Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. is widely acclaimed as one of the market’s undoubted heavyweights, not least in the field of banking and finance. Renowned rainmaker Carlos Aiza, who has an impeccable track record of activity in this area, heads the department, which boasts a stellar client roster consisting of a mix of international and domestic lenders, borrowers and financing entities, who seek out the practice for its expertise and ability to navigate a broad array of transactions. Of late, the team has handled complex structured financings, restructurings and DIP financings; cross-border, local single-bank and syndicated loan facilities; acquisition, structured and maritime financings (secured and unsecured), and high-level restructurings, project finance and derivatives operations. The sizeable practice counts a number of other prominent practitioners in its ranks, including Giovanni Ramírez Garrido, who has a focus on real estate lending and other asset-based lending transactions and has a particular experience in agro-sector loans; managing partner Pedro Velasco, who advises clients on a wide range of secured and unsecured financings, across several industries; Rodrigo Castelazo (banking, finance, bankruptcy, capital markets and private equity); Mercedes Haddad who handles banking, finance and capital market matters. Up-and-coming figures include younger partner Emilio Aarún (asset-backed, mezzanine and structured finance; real estate, corporate and project finance, payroll loans, workouts and finance regulatory); and Alejandro Isaac, who was promoted to the partnership in January 2022. Former counsel Víctor Gallegos moved to Cervantes Abogados in July 2021, while -since research concluded- Eduardo Flores Herrera has also left the firm (effective July 2022).

Regarded as a topnotch alternative when it comes to banking and finance matters, Galicia Abogados S.C. appeals to clients – including international and local lenders and borrowers – for the depth and strength of its robust department, which has proven experience handling cross-border syndicated transactions; teaming up with the firm’s M&A team for acquisition finance; sub-sovereign matters; real estate, projects and infrastructure financings; and regulatory work. The practice has particular expertise as regards the financial service sector itself, along with deep engagement with the retail, hospitality, and food & beverage sectors. The department jointly led by a seasoned partner trio consisting of fintech expert Arturo Perdomo ; Guillermo Pérez Santiago , who is recommended for his expertise in capital markets; and Humberto Pérez-Rocha . Up-and-coming figures include Rodrigo Rivera  (corporate, project and real estate finance, secured transactions, domestic and international financings, debt financing, restructuring, and public sector (state/municipal) financing), and in the firm’s Monterrey office, Rosemarie Mc Laren   (appointed partner in January 2021) who focuses on local and cross border, bilateral and syndicated loans. A solid second line is led by senior associates Lili Abascal (public financings; local and international financings, refinancing and debt restructuring), and Jorge Javier Mendízabal (banking, finance, capital markets, with an emphasis on sustainability-linked transactions). Since research concluded, the team has been notably bolstered with the August 2022 incorporation of veteran practitioner Carlos Obregón Rojo, formerly at Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C.. However, former counsel Cecilia Rojas moved in house as GC of Altán Redes the following month; and since publication, Mendízabal has also left the firm – effective as of November  2022.

‘A well-coordinated team that perfectly understands the needs of its clients’, Greenberg Traurig, S.C.‘s large banking and finance team has established itself a practice of choice for many national clients, as well as US and other international players doing business in the country, given its expertise handling a wide range of financing transactions. Juan Manuel González Bernal, who is particularly well-versed in project finance transactions; and managing partner José Raz Guzmán, who also acts as co-chair of the international firm’s Latin America practice, sit at the helm of the group. Closely supporting them are a skilled group of partners, including Miguel Moisés, who earns praise for his ‘great disposition and attitude’, and regularly represents lenders and borrowers in structured financings, bilateral and syndicated loans, and on the financing of industrial, commercial and housing real estate projects; Rodrigo Orozco, whose expertise encompasses handling sub-sovereign-debt restructurings and re-financings; José Antonio Butrón and Gabriela Palomino. Additional support at associate level is provided by seniors Ana Acosta (secured lending, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and general corporate matters); David Argueta (capital markets and financing transactions; general corporate matters) and January-2022 hire Paulina García de León Gómez , who arrived from HSBC.

A recognised market authority when it comes to banking and finance transactions, the 'extraordinary' Michell Nader steers the large practice at Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC, which represents a superb list of global banks, financial institutions and corporate clients including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, HSBC, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, Barclays, Banamex, BBVA México, Prudential and Metlife, as well as public bodies such as Banobras and Pemex. Praised for its ‘extreme discipline, seriousness and quality of work’, the group handles the ful range of finance transactions, from structured finance and complex securitizations deals, to leasing, corporate lending, real estate finance -particularly for the hospitality sector- and project financing. In addition, the team has recently seen an increase in fintech-related mandates, be it regulatory work or lending transactions. The practice houses numerous other experienced practitioners, notably: Julián Garza, who has a strong background in banking law and financial regulations; Hans Goebel, whose exepertise takes in banking, banking regulatory, structured finance and capital markets; Javier Arreola (project and asset-backed financing; restructurings) and Yves Hayaux-Du-Tilly (banking, banking regulatory, insurance); Eduardo Villanueva, who has a particular focus on real estate finance; and José Humberto Rocha, who has garnered considerable experience acting on financial transactions for a variety of domestic credit institutions and foreign and international financial organisations. Recent developments saw associate Federico Vergara appointed of counsel in May 2022. Former partner Diego Sanchez Villarreal left in February 2021.

To speak of Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. is also to speak of proven strength and expertise in the banking and finance area, so it is not surprising that the practice led by experienced partners Jean Paul Farah and Pablo Perezalonso advises an impressive client roster, comprised mainly of financial institutions acting as lenders, and constitutes one of the core areas of the multidisciplinary firm. ‘Experience, practicality, client service, and partner involvement’ are the norm for a group that stands out for its finesse handling a variety of financing transactions, including secured and unsecured credit facilities. Other key members of the Mexico City team include renowned market figure Luis Nicolau and Gabriel Del Valle (both (banking, finance, capital markts and restructuring); and Gabriel Robles, who focuses on financing with a specialisation in capital markets. Key associate support comes from senior  Daniela Solis, who is well-versed in project finance, having represented both developers and lenders in transactions that include toll roads, gas pipeline projects, solar and wind farms, and cogeneration and other power projects. However, longstanding partner Carlos Obregon left the firm in August 2022 after more than 25 years at the firm, as did younger partner José Berrueta, the preceding month.

Gonzalez Calvillo houses a highly regarded banking and finance department with a solid track record in the Mexican market, which spans customary banking and finance matters from commercial lending, acquisition financing and project finance to regulatory banking work. The group has built a reputable client portfolio, as well as a solid presence across multiple sectors, including oil, gas, and electricity, fintech and the automotive industry. Recent work highlights saw the practice representing JA Mitsui Leasing, as lender, on the granting of a $98m financing for the construction, operation and leasing of a Toyota-branded automotive components manufacturing plant which will be operated by Metalsa. Co-managing partner José Ignacio Rivero Andere, who is particularly skilled at handling cross-border transactions; and José Victor Torres Gómez, whose experience encompasses transnational financings, syndicated loans and leasing work, are the main contacts of the team. Fellow partners Jorge Cervantes Trejo, Rodrigo Rojas Robleda and Daniel Guaida Azar are all also active in the sector, particularly on project finance matters; while Bernardo Reyes Retana K., in turn, handles private and public securities offerings, cross border finance and banking regulatory matters. The name to note at associate level is that of senior Jacinto Ávalos (banking and finance, private equity and capital market). Former partner Juan Manuel Sancho Rodrigo left the firm in March 2022.

Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C.’s Mexican banking & finance practice continues to represent renowned financial institutions lending in the region, and has also augmented its notable track record regarding acquisition and project financing, refinancing and restructurings. The group, which is praised for its ability to ‘innovate at all times’, has also established itself as a solid option in the fintech segment, especially for structured finance transactions. Raúl Fernández-Briseño, who has a focus on structured finance and is recommended for being able to ‘think through issues when deals get stuck and come up with simple, logical fixes’; energy specialist Ariel Ramos; Francisco García-Naranjo, who reinforced the team with his arrival from White & Case S.C. in July 2021; senior counsel Jan Boker; and ‘detail-oriented’ associate Pablo Solórzano, are the key contacts of the team. Moreover, the practice works seamlessly with the firm's international network of offices, which gives it a significant punch when it comes to handling cross-border work. Former associates Aldo Jáuregui and Julio Martínez left in June and September 2021, respectively.

Praised for the ‘excellent quality’ of his work, as well as for his ‘unparalleled depth of market knowledge’, practice-head Juan Carlos Machorro steers the banking and finance group at full-service firm Santamarina y Steta, which is well known for its strength in corporate and project finance, regularly representing both financiers and borrowers. Machorro is closely supported by partners Alberto Saavedra, a veteran figure with some 35 years' experience in securities, banking and finance, capital markets, foreign investment and project finance; and Sergio Chagoya, who offers additional expertise advising government entities, and handles a variety of financial transactions, including private equity and venture capital in relation to infrastructure projects, public offerings, securitisations and privatisations. Further expertise is provided by a solid pair of younger partners, namely Diego Ostos (banking and finance, capital markets, project finance and government procurement); and Ricardo Orea, who has particular experience advising on the financing of infrastructure projects in the energy and transport sectors, and on other asset-backed financing transactions. Promoted to counsel in January 2022, Margarita Casarin is another name to note.

Chávez Vargas Minutti Abogados banking and finance group represents clients in a range of financial transactions, including the structuring of all types of financing arrangements. Although the team usually acts for the lending banks, it also represents borrowers and has well-known niche expertise representing states and municipalities. A reliable Mexico City-based partner-trio comprised of Brian Minutti, who of late has focused on structured finance deals; public finance specialist Jose Antonio Chávez; and Alejandro Carreño, who mainly works with financial institutions and has established a fine track record in real estate financings, co-head the practice. Associates Diego Medina (structured credit transactions, syndicated loans, debt restructuring, and private and public bidding processes) and Jimena Pulliam (private securities offerings and complex financial operations -including the instrumentation of vehicles for specific purposes- trusts and guarantees) offer key support. The group also regularly acts for a number of rating agencies authorised in Mexico.

The Spain-headquartered international firm, Garrigues , continues to consolidate its position in the Mexican banking and finance sector with a skilled practice that is primarily centred on project and structured financing, commercial bank lending and regulatory matters, as well as ongoing operational advice to banks and multilaterals with their activities in Mexico. Mario Juárez, whose expertise takes in secured and unsecured loans, project finance and infrastructure projects, M&A and equity investments, heads the 15-strong group, which was reinforced in August 2021 with the arrival of counsel Leopoldo Fragoso from Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. Partner Gabriela Pérez Sierra, who specialises in energy and infrastructure finance; and senior associate Carlos Eduardo Gómez, are additional key contacts of the team. However, principal associate Daniel González left the practice in June 2021. Since publication, the team has been notably strengthened with the March 2023 hire of veteran banking, finance and capital markets' specialist, Manuel Groenewold - formerly of White & Case S.C. .

Seamlessly integrated into the office network of the international full-service giant, Hogan Lovells‘ Mexican banking and finance practice boasts a solid footprint both in Mexico City and Monterrey, where department-heads Federico De Noriega and René Arce are respectively located. De Noriega, who is closely backed by experienced counsel Aldonza Sakar, has an excellent track record advising both lenders and borrowers regarding cross-border financing, project finance and asset-backed loans; while Arce is well-reputed for his skills handling regulatory and transactional work, with a particular emphasis on sub-sovereign finance. Recent work highlights of the group include representing the US International Development Finance Corporation in relation to a $100m loan to Crédito Real.

A popular choice for lenders and borrowers alike, Kuri Breña, Sánchez Ugarte y Aznar's seasoned department has developed a competitive structured and asset-backed finance practice, and is also recommended for its expertise in project and real estate-related financing. The group offers additional experience representing Mexico’s development banks, mainly thanks to the expertise of Rodrigo López. He, together with Alejandro Sobarzo (project finance); Álvaro Sarmiento (structured finance); and Guillermo Garay (financial restructuring transactions, syndicated loans, bilateral loans and cross border financing), comprises the four-partner team fronting the practice. Founding partner Daniel Kuri Breña, and senior associate Silvia Roldán provide additional key expertise.

Bello, Gallardo, Bonequi y García, S.C.‘s banking and finance department is recommended for having a ‘very professional team that knows the particularities of the Mexican financial system’, and known for it’s strong lending institution-side client roster (both local and international) particularly as regards regulatory mandates. Miguel Gallardo Guerra, who is praised for his regulatory expertise and for offering ‘high quality solutions’, co-heads the department together with the recently appointed Javier Pérez Moreno, who is experienced in fintech, banking, insurance, and health (among other sectors), and has of late been advising clients in matters related to cryptocurrencies. The practice endured the departure of former of counsel Adolfo Hegewisch at the end of 2021, but was reinforced -in turn- with the March-2022 arrival of Juan Manuel Sancho from Gonzalez Calvillo, whose expertise encompasses structured, project and acquisition finance, as well as restructuring.

CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow's practice advises across the full spectrum of transactional and regulatory banking and finance work, regularly acting for a number of leading banks, other lenders and major corporates on a variety of matters. The group, which is fully integrated into the firm's international network of offices, remains well known for its solid track record in project finance, and its prowess handling regulatory work, drawing on the expertise of practice-head Raúl Zepeda, who specialises in financial regulatory mandates. Project finance expert, César Lechuga, who is particularly experienced in real estate infrastructure projects, is another key contact of the team. However, senior associate Héctor González Martínez left the firm to join Calatrava Consultores in January 2022.

Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C. is distinguished by its solid expertise in asset-based lending, as well as in M&A matters with a strong financial component. The practice led by Hugo Cuesta and Azucena Marin – which operates from the firm's offices in Guadalajara, Mexico City and León, and boasts particular expertise in the automotive, manufacturing, financial and real estate sectors – is a recurring choice for foreign banks and lenders doing deals in Mexico, and also acts as co-counsel with prestigious international firms. Mexico City-based senior associate, Andrés Urquidi, focuses his practice on the structuring and negotiation of financial transactions, including  security structures for companies in the energy sector and infrastructure projects.

DLA Piper Mexico's relatively young practice continues with its developmental roadmap to establish itself as a major force to be reckoned with in the local Mexican market, with a sizeable January-2022 influx from White & Case S.C. attesting to its progress. The banking and finance practice, in particular, has strengthened its capabilities in project finance and public-private partnerships with the arrival of Roberto Ríos. He joins a team co-led by Edgar Romo, who represents financial institutions and debtor companies regarding local and international credit facilities, structured finance, project finance, securities offerings, and restructurings; and Diego Martinez, who has extensive experience in banking and securities' financings. Senior associate Adolfo Obregón, and associate Javier Pichardini provide key support to the group. Counsel Manuel Hallivis left in February 2022.

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC's banking and finance department ‘excels in performance and experience’, and undertakes a range of matters including regulatory work, financial transactions, project finance, and credit and debt restructurings. Clients engaged in the payment cards and merchant acquiring industry in Mexico also seek out the group for its particular expertise in this area. A well-balanced duo comprised of seasoned partner Luis Burgueño, who earns praise for his ‘excellent financial expertise’; and energy expert Alberto Córdoba, who regularly represents borrowers and issuers in loan transactions and debt issuances, are in charge of steering the practice. Alejandro Orellana, counsel Gloria Martínez, and senior associate Jaime Ostos, who joined in 2021 from Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C., are additional names to note.

León López, co-managing partner of the office, is in charge of steering the Mexican banking and finance practice at Spanish powerhouse Cuatrecasas. The group, which works seamlessly and uses the synergies between offices both in Latin America and/or Europe, boasts extensive experience handling a wide array of financing transactions - project, real estate, infrastructure, corporate and acquisition financing, refinancings and debt restructuring - mainly advising banks, funds, or insurance companies, both domestic and international. Recent work highlights include acting for CaixaBank regarding the financing granted to RLH Properties to build and develop the Rosewood Mandarina Hotel on Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit; and the debt refinancing of the Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico. López is closely supported by José Higinio Núñez, who is particularly experienced in the finance, infrastructure and telecommunications sectors.

Well-established full-service firm, Jáuregui y Del Valle, S.C., houses a sturdy practice led by banking, financial and capital markets expert, Alberto Balderas, who enjoys a proven track record in the energy, automotive, retail, and manufacturing sectors, and also has experience advising fintech companies obtaining the authorizations for the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores and Banxico to incorporate an electronic funds payment institution under Mexican fintech legislation. Fellow department co-heads Justo Fernandez del Valle, who has a focus on corporate finance, and project finance specialist, Fernando Alonso-De-Florida, are the other names to note.

Pérez Correa González houses a compact but highly efficient banking and finance practice, which earns praise from clients for having the ‘necessary contacts and communications to streamline the dialogue with banks’, and whose client roster includes local and international names from the financial, technology, consumer goods, energy, fintech and infrastructure sectors. The department is co-led by a Mexico City-based duo comprised of Jorge Labastida, who is well-versed in asset-backed and structured finance, both cross-border and domestic; and Fernando Eraña, who also leads the fintech group, and is experienced in cross-border finance - secured and unsecured - and venture capital financing.

In recent years, Sánchez Devanny‘s banking and finance practice has increasingly focused on advising Mexican and foreign banks on cross border loans and securities in Mexico, along with syndicated multi-jurisdictional loans and bonds issuances, as well as continuing to advise clients on fund formation. The firm’s June-2022 hire of Mexico City-based finance and capital markets specialist José Berrueta -formerly at Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C.– will undoubtedly assist the practice to make further in-roads into these areas. He joins a group that is co-led from Monterrey and Querétaro and which has particular expertise in the automotive industry (particularly the representation of borrowers and their subsidiaries in Mexico). Practice co-heads Ernesto Silvas (who has a focus on acquisition-finance), and Francisco Andres Gamez-Garza  are based in Monterrey; while real estate specialist, Diego Gómez-Haro, operates from Querétaro. At senior associate level, Monterrey-based Jaime Moreno-Treviño brings additional key expertise. Since publication, Gamez-Garza has left the firm - effective as of April 2023.

In the banking and finance sector, SMPS Legal‘s ‘highly qualified team’, garners praise for its capacity to ‘respond and find (quick and easy) solutions to all the problems and vicissitudes’ that may arise from financing issues. Lauded as ‘an outstanding lawyer’, Iván Pérez heads the team in conjunction with María Teresa Paillés. Pérez advises issuers and underwriters in connection with debt, equity, asset-backed and structured securities’ offerings and tender offers, both domestic and cross border; while Paillés, who is well known for her high-level of expertise in the real estate sector, brings additional key experience to the practice, which also focuses on the insurance, chemical and private equity industries.

Clients appreciate Vázquez Aldana, Hernández Gómez & Asociados' ‘personal treatment, advice and availability’, to the point of regarding the Guadalajara-based firm as ‘a partner of the business’. The banking and finance practice acts primarily for lenders, regularly advising well-known banks such as Citibanamex, HSBC, Banregio, and BBVA on their financial transactions. Felipe Vazquez Aldana, who acts as Secretary of the Board of Directors for various financial institutions in Mexico, and Guadalupe Llamas López, are the key practice contacts.