Santamarina y Steta > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

Santamarina y Steta > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Labour and employment Tier 1

Santamarina y Steta’s labour and employment team is ‘one of the most recognised in Mexico’ and its ‘excellent lawyers’ are some of the country’s best-regarded advisors for collective bargaining issues and designing union negotiation strategies. Union conflicts are a standout specialism and the team has recently seen plenty of activity assisting companies with rapid response mechanisms. The team is also well-versed in representation before the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the local labour ministries in several Mexican states. On the non-contentious side, the department works closely with transactional teams to support clients with M&A processes. Clients strongly endorse employment litigator Francisco Udave, who is one of four practice heads, along with Juan Carlos de la Vega, the firm’s Monterrey-based managing partner; Andrés Rodríguez, whose expertise includes legal audits focused on labour compliance; and counsel María Elena Abraham, head of the firm’s immigration law department. A further key contact is counsel Jaime Vázquez, who represents clients at all court levels, as well as in investigations.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 2

Santamarina y Steta excels at representing development financing institutions, including local banks, international and multilateral institutions, as both lenders and borrowers; it also has expertise in financial workouts. Its active Monterrey office is regularly instructed by high-profile borrower clients in the northeast of the country and complements the ‘responsive’ team led by Juan Carlos Machorro from Mexico City; he has extensive experience in investment and manufacturing projects. Sergio Chagoya represents lenders, sponsors and borrowers in a range of financial transactions including public offerings, securitisations and privatisations; ‘exceptional lawyer’ Ricardo Orea advises banks and other financiers on energy, transport and asset-backed financing transactions; and Diego Ostos provides counsel on debt issuances and cross-border financial transactions. Of counsel Margarita Casarin - who works on syndicated and structured finance, project finance and infrastructure projects - is an additional name to note.

Mexico > Capital markets Tier 2

The ‘business-focused’ capital markets practice at Santamarina y Steta combines ‘good industry knowledge’ with a ‘pleasant manner’ and provides counsel on debt and equity offerings, public tender offers and matters involving FIBRAs and CKDs. Sergio Chagoya advises lenders, sponsors, borrowers and rating agencies on private equity and venture capital investment in infrastructure projects, public offerings, securitisations and privatisations; he co-leads the practice alongside securities, capital markets and M&A expert Alberto Saavedra. Diego Ostos, who participates in debt issuances and M&A transactions, is an additional name to note. 2022 saw the departure of associates Esteban Soto and Iñigo García in August and September, respectively; but also the arrival of senior associates Elias Zaga Belzer and Juan Pablo Rodríguez Sada in October. Since publication, Rodríguez Sada has moved to Santos Elizondo - effective as of October 2023.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 2

Praised by one client as a ‘firm that inspires confidence from the first moment’, Santamarina y Steta’s real estate group is routinely instructed by international corporations working in the retail, food, luxury goods, energy and logistics sectors. The ‘highly professional and experienced’ team is well-equipped to handle agrarian and urban development matters, land acquisitions, leases and sales, financings and real estate-related due diligence for industrial, residential, tourist, mixed-use and ejidal properties. At the helm of the practice, Vicente Grau regularly advises clients on the acquisition, leasing, development, construction and sale of real estate properties, and is lauded as a ‘specialist’ who offers ‘efficient and comprehensive solutions’. Partner Claudia Rodríguez assists local and international clients with the structuring, planning and implementation of operations for the acquisition, financing, development, leasing and sale of real estate, with a particular focus on the commercial and industrial sectors. Senior associate Ivan Szymanski is active on compliance and real estate matters, while associate Yakov Kobets majors on the structuring and execution of projects related to the acquisition or sale of assets, as well as related due diligence work. Since the conclusion of research, Szymanski has sleft the firm - effective as of September 2023.

Mexico > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

As one of the oldest full-service firms in the Mexican market, Santamarina y Steta has a longstanding practice in competition and antitrust, and assists a disparate range of clients with both contentious and advisory matters in the area. It regularly handles merger control and pre-merger filings, and is also well-equipped for investigations work, including those addressing cartels and monopolistic practices. Practice head Vicente Grau is an experienced transactional lawyer in various sectors and therefor familiar with navigating companies’ interactions with COFECE, as well as sector specific regulators. Senior associate Ivan Szymanski assists across the full range of competition matters. Since publication, Szymanski has left the firm to open the new competitoin department at Vázquez Tercero & Zepeda - effective as of December 2023

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

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.)

Mexico > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Supported by specialists from other practice areas of the firm, the litigation team at the full-service Santamarina y Steta is focused primarily on lawsuits involving Mexican and foreign entities that raise civil or commercial law issues. The department regularly counsels on cross-border matters and is strong in disputes against government entities across a range of industries. Practitioners are experienced at every level of court in the country. The group is led by a trio of lawyers: Carlos Olvera, a well-regarded figure in the market with three decades' experience in civil and commercial litigation, restructuring, bankruptcy, and insurance; Roberto Fernández del Valle, who has broad dispute resolution experience and is especially strong in the real estate sector; and Carlos Brehm, who is the firm’s go-to person for contentious matters arriving at the Monterrey office. José Antonio Moreno and Michelle Grayeb stand out from a strong associate pool.

Mexico > Intellectual property Tier 3

‘A very modern team’ at Santamarina y Steta assists its the clients with registration of sizeable IP portfolios, as well as ongoing protection, prosecution and IP litigation. As a full-service firm, multi-practice teams can coordinate on transactional matters, with the IP team available to support on associate IP and intangible-asset issues. José Pablo Pérez Zea is well-versed in advising national and international companies on franchising and licensing, and also has specialisms in both patent and trade mark prosecution, copyright, unfair competition and plant variety matters, among other areas. Pérez Zea co-heads the practice with Daniel Legaspi, a partner since January 2022, who has drawn in a number of new clients since his appointment to the promotion, and works across the trade marks, patents, plant varieties, appellation of origin, copyright, industrial secrets, licensing and litigation areas. Counsel Efraín Olmedo is admired by clients as ‘a great litigation lawyer’ and acts on all contentious IP matters.

Mexico > TMT Tier 3

Local and international clients in the TMT space, as well as related government entities, look to Paola Morales and her team at Santamarina y Steta for advice on navigating the regulatory landscape in Mexico. The practice is well-known for its strength in assisting foreign investors with their entries into Mexico’s telecoms, IT and broadcasting markets, and the firm regularly wins new clients in this respect. Morales, one of the leading figures in this area, is supported by experienced Monterrey-based partner César Cruz, and corporate and M&A lawyer (and firm chairman), Jorge León Orantes. Marcela Flores in Monterrey is the associate level contact to note.

Mexico > Environment Tier 4

The practice at Santamarina y Steta has considerable experience across environmental project management (including obtaining environmental permits, authorisations and licenses), the implementation of compliance systems and environmental audits; the monitoring and evaluation of environmental legal obligations; and the development of strategies for environmental, social and corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. Primarily active on behalf of clients in the tourism, infrastructure, energy, mining, automotive and chemical industries, the team is co-led by Claudia Rodríguez C - who specialises in real estate, environmental and agrarian law, and indigenous consulting; and Monterrey-based Heriberto Garza, whose broad practice takes in real estate, environmental matters, estate and wealth planning, among other areas. While the team lost former senior associate Juan Carlos Aguirre - who moved to Bustamante & Freyre in March 2022- the firm moved quickly to replaced him with experienced environmental practitioner David González Vega -who arrived as a senior associate from Fonatur (where he was legal director with regards to the Tren Maya project)- the same month. Recent matters for the practice include environmental audit procedures, impact studies, remediation proposals and the accompaniment of industrial clients during environmental prosecutors' inspection visits.

Mexico > International trade and customs Tier 4

Santamarina y Steta regularly advises multinationals operating in Mexico on their compliance with international trade and customs regulations. The team is a reliable choice for Immex programme matters, and obtaining temporary VAT certification and other authorisations to allow companies to temporarily import or export certain goods and equipment. The manufacturing, pharmaceutical, medical device, food and retail industries are particular areas of strength for practice co-head Alejandro Luna; while fellow department head Mariano Calderón is an expert in administrative proceedings related to customs' matters and government procurement dispute resolution. Associate Michel Zelaya supports across the range of trade matters, particularly on anti-dumping cases.

Mexico > Life sciences Tier 4

The departure of specialist associate Mariana Larrea in September 2022 was an undoubted loss for the life sciences group at Santamarina y Steta; nevertheless, practice head Alejandro Luna has undoubted life science and consumer protection expertise (particularly in relation to manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and the food and retail industries), as part of a broader practice that also takes in foreign trade and customs, anti-corruption and immigration law. Indeed, his foreign trade experience has proven invaluable in relation to import and supply chain strategies, product import/export strategies and customs consultations. A member of the Asociación Mexicana de Derecho y Regulación Sanitaria (AMDERSA), Luna also advises on the life science aspects of M&A transactions, with peers considering him 'a relevant player' for advisory matters in the sector.

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure Tier 4

The ‘extraordinarily skilled’ practice at Santamarina y Steta is regularly instructed by local and international banks and developers, and energy, construction and telecoms companies for its assistance with the planning, development, execution, and financing of urban infrastructure projects. The group is directed by a trio of partners, comprising: Juan Carlos Machorro, who focuses on the development and implementation of investment and manufacturing projects in Mexico; Sergio Chagoya  (described by one client as ‘the lawyer you want in your legal team … the go-to person for closing difficult negotiations’), who advises lenders, sponsors and borrowers on infrastructure projects, public offerings and securitisations; and Ricardo Orea, who focuses on financing for energy, transport and social infrastructure projects, as well as asset-backed financing transactions. Diego Ostos is an additional key partner-level contact, and specialises in banking and finance, capital markets, project finance, infrastructure, M&A, PPPs and government procurement. Senior associate Margarita Casarin (corporate and financial law, including syndicated, structured and project finance) is also noted.

Mexico > Tax Tier 4

Santamarina y Steta fields a tax litigation department that has recent experience in challenging local environmental taxes, amendments to federal VAT credit provisions, advertising expenses, and real estate tax credits. The practice’s client base has a broad sector coverage and General Motors stands out recently as a multinational instructing the team on the gamut of its tax issues. The department is led by Mariano Calderón, an experienced advisor, particularly as regards amparo, administrative and contentious judicial proceedings. Counsel Karina Robledo focuses her practice on tax advisory matters (as well as money laundering), and associate Jair Vaca supports on the majority of matters.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 5

The energy department at Santamarina y Steta has become increasingly collaborative as a cross-practice offering from the firm in recent years, adapting to changes in the market that have necessitated a broadening of services to include foreign trade, dispute resolution, environmental, and restructuring expertise. Juan Carlos Machorro is a corporate, M&A and finance lawyer with 25 years of experience acting for energy sector clients in Mexico. He heads the department with primary support provided by associate Norma Álvarez.

Mexico > Bankruptcy and restructuring

The team at Santamarina y Steta advises both debtors and creditors on local and cross-border debt restructurings, and has particular strength representing clients in the aviation, infrastructure and finance sectors. At the helm in Mexico City are Carlos Olvera, an expert in civil and commercial litigation, restructuring, workouts and insolvency; and Ricardo Orea, who has experience in both insolvency and restructuring matters. Civil and commercial litigator Carlos Brehm co-leads the practice from the Monterrey office.

Mexico > Compliance