Galicia Abogados S.C. > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

Galicia Abogados S.C. > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 1

Local and international lender and borrower clients entrust the ‘leading’ practice at Galicia Abogados S.C. with a host of banking and finance-related matters, including cross-border syndicated transactions, acquisition finance, sub-sovereign financing, real estate financings and regulatory work. The group operates from offices in both Mexico City and Monterrey, and counsels big-name banks and lenders, including Barclays, Bank of America and JP Morgan; in addition, corporations from industries such as food & beverages, energy, transportation and real estate regularly feature on its client roster. Team members are lauded for their ability to ‘adapt to the needs of the client’, and for their ‘outstanding communication and knowledge’ of the sphere. An experienced trio co-lead the practice: Arturo Perdomo combines great experience in traditional transactional and regulatory work with fintech expertise; Guillermo Pérez Santiago (‘business oriented, proactive and up to date’), specialises in finance and capital markets; and insurance practice head Humberto Pérez Rocha. In the Monterrey office, Rosemarie McLaren specialises in local and cross-border, bilateral and syndicated loans; while Rodrigo Rivera deals with corporate, real estate and project financing. Senior associate Lili Abascal handles public financing matters.

Mexico > Capital markets Tier 1

The ‘first-rate’ capital markets practice at heavyweight Mexican firm Galicia Abogados S.C. offers the full range of counsel on domestic and international capital markets transactions, with notable experience in project bonds, international debt offerings, IPOs and follow-on offerings, local debt transactions, public M&A transactions, asset securitisation and other structured products. The ‘business-oriented, proactive and up-to-date’ team advises both issuers and underwriters; clients appreciate the firm’s strength in other practice areas such as banking and finance and corporate and M&A, in addition to the ‘impeccable service’ it provides. The ‘outstanding’ Guillermo Pérez Santiago co-heads the practice along with the experienced Maurice Berkman. Partner Carlos Obregón Rojo joined from Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. in June 2022, and María Ángeles Padilla - who focuses on debt and equity offerings and securities regulations - was promoted to the partnership in January 2023. Former senior associate José Alejandro Cortés moved in house in April 2023.

Mexico > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

Galicia Abogados S.C.’s ‘top-notch’ practice is a key component of its overall offering to major companies undertaking deals at the very top of the corporate market in Mexico. The group includes not only dedicated professionals in the competition and antitrust field but also experts in a variety of the country’s major industries, giving the team a robust offering when it comes to navigating the respective regulatory challenges in different sectors, as well as counsel experienced in dealing with the competition authority. The practice is led by co-managing partner of the firm Christian Lippert, one of the best known experts in this area in Mexico. Fellow practice co-head Carlos Chávez is also a recognised antitrust expert in the market; he advises a number of major companies on day-to-day compliance, and has an especially strong client base in the telecoms sector. The practice also houses one of the market’s next generation partners in Juan Carlos Burgos; in recent years he has regularly come up against the competition authority in some of its most significant sectoral-investigations. Counsel Gerardo Rodríguez supports on complex merger control applications, while senior associate Maite Celorio strengthens the practice group’s regulatory offering.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

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.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 1

Galicia Abogados S.C.'s broad litigation offering encompasses administrative, civil and commercial matters, with the 18-strong team valued by clients for providing ‘a combination of lawyers with extensive experience supported by young lawyers but who have received specific training related to litigation’. The practice is a key branch of the firm’s counsel in various sectors and practice areas, and is regarded as a strong choice across administrative, regulatory and constitutional litigation. These have been particularly active areas during the López Obrador administration with clients coming up against the government’s reticence as regards the private sector. The practice group's offering on civil and commercial mandates has also proved robust and has notable experience across the financial, banking, class action, oil and gas sectors, along with federal and state appellate cases. The departmnet is co-led by Rodrigo Zamora, ‘a benchmark in the field due to his great capacity and knowledge’, and Cecilla Azar, who has extensive experience in major cross-border contentious matters. Daniel Amézquita is the main contact on the administrative litigation side and has overseen the substantial recent client growth in that area. Senior associates Iván Valdespino and Gilda Velázquez provide key support to Amézquita, while José Antonio Casas and Diego Manzano are more involved on the commercial litigation side.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

2022 saw Galicia Abogados S.C. bring to bear the full range of its energy and natural resources’ capabilities, particularly when it came to matters born of the government’s move to bring the sectors back under state control. A broad range of mandates, lobbying and contentious administrative work saw the team active across regulatory matters, antitrust, environmental law, international treaty matters and public law. More generally, the firm has a long history at the forefront of legal matters in the oil and gas sector, and has over time established strong long-term client base. It is also well-versed in power matters and acts for the full range of industry stakeholders in electricity provision, while on the renewables side, the team advises banks and financial institutions on their investments, as well as companies purchasing International Renewable Energy Certificates (IRECs). Carlos de María y Campos is an elder statesman of the energy and natural resources market in Mexico, particularly as regards project financing, which is also the forte of Antonio Borja and Ernesto Partida. Francisco Fernández Cueto’s practice has an emphasis on renewable and conventional electricity and natural gas related activities, and Eduardo García-Travesi is strong in the power sector. The mining practice is led by Héctor Kuri. All six above named lawyers jointly coordinate the energy and natural resources group, with senior associates Luis Manuel Rosendo and Florent Patoret providing robust support. Since publication, Patoret has been raised to the parntership - effective as of December 2023.

Mexico > Environment Tier 1

Drawing on the support of a strong litigation and arbitration practice group for judicial and/or administrative representation as necessary, Galicia Abogados S.C.’s full-spectrum environmental practice has considerable experience in transactional work and associated due diligence, regulatory matters, compliance, litigation and ESG issues, and acts primarily for clients drawn from the energy, real estate and regulated industries (including, ports, roads, water projects and pharma). The nine-strong practice group is co-led by Mariana Herrero, who has in-depth knowledge of the full range of environmental legal matters and who is accustomed to multidisciplinary approaches to such issues; and Carlos Escoto -who was raised to the partnership back in early 2021- and brings sophisticated regulatory and sustainability experience to the group, particularly in relation to the development of infrastructure, renewable energies, oil & gas, mining, manufacturing and tourism industry projects. At associate level, key support is provided by seniors Lucía Manzo and Lourdes Lozano – who both primarily attend to the regulatory and environmental aspects of infrastructure and energy projects; and associates Verónica Palacios (a former director of hydrocarbons regulation at the Comisión Reguladora de Energía), and Guillermo Garza (who rejoined the firm in June 2022 after four years at Vera y Asociados). Recent matters include involvement in the filing of constitutional amparos concerning various government reforms, advisory concerning carbon credit generation projects, and matters arising from the financing of a water treatment and desalination plant.

Mexico > Life sciences Tier 1

Highlighted for its ‘very deep knowledge of current regulations, the sector and its risks‘, which thereby allows the eight-strong team to ‘provide practical solutions‘, the life sciences practice at Galicia Abogados S.C. is co-led by Bernardo Martínez Negrete and counsel Lisandro Herrera. The group acts for a deep roster of pharmaceutical and healthcare industry clients on matters ranging from logistics and compliance to licenses and dispute resolution. Moreover, as part of a full-service firm the practice has experience throughout the multiple segments that constitute the practice – from issues related to digital health, UNOPS and governmental procurement processes; health care mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; the regulatory aspects of the release, sale, labelling, promotion, advertising and distribution of medicines, medical devices and human vaccines; along with the drafting and negotiation of agreements and regulatory data protection. Senior figure Martínez-Negrete has been involved in various innovative healthcare projects (not least his advice to Sanofi on the implementation of the first public-private partnership for the manufacturing and commercialisation of influenza vaccines in Mexico), and more recently on projects directly related to Covid-19 and, subsequently, post-pandemic developments; while fellow practice co-head Herrera spent over a decade in house at companies including Sanofi Aventis, Teva and the Asociación Mexicana de Industrias de Investigación Farmacéutica (AMIIF) before moving into private practice and becoming a recognised expert in health regulation, governmental procurement processes, pharmaceutical regulation, medical devices and compliance, among other matters. At associate level,  the experienced Luis Marin Tijerina and younger colleague Martha Contreras advise clients on regulatory matters concerning pharma products, innovative and generic drugs, high-tech equipment, biotechnology, food supplements and medical devices, as well as clinical studies, cosmetics and personal hygiene products, digital health, tobacco products, and toxic and controlled substances. Marin’s practice also takes in consumer protection matters, safety and product liability, and more generally all aspects of the consumer goods sector.

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure Tier 1

Galicia Abogados S.C. houses a leading projects and infrastructure practice which is regularly sought out by local and international banks, energy companies, investment funds and companies in the construction segment. The 31-strong group has significant experience assisting with the development, financing, construction, operation and sale of long-term infrastructure and energy projects, as well as public bidding processes, financing structures, concession titles, PPAs and PPPs. The department is jointly led by Carlos de Maria y Campos and Alejandro De La Borbolla who both specialise in energy and infrastructure projects, with an emphasis on project finance; Francisco Fernández Cueto, who advises clients on the development, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of energy projects; and Bernardo Martínez Negrete, who majors on project finance and M&A with particular emphasis on life sciences and infrastructure. Other key partner-level contacts include Antonio Borja (energy and project finance); Ernesto Partida (cross-border financings, project finance, infrastructure and energy project development); and Eduardo García-Travesi (the development, purchase, sale and financing of power projects, with a focus on renewables). Senior associate Alan Rogel is noted for his contributions on the financing of infrastructure projects.

Mexico > Tax Tier 1

Galicia Abogados S.C. has rapidly established a strong tax practice that makes for an excellent choice in the most complex tax-heavy transactional matters, and is increasingly seen as a destination for pure tax instructions. The practice has recently been particularly active in the financial sector, supporting financial institutions in the face of a more aggressive position on the part of the tax authority. The firm continues to invest in the practice, hiring Eduardo Michán from Deloitte Impuestos y Servicios Legales, S.C. in mid-2022, and also bringing in senior associates Eduardo Espinosa and Ivonne Montaño from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.; all three bolster the tax offering to clients in the private equity space. Michán joins a group of five practice heads, coordinating the team alongside Gabriela Pellón and Federico Scheffler, who focus on tax consultancy; and Edson Uribe and Denise Lester, who are the contacts to note for tax disputes. At associate level, Alejandra Paniagua and Sebastián Ayza are both gaining profile on the tax consultancy side, while as regards contentious matters, Fernando Gómez and Alejandro Madero are the names to note. Since publication, the practice has been notably strengthened as regards fiscal litigation with the hire of Paola Yaber, a former magistrate at the Tribunal Federal de Justicia Fiscal y Administrativa, as partner - effective as of January 2024.

Mexico > Wealth management Tier 1

Reflecting its breadth as one of the country’s foremost full-service firms, Galicia Abogados S.C. fields a wealth management practice that assists with the gamut of estate and succession planning issues, including tax advice, corporate governance, real estate law, wills, trusts, regulatory compliance, and litigation risk management. Along with the creation of efficient structures, the team provides ongoing advice -particularly to family offices- on daily operations. An abundance of talent in the team starts with the four practice heads: Christian Lippert ‘has excellent judgment built on deep experience’ and is often involved in cross-border matters; Gabriela Pellón receives client praise for her leadership and acts for HNWIs and family offices on an international scale; Eugenio Sepúlveda (in Monterrey) oversees restructuring related work; and Arturo Perdomo assists from a finance perspective. Senior associate Cecilia Díaz de Rivera stands out as one of the emerging experts in the field with a practice built on a strong corporate and finance foundation. Fabiola Jiménez, Fernando Luján and Ana Elena Dominguez are additional associates to note, along with November 2022 hire Gabryela Valencia.

Mexico > Compliance Tier 2

Galicia Abogados S.C. offers clients ‘clear, timely and precise’ guidance on both day-to-day compliance matters (such as the design of corporate compliance policies), and transactional compliance services. As part of the firm’s regulatory practice group, the team cooperates closely with other partners whose expertise spans an array of sectors, namely banking, telecoms, pharmaceutical and transportation. The practice is headed up by an experienced trio: Carlos Chávez specialises in advising railroad, energy, and telecoms corporations on compliance matters; Christian Lippert has a background in M&A and compliance investigations; and Juan Carlos Burgos handles the design and implementation of internal compliance policies for local and multinational corporations. Counsel Gerardo Rodríguez focuses on competition and antitrust matters; while associate Marianela Romero supports on the design of internal compliance and training programmes. Associate Maite Celorio M is another name to note in the competition compliance space.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 2

Since launching its arbitration practice in 2015, Galicia Abogados S.C. has become an ever more prominent name in the market for a broad range of arbitration types, with the prowess and expertise of its practitioners backed by the multi-practice breadth and heft of the wider firm's full-service offering. As it has grown, the department has forged a particularly strong reputation for arbitrations against Mexican state-owned entities and matters in the infrastructure, construction, and energy sectors involving multimillion-dollar government contracts. Co-head of the practice Cecilia Azar is one of the foremost figures in the arbitration sphere in Mexico; she has vast experience across arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, especially in cases relating to energy, infrastructure and construction, along with commercial mediations. She co-leads the department with Rodrigo Zamora, a seasoned counsel and arbitrator in multi-jurisdictional cases. Senior associate José Antonio Casas maintains a dedicated contentious practice and acts on both litigious and arbitral matters. Former fellow senior Arantza Vargas is currently a visiting professional at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York; and associate Ana Sofía Sapiña left the firm in July 2023 to undertake her LLM at Harvard.

Mexico > International trade and customs Tier 2

Galicia Abogados S.C.’s position as a full-service heavyweight grants it a strong standing in the international trade space, with the energy, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and finance  sectors all being areas of particular strength. It has recently played a key role as counsel to energy sector clients in litigation against the Mexican government, its specific international trade expertise being leveraged in argumentation regarding the breach of international treaties. Both Mexican and international clients look to the department for advice on the range of customs matters, as well as local and foreign anti-dumping and subsidies investigations. Mario Valencia and Daniel Amézquita co-lead the practice from the Mexico City office, with ley support provided by associates Fernando Rodríguez and José Andrés Muñiz, the latter of whom heads the practice in Monterrey.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 2

In the words of one client, the team at Galicia Abogados S.C. has an ‘in-depth understanding of the real estate sector that other teams lack’. Lauded by another for its ‘high level of knowledge, professionalism, organization, attention to detail and response times’, the 12-strong group is known for advising FIBRAS, banks, real estate developers and hotel groups on commercial, industrial and residential real estate matters. Land acquisitions, joint ventures, real estate financings and refinancings, leasing and property management, real estate litigation, and environmental and regulatory matters are among its core strengths. Ramiro Sandoval co-heads the practice and routinely advises clients in the hospitality sector on complex real estate transactions; alongside him, Rodrigo Rivera is well-versed in real estate financing and related ESG matters. Key senior associates Roxana Schäfer and Mariana Islas support the partners on transactional real estate matters.

Mexico > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 4

Acting on behalf of both debtors and creditors, the practice at Galicia Abogados S.C. assists with restructurings and distressed asset transactions; it has particular experience advising clients from the real estate, aviation, energy and construction sectors. Eugenio Sepulveda leads the team from the Monterrey office and handles all banking and restructuring matters, also bringing experience in M&A and project finance to the table. Senior associate Andrés Caro de la Fuente assists on debt and corporate out-of-court restructurings and bankruptcy proceedings.

Mexico > Insurance Tier 4

Well-regarded by its clients, the multi-disciplinary offering in insurance law at Galicia Abogados S.C. is a reliable choice across the spectrum of matters involving insurers and reinsurers. A ‘shrewd lawyer’ with an ‘immediate understanding of what needs to be done and how to do it’, Humberto Pérez Rocha is a banking and finance expert and co-leads the department alongside the firm’s arbitration and litigation practice head Rodrigo Zamora. Associate Ricardo Montejano is the key supporting lawyer and is also recommended by clients.

Mexico > TMT Tier 4

The multi-practice TMT offering at Galicia Abogados S.C. counts leading multinationals across the three sub-sectors as clients, and the team assists with major M&A, sector-specific regulatory issues, competition law, and restructuring, among other matters. On the technology side, Ricardo García and Alejandro de la Borbolla are the key contacts, coordinating the broad range of advice required in that area, with Arturo Perdomo being the name to note for fintech work. For telecoms, Carlos Chávez is the department head, coming under the banner of the firm’s broader regulatory practice; he also handles media sector matters, working with the corporate and M&A team as required. Humberto Pérez-Rocha advises on M&A, banking and insurance matters in relation to the telecoms and technology sectors, while senior associate Irma Ross leads the firm’s IP & data privacy offering.