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Baker & McKenzie Abogados SC

BLVD. AGUA CALIENTE 10611 - PISO 1, TIJUANA, B.C. 22420, MEXICO
Tel:
Work +52 55 66 33 4300
Fax:
Fax +52 55 66 33 4399
Web:
www.bakermckenzie.com
Zurich, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Valencia, Toronto and 73 more

Mexico : Competition and antitrust

Within Competition and antitrust, tier 4

Raymundo Enríquez heads the antitrust and competition practice at Baker & McKenzie SC. It provides an ‘excellent' level of service with ‘prompt responses' and ‘very accurate' advice. It also receives praise for its ‘professionalism' and its value for money which is ‘one of the best in the market'. Recent instructions saw the group advising a number of clients on antitrust and competition compliance issues in relation to distribution strategies. It also frequently undertakes compliance training sessions with clients to ensure that corporate policies adhere to the competition regulations. Reynaldo Vizcarra-Méndez recently led the representation of Brown Forman in the reorganisation of its Mexican subsidiaries and the securing of the corresponding CFC authorisations. It is currently advising Cargill on the notification regarding its $1.2bn acquisition of animal nutrition company Koro, France. In 2011, the group welcomed the arrival of senior associate Gerardo Calderón Villegas, formerly of Valdés Abascal y Brito Anderson, SC. Calderón ‘has expertise and knows the area and its key players'. Also recommended is senior associate Luis Amado Cordova, who ‘is very professional in his work, and has great knowledge'.

Mexico : Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4

Baker & McKenzie SC ‘does a good job', with great ‘response times and level of guidance'. It is also ‘well-connected – which can be very helpful'. The corporate team's recent highlights include advising ICL Performance Products on its $36m acquisition of the chemical division of the Cosmocel Group; assisting Uquifa Mexico on the $55m sale of an international business unit; and representing Emerson Electric on the $80m divestiture of its Mexican and Chinese heating production division. Juan Bernardo Garcia receives praise for ‘his attention to detail and likeability (which can go a long way when negotiating with the other side)'. Ciudad Juarez-based Jorge Ruiz, who heads the firm's national corporate and M&A group, Guadalajara office managing partner and corporate practice coordinator Jose Miguel Zozayacorrea, and managing partner of the firm's Mexico offices Andrés Ochoa-Bünsow, are all recommended.

Mexico : Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

Baker & McKenzie SC's dispute resolution group provides ‘an excellent service' with a ‘broad knowledge on all areas of law'. It also has an ample geographical reach with partners based in its Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Tijuana and Juárez offices. Monterrey-based practice head Javier Navarro-Velasco is a seasoned litigator with nearly 30 years of experience, including bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganisation proceedings, in addition to civil and commercial litigation, and arbitration. The ‘extremely proactive, customer-oriented, expert in litigation' Alfonso Cortez-Fernandez is currently leading the defense of a client in relation to a multibillion-dollar breach of agreement claim. The Mexico City and Guadalajara offices' dispute groups are coordinated by Salvador Fonseca and Héctor Basulto respectively. The group recently represented a company in an administrative action filed with the Federal Electricity Commission's internal regulatory board, successfully challenging the legality of a public bid award. Other key clients include British American Tobacco, Prologis, Wells Fargo, Yahoo! and HSBC de Mexico.

Mexico : Energy and natural resources

Within Energy and natural resources, Baker & McKenzie SC is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie SC's energy group is ‘extremely responsive to requests, has tremendous industry expertise and beneficial industry relationships'. In addition, ‘overall service levels are exceptional'. Pivotal to the practice is Jose Benjamin Torres-Barrón: one of the ‘best oil and gas lawyers in Mexico', he has ‘great legal expertise and very good business and transactional sense'. A busy 2011 saw the team advise on the lease agreement between Pemex, Industrial de Servicios & Outsourcing, and Firstdrill, concerning three self-elevating marine drilling platforms. It also advised Alianza Meridien in connection with the development and construction of a 100MW gas fire power generation plant, and acted for Air Liquide in relation to contracts regarding the purchase and supply of hydrogen to refineries in Salamanca and Tula. Environmental and natural resources practice-group coordinator Federico Ruanova-Guinea is also recommended.

Mexico : Environment

Within Environment, Baker & McKenzie SC is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie SC's environmental practice provides ‘excellent service in all respects: sound legal and practical advice in navigating the regulatory process; excellent advocacy; strength in litigation; and professional responsiveness'. It recently advised “US offsets programme" Climate Action Reserve in relation to the creation of a protocol for the development of forest conservation projects with the aim of generating carbon funds. Other matters handled recently include environmental litigation and authorisations, negotiations with the government in relation to carbon credit projects, assisting clients with the operation of water treatment facilities, and lobbying the Federal Environmental Ministry and Environmental Protection Bureau. The ‘professional and timely' team is commended for “measuring up" to the highest standards and is led by the highly reputed Federico Ruanova-Guinea. His practice focuses upon environmental impact, risk, and prevention. Senior associate Mario Facio is also recommended. However, the team lost José Raúl Félix-Saúl to an in-house position at GDF SUEZ Energy Resources.

Mexico : Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property , tier 4

Baker & McKenzie SC's IP practice counts prestigious names among its clients, including Nokia, Unilever, Estée Lauder, Nike and Prada. The group has received important mandates including assisting clients in patent litigation, in trade mark hijacking matters, and IP asset valuations and royalty calculations. It acts as sole advisor to Hasbro in relation to licensing, trade mark and anti-counterfeiting matters in Mexico, and also handles the coordination of Procter & Gamble's Mexican patent portfolio. It recently advised Brazilian/US restaurant operator Fogo de Chao in a trade mark hijacking case and successfully recovered its trade mark rights in Mexico. It has also advised G-Star on similar matters. Practice head Sergio Legorreta is recommended not only for his IP expertise but also his knowledge in related areas including technology, telecommunications, privacy and data protection. Peers note that the group ‘is growing in this area', ‘taking strides' and has ‘some very interesting up-and-coming lawyers in this field'.

Mexico : International trade and customs

Within International trade and customs, Baker & McKenzie SC is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie SC's trade and customs practice is ‘recommended without qualification', providing an ‘extraordinary overall level of service' and ‘a team of exceptional attorneys who always respond promptly with practical advice and spot-on legal advice'. It recently advised BEHR America and its Mexican subsidiary regarding a customs audit in which the authority issued an assessment of $23m. Following negotiations with the authority, the final tax assessment was reduced to $800,000. Another highlight saw it advise Archer Daniels Midland on the applicability of VAT to imported goods bound for animal feeding purposes and undertake successful litigation (before the Federal Tax and Administrative Justice Court), against the consideration of those products as food additives for VAT purposes. Standout-name Edmundo Elías Fernández heads the group and is also the coordinator of the firm's global international trade, compliance and customs practice group. Also highly valued by clients are ‘strong advocate' Adriana Ibarra-Fernandez, who ‘has a comprehensive procedural and substantive understanding of NAFTA, US/Mexico tax laws, and Mexican legal hurdles', and Daniel Sánchez-Elizondo. The group was strengthened further recently by the arrival of Armando De Lille. Formerly at Chévez, Ruiz, Zamarripa y Cía SC, he has over ten years' experience in the sector.

Mexico : Labour and employment

Within Labour and employment , Baker & McKenzie SC is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie SC is ‘the number one law firm for labour matters in Mexico' and ‘one level above; it sets the measuring bar'. It provides ‘timely responses, good follow up, open discussions with the client and is very good on defining and implementing strategies', in addition to being ‘results–oriented with excellent “know how" and “know who"'. Monterrey-based Alfonso Garcia-Lozano led the group's recent advice to fertilizer and chemical company ICL Performance regarding its acquisition of Cosmocel Quimica; the consequent corporate restructuring process involved the transferral of employees and labour union negotiations. Another highlight, led by Ricardo Castro-Garza (who heads the labour group in the Monterrey office), saw the team advising Qualtia Alimentos in connection with a cross-border labour and social security due diligence for the company's operations in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, India and the US. Among those recommended are: Ricardo Martinez-Rojas, who is singled out for his ‘experience and knowledge of the material, his professionalism, and personal attention'; Salvador Pasquel Villegas, who is ‘business–oriented and gets thing done, with a good follow up and great expertise'; and Rosario Lombera-Gonzalez, who is recommended for her ‘knowledge and experience and personal attention'. Practice head Manuel Limon and the ‘distinguished' Jorge de Regil are also standout figures.

Mexico : Legal market overview

Within Legal market overview,

There have also been a number of interesting developments among the market's established firms, including the departure of four dispute partners from White & Case, SC (Juan Pablo Rico, Iván Libenson, Gustavo Robles and Eugenio Bernal) who plan to establish their own practice. The firm also lost a strong corporate partner in Eugenio Sepúlveda who left to join former colleague Thomas Heather at Heather & Heather, SC. Despite these changes, White & Case, SC remains strong, receiving resounding praise from clients in corporate and finance matters. Baker & McKenzie SC saw the departure of Jaime Gonzlaez-Béndiksen, Alejandro Enriquez-Mariscal, Max Salazar and Victor Yanar who formed Béndiksen Enríquez Salazar Santoyo.

Mexico : Real estate

Within Real estate, Baker & McKenzie SC is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie SC's real estate practice displays particular strength in the industrial, hospitality (especially resort development), and residential sub-sectors. The group has earned a solid reputation and with offices in Tijuana, Mexico City, Ciudad Juarez, Monterrey and Guadalajara, benefits from the firms unrivalled reach across the country. Practice chair Jose Larroque has a strong market profile and brings 20 years’ experience to the table. Larroque is supported by the transactional expertise of Gaspar Gutierrez. The Monterrey-based Juan B Garcia-Garza recently led a matter advising construction company Constructora DAVI on the $25m sale of a property and an industrial building to John Deere. Garcia-Garza's areas of focus include development law, construction law and infrastructure and major projects. Representative clients include GE Real Estate, Lasalle Investment Management, Pacific Monarch Resorts and Aldea Vacation Club.

Mexico : TMT

Within TMT , Baker & McKenzie SC is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie SC's Sergio Legorreta heads the firm's IP, ICT, outsourcing and data protection practices, and has an established reputation in TMT matters. Legorreta's experience also includes advising on cross-border satellite negotiations and defense and aerospace technologies. The group advises core clients, such as Sony, Facebook and Cisco, in relation to technology regulation and compliance issues. A recent highlight saw the group advising Virgin Mobile Latin America on protracted negotiations with COFETEL in connection with obtaining SCT authorisation for its operation as an independent mobile virtual network operator.

Mexico : Tax

Within Tax, tier 4

Baker & McKenzie SC's tax practice has experienced considerable movement during the last year. In early 2011, Jaime Gonzalez-Béndiksen and tax litigator Alejandro Enriquez-Mariscal departed to form the full-service Béndiksen Enríquez Salazar Santoyo, while early 2012 saw the arrival of Alberto Polanco-Inzunza and associate Jesús Sánchez-Valderrama, former members of KPMG's tax and legal practice, at the firm's Monterrey office. In a further development, the chair of the firm's VAT tax practice Jorge Narvaez-Hasfura was appointed as an independent adviser to government tax organisation PRODECON. The firm retains tax expertise in each of its five Mexican offices and has been particularly busy advising clients on tax efficient structures for their corporate operations. Luis Carbajo-Martínez has a strong reputation, especially in the energy-related tax issues, and Jorge Narvaez-Hasfura is also recommended.

Further information on Baker & McKenzie

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Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

  • The New Turkish Code of Obligations: Important Changes for Leases of Residential & Business Premises

    For decades, the primary Turkish laws governing leases of residential and business premises have been the Law on Leasing Real Property dated May 27, 1955 (the “Lease Law”) and the Turkish Code of Obligations No. 818 dated April 22, 1926 (the “Obligations Code”). Both of these laws, however, will be repealed and replaced with the new Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 dated January 11, 2011 (the “New Obligations Code”), which will enter into force on July 7, 2012.
    - Esin Attorney Partnership

Legal Developments in Mexico

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • Notorious Marks

    Notorious marks or the declaration thereof, has always been an issue widely discussed in Mexico by the IP legal community. This is so because provisions of the Paris Convention dealing with this topic have for a long time been uses as an effort to cancel or nullify trademarks registered by Mexican authorities without really making an extensive evaluation of proposed denominations and without examining in depth if such marks may be potentially affecting rights acquired by third parties elsewhere. So, a specific regulation and legal frame that at least tries to resolve this issue is always a good start in the right direction.
    - Uhthoff, Gómez Vega & Uhthoff SC

  • FRANCHISING TRENDS IN MEXICO: A NEW VALUE

    By Ignacio Dominguez Torrado Uhthoff, Gomez Vega & Uhthoff, S.C. Why a new value? Is Mexico avoiding the economic fallout that the world may be facing? In Mexico franchises are worth more? Is Mexico not a country that the global economic standstill is or will affect? The answer is, not really. Are Franchises in Mexico currently experiencing a boom? Perhaps. Are Franchises becoming an important aspect in Mexican economy? Certainly.
    - Uhthoff, Gómez Vega & Uhthoff SC

  • ADVERTISING IN MEXICO: COMMENTS UNDER AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW PERSPECTIVE

    Advertising in Mexico is governed by multiple bodies of law including for at least seven Federal Laws, five Regulations also of Federal application, a number of the so-called Mexican Official Standards (NOM's) and certain other laws and regulations applicable into specific States within the Republic of Mexico. All of them are focusing to establish the form and manners for producing and communicating advertising of products and services in Mexico.
    - Uhthoff, Gómez Vega & Uhthoff SC

  • MEXICAN CUSTOMS. UPDATE ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF TRADEMARK RIGHTS

    It has been well publicized in the Mexican media over the last few months that the General Customs Administration (AGA) and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) are planning to launch a customs trademark registry, as a short-term solution to increase protection for trademark owners against the import of infringing and counterfeit products.
    - Uhthoff, Gómez Vega & Uhthoff SC

  • DEMONSTRATING USE OF TRADEMARKS UNDER MEXICAN LAW AND PRACTICE

    The evolution in the protection and enforcement of IP rights has also reached the Mexican practice. The traditional ways of defending a registered trademark on a non use contentious procedure have developed.
    - Uhthoff, Gómez Vega & Uhthoff SC

  • ANTI-COUNTERFEITING IN MEXICO

    By Jose Luis Ramos-Zurita
    - Uhthoff, Gómez Vega & Uhthoff SC
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