Mr Manuel Ferrara Ibarra > CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile

Having historically played a major role in advising the Mexican government on an overhaul of the electricity market and restructuring the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow is an established powerhouse of the Mexican energy and natural resources space, advising international and national private clients on the full range of matters. Under the López Obrador administration, a focus on energy sovereignty and a protectionist outlook has resulted in an increased contentious workload. Other regular instructions include handling business agreements of all types across electricity generation (both traditional and renewables), and up-, mid- and downstream oil and gas. Practice co-heads Derek Woodhouse and Luis Fernandez Lagunas have extensive experience advising government bodies, as well as companies dealing with such; Woodhouse has notable expertise regarding power generation and PPPs, and Fernandez Lagunas across a range of energy project types. Giancarlo Schievenini is a key contact in transactional and regulatory matters, and senior associate Gabriel Salinas provides additional expert support on electricity matters. Fellow senior associate Manuel Ferrara – formerly at energy regulatory body, CRE – is a litigator with experience in energy-related controversies.

CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow fields a small, four-strong practice in Mexico City but significantly the team sits as part of the international firm’s global life science practice which boasts more than 300 dedicated lawyers. The local practice group primarily handles work from the domestic and international pharma sector, along with clients across the medical devices, food and drink, and chemicals’ sectors, including administrative procedures, regulator-mandated audits, and market approval/launch matters. Practice head Mauricio Gómez Guerrero is a former chief of staff to the Federal Commissioner at COFEPRIS – the federal regulatory entity responsible for protection against health and sanitary risks; his practice focuses on life sciences regulatory matters, along with regulatory enforcement administrative procedures, issues concerning controlled substances, and government affairs strategy. Key support is provided by administrative (and constitutional) litigator, senior associate Manuel Ferrara Ibarra, who works across both the energy and life science sectors; he has particular expertise in both defence strategies before federal and local administrative procedures, and undertaking challenges related to regulatory, administrative and fiscal matters.