short time.’
‘Extraordinary communication and networking skills. Partners are very concerned about the development of their teams, about closing gender gaps, promoting equity and promoting sustainability. They serve clients from a wide range of industries and of very different dimensions in terms of size and billing. They are sensitive to the needs of their customers.’
Principaux clients
ARKEMA
Abertis Infraestructuras
Advent International
ACTIS
ARCA CONTINENTAL
Balam Fund
Banco de Sabadell
Banco de Santander
BBVA
BIMBO
BlackRock
Bunge Comercial
COFRA Holding
CHPAF Holdings
CULTIBA
Citibanamex
CADU
CEMEX
China Construction
CINUK
Club Premier Aeromexico
COSTCO
CODERE
Deloitte
EDPR Mexico
EDP Renováveis
EMX Royalty Corporation
Equinox Gold Corp
FEMSA
FERMACA
Global Infrastructure Partners
Grupo México
GIC Special Investments
Grupo Sordo Madaleno
Grupo Azucarero Mexico
Grupo Modelo
Hikvision
Intel
Intercam
Invex
KPS Capital Partners
Leagold Mining Corporation
Macquarie Capital
Northgate Capital
NextEnergy
Organización Soriana
Promecap
Profuturo GNP
Planigrupo
PLM Premier
RLH Properties
Scotiabank
Sinopec
Smurfit Kappa
Silver Wheaton Corporation
Synlab International GmBh
Carrix
Softbank
Tokyo Gas America
Univision
Victory Park
Vertex Real Estate
Warburg Pincus LLC
Westfalia Fruit
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Global Infrastructure Partners in its acquisition of Atlas Renewable Energy, a clean energy platform focused on the development, construction, and operation of solar and wind power projects.
- Advised Grupo Bimbo in relation to its agreement to sell its confectionery business, “Ricolino”, to Mondelēz International, Inc. (“Mondelēz”) for a value of $1.3bn.
- Advised KPS Capital Partners on its acquisition of a majority interest in a newly incorporated entity.
Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C.
Fielding a team over 30 lawyers' strong - including no less than 13 partner - the powerhouse practice at Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C. remains a market leader and is highlighted for its ‘incredible service’ advising major multinational corporates, banks, private equity firms and investors involved in high-value, cross-border M&A. With a robust client base spanning such sectors as aviation, real estate, manufacturing, financial services, life sciences and energy, the firm’s comprehensive offering covers matters ranging from stock acquisitions, asset sales and competitive processes, to non-solicited offers and mezzanine investments. The deep partner bench house an array of talent and experience, including: Ricardo Maldonado, who brings over 25 years' experience to M&A, joint ventures and strategic alliance-related matters; capital markets specialist and corproate finance all-rounder Patricio Trad , who has particularly notable M&A experience in the energy sector; real estate expert Lorenza Langarica, who handles structured financing, corporate matters and M&A, particularly with regard to the real estate and energy sectors; corporate finance and M&A specialist Patrick Meshoulam; and Francisco Glennie, who provides expertise in IPOs, follow-ons and debt issuances, all of whom have been very active over the last year. The group can also call on additional exepertise and firepower in the form of founding partners Pablo Mijares (M&A, private equity and private bidding processes) and Francisco Fuentes (M&A, antitrust and telecoms); along with Manuel Echave (banking and corporate finance), Francisco Ibáñez (banking and finance, capital markets, M&A and general corporate practice), Martín Sánchez (capital markets, M&A and corporate finance) and Eugenio Macouzet (domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures and strategic partnerships). Key associate support is provided by seniors Anacandy Perusquía, who utilises a multi-disciplinary skillset across both M&A and corporate tax matters; and Isabel Gamboa, who handles M&A, joint ventures and general corporate matters, and also has a niche specialism advising non-bank financial institutions on regulatory matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Pablo Mijares; Francisco Fuentes; Ricardo Maldonado; Patricio Trad; Lorenza Langarica; Manuel Echave; Francisco Ibáñez; Martín Sánchez; Eugenio Macouzet; Ignacio Armida; Patrick Meshoulam; Francisco Glennie; Carlos Jimenez
Les références
‘Good team.’
‘‘Incredible service!’
‘The experience I had with the Mijares corporate team was exceptional. They had the ability and knowledge to attend to any issue that was presented to us, and they always did it with excellent quality, and on time.’
Principaux clients
Fintech Holdings
Planigrupo
Grupo Televisa
Grupo Gondi
Medline Industries
SoftBank
Grupo Phoenix Packaging
Afore Banorte XXI
Perrigo
Volpe Capital Investment Management Limited
Hokchi Energy
Pan American Energy
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Fintech Holdings and certain of its affiliates in the negotiation and execution of a share purchase agreement with a subsidiary of VINCI Airports to indirectly sell 29.9% of the shares of capital stock of Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte.
- Represented a special committee of the board of directors of Planigrupo Latam in connection with several unsolicited purchase offers, including a merger proposal submitted by Grupo Acosta Verde and Grupo Mexico.
- Represented Grupo Televisa in the merger of its media, content and production assets with Univision.
Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC
Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC remains a force in the marketplace, pairing the bench strength of its national presence with its London office to advise major domestic and multinational businesses (including Macquarie and Microsoft) on complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions. The team’s dense client roster spans sectors ranging from tech, energy and healthcare to insurance, banking and real estate; with recent headline matters include advising Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Estate Assets on the bidding process to acquire three solar power generation plants (in Mexico) owned by Reden Holding – a deal valued at E2.5bn; and Grupo Murano on a joint venture for the development of real estate properties in Mexico City and Cancún worth over $1bn. Led by senior partner Michell Nader (who brings over 30 years’ experience to the M&A sector), the practice group – over 25 lawyers’ strong and including 11 partners ‘distinguished by their experience, ethics and excellence’ – provides a comprehensive corporate service offering that extends to joint ventures, due diligence, stock and asset purchases, spin-offs, restructuring, corporate governance and regulatory compliance. The core practice group also includes Hans Goebel, a specialist in private equity transactions; Julián Garza, who represents both sponsors and financial intermediaries in structured finance and capital markets transactions; London-based insurance expert Yves Hayaux-du-Tilly, who has notable experience regarding cross border M&A and corporate law in general; and fellow insurance specialist Luciano Pérez, whose broad practice also encompasses banking and financial services (particularly financial regulatory work concerning fintech and insurtech), M&A, structured and project finance, real estate, data protection and AML regulations. Key support is provided by José Manuel Zavala (M&A, joint ventures, private equity and corporate governance matters), who was promoted to of counsel in March 2022; and senior associate Miguel Ángel González, whose practice encompasses banking and finance, M&A, capital markets, private equity and corporate law. Former partners Hector Arangua and José Humberto Rocha both left the firm in January 2023. Since publication, the team has been strengthened with the return of Jenny Ferrón -after three years at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's New York office- as a partner (effective as of May 2024).
Les références
‘What makes this practice unique is its transparency, accessibility and quality control.’
‘Its lawyers in the M&A and corporate area are distinguished by their experience, ethics and excellence.’
‘Unique, experts with a lot of knowledge.’
Principaux clients
Microsoft
Grupo Salinas
Elektra
Grupo Murano
Grupo Coppel
BUPA
Grupo Acosta Verde
Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets
Vinci Airports
Grupo de Diagnostico Aries
BMS Group
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Figeac Aéro in the sale to Latécoère Group of its assets and the purchase of the assets of Kaman Aerospace Group in Chihuahua, Mexico.
- Acting as co-counsel to Reed Smith, representing Microsoft Corporation on the acquisition of Xandr, which is the advertising and analytics division of AT&T.
- Advised Vinci Airports on the acquisition from Fintech of an indirect 29.99% stake in Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, a Mexican public holding company of operators of 13 airports in Mexico.
Pérez-Llorca
The ‘unfailingly commercial and collaborative’ team at Pérez-Llorca is praised for ‘consistently providing highly sophisticated advice’ in corporate and M&A matters. Corporate restructurings, shareholders’ agreements, domestic and cross-border M&A, and corporate governance are core areas of expertise and the firm fields a deep partner-level bench with profound transactional know-how. While long best known for handling M&A deals in the energy sector, the practice has demonstrated its adaptability during the current downturn in that sector, migrating its focus to pick up a healthy flow of work in the technology, fintech, automotive and science-related sectors over the last few years. A recent case in point saw the team represent the management of leading Mexican tech company, KIO Networks, on the $1bn sale of all its assets to global infrastructure fund Isquared Capital. Co-managing partner José Ignacio Rivero Andere focuses primarily on corporate finance and cross-border M&A; and banking and finance specialist José Victor Torres Gómez is also frequently active in major cross border transactions. Additional key partners include Rodrigo Rojas Robleda, who has particular experience in project finance, infrastructure, foreign investment and energy matters; Jorge Cervantes Trejo, who advises sponsors, developers, investors, and lenders on M&A, dispositions, and joint ventures; and Hernando Becerra de Cima, who routinely advises clients on mergers in the renewables space. Co-manging partner Jorge Mondragón (who was recently appointed the new chair of global law firm alliance Multilaw) heads up the firm's franchising and licensing practice and is hence also frequently active in corporate and commercial matters - such as his advice to Diltex on its joint venture with Etam. Of counsel Rosa Elena Coto is regularly instructed by Mexican and foreign entities, startups, and capital investment funds for her transactional expertise; and senior Jacinto Ávalos is the name to note at associate level. Since publication, both Torres Gómez and Coto have left the firm (effective April 2024), subsequent to which the firm has announced an agreement to merge into Spain's Pérez-Llorca.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jorge Cervantes; Rodrigo Rojas; José Ignacio Rivero Andere; Hernando Becerra; Bernardo Reyes Retana; Daniel Guaida
Les références
‘Gonzalez Calvillo consistently provides highly sophisticated advice. It is a real partner firm with skill in ‘bet the company’ issues. Their attorneys are unfailingly commercial and collaborative.’
Principaux clients
Aleatica
Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance
Atlas Holdings
Balandra Capital
BMW
Bunzl
Carhartt
Cemex
Gentera
Grupo Crédito Maestro
Grupo Resuelve tu Deuda
IFM Investors
Insight Partners and Tiger Global
KIO Networks
Mastercard
Ontex
Posseidon Asset Management
Proeza Ventures
Prologis
Rappi
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in its acquisition of a non-controlling 10% interest in Sempra Infrastructure Partners, from Sempra Energy for $1.73bn.
- Represented KIO’s management and the minority shareholders in the sale of all its assets to global infrastructure fund Isquared Capital.
- Acted as local counsel to Bunzl in the acquisition of Tingley Rubber Corporation, a New Jersey corporation with subsidiaries in Mexico and Canada.
Greenberg Traurig, S.C.
Miami-headquartered international firm Greenberg Traurig, S.C. fields a sizeable 30-strong corporate team from its Mexico office and has reaped the rewards of this offering in terms of a noticeable upturn in mandates and caseload. The practice works across a broad array of sectors – banking, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, real estate, education, telecoms, pharma, tech and retail, to name just a few, and also receives mandates from the private equity and venture capital segments. The group is highly is accustomed to handling at all stages (negotiation, structuring, completion) and in all types (M&As, joint ventures, recapitalisations) of corporate transactions, with recent highlights ranging from representing a Fibra-E on the MXN$7.7bn acquisition of a participation in certain toll roads to advising both Syngenta and Betterware on strategic acquisitions in their respective sectors in Mexico. The practice is co-led by Miguel Yturbe (M&A and general corporate matters) and Arturo Pérez Estrada (corporate matters, financial regulation, privacy and corporate finance law), with managing partner José Raz Guzmán (financial and M&A transactions); José Antonio Butrón (M&A, banking, project finance, capital markets, structured finance and securitisations); Victor Manuel Frías (M&A, takeovers and JVs; along with corporate governance, corporate compliance matters and internal investigations); and Gabriel Lozano (general corporate and securities matters, including international M&A, PE and VC investments, commercial loans and securities offerings) providing further senior-level support. The deep partner bench is further reflected in the availability of an up-and-coming group of younger partners including Luis Cortés (commercial and corporate law, compliance and financings); Antonio Robles Hüe (energy, financial, commercial and corporate law); and Gabriela Palomino (project, energy and infrastructure-related transactional matters). The foregoing can also call on an array of experienced associates, notably: Víctor F Callarisa, Luis A Torres, Rocío Olea, Adriana García-Cuellar and Ana Acosta Silva. Since publication, Robles Hüe has left the firm to establish his own boutique - effective as of April 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Miguel Yturbe Redo; Arturo Pérez-Estrada
Les références
‘Good customer service skills and knowledge that leads to better agreements with counterparties. Pro-business and with good response times.’
‘Jose Antonio Butron and Gabriela Palomino: good technical qualities, professionalism and response times. Gabriela stands out for the orderliness of her documents.’
‘Very good technology. Very good technical capacity. Great work. A lot of creativity.’
Principaux clients
Phoenix Towers
Gramercy Funds Management
Fibra Infraestructura México
Black Diamond Capital Management
Betterware
Lottus Education
Syngenta
Mercuria Energy
Telson Spirits
Abercrombie & Fitch
Proeza Ventures
Peterson American Corporation
FinSalud
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Phoenix Towers on the acquisition and lease back of WOM’s entire telecommunication tower portfolio in Chile; along with the purchas of Mexican telecom-tower operator/owners I&IMT Towers, WT Towers and OMT Telecomunicaciones, from Peppertree Capital
- Advised Mexico Infrastructure Partners F2 on the acquisition of a majority control participation in the capital stock of two social infrastructure assets (prisons) by the FIBRA-E to be listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange under ticker symbol “FSOCIAL”.
- Assisted household appliance retailer Betterwarewith its $255m acquisition of Mexican cosmetics company JAFRA, including its US and local operations.
Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C.
'A solid firm with a lot of talent and experience', Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. leverages the experience of its sizeable, multi-disciplinary team to assist investment managers and domestic and multinational corporates with a diverse spectrum of complex, cross-border matters. The practice’s active client base spans sectors ranging from energy, tech, logistics and transport to pharmaceuticals, healthcare, food and beverages, while its full offering covers complex M&A, private equity fund management, divestments, negotiations, due diligence and regulatory compliance. Recent mandates include various matters in the fintech sector, notably advising blockchain-enabled accounts receivable and B2B payment platform, Paystand, on its acquisition of cash flow, management and liquidity solutions business Yaydoo; and Mexican payments platform Billpocket on its sale to Kushki. Following the August-2022 departure of former practice co-head Carlos Obregón Rojo , the team is led by Luis Nicolau, who brings over 30 years' experience managing M&A and debt & equity capital markets transactions to the table. Jean Paul Farah is an also a senior figure in the practice with considerable experience across the banking and finance, M&A, private equity and real estate areas. Younger partners Eduardo Triulzi, whose M&A experience is supplemented with niche expertise advising public companies on tender offers; banking and finance specialist Gabriel Robles; Héctor Cárdenas Ortega, who handles the structuring of private equity real estate funds; and capital markets specialist Eric Silberstein (who was raised to the partnership in January 2023) are all increasingly coming to the fore. Associates Lucía Ibañez Tirado and Daniel Kuri Breña R left the firm in August 2022 and June 2023, respectively.
Responsables de la pratique:
Luis Nicolau
Les références
‘It is a solid firm with a lot of talent and experience. Their teams complement each other very well with different skills. A novelty is the presence of more young lawyers in senior positions allowing them to gain more exposure and experience as well as continue to provide unrivaled service.’
‘The firm is made up of various partners and associates with unmatched technical knowledge. They are always up to date on market trends and aware of recent transactions.’
‘They are a law firm focused on closing the transaction, always keeping the bigger picture in mind. Their human quality combined with their technical capabilities make them stand out from the competition.’
Principaux clients
Billpocket
Kushki
LIV Capital Acquisition Corp
Tresalia Capital
Nexxus Capital
Creation Investments Capital Management
Paystand
Urbvan Mobility Limited
Activant Capital
Sanfer Farma
Hexagon Capital
LIV Capital
Wind Point Partners
MPC Energy Solutions Latin America Holdings
Linzor Capital Partners
ABB Asea Brown Boveri
Tresalia Capital
Beat
Discovery Americas
Grupo Salud Auna México
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Paystand in its acquisition of Yaydoo.
- Represented Linzor Capital Partners in the acquisition of 70% of inConcert, Convertia, and their respective subsidiaries located in different countries.
- Represented Grupo Salud Auna México, as purchaser, in the acquisition of Hospital y Clínica OCA and its subsidiaries.
Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC
Fielding a team over 35-strong -including eight partners who dedicate the majority of their time in the sector- Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC demonstrates genuine strength in both transactional and corporate mandates. The group is retained by major international corporates and notable private equity fund managers, among them AB InBev, BMW, Uber and Mitsubishi. Indeed the firm is both full service and oriented towards relationships with its clients (as opposed just a transactional footing), and organised in terms of industry groups: with consumer goods, automotive and manufacturing, energy and natural resources, financial services and real estate all being areas of particular expertise, and the life sciences and pharmaceutical sector being a sector of significant growth. Senior partner Luis Burgueño (‘very knowledgeable regarding the corporate area‘) focuses his practice on cross-border M&A, joint ventures and corporate governance matters; he co-leads the practice in conjunction with Pablo Jiménez, who also offers strong transactional capabilities and corporate governance support, along with stakeholder matters and reputational management with an ESG focus. The healthily deep bench also houses antitrust practice head Fernando Carreño; Pablo Saez, who shines on transactional matters with a real estate component; Alberto Córdoba, who majors on M&A, joint ventures and financing transactions; and Alejandro Orellana, who is active on venture capital and private equity transactions. Counsels Gloria Martínez and Javier Betancourt, and senior associate Manuel Martínez, all provide across-the-board support regarding corporate and transactional matter. In an additional and significant first, the firm has also launched its a tailor-made, large language model (LLM), AI-driven chatbot (“VonBot”), which -while designed for internal use- underlines its commitment to technology and is likely to notably enhance its service offering and delivery. Since publication, Betancourt has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Luis Burgueño; Pablo Jiménez
Les références
‘The team clearly understood our needs and was always present when necessary. They fulfilled the expected role and were very assertive in their recommendations.‘
‘Luis Burgueño is very knowledgeable regarding the corporate area and we feel very well supported and advised by him and his team.’
Principaux clients
The Coca-Cola Company
Arrendadora Monex
EVO Payments International
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company
Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev)
Vifor (International)
ICA
Orlegi Sports
Velocity Vehicles Group
Blackstone
Enerflex (Canada)
Borr Drilling, Grupo CME
Senator Logistics (Mexico)
Pernod Ricard
Cervecería Modelo de México
Grupak (México)
Diageo
BIA Foods
Keurig Dr Pepper
Bacardí
COMPAS (JV between Damlier & Nissan)
Seguros Atlas
Airbnb
Principaux dossiers
- Advised The Coca-Cola Company in the negotiation of Long-Term Relationship Management agreements with key bottlers in Latin America, which incorporate relevant changes to their existing business relationships.
- Advised ICA, a leading company in the construction and operation of infrastructure in Mexico, in its acquisition of Globalvía’s stake in Autovía Necaxa-Tihuatlán, S.A. de C.V.’s (Auneti).
- Advised Pernod Ricard in the acquisition of the majority stake of in Código 1530 Tequila and Mezcal, one of the fastest growing ultra-premium and prestige brands in the agave category in the US.
Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C.
Not just ‘a good day-to-day corporate practice’, but also ‘a skillful and knowledgeable practice that understands the current challenges of international transactional operations’, Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C.‘ 50-strong corporate team -spread across offices in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Cd. Juárez, Monterrey and Tijuana- constitutes a unique offering, both as a local “one-stop shop” and with its ability to draw on the firm’s truly global network. The practice regularly handles a broad range of M&A, joint ventures, public offerings, restructurings and strategic alliances for clients of all sizes and sectors, both local and foreign, including both public and private companies, start-ups, investment banks, venture capital operations and growth equity firms. Overall head of the M&A and transactional practice in Mexico, Gaspar Gutiérrez Centeno leads the department from the Mexico City (CDMX) office and is particularly active in transactions across the projects and real estate sectors. Indeed, the bulk of the team is in CDMX, with former managing partner Reynaldo Vizcarra-Mendez, and younger partners Carlo Pérez-Arizti (M&A, VC, foreign investment, and corporate and contractual law), Lorenzo Ruiz de Velasco (corporate and cross-border financial transactions, M&A projects, negotiations, divestitures and capital markets’ matters), and Stephanie Arias-Marruffo – who was promoted to the partnership in July 2023 – all working out of the capital. Elsewhere, in Cd Juárez, principal partner Jorge L Ruiz and Adriana Martínez-Alderete are warmly endorsed as ‘trusted advisors’ who are ‘always readily available and have always provided legally sound advice, tailored to our requirements’. At associate level, seniors Jesus Perez-Palazuelos (M&A, corporate, contractual and foreign investment law), and Alejandra Heredia-Martinez (general corporate law, foreign investment and corporate reorganisations), and associate Javier Zenteno are all noted.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jorge Ruiz
Les références
‘Baker’s Mexico corporate team, specially Jorge Ruiz and Adriana Martinez, is not only a good day-to-day corporate practice, but also a skillful and knowledgeable practice that understands the current challenges of international transactional operations. Their support is always quick and reliable. The team provides comprehensive advice, whilst respecting their clients fast-paced demands.’
‘Jorge Ruiz and Adriana Martinez have been our trusted advisors for more than twenty years. Their expertise in corporate matter and commercial transactions has been essential in our company’s day to day matters, with both Adriana and Jorge having a deep memory and understanding of our operations. Additionally, they are also sensitive to complicated international reorganisations and supplier disputes. Both are always readily available and have always provided legally sound advice, tailored to our requirements. We consider Jorge and Adriana part of our team.’
Principaux clients
Advario
Canelo Energy
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co
Liil CVC
Nexcap Partners
Sika
Tencent
WestRock Company
Globant
Principaux dossiers
- Advised KKR in the purchase of Refresco Group, one of the largest independent beverage contract manufacturers in the world.
- Advised Sika on the worldwide acquisition of the MBCC Group (formerly known as BASF Construction Chemicals).
- Advising WestRock in the acquisition of the remaining interest in Grupo Gondi, including the consequent indirect acquisition of more than twenty Mexican subsidiaries.
Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C.
A member of both Lex Mundi and the World Service Group, longstanding full-service market player Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C. fields a sizeable team of over 50 lawyers from across its offices in Guanajuato, Querétaro, Mexico City and Monterrey. The practice handles a broad range of matters - including cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and restructuring & reorganisations; leveraged buyouts, buybacks and equity transactions; along with auctions, spin-off's, divestitures, and tender and exchange offers - and has a particularly strong presence in the manufacturing and services sectors. Senior figure and manging partner Juan José López de Silanes focuses on local and cross border transactions (including company formation, partnership agreements, M&A, reorganisations, investments, acquisitions and public bidding processes). Additional key practice partners include Jesus Colunga (corporate and M&A); Amilcar Garcia (joint-ventures, M&A, reorganisations and investments - particular in relation to the real estate sector); and Pedro Said Nader (banking, finance and corporate transactions); all of whom are in Mexico City; along with Carlos Velázquez de León, in Monterrey, who heads up the corporate practice; and Luis Luján, in Querétaro, who primarily handles general corporate matters, M&A, cross-border contracts and liquidations. Miguel Angel Peralta (banking & finance; capital markets), Juan Carlos Serra (energy, mining and infrastructure) and Amílcar Peredo (competition and antitrust) are all also regularly involved in M&A matters; as are younger partners Gerson Vaca and Rodrigo Gardner in Mexico City and Monterrey, respectively. Key associates include Moisés Gómez Flores (who heads up the Guanajuato office), Pablo Nosti and Fernando Morayta, all of whom have over a decade's experience.
Responsables de la pratique:
Juan José López de Silanes; Carlos Velázquez de León; Juan Carlos Serra; Luis Luján; Miguel Ángel Peralta; Amilcar Peredo; Jesús Colunga; Pedro Said; Amilcar García; Gerson Vaca; Rodrigo Gardner
Principaux clients
Jiangsu Xinquan Automotive Trim
Jellyfish Digital Group
CSG Systems
Jones Walker
Black Diamond Capital Management
Kathrein Mobilcom Mexico
Sojitz Corporation
Inovar
Falfurrias Capital Partners
Pentair
Align Capital Partners Fund II
Stentech
Sovos Compliance LLC
J3 Global Holding
Doncasters Group
Sandvik Machining Solutions
Gerdau Group
Grupo Mok
Star Produce Group
Christian Louboutin Retail Mexico
FedEx Freight de México
Terminal Lng De Altamira
Bizlink Technology Corporation
Euromonitor
Tectran Manufacturing GU OPS
Aingel Corp
IQVIA
Portage Ventures III Investments LP
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Chinese automotive parts manufacturer Jiangsu Xinquan Automotive Trim Co’s Mexican subsidiary on due diligence, real estate acquisition and the establishment of its first automobile manufacturing facility in Mexico, in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
- Advised Gerdau Group and Corcre Group on a corporate restructuring involving the merger of entities fully under Gerdau’s control into the investment and operation vehicle that the two groups have established in Mexico.
- Advised Doncasters Group on the acquisition of Uni-pol and its Mexican subsidiaries; the target company has facilities making super alloy castings parts in China, India, and Mexico for the automotive and aerospace markets.
Cuatrecasas
January 2023 saw Cuatrecasas‘ Mexico office absorb local boutique Rico, Robles, Libenson, S.Cl, thereby gaining a 12-lawyer team (including four partners) with particular strength in transactional matters and disputes work. The move has only served to further strengthen the practice offering from an office that -since its opening in 2016- has steadily developed impressive track record in corporate and M&A matters. Moreover, the team can also draw resources not only from the firm’s Spanish headquarters but also from it’s increasingly relevant offices in Bogotá, Lima, Santiago de Chile and New York. Locally, the now 12-strong corporate practice is led by Santiago Ferrer (who also heads-up the competition department) and advises both domestic and international companies on commercial transactions, M&A, joint investments and financing, and asset and liability transfers, among other matters. Key associate support is provided by semi-senior Fernando Ruiz, who focuses on corporate, commercial and transactional matters. The group is gaining traction in an ever growing number of sectors, including consumer products/retail, infrastructure, healthcare, real estate, gaming, and energy and renewables; and recent headline matters saw the team advise Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets on the $173.8m acquisition of Gasoducto de Morelos and Morelos (the owners and operators of a 172km pipeline), from Elecnor and Enagás. Corporate and finance associate Juan Carlos Galicia left the firm in March 2023; however, since research concluded the firm has further built out its capabilities with the October-2023 hire of former Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. senior associate, Gizeh Polo Ballinas, as a partner; he is tasked with developing the office’s capital markets capability.
Responsables de la pratique:
Santiago Ferrer
Principaux clients
Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets
Bestinver
Vass Consultoría de Sistemas
RYC Alimentos
Bain Capital
Sterling
AnaCap Financial Europe
Array Technologies
Majorel
Aon Mexico
Customer Operation Success
Sec Newgate
FSN Capital
Summum Projects
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets on the $173.8m purchase of Mexican companies Gasoducto de Morelos and Morelos from Elecnor and Enagás.
- Advised Bestinver in acquiring the Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí concession.
- Advised Vass Consultoría de Sistemas in acquiring 80% of Hexagon Data (Mexico), and its subsidiaries Agradecemos Tu Pago and Hexagon Data Colombia.
Hogan Lovells
Fielding a 24-strong practice group co-led by six partners Hogan Lovells’ Mexico-based M&A offering cover the full spectrum of corporate transactions, with the added resources of a full service firm backed by a strongly integrated global firm. Unsurprisingly, the team attends a prestigious client roster with myriad “household names” – from Mondelez, IBM, Daimler and Ford, to Sony Music, Del Monte Foods and Prudential Real Estate. The practice houses a number of renowned figures, such as Juan Francisco Torres Landa, who is highly-regarded for his skills handling cross-border work and corporate restructurings; Federico De Noriega, who boasts a strong track record in joint ventures and multi-party acquisitions; and Carlos Ramos, who provides additional expertise regarding insurance and energy law in Mexico (and divides his time between the firm’s Houston and Mexico City offices). With a practice centred on the industrial, consumer products, automobile and financial services sectors, Mario Jorge Yañez also divides his time between two offices: Mexico City and Monterrey; while Guillermo González Frankenberger and July-2022 hire, counsel Gina Decanini, operate solely from Monterrey. Indeed, the pair are highlighted f0r their ‘great knowledge and experience’: Gonzalez has over 25 years’ experience in M&A, real estate, corporate governance, and commercial and corporate matter; while Decanini – formerly a partner at Canales and experience in house at Cemex – has experience across the administrative, company law, corporate, energy and real estate sectors. Rounding out the partner group, Ángel Domínguez de Pedro focuses on civil law and commercial, real estate and M&A transactions. Counsel Andrea López De La Campa, also in Mexico City, is another key member of the group and focuses on M&A, corporate reorganisations, corporate day-to-day activities and commercial cross border transactions. Corporate and M&A focused senior associate Karla Rabasa is also noted.
Responsables de la pratique:
Juan Francisco Torres Landa; M Jorge Yañez V; Carlos Ramos; Ricardo Pons; Guillermo Gonzalez; Federico De Noriega; Ángel Domínguez de Pedro
Les références
‘Team of lawyers with great knowledge and experience in the matter; I’d highlight Guilermo Gonzalez Frankenberger and Ana Catalina Decanni.’
‘Attention and quick response to customer needs, always including added value in their recommendations.’
‘Integrity and joint attention to all areas of specialty.’
Principaux clients
Valtech Inc
Mondelez International
Canopia Carbon
Harbour Group
Bachoco
BIA Coffee Investments
Alstom Transport Group
San José y su Agricultura
AXA XL
Chubb
Assa Abloy
Bureau Veritas
Valoreo
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Valtech Inc in the acquisition of 100% of CloudCo for $2,55m.
- Assisted Mondelez International in the acquisition of Grupo Bimbo’s confectionery business, Ricolino.
- Assisted Harbour Group in the acquisition of 100% of Xanor de México, amounting to $33m.
Holland & Knight
Following the 2022 tie-up with the former Thompson & Knight, Holland & Knight has further demonstrated its commitment to the Latin America market – and México in particular – with the April-2023 incorporation of a sizeable multidisciplinary group (seven partners, two senior counsels and eight associates) from local firm Garrigues Mexico. As specifically regards the corporate/M&A practice, this included former practice co-head Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza, along with Humberto Morales Barrón, Jaime Israel Moreno Treviño and Oscar Quiróz Chávez, all of whom joined the firm’s Monterrey office. They join a department led by Mexico managing partner Luis Rubio (a well-known market figure who has particular expertise in the TMT segment), which is highlighted for its ‘vast knowledge and experience with respect to Mexican Law but also in complex international transactions’. Octavio Lecona (‘knowledgeable’, ‘a rounded professional’) provides additional expertise in the telecoms and tech areas as part of a broader practice that takes in M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and contractual matters. Corporate partner Xavier Magnino and senior counsel Elena Ibarrola are further names to note in the Mexico City office (both having arrived from DLA Piper Mexico in March 2022), as is Selene Espinosa who was promoted to partner in January 2023; of counsel Alejandro F Sánchez Mújica and partner Alejandro A Sánchez Mújica A are, in turn, additional names to note in the Monterrey office. Recent matters include mandates in the aviation, shipping, financial services, technology & telecoms, industrial & manufacturing, and oil & gas sectors, among others.
Responsables de la pratique:
Luis Rubio
Les références
‘Their vast knowledge and experience with respect to Mexican Law but also in complex international transactions.’
‘Octavio Lecona has experience in international transactions but also in purely Mexican transactions and processes, making him a very rounded professional, who clearly is in constant study of the laws in Mexico. He is knowledgeable.’
‘Skills to negotiate with the counterparty. Availability of the team to answer questions and calls. Good case tracking.’
Principaux clients
BHP
Dextra Technologies
OKILA
Eddyfi NDT
Deutsche Post International
Principaux dossiers
Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C.
Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C., the local outpost of global white-shoe firm Mayer Brown is part of the firm’s broader Latin America offering which includes an association with Brazilian firm Tauil & Chequer Advogados. With a growing reputation in the corporate sector the office fields a 20-plus strong team (six partners and some 15 associates) and is increasingly entrenched in the finance sector (especially fintech), along with the packaging, manufacturing and spirits’ sectors – indeed, the practice has proved adept at transforming particiption in transactions in these areas into more extensive involvement in these clients’ production, distribution and supply chain contracts and related business activity. The practice also frequently works closely with the firm’s Salt Lake City office, where the growth of a minor venture capital hub has generated work in relation to Mexico-based real estate funds and fintech matters. While the Mexico City office is relatively young (established in 2018), the partners co-leading the office have been working together for over 20 years: Raúl Fernández-Briseño (M&A, cross-border transactions and financings – particularly with regard to the infrastructure, telecoms, PE, fintech and restructuring matters) and Francisco García-Naranjo (M&A, banking, corporate law, corporate governance and joint ventures; along with financial regulatory matters, and financial and foreign investment transactions) are ‘more than lawyers’, constitute ‘an excellent team’ and provide ‘excellent service’. The pair are supported by a solid associate bench including senior Javier Garibay (M&A, securitisations, corporate restructuring and bankruptcy matters); and up-and-coming semi-senior, Eduardo Diego Fernández Forseck. Moreover, the team has been further strengthened with the October-2022 arrival of counsel Jorge Escalante from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.; a fund formation specialist he is tasked with growing the office’s footprint in the capital markets sector.
Responsables de la pratique:
Raúl Fernández-Briseño; Francisco García- Naranjo González
Les références
‘Extraordinary team, very good service, they are like another member of the household. I would keep using them all the time.’
‘More than lawyers, we consider them “consiglieri” and for this reason we have such a high level of trust that no one can replace them.’
Principaux clients
Casa Lumbre
Licores y Destilados Gran Malo
L Catterton Latin America
Ocupa Holdings
Exitus Capital
SOFOM
Morpho Capital Partners
Casa Whiskey México
Kandeo Asset Management
Mezcal Contraluz
Sotol Nocheluna
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Casa Lumbre – through Mezcal Contraluz – in its participation in a joint venture company (Backlit Investments) with Juan Luis Londoño Arias (aka Maluma), for the distribution and commercialisation of a Mezcal spirit, through a Mexican subsidiary incorporated for such purposes (Contraluz Cristalino).
- Acted for L Catterton on its $67m acquisition of a 32% equity participation in Crediclub (closing of the transaction is subject to approvals from the National Banking and Securities Commission and the antitrust agency in Mexico).
- Advised Ocupa Holdings, a port operator in Manzanillo (whose shareholders were a conglomerate of recognised customs agents, maritime agents, port operators and other port users), on the sale of 100% of its capital stock to SSA México, a subsidiary of major privately-owned port operator, Carrix.
Sánchez Devanny
Sánchez Devanny harnesses the bench strength of offices in Mexico City, Monterrey and Querétaro to advise local and international corporates involved in multi-jurisdictional transactions, across a range of industry sectors, including telecoms, manufacturing, medical devices, IT, chemicals, and food and beverages. The team’s broad service offering takes in M&A, investment and divestment operations, restructurings, the purchase and sale of entities and assets, due diligence and regulatory compliance, among other matters. Monterrey office-head Ernesto Silvas-Medina primarily advises clients on inbound and outbound acquisition transactions and equity joint ventures. Working out of the Mexico City and Querétaro offices, Diego Gómez-Haro (who served as the general counsel of The Blackstone Group in Mexico prior to joining the firm), brings extensive experience to assisting multinationals, private equity investors and sponsors on acquisitions and investments in the domestic market. Also in Mexico City, Jose Antonio Postigo-Uribe can draw on over 20 years’ experience of major transactional matters and negotiations with governmental entities; while Daniel Maldonado-Alcántara (corporate M&A, foreign investment and antitrust) and Yutaka Kimura (who has a labour and employment aspect to his corporate practice), are also noted. At associate level, senior Marisol González-Echevarría advises clients on sales, spin-offs and the liquidation of companies. However, former Monterrey-based partners Gerardo Prado-Hernandez, Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza and Humberto Morales-Barron all left the firm in March 2023, and Cristina Sanchez-Vebber left to establish her own practice in August the same year. Since publication, both González-Echevarria and fellow senior associate Debby Mckey (M&A, divestitures, corporate restructuring, joint ventures and financings, among other matters), have been promoted to the partnership - with effect from January 2024. The firm has subsequently announced its merger into Garrigues Mexico local office to become Sánchez Devanny - a process due for completion by December 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ernesto Silvas-Medina; José Antonio Postigo; Daniel Maldonado-Alcántara; Yutaka Kimura; Diego Gómez-Haro
Principaux clients
Franke Management
Franke Foodservice Systems México
VC Laminations
Cloud HQ
Rentokil Initial UK
Libbey
Tempel Steel
Dematic Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation
Littler Mendelson PC
Kongsberg Automotive
Repsol Downstream Internacional
Manufacturas Solco
John Varvatos Mexico
Medtronic
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted food service systems manufacturer Franke with the opening of its own facility in San Luis Potosi to increase its presence in the Mexican market.
- Advised CloudHQ the construction of a data centre campus in the state of Querétaro, in the north central zone of Mexico for $723.6m.
- Represented Rinnai America (as buyer) in a stock deal for the acquisition of 100% shares of a Mexican company engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling and distributing vertical tankless, equipment for water treatment, water heaters, etc.
Santamarina y Steta
With offices in Mexico City, Monterrey and Queretaro, Santamarina y Steta coordinates experienced teams to advise private equity firms and national and multinational corporates across the manufacturing, food, insurance, construction, telecoms and automotive industries involved in high-value, cross-border transactions. Co-led from Mexico City by Juan Carlos Machorro and Jorge León Orantes (who between them bring over 60 years' corporate and transactional experience to bear), the practice group (some 50 lawyers' strong) has a broad offering that encompasses the negotiation and execution of M&A and joint ventures, the drafting and negotiation of transaction agreements, legal due diligence and regulatory compliance proceedings. Additional key contacts includee securities expert Alberto Saavedra (also Mexico City); Guillermo Moreno in Querétaro, who, in addition to M&A, advises on government procurement and project finance matters; seasoned transactional specialist César Cruz Ayala in Monterey. Key associate support is provided by seniors Ilse Bolaños (cross-border M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructurings, along with general corporate and commercial matters), and Diego Acosta (corporate, M&A, e-commerce, and privacy and data protection.)
Responsables de la pratique:
Juan Carlos Machorro; Jorge León-Orantes
Les références
‘Santamarina is not only a prestigious law firm, but also a very effective, serious one that selects, trains, and educates its partners and associates under a high standard of service and dedication.’
Principaux clients
ACON Equity Management
Arkema Group
Arthur J. Gallagher Co.
Casas Krea
Cornell Capital
DaVinci Capital
Galileo Global Education
Gava Capital
Grupo Industrial Saltillo
Hunter Manufactura
Inverness Graham
Kimek Cosmocel
Kushki Group Holdings
MTV Networks Latin America
Neogen Corporation and Neogen Latinoamerica
Pentair
The Gores Group
Worthington Industries
2TM
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Arkema México, subsidiary of Arkema Group, with the acquisition of Polímeros Especiales, a regional company focused on the manufacture and commercialisation of emulsion polymers.
- Advised Cornell Capital in the acquisition of Advancing Eyecare Holdings, a provider of ophthalmic instruments and equipment in North America.
- Advised and assisted Grupo Industrial Saltillo in the sale of its ceramic tile business, operated by its subsidiaries Manufacturas Vitromex and Vitromex USA, in favour of Dal-Tile Mexico.
White & Case S.C.
Praised for their ‘extraordinary response times’, ‘experience and knowledge of the market’, and ‘quality work’, the lawyers at White & Case S.C. specialise in cross-border M&A. Multinationals, commercial and investment banks, REITs and private equity funds regularly turn to the group for support, with recent matters including activity in the drinks sector, advising Pernod Ricard subsidiary Austin, Nichols & Co. on the purchase of a 20% interest in Sotol Nocheluna, a producer and marketer of sotol spirits. Henri Capin-Gally steers the 12-strong practice and has focused his practice on M&A and competition matters. Corporate, banking and finance and capital markets all-rounder Sergio Márquez is well-versed in advising sellers and purchasers on the acquisition of assets or shares, in addition to the incorporation of joint ventures. Senior associate Mariel Martínez Zárate (who returned to Mexico in early 2022 after three years as a member of the firm's New York-based corporate team) supports private equity funds and SPACs on matters involving global M&A and equity investments. Fernando Vázquez-Chelius Solís was promoted to local partner in January 2023. Since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the hire of Alfonso Vargas Mayoral as a local partner - he arrives from Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C., effective January 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Henri Capin-Gally
Les références
‘They have extraordinary response times, I can always count on the quality of the work.’
‘Their experience and knowledge of the market makes them special, with in-depth knowledge of trends and what is happening in the country and with the various authorities. They have excellent relations with the regulators, which is a guarantee that the matters entrusted to them will receive the appropriate attention.’
Principaux clients
Kansas City Southern México
Sempra Energy
Banorte
Meta
Konfio
Merama
VivaAerobús
Braskem Idesa
Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico
Te Creemos Holding
7 Bridges Capital Partners
7 Steel Partners Holdings
Levi Strauss de México
Principaux dossiers
- Advised 7 Bridges Capital Partners on the acquisition and acquisition financing of a portfolio of 40 industrial properties located throughout Mexico.
- Advised Austin, Nichols & Co., the US-based wholly owned subsidiary of Pernod Ricard on the purchase of a 20% interest in Sotol Nocheluna, a producer and marketer of sotol spirits.
- Representing Braskem Idesa on the sale of its 50% interest in Terminal Química Puerto México (TQPM) to Advario, a subsidiary of Oiltanking.
Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa
Tax powerhouse Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa’s recently established corporate and M&A practice continues to steadily develop its capabilities with clients lauding the team's ‘control of the services at all times’ and ‘timely follow-up on all issues’, and benefitting from the firm's presence in Madrid, New York and Houston, as well as México City, Queretaro and Monterrey. The ‘excellent team’ is led by Miguel Valle, whose extensive experience includes cross-border transactions, joint ventures, PE and VC transactions, along with complex and day to day corporate matters such as foreign investment, SPVs, corporate obligations, governance structures and commercial agreements. In addition to Valle, Ana Sofía Ríos, (‘really capable and prepared to handle issues’), advises on corporate governance and regulatory compliance matters; Jimena González De Cossío, handles corporate and financial law (including stock market operations, international and structured financing, and M&A); younger partner Fernando González (raised to the partnership in December 2021); and Guillermo Bueno (a September 2022 hire from Araoz & Rueda to the Madrid office), complete the senior practice group. A strong associate bench includes senior Marisa Labrador (an October 2022 hire from Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C.); experienced associate Isabel Núñez (corporate restructuring, M&A, and wealth management); and Santiago Carrera and Alejandra Pacheco.
Responsables de la pratique:
Miguel Valle
Les références
‘The contact we had with the area was excellent, they had control of the services at all times, we had timely follow-up on all issues, even when they were already on our side as clients. Really a great team!’
‘The lawyers Ana Sofía Ríos and Alejandra Pacheco are really capable and prepared to handle the issues they develop.’
‘In addition to the relationship with the client, the main differentiator is the coordination and support between various specialty areas with a single point of contact.’
Principaux clients
Mota-Engil
DuPont
Celanese
Macquarie
DD3 Hipotecaria
Altum Capital
Grupo Expansión
Improving Holdings
Siemens
Greyhound Lines
Grupo Bacardi
Fresnillo
Guantes Industriales
Wintershall Dea
Laboratorios Kener
Axalta
Euro Nutec
Sesame Workshop
Grupo Herdez
Principaux dossiers
- Advised DuPont with the restructuring of its subsidiaries, the sale of assets in the polymers line of business, employer substitution, and the assignment of the client list and relevant agreements.
- Advised Listopro in its acquisition by Contratado LLC (Revelo).
- Advised DD360 in connection with an investment round by several institutional investors and family offices, led by the Chilean fund, Larrain Vial.
CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow
‘Providing efficient advice applicable to the client’s reality’, CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow continues to grow its young practice that now counts three partners and five associates. While continuing to act on transactional matters throughout the energy sector, and -to a lesser degree- in the infrastructure space, the group has significantly diversified its client roster, with recent matters including mandates from the food, media, pharma and gaming sectors. Most notably, it has been active in a range of tech-related mandates ranging from payment platforms to e-learning and secure networks. ‘An outstanding lawyer’, practice head Giancarlo Schievenini demonstrates ‘excellent negotiation skills’, the ‘ability to work under pressure’ and ‘communicate effectively’, along with ‘knowledge of the market’. Schievenini can also call on senior partner (and head of the office’s banking and finance practice) Raul Zepeda, who has longstanding experience in corporate and transactional matters as part of his wider practice. Key support on corporate transactional matters is provided by semi-senior Bruno Triay (corporate law/M&A – ‘very responsible’) and intermediates Sofía Reyes (M&A, corporate law, project finance and infrastructure – ‘organised and meticulous’), and Eduardo Revilla (corporate M&A, real estate and infrastructure); senior associate Gabriel Salinas is also on hand for M&A in the energy sector.
Responsables de la pratique:
Giancarlo Schievenini
Les références
‘CMS WLL has highly trained lawyers specialised in corporate and financial law, with experience in advising companies on purchase and sale operations of companies, mergers, joint ventures and corporate restructuring. In addition to a solid background in law, the team has negotiation and conflict resolution skills, as well as an ability to understand and manage complex accounting and financial issues. Similarly, the team has excellent communication skills, both among themselves and with clients, and are able to work effectively in high-pressure, low-time situations. In terms of innovation, CMM WLL is up to date with the latest trends and technologies in the legal sector, such as the use of artificial intelligence, blockchain and data analysis. It also offers innovative solutions to problems that arise in corporate transactions.’
‘Our deal has been with Giancarlo Schievenini, whom we consider to be an outstanding lawyer as he has excellent negotiation skills, ability to work under pressure, ability to communicate effectively and knowledge of the market. He is always interested in offering creative and effective solutions to problems that arise in corporate transactions. In addition, it has a wide network of contacts in the sector and a solid reputation in the market.’
‘In addition to having excellent advice, they are strategic and always give us their business imprint. They are very attentive to customer deadlines, always anticipating future actions.’
Principaux clients
Webasto
Egis Road
Advance Publications
Mobile Streams
Turnitin
Garrett Motion
Movyon
Klarna
Comcast
Mutares SE & Co. KGaA
Principaux dossiers
- Currently advising Mobile Streams on the commercial and corporate structure for the implementation of shared revenue agreements with different football teams of the Mexican and Brazilian football leagues, as well as the Mexican National Team, for the production and commercialisation of NFTs and other collectible blockchain products, through exclusivity, sponsorship, and commercialization rights.
- CMS Mexico (and multiple local firms, along with K&E and CMS UK), advised CC Neuberger Principal Holdings II in the due diligence process and closing on the combination of global visual content creator and marketplace, Getty Images, with CC Neuberger Principal Holdings II (a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company formed through a partnership between CC Capital and Neuberger Berman); upon closing , a newly formed parent company of Getty Images will become a publicly traded company, with its common stock is expected to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GETY.”
- Advised the shareholders of Laboratorio Clínico Polab on the sale of the legal entities of the group, assisting with due diligence analysis, the drafting and negotiation of agreements on several matters (such as corporate employment, non-compete and assignment of intellectual property rights related to the sale and purchase); the transaction was successfully completed in mid-2022, with post-completion integration advice during the rest of the year.
Creel Abogados, SC
A core practice at the firm, Creel Abogados, SC fields a 20-strong practice group (including six partners) in the corporate and M&A area, where it enjoys a steady stream of generally mid-market mandates, both M&A and financings. The client roster is composed of both foreign and local companies -many of the latter from Mexico’s regions, a demographic generally less well-served by the capital’s major firms; indeed, the combination of a tech-facilitated lean staffing model (with one partner, a senior and an associate on any given deal), along with a close relational approach to its clients, and the team’s extensive experience in M&A, joint ventures and corporate governance, has proved very successful. Active across a number of different sectors and industries, especially real estate and private equity, the firm opened a second office –in Mérida, in Mexico’s southeast– in November 2022, which has seen it make further advances in the hospitality and agrarian sectors. Senior partner Carlos Creel, a veteran practitioner with some 40 years’ experience, is particularly well-versed in corporate matters – including M&A and corporate restructurings, governance mandates and cross-border joint ventures; he co-leads the practice with Gustavo Struck, who complements his corporate expertise with solid knowledge of an array of finance operations, including syndicated lending and secured financing, and has a particular focus on advising non-bank banks and private funds on their transactional work. Diego Valdes A, who has notable in-house experience, is increasingly active in the transactional segment and handles M&A, corporate governance, and corporate and structured finance deals, among other matters. Alfonso Razú heads up the Mérida office and focuses primarily on transactional work and private equity; while back in Mexico City, y0unger partner Pablo Arellano undertakes M&A, corporate restructurings and joint ventures, along with corporate governance matters. At associate level, Alejandro Creel and Sandra López C are the names to note. Since publication, Razú has left the firm - effective as of March 2024; as a result, the firm no longer has office representation in Mérida.
Responsables de la pratique:
Carlos Creel C.; Gustavo Struck Creel
Les références
‘Creel Abogados has entrepreneurial and forward-thinking leadership that is seen in its lawyers. They regularly look to connect customers with opportunities and how to better serve their customers. They are more than lawyers and this is an added value for their clients.’
‘Carlos Creel and Gustavo Struck are the entrepreneurial and forward-thinking leaders who make this firm what it is. They have their clients’ best interests in mind and are always looking for ways to add value to their clients, as well as provide them with clear and solid legal advice.’
Principaux clients
Caldic
Pernod Ricard
Sodexo
Groupe Danone
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Apollo Capital Management
BIVA
Onex Corporation
Jägermeister
Médica Sur
Sea Group
Altum CP
United Technologies Corp
Hershey’s
Warner Bros.
ASR Group
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Nowports Mexico on an investment made by Softbank in Nowports Inc.
- Advised PC Capital Development Fund on an investment made in ISLIM Telco.
- Advised Ediprint Group on the sale of in the sale of Grupo Edid (Ediprint, Ediplast, Refrepet and Edipacks), to Pretium Mexico.
Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C.
Operating from offices in Mexico City, Guanajuato and Guadalajara, Meritas alliance member and veteran market presence Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C. has an extensive track record in M&A transactions, corporate restructurings and joint ventures, and has become a favoured corporate advisor to a number of leading multinationals as well as notable local companies. With corporate practice the central pillar of the firm, the team handles both the full range of associated transactional and financing operations as well as day-today advisory, company law and shareholder matters, and relevant administrative and regulatory work. The practice group -some 20+ lawyers strong- has a certain focus on the automotive, manufacturing, financial, real estate, and alcoholic-beverage industries, but has also -despite slow market conditions- enjoyed an uptick in agribusiness and IT mandates; it has also been particularly active as regards compliance and corporate governance matters. Results appear promising with the firm adding Pretium Packaging, Enoflex, Roboyo Group, Armira, CMB Fabricating, Supercap North America and Drains Made Simple, as new clients over the course of the last year. A deeply experienced practitioner, firm CEO Hugo Cuesta handles international transactions (both inbound and outbound), including corporate M&A, commercial matters and corporate governance; he co-leads the practice alongside Azucena Marin, who undertakes corporate restructuring, strategic acquisitions, joint ventures and asset-based lending, among other key transactions, and is also a specialist in competition and antitrust matters. The second line of practitioners includes senior principal associate Rafael Sánchez (who leads the firm’s corporate, contractual and tax practices); and fellow principal associate for corporate and transactional matters, Jesús Bueno; however, former senior Franscela Sapien left the firm in July 2023.
Responsables de la pratique:
Hugo Cuesta; Azucena Marín
Principaux clients
Pretium Packaging
Enoflex
Roboyo Group
Greenheck Fan Group
Supercap North America
Headspring
Drains Made Simple
Skyworth Group
Flextronics
Audubon Engineering
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Pretium Packaging in the acquisition of a group of entities of Grupo Edid as part of its strategy to enter the Mexican market.
- Advised our client Enoflex in the acquisition of Supercap and Corchomex’s business operations in Mexico.
- Advised Headspring in all the steps and legal actions required for the sale of its interests and participation in a Mexican subsidiary.
DLA Piper Mexico
DLA Piper Mexico fields a compact 10-strong team in the corporate and transactional area, handling public and private M&A, the division and/or sale of assets, cross-border transactions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, the conducting of due diligence processes; preparation of MOUs, obtaining of governmental approvals and post-merger integration; the office can also handle relevant tax planning and structuring matters. Not insignificantly, the group also enjoys the benefit of sitting as part of -primarily- the firm's largely unparalleled regional network of offices, and beyond that has access to the firm's global capabilities. A trio of partners jointly-lead the practice: Diego Martinez focuses on general corporate matters with an emphasis on corporate finance, corporate governance matters and M&A - notably in the regulated sectors (he also has strong expertise in financial regulatory matters); while Álvaro Garza-Galván handles M&A, bankruptcy, restructuring, banking and finance, and securities transactions; the pair are also the office's co-managing partners. The leadership group is completed by younger partner Mauricio Valdespino, whose practice is centred on M&A, private equity, corporate and commercial law. Additional partner level experience is provided by veteran practitioner María Eugenia Ríos Espinosa, who has particular knowledge of the labour aspects of corporate transactions and private equity deals; and Jorge Benejam, who has notable experience in competition matters as part of his broader corporate/M&A practice oriented towards the regulated sectors - particularly life science, telecommunications and technology. A solid associate bench includes seniors Jaime Ancer Fortea (complex corporate transactions and general corporate and commercial issues) and Andrés Calderon (M&A, bankruptcy and corporate matters related to real estate and capital markets); intermediate José Luis Gutiérrez Ramírez, an April-2022 arrival from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C., is also noted.
Responsables de la pratique:
Diego Martínez; Álvaro Garza; Mauricio Valdespino
Principaux clients
Grupo Financiero Interacciones
Illinois Tool Works
Alsea
Sumitomo Corporation
Roche Mexicana de Fármacos
Becton Dickinson
Starwood Energy
NTT Data
Pemex
Xinfra Fibra E
Grupo Financiero Banorte
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Vorwerk, JAFRA’s German parent company, on the sale of JAFRA’s cosmetics operations in Mexico and the United States to the appliance retailer Betterware.
- Advised Transtelco in connection with its acquisition of Maxcom Telecomunicaciones, as well as on its tender offer to buy Maxcom’s outstanding notes in an equity tender offer carried out through the Mexican Stock Exchange.
- Advised Xinfra Fibra E on its first M&A transaction, consisting of the acquisition of the Celaya Beltway in the State of Guanajuato, for 90% of the capital stock of Concesionaria Bicentenario and 50% of Operadora Libramiento de Celaya, for approximately $74m.
Garrigues Mexico
The local Mexican office of Spanish full-service giant, Garrigues Mexico, fields a 14-strong corporate and M&A practice which was notably strengthened in March 2023 with the hire of banking, securities and M&A practitioner Manuel Groenewold fr0m White & Case S.C.. Steadily building its market presence, the practice has to some extent sought to focus on sectors such as consumer goods, education and health. Recent matters include handling the Mexican aspects of a pair of transactions on behalf of Accenture: one, the acquisition of Austin-based cloud and platform engineering services firm, Headspring; the other the purchase of Alfa Consulting Group. The practice is led by Gerardo Lemus – who focuses on corporate and real estate matters (along with issues such as corporate governance, commercial contracts, and merger-control filings and notifications), in conjunction with Gabriela Pérez Sierra, who has a certain focus on energy project and fintech transactions. Energy head David Jiménez Romero brings further partner-level M&A experience. Support comes from a group of experienced associate practitioners including counsel Miguel Ángel Rocha (corporate, labour and employment); principals Carlos Eduardo Gómez (corporate, banking & finance, ESG) and Rodrigo Durán de la Vega (banking & finance, M&A); and senior Gabriela Cosío (corporate and dispute resolution – particularly as regards the energy sector). The department’s industry expertise also encompasses financial services, infrastructure, technology, retail and telecommunications. Since publication, the firm has announced its absorption of Garrigues Mexico to become Garrigues Mexico Mexico - a process due for completion by December 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gerardo Lemus; Gabriela Pérez
Principaux clients
HP
CSafe Global
Alsea
Howden Broking Group
Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft
Eternity International Freight Forwarder
Accenture
Suez International
Principaux dossiers
- Advised HP in connection with the acquisition of two Mexican Poly’s subsidiaries that have significant operations in Mexico.
- Advised Csafe Global in due diligence and local law aspects of the acquisition of the Mexican subsidiaries of Softbox Systms and certain post-closing restructuring matters.
- Advised Accenture on the acquisition of Headspring, a cloud native and platform engineering services firm based in Austin, Texas.
Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego
Providing ‘great business knowledge and market intelligence’, the corporate/M&A practice at Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego continues to grow beyond the real estate practice for which the firm remains best known; in particular, it is increasingly active in the pharmaceuticals sector, and has also made inroads into the banking/finance area. This expansion of the corporate practice’s focus is part of a larger process by which the firm is seeking to grow and consolidate its position as a mid-sized firm, to which end it hired Arturo Sánchez García as director general in January 2023; his previous experience includes almost nine years at Garrigues Mexico as Director of Administration and CFO. The corporate and transactional department is led by Gerardo Gallego (‘always seeks the best outcomes for the client’), who is praised by clients for his proactivity and clear communication; in addition to corporate, commercial and transactional matters, he also handles governance issues. Raised to the partnership in 2022 and the firm’s first “home-grown” partner, Alejandra Gutiérrez divides her time between hospitality and real estate matters, and corporate and commercial work. Of counsel Jennifer Ayluardo also handles corporate and commercial matters as part of a practice that also reaches into capital markets and financial law. At associate level, senior Jorge Cobos and Fernando González Gómez are the names to note; both handle a mix of corporate and financial work, transactions and real estate matters. Since publication, Gutiérrez has left the firm - effective as of March 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gerardo Gallego Díaz de León
Les références
‘Great business knowledge and market intelligence that helps us achieve our main goals.’
‘The lawyers business experience, in addition to their dedication, helps deliver top-level consulting initiatives to our business needs.’
‘Great office, very good price/quality ratio, easy access to direct assistance from partners, etc.’
Principaux clients
McCormick Pesa
BioTe Medical
Grupo Constructor Pirámide
Callison RTKL
Blu Cargo & Logistics
Foss México
Census -7 Eventus Energy Corporation
Grupo Alto / Designa Group
ALSEA
Renewable Resources Group
Wenance
Principaux dossiers
- Currently advising Grupo Constructor Pirámide with exhaustive due diligence procedure regarding several real estate properties located across Mexico for the development of various real estate projects.
- Currently advising BioTe Medical on the corporate, contractual, IP and administrative necessities related to the company’s regional expansion, including acting as main legal counsel in the incorporation of several subsidiaries across Mexico and Latin America.
- Currently advisng McCormick Pesa on matters related to corporate governance, corporate maintenance and internal due diligence procedures; along with the execution of services; retail, leasing, storage, and import and export matters; and purchase and sale agreements.
Jones Day
With recourse to the firm’s global office network as necessary, Jones Day’s Mexico-based transactional practice is a respected presence in the corporate sphere. Traditionally most active in the energy and infrastructure sectors, the 14-strong department is co-led by experienced office managing partner Manuel Romano – a transactional specialist; and of counsels Mauricio Castilla (M&A and corporate governance); and Javier Martínez Del Campo (cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions); all three excel at handling cross-border M&A, joint ventures and strategic alliances, with corporate governance too, constituting a particular niche strength. Also of counsel, Antonio Franck is a genuine corporate and transactional specialist who enjoys a loyal clientele. Recent matters saw the team advise Grupo Mexico on several unsolicited purchase offers (including a merger proposal) made in conjunction with Grupo Acosta Verde for real estate and construction company Planigrupo Latam, which culminated in a tender offer to acquire 100% of the capital stock of the company. Elsewhere, the practice has seen activity in near-shoring matters, particularly in the industrial parks niche.
Responsables de la pratique:
Manuel Romano
Kuri Breña, Sánchez Ugarte y Aznar
Fielding ‘a robust, professional team’ that provides ‘close and adequate monitoring of projects and customer needs’, Kuri Breña, Sánchez Ugarte y Aznar‘s well-established 15-strong practice that advises on matters ranging from M&A, joint ventures, private equity, venture capital and cross-border transactions, to general corporate matters – particularly in relation to the real estate, energy, manufacturing, banking and automotive sectors. Indeed, clients highlight the practice group’s ‘incredible knowledge of the corporate and stock market world’, and also note how the practice has proved adept at remaining abreast of the constant evolution of the M&A market so as to meet all client expectations. The practice is co-led by founding partner Daniel Kuri Breña, whose corporate practice is centred on joint ventures, M&A (particularly on behalf of funds), private equity and venture capital investments; Luis Octavio Núñez, who also handles M&A, private equity, venture capital and joint ventures – particularly in relation to the real estate and development, manufacturing and finance sector; and antitrust specialist Jesús Sánchez Ugarte (also a co-founding partner) who focuses on M&A and financings. Additional bench depth is provided by corporate and finance partner Álvaro Sarmiento Lapiedra; with younger partner Silvia Ema Roldan, who was raised to the partnership in July 2023, rounding out the partner level team. Key support is provided by senior associate Álvaro Alan Pérez; and intermediates Daniel García Hernández (who returned to the firm from an in-house position in mid-2022), and Elizabeth Tovar, who focuses on real estate-related matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Daniel Kuri Breña; Luis Octavio Nuñez Orellana; Jesús Sanchez Ugarte
Les références
‘Daniel and Alvaro are very professional people who handle matters with great integrity and seriousness. They are unique in Mexico for their corporate approach.’
‘Incredible knowledge of the corporate and stock market world.’
‘The practice of M&A is constantly evolving and requires professionals to be on top of market trends, and especially in the field of technology. Kuri Breña’s team has always met all our expectations in the cases in which they have assisted us.’
Principaux clients
Promotora de Hospitales y Servicios Integrales
Automotriz Coacalco
Globant
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the shareholders of Promotora de Hospitales y Servicios Integrales, as sellers, on the negotiation of a stock purchase agreement entered into with Bupa Servicios de Evaluación Médica and Vitamédica Administradora, whereby the purchasers acquired 100% of Promotora’s capital stock.
- Advised Automotriz Coacalco Vallejo in the due diligence, negotiation and execution of an Asset Purchase Agreement.
Pérez Correa González
The nine-strong corporate and M&A practice at Pérez Correa González is led by a well-known and experienced partner duo comprising corporate finance and M&A specialist Fernando Eraña, whose practice is oriented towards cross-border finance matters, private equity and venture capital; and Luis González, who also has considerable knowledge in private equity transactions, as part of a broader corporate and transactional practice that also takes in real estate mandates. Further partner level capability is provided by Omar Aguilar M who undertakes corporate, contractual and compliance matters; M&A, JV and finance transactions, particularly as regards the mining, hospitality and real estate industries. Indeed, real estate has long been one of the firm’s strengths but more recently it has seen an uptick of activity in relation to both the tech and distilled beverage sectors. At senior associate level, Juan Carlos Izaza (who regularly advises domestic and foreign clients on the establishment of new ventures and their corporate structures in Mexico); along with Eduardo Yrigoyen (an April 2022 hire from Galicia Abogados S.C.) and Eduardo Montenegro (who was raised to senior in September 2022) are the names to note. Former tech and M&A senior, Carlos Ugalde left the firm in August 2022. Since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the May 2024 hire of experienced transactional partner Emilio Carrillo Peñafiel, who has deep experience in both financial and corporate transactions across the real estate, finance, telecoms and energy sectors in Mexico.
Responsables de la pratique:
Luis González; Fernando Eraña
Principaux clients
SWVL
Sportium
Semtech Corporation
Olarena Hospitality Group
TechnoArt at Selina
Elevva
Syniti
Casa Dragones
MCAM Advance Materials Mexico
Fibra Plus
Palantir Technologies
East-West Manufacturing
Principaux dossiers
- Represented SWVL in the $82m acquisition of the stock of Urbvan Mobility, a Mexican transportation services platform operating in Mexico City and other metropolitan areas in Mexico.
- Advised Sportium on its negotiation to receive a growth investment of $12.4m from Northgate Capital.
- Represented Semtech Corporation on the sale of its Mexican subsidiary Semtech Corpus Christi Corporation’s business in Mexico to Micross Components.
Sainz Abogados
Built upon the twin-pillars of core litigation and transactional practices, Sainz Abogados is best known for its strength in bankruptcy and restructuring matters; nevertheless it has considerable corporate and M&A capacity that was notably boosted with the incorporation of Hugo López Coll in early 2022. The 13-strong team advises clients from a broad array of industries (including aviation, banking, biotech, construction, energy, finance, gaming, hospitality, insurance, mining, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, real estate, IT and transportation) on domestic and cross-border corporate transactions (including corporate restructurings, M&As and joint ventures) along with associated antitrust issues, governance matters and corporate compliance. Practice head Octavio L Hernandez handles both corporate/M&A and financing matters and also has considerable private equity experience. Name partner Alejandro Sainz is also active in the finance and M&A sectors, with his market leading bankruptcy and restructuring experience giving him additional insight and expertise in both areas. Further partner-level engagement is provided by Santiago Alessio Robles, a corporate reorganisations specialist who also handles M&A matters; while the above mentioned López Coll (who is dual-qualified in New York and Mexico) focuses on M&A, private equity, capital markets, and regulatory and compliance matters, along with internal investigations and shareholder disputes. At associate level, Daniela Alcázar is a corporate and M&A-dedicated practitioner, while Lucía Laganá handles corporate finance matters as part of her broader practice. Since publication, the team has been substantially boosted by the arrival of established corporate, transactional and finance partner José Victor Torres Gómez and counsel Rosa Elena Coto, members of a more sizeable group that arrived from Pérez-Llorca in April 2024.
Responsables de la pratique:
Octavio L. Hernández
Les références
‘There are only three firms in Mexico that are real experts in the restructuring area. Sainz Abogados is one of those three key firms. While there is a large pool of talented lawyers at the firm, Alejandro Sainz is the key individual.’
‘Alejandro Sainz stands out in the restructuring practice in Mexico for his imaginative approach to complicated issues and his long-standing expertise in this area.’
‘The Sainz Abogados team that has assisted us for approximately two and a half years is different from other law firms in that they have always managed to fully understand what the company needs and what we have requested of them. The same has not happened to us with other offices that carry out documents or work that do not provide solutions to our needs and problems. The Sainz team is also a team that accompanies the company, acting as part of it until the goal is achieved.’
Principaux clients
Grupo Aeromexico
AuHaus
Grupo Fabril de la Moda
Financiera Auxi
Grupo Coppel
Veritiv Corporation
CRM Synergies
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Grupo Aeroméxico in a transaction to obtain full control over the Club Premier loyalty program.
- Advised the majority shareholders of AuHaus on an M&A transaction in which they sold their participation to an SPV funded by the Riverstone Fund.
- Assisted Grupo Fabril de la Moda with the structuring of a transaction to cover debt and obtain working capital, in exchange of a 40% equity participation.
SMPS Legal
‘Super capable and experienced,’ SMPS Legal fields a sizeable 18-strong corporate and transactional practice group (including eight partners), it’s numerical strength reflecting the practice’s growing importance to the firm – which remains, perhaps, best known for its strength in the tax sector. The experienced partner group -who share leadership of the practice- includes: Eduardo Pizarro, whose practice has a particular emphasis on the creation and structuring of corporations, spin-offs and M&A; María Teresa Paillés and María Esther Rey , who both have over two decades’ experience handling corporate and real estate transactions in Mexico and abroad; and Daniel del Rio, formerly head of the corporate and M&A department at Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C., who arrived in mid-2022 as a strategic partner for transactional side of the practice. Banking-focused Iván Pérez Correa provides a financial vision and know how to the practice’s transactional activity and is another key name. Moreover, ongoing development saw the firm hire José Gerardo Vázquez, the former head of legal and compliance at Gap Inc/Old Navy, in January 2023, and susbsequently competition specialist Fernanda Garza (also from Basham) two months later; both arrive as partners. Senior associates Andrés González (capital markets, finance transactions, M&A and corporate law) and Nadiezhda Vázquez (company and contractual law, shareholder matters, banking and foreign investment), provide key support.
Responsables de la pratique:
Maria Teresa Paillés; María Esther Rey; Eduardo Pizarro Suárez; Andrés Pizarro Suárez; Iván Pérez Correa
Les références
‘Super capable and experienced.’
‘Great knowledge of local laws, great negotiation skills with counterparties, very good service and knowledge of our business and our company.’
Principaux clients
Cimbra Capital
Soccerly
Exile Content
Servicios Telepro
William Grant & Sons
HGR Equipment Surplus
Energía Real Original Shareholders
Piso 51 Club
MCA Group
CVL3 Americas
Dollar General
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Cimbra Capital on the due diligence, negotiation and acquisition of an additional participation in a vehicle that holds title to a high-end multi-purpose real estate development in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
- Represented Soccerly as a seller of 100% of its digital assets to Playmaker Capital Inc, including JuanFutbol.
- Acted as counsel for Exile Contents’ shareholders, who sold 100% of their equity interest in Exile Contents to Candle Media.
Canales
With over 20 years in the market, the Monterrey-based Canales 's legal offering ranges primarily across corporate matters, wealth management and real estate, with the team also housing expertise in energy, mining and infrastructure; banking regulatory matters; and aviation. On the corporate front, the firm fields an 11-strong team co-led by key partners Ana de la Paz Parga and Bernardo Canales. Canales' practice is centred on corporate law, M&A, and corporate and project finance; along with banking and finance, administrative law and a niche specialisation in aviation matters. De la Paz, in turn, focuses on commercial transactions, including M&A, corporate finance, private investment, co-investments and corporate restructuring - along with operations in the real estate sector. Banking and finance specialist Sergio Dávila and energy specialist Emilio Sáenz are also active in the M&A sector. Key associate support is provided by Javier Rodríguez, especially as regards transactional and due diligence matters.
Principaux clients
Zimmer
Thermion
Grupo de Diagnóstico Aries
Gentor
DeAcero
Polímeros Adhesivos y Derivados
Numaris Capital
Bafar
Grupo Transportes Monterrey
Transportes Lar-Mex
Comercializadora Gonac
ENVA Capital
GM Capital
Aries Capital
Empresas Aries
Grupo Industrial Trebol
Interlogis
OCSI
IMAV
Bancomext
Principaux dossiers
- Ongoing advice to Grupo de Diagnóstico Aries with regard to various matters including asset acquisitions, trustee rights acquisitions (with liquidation of existing liabilities), and real estate purchases, among other matters.
- Retained by the sellers of a major education services provider in Veracruz in regard to the sale of the business to KEDU (a division of Discovery Americas Fund).
- Advised ProximityParks on the acquisition of a 7,400 sq m logistics property in the center-south of Mexico City, for the development of a last-mile logistics facility.
Deloitte Legal Mexico
The local office of the global consultancy Deloitte Legal Mexico fields a 15-strong team that advises national and international clients on a wide range of matters - including M&A, carve-outs. restructuring, divestitures, joint ventures and due diligence procedures, among other matters. Senior practitioner Ramón Bravo has over 30 years' practice experience, handles the gamut of corporate operations, and splits his time between the firm's Mexico City and Monterrey offices. He co-leads the practice with younger partner Héctor Cuevas (in Mexico City), who specialises in M&A and other transactional matters. Additional up-and-coming partners include Berenice Rivas (banking, finance, corporate governance, structured finance operations, M&A, administrative regulation, foreign investment and competition matters); Julio Paredes Valenzuela (M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, project finance and banking) and José Ángel Romero (corporate law, compliance and regulatory governance). At associate level, senior Leonet Pinto Núñez is the key figure. Former partner Luis Lavalle left the firm in June 2022 and senior associate Alfonso Malagón left to undertake his LLM in June 2023.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ramón Bravo Herrera; Héctor Cuevas González
EC Rubio
Best known for its market leading international trade and commerce capabilities, EC Rubio has a lengthy track record advising multinational corporations with business operations in Mexico from across a broad array of industries, particularly regarding cross-border work. Derived from its above mentioned IT&C practice, the team houses particularly strong expertise in the maquiladora industry (where it advising clients primarily drawn from the automotive, industrial and logistics services industries) and which positions it well to benefit from the wave of "near-shoring" work that is driving much of the country's current corporate activity. A sizeable, 30-plus team includes key practitioners César Ochoa (foreign investment, corporate law and real estate) and Daniela Flores (foreign investment, corporate governance and compliance), in Ciudad Juárez; Eduardo David (M&A, corporate restructuring, joint ventures and takeovers), Mario Prado (corporate and regulatory matters), René Alva (foreign investment) and Alejandro Montes (corporate, transactional and AML-compliance), in Mexico City; and Sergio De La Rocha and Lorena Mejía (both of whom handle corporate and contractual law, JVs and foreign investment) in Querétaro. Younger partner Yamel Cázares and Daniel Magaña, who was promoted to counsel in March 2022, are also noted. The firm also has offices in Irapuato, Chihuahua and Puebla.
Responsables de la pratique:
Cesar Ochoa; Eduardo David; Alejandro Montes; Sergio De La Rocha; Daniela Flores; Lorena Mejia; Mario Prado; Rene Alva
Les références
‘EC Rubio provides practical legal advice, tailored to the needs of our company. They are very experienced with corporate and transactional legal requirements and have worked hard to understand our business and our needs.’
‘Alejandro Montes is the lead partner in this area. He has tremendous experience and is very responsive.’
‘It is a law firm that is always managed with ethics and professionalism, with extensive knowledge in the matters that are consulted and always willing to find the best solution for the client.’
Principaux clients
The Lipman Family Farms
Avery Dennison
Factoria Industrials
MSA Latam USA
Cushman and Wakefield
Windsor Mold Group
Principaux dossiers
- Provided legal advice to Lipman Family Farms on a day-to-day basis, which included the negotiation and preparation of loan contracts, pledge agreements and purchase of hydroponic tomato farm and wells permits.
- Assisted Avery Dennison in the establishment of a new manufacturing facility in Mexico with all the customs and tax incentives of Immex, VAT and OEA certification programs.
- Advised MS Latam USA in the creation of a US Entity to manufacture modules for wire testing harness of automotive.
Jáuregui y Del Valle, S.C.
Co-led by Fernando Alonso-De-Florida (corporate, export and project finance; M&A, real estate and energy), counsel María del Pilar Labastida (corporate, commercial and transactional law) and Justo Fernández del Valle (corporate/M&A, international trade, foreign investment, administrative law, public bids and real estate), the compact, six-strong corporate team at Jáuregui y Del Valle, S.C. ‘offers quick and effective responses’, ‘good service’ and ‘consistency’. At associate level, Fernanda Acevedo focuses primarily on corporate and real estate matters. Former senior associate Alejandro Creel Ysita exited in June 2022, but the firm subsequently hired senior Luis Rodolfo Flores from PBP Abogados S.C. in September.
Responsables de la pratique:
Fernando Alonso-de-Florida; María del Pilar Labastida; Justo Fernández del Valle y Cervantes
Les références
‘What makes the team unique is the fact that they give us a quick and effective response to the problems or doubts of the group companies. In-house lawyers need to know that you have a strong team to help them deal with any internal, external, national or international legal problems and we know that Jauregui & Del Valle’s team has lawyers from various legal areas that allows them to provide an effective response when more than one legal area comes together in a problem.’
‘The consistency shown over the years makes them as one of the best firms we work with and the team has always demonstrated its ability to deal with any problem. Over the years they have improved their response time, with better control of our companies’ files, a better billing and collection service and also a closer relationship with the notaries and government authorities that intervene in the processes.’
‘Their plus is the good service, their speed and their knowledge of the issues we handle. Competitors take longer in their response times and do not provide a global service; that is, there is always some issue on which they fall behind. In Jauregui and Del Valle there is little staff turnover, which allows the service to become increasingly efficient. The lawyers and support staff we work with are Pilar Labastida, María Fernanda Acevedo Olguín, Angela Rodriguez Vasquez and Viridiana Patricia Granillo Morales.’
Principaux clients
Crédito Real
Green Lynx
Suzuki Motor de México
Grupo SICREA
The Berwind Corporation
FXI Holdings
Brambles Business Services México
Grupo Zapata
Emerson Group
Grupo Frigus-Therme
Dechra Pharmaceuticals
Metapol
Edelman Mexico
Asociación Mexicana de Franquiciatarios de Automotores Renault
PagoNxt Merchant Solutions
Principaux dossiers
- Acted as liquidator for Crédito Real’s dissolution and liquidation.
- Appointed by Green Lynx LLC as its external legal counsel in Mexico to assist in the preparation and execution of the documentation allowing it to render professional services to a well-known vacation resort in Baja California, Mexico.
- Acting as external legal counsel to Suzuki Motor de México, S.A. de C.V. on (Mexican) general corporate legal matters.