Mr Diego Martinez > DLA Piper Mexico > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile

DLA Piper Mexico fields a compact 10-strong team in the corporate and transactional area, handling public and private M&A, the division and/or sale of assets, cross-border transactions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, the conducting of due diligence processes; preparation of MOUs, obtaining of governmental approvals and post-merger integration; the office can also handle relevant tax planning and structuring matters. Not insignificantly, the group also enjoys the benefit of sitting as part of -primarily- the firm’s largely unparalleled regional network of offices, and beyond that has access to the firm’s global capabilities. A trio of partners jointly-lead the practice: Diego Martinez focuses on general corporate matters with an emphasis on corporate finance, corporate governance matters and M&A – notably in the regulated sectors (he also has strong expertise in financial regulatory matters); while Álvaro Garza-Galván handles M&A, bankruptcy, restructuring, banking and finance, and securities transactions; the pair are also the office’s co-managing partners. The leadership group is completed by younger partner Mauricio Valdespino, whose practice is centred on M&A, private equity, corporate and commercial law. Additional partner level experience is provided by veteran practitioner María Eugenia Ríos Espinosa, who has particular knowledge of the labour aspects of corporate transactions and private equity deals; and Jorge Benejam, who has notable experience in competition matters as part of his broader corporate/M&A practice oriented towards the regulated sectors – particularly life science, telecommunications and technology. A solid associate bench includes seniors Jaime Ancer Fortea (complex corporate transactions and  general corporate and commercial issues) and Andrés Calderon (M&A, bankruptcy and corporate matters related to real estate and capital markets); intermediate José Luis Gutiérrez Ramírez, an April-2022 arrival from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C., is also noted.

The Mexico City-based banking and finance practice at global firm DLA Piper Mexico is known for its handling of local and cross-border finance transactions including bilateral and syndicate financings, leveraged buyouts, refinancing and capitalisations, and asset-based loans. Domestic and international banks and SOFOMES feature heavily on its client roster. Practice co-head Diego Martinez, who is experienced in banking and securities financings, is hailed as ‘an expert in his field’; the ‘extraordinary’ Edgar Romo also co-leads, and focuses on transactional finance matters, namely those involving the energy and hospitality sectors. Roberto Ríos adds expertise in project financing and public works, and associates Melissa Martínez and Javier Pichardini provide additional support. Since publication, the practice has been notably strengthened with the January 2024 hire of Álvaro Sarmiento – formerly of Kuri Breña, Sánchez Ugarte y Aznar.