Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

For antitrust investigations carried out in Mexico, Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC makes for reliable and seasoned counsel. Recent scrutiny by COFECE in the banking and beer making industries have both been sources of work for the practice, which is headed by Fernando Carreño, one of the market’s most renowned lawyers for investigations in this area. He is also an experienced transaction lawyer when it comes to merger and pre-merger filings. The practice was significantly bolstered in January 2023 with the hire of Sergio López as a partner after some seven years at COFECE where he had held a number of senior positions including Director General of Contentious Affairs, Head of the Technical Secretariat and Head of the Investigative Authority. Counsel César Martínez supports on litigation cases, mainly regarding investigations into alleged illegal behaviour; while among a strong crop of associates, experienced seniors Mónica Cabeza de Vaca and Michel Llorens are two names to note. Since publication, Llorens has been raised to counsel - effective as of January 2024.

Mexico > Compliance Tier 1

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC continues to provide tier-leading counsel in the compliance space, with particular skill in anti-corruption matters. In addition, the practice’s expertise encompasses national and cross-border investigations, preventive advice, and criminal and civil litigation. A number of its attorneys are dual-qualified to practice law in both Mexico and New York, affording the bench a strong advantage in cross-border cases involving the United States. Team leader Diego Sierra is a standout leader in anticorruption matters; as well as remaining active on the firm’s most high-profile recent cases (such as TelevisaUnivision), he chairs the Anti-Corruption Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce Mexico. Partners Raymundo Soberanis and Pablo Fautsch undertake internal investigations, arbitration and litigation; while Enrique Riquelme - who was promoted to of counsel in January 2023 - is experienced in white-collar investigations and alternative dispute resolution methods. Since publication, the firm has further strengthened the practice with the hire of Ricardo Cacho - a former director general of procedural control at the Ministry of Finance (SHCP) - as counsel, effective March 2024.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 1

Acting for a client base predominantly made up of foreign companies, Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC‘s practice in arbitration has an international focus and a standout selection of Japan-based clients. Alongside the dedicated international arbitration department that has established a leading position in the market, the firm also has arbitration expertise extending to other practice areas, fielding a large pool of associates and senior associates with arbitration training employed on a multi-practice basis. Another strength of the department is in disputes against government entities, in cases with commercial and administrative law components. The name of Claus von Wobeser carries a lot of weight in the Mexican arbitration market, his 40 years of experience proving invaluable to long-term and new clients alike. He co-leads the department with Adrián Magallanes, whose broad practice covers all forms of dispute resolution and a focus on energy and natural resources. Montserrat Manzano is another contact with complementary experience in the energy space, and Raymundo Soberanis is a specialist in public contracting procedures. Pablo Fautsch‘s arbitration practice includes a key role in the firm’s construction and infrastructure group, and Jessika Rocha is another young partner with a burgeoning international arbitration practice, especially in energy. Rodrigo Macín and Rodrigo Barradas are the most prominent associates in the department. Since publication, Barradas has been promoted to counsel - effective as of December 2023.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 2

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.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 2

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC is a well-established name in Mexico when it comes to resolving disputes, and while it is best renowned in arbitration, the firm houses a strong litigation team that can reliably assist clients with the gamut of cases. The practice continues to be engaged in long-running class actions whose conclusions will set precedents in their respective sectors. Other areas of strength include the representation of foreign clients operating in Mexico (especially Japan-based companies), and disputes against government entities where commercial law and administrative law are interlinked. Co-leading the practice: Adrián Magallanes stands out for his expertise in energy sector litigation; while Diego Sierra is noted for ESG and anti-corruption matters, alongside his broad litigation practice. Other key contacts in the team include Raymundo Soberanis, Jessika Rocha and Pablo Fautsch. At the senior associate level, Rodrigo Barradas has a broad dispute resolution practice and his litigation experience extends to all court levels in Mexico.

Mexico > Environment Tier 2

Benefitting from the firm’s increasingly defined market position as a full service firm oriented primarily towards long term relations with its clients, the environmental team at Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC benefits from both a steady stream of transactional matters and the ongoing matters generated by the firm’s strong industrial and manufacturing client base. While this constitutes some 60% of the team’s current activity, the remainder is made up of administrative (environmental) litigation – particularly, of late, concerning water resources, concessions and supply. The 11-strong team is co-led by Edmond Grieger, who has some 20 years’ experience in the sector, including both advisory and compliance concerning complex M&A and major project and infrastructure developments, as well as environmental and administrative litigation; and energy and projects specialist Ariel Garfio, whose expertise takes in contractual, environmental, regulatory, social impact, rights of way and agrarian matters. While the practice has seen some changes at the more junior level, key support comes from mid-level associate Roberto Flores, whose practice is centred on environmental law, energy and natural resources and real estate. Headline mandates include ongoing assistance to Ivenergy regarding all the environmental and social authorisations and licensing concerning its more than 20 renewable and co-generation plants across the country and in particular advice concerning all environmental aspects of the company’s Parque Eólico de Fenicias project, currently at the EPC stage. Other matters include advising Blanmin on the environmental and administrative matters required to regularize two mining concession titles in Campeche; and Nissan on compliance related matters concerning its water concession obligations before CONAGUA for the operation of its facilities in Aguascalientes and Morelos.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 3

The team at client-focused full-service Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC advises clients on traditional banking matters and sophisticated credit and financing transactions, and additionally demonstrates particular strength in fintech. Recent work highlights include advising Fairplay (a company providing e-commerce startups with early financing), on negotiating a credit facility for up to $100m. Practice co-head Luis Burgueño specialises in complex cross-border transactions - including private and public M&A, and joint-ventures; while fellow co-lead Alberto Córdoba primarily represents borrowers and issuers in loan transactions and debt issuances. Alejandro Orellana, counsels Gloria Martínez and Javier Betancourt, along with senior associate Jaime Ostos are additional names to note. Since publication, Betancourt has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

Mexico > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 3

The bankruptcy and restructuring practice at full-service firm Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC handles domestic and cross-border bankruptcy litigation and out-of-court restructuring for secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, investors and directors. Practice co-head Diego Sierra is experienced in contentious bankruptcy matters and is dual-qualified to practice in both Mexico and the United States; alongside him, Jessika Rocha represents debtors and creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and advises clients facing bankruptcy on preventative commercial strategies; and Raymundo Soberanis undertakes litigation in both domestic and international courts. At associate level, Alejandro Gonzalez and Gustavo Vaca are the names to note.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 3

Energy generators, service providers, developers, financial institutions, suppliers and off-takers are all among the companies that look to Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC for advice on transactions, financings and disputes, among other matters. As part a full-service firm, the practice can offer clients support through the life-cycle of a project or business operation in Mexico; indeed, the team has advised on a sizeable share of the renewable energy projects in the country over recent years. Leading the practice, Edmond Frederic Grieger is an experienced name in the Mexican energy market and works across energy and environmental matters, public bidding process, and administrative litigation. Ariel Garfio has a broad focus on the power, mining, and oil and gas sectors; while Luis Burgueño has advised on major transactions as well as guiding multinationals through their compliance with Mexico’s energy sector regulations. Raymundo Soberanis is a key contact for contentious issues in the sector; and from a deep pool of associates, Victor Delgado has been especially active since joining from Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C. in June 2022.

Mexico > Intellectual property Tier 3

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC’s ‘highly attentive team’ for intellectual property matters remains a strong choice for a host of issues, whether as counsel on the IP components of M&A and joint ventures, or regarding portfolio management and the registration of trade marks and patents. Clients include both domestic sector leaders and household multinational names, with Nike Innovation being a recent addition to the client roster; the team is advising the company on patent matters. Practice head Patricia Kaim is an up-and-coming partner in the Mexican IP market; she has experience in constitutional and administrative IP proceedings, along with the IP aspects of transactional matters and IP-related dispute resolution. Kahn is supported by a five-strong associate team from which copyright specialist Silverio Sandate has been particularly active, recently.

Mexico > International trade and customs Tier 3

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC is recognised as a strong choice for foreign clients, particularly US businesses and their Mexican subsidiaries, needing advice on establishing operations in Mexico and the ongoing administration of production facilities. The international trade and customs practice is also adept in representation before the tax and customs authorities regarding audits and in litigation, when necessary. Luis Miguel Jiménez leads the department and has extensive experience in the international trade and customs space; reflecting an industry strength in the wider firm, he has particular knowledge of the automotive industry - a sector in which the practice is well ingrained. Counsel Lourdes Salazar is the main support and has notable experience assisting clients enrolled in the Immex programme.

Mexico > Labour and employment Tier 3

In August 2022, Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC upgraded its labour and employment law offering with the hire of Rafael Vallejo, formerly practice head at Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa. Counsel Adrián Castillo (from De la Vega & Martínez Rojas, S.C.) was a further addition, along with three associates, thereby increasing the breadth and depth of the ‘agile, efficient team’ considerably. The department stands out for its experience in workforce restructurings as a result of M&A and joint ventures, advising on employee implications and transfers, as well as carrying out due diligence procedures and providing employment advice on commercial expansion. The practice also has capabilities in collective bargaining agreements, social security matters, and labour litigation, among other segments. Vallejo has joined the department as practice co-head, alongside Rodolfo Trampe, who advises a number of Fortune 500 companies. Senior partner Javier Lizardi is a corporate and M&A partner with labour law experience and a focus on the pharmaceuticals sector. Associate Alejandra Arizpe is recommended by clients and supports on a broad swathe of labour and social security law issues.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 4

The practice group at Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC specialises above all in the conversion of ejidos into private property, as well as property acquisition, development, management, leasing, financing and litigation. The 13-strong team is co-directed by Pablo Saez, who has extensive M&A experience and is active on social property and urban development matters; and Alejandro Orellana, who advises domestic and foreign developers, lenders, and investors in connection with real estate-related regulatory issues. Raymundo Soberanis and Ariel Garfio are additional partner-level contacts. The practice was strengthened with the March 2023 hire of Rodrigo de los Ríos, formerly a partner at Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego, as counsel.

Mexico > Tax Tier 5

The tax team at Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC is best known for its strength in double taxation and for assisting clients with beneficial tax structures for foreign and domestic companies. The practice also supports the firm’s corporate team and often advises on the tax aspects of business restructurings and M&A transactions. In January 2023, the firm absorbed Alejandro Torres & Asociados, which added two lawyers who now oversee the tax department in conjunction with of counsel Fernando Moreno: Alejandro Torres, an experienced tax specialist who has acted in numerous complex tax disputes before the Mexican courts; and counsel Luis Enrique Torres whose practice is focused on the resolution of tax and administrative disputes. Associate Juan Manuel Moran was also part of the incorporation and provides strong support, particularly as regards tax audits.