With long-standing experience Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. has considerable and longstanding experience in the environmental sector, advising clients on the full spectrum of matters -including regulations, compliance, administrative proceedings, litigation and transactional issues- on a nationwide basis. The team handles issues related to forestry and land use, hazardous waste, water concessions, air quality and emissions, and climate change regulations (among other matters), tending to a wide range of industries such as real estate, oil and gas, energy, health care, and food and beverages. The practice is led by Carlos de Icaza, who represents clients on a broad array of regulatory and transactional matters arising under federal, state and municipal environmental laws, regulations and standards. De Icaza is supported by a capable and experienced second line of associates including  Alejandro Castelló (who was promoted to counsel in August 2022) who has deep experience in environmental law, particularly in relation to the energy and natural resources and real estate sectors; and senior associates Mariana Westendarp and Jessica Villaverde who both have over 15 years’ experience dealing with environmental matters. The team is also profoundly involved in the firm’s recently relaunched ESG and Sustainable Finance practice.

Gonzalez Calvillo is consistently soughed out by local and international clients to advise on environmental and regulatory matters, including the design and implementation of environmental strategies; mandatory environmental, natural resources, climate change and social impact provisions; representation before authorities in administrative and judicial proceedings – including class actions, administrative sanctions-related claim procedures, and litigation. The September 2022 hire of Paola Hernández from Grupo México’s Americas Mining Corporation (where she had been director of both compliance and corporate environmental affairs), gives the department a new practice head following the sad and untimely loss of Leopoldo Burguete in March. Key support is provided by a strong second line of counsels: Enrique Muñoz Guízar advises companies on the identification and obtaining of the environmental permits, licenses, authorisations, and concessions required for the development of infrastructure projects in the water, energy, tourism and industrial sectors; Julia González handles strategy design in relation to regulatory, dispute resolution and risk prevention matters; and Carlos Fernando Castilla focuses on administrative litigation and dispute resolution, particularly in relation to environmental and regulatory law. Experienced senior associate Georgina Zavala is also noted.

Galicia Abogados S.C.‘s full-spectrum environmental practice has experience in transactional work and associated due diligence, regulatory matters, compliance, litigation and ESG, and acts particularly for clients drawn from the energy, real estate and regulated industries (including, ports, roads, water projects and pharma), drawing on the support of a strong litigation and arbitration practice group for judicial and/or administrative representation as necessary. The practice is led by Mariana Herrero who has in-depth experience in all aspects of environmental law, from wildlife to waste regulation, and who is accustomed to multidisciplinary approaches to environmental issues, frequently working in collaboration with the firm’s projects, litigation and M&A practice groups. Fellow specialist Carlos Escoto -who was raised to the partnership back in early 2021- brings sophisticated regulatory and sustainability experience to the group, and is a recognised specialist in the development of infrastructure, renewable energies, oil & gas, mining, and manufacturing and tourism industry projects. Key associate 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 associate Verónica Palacios, a former director of hydrocarbons regulation at the Comisión Reguladora de Energía.

Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego's practice group is highly regarded for its diverse capabilities in administrative procedures and litigation before environmental and regulatory authorities, as well as for its handling of the environmental aspects of corporate and finance transactions, including joint ventures, M&A and general project finance deals. The practice has experience in regulatory matters concerning water, wastewater discharges, change of forestry land use, natural protected areas, hazardous and non-hazardous waste, and air emissions, among other areas. Practice head Adrián Del Paso has long-standing experience including on general transactional and day-to-day advice, permitting, and dispute resolution support on environmental regulations at the federal, state and municipal levels; clients note his ‘personal attention to the matter' and that 'his input has both technical and practical perspectives.’ Also, a key player in the practice, senior associate Mauricio Sandoval, focuses on environmental and urban development, administrative proceedings, and nullity and amparo trials, as well as assisting clients with due diligence for local and cross-border transactions.

Jones Day is an undoubted presence in Mexico's environmental legal sphere, its practice demonstrating experience and capability in all areas of environmental, health and safety laws, with specific focus on compliance, environmental damage liability, climate change, and energy projects. The team advises clients on matters involving soil pollution and remediation, greenhouse gas emissions, legislative developments regarding the banning of plastics, hazardous materials and waste management, social impact and civil environmental liability, among others. It also represents clients in litigation before local and federal administrative authorities and courts in Mexico. Practice head Mauricio Llamas is a veteran specialist with over 20 years' partner-level involvement in the sector; he primarily undertakes administrative and regulatory matters, with particular experience in environmental, health, and safety laws and standardization, and is also very active in administrative litigation against federal and local authorities. Senior associate Mauricio Villegas is well regarded for his experience advising domestic and international clients on compliance matters, M&A auditing procedures, the environmental aspects of business restructurings, the obtaining of relevant permits, crisis management, and regulatory and environmental litigation.

Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C., is a ‘firm with exceptional performance in environmental matters’  and that has broad experience in project finance, administrative filings, sociocultural impact assessment, wastes, national waters, environmental zoning and urban development and climate change, along with water, soil and air pollution, and the management of filings to obtain project-related authorisations, permits, and registrations. The practice is also highly regarded for its expertise in social impact assessments, handling and management of negotiations with indigenous peoples and communities so as to obtain the social license required for the approval of projects, and the development of shared benefits mechanisms. Led by partner Hector A. Garza Cervera , who advises local and foreign companies on environmental and social obligations, the design and implementation of ESG programs, and regulatory and governmental affairs; clients consider him ‘one of the lawyers in human rights and indigenous issues with the greatest knowledge and in-depth understanding throughout the country.’ Garza is supported by associates Estuardo Anaya and Christian Rosales who have over 15 and 10 years’ experience advising on (non-contentious) transactional environmental matters, and governmental affairs, climate change and ESG related issues, respectively. Since publication, Garza has left the firm (effective December 2022), with the firm hiring experienced partner Brenda Rogel from Hogan Lovells the following month.

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC ‘s ‘impressive‘ environmental practice has the capability to undertake complex regulatory environmental mandates, with expertise in dispute resolution, compliance issues (particularly regarding water supply and wastewater discharges), environmental impact assessments, and the obtaining of environmental and social permits for the successful development of projects. ‘Its advice is personalised to the specific needs of the industry and sector, their opinions and recommendations are tailor-made’, sources note. The team is led by Edmond Frederic Grieger who has expertise in environmental and administrative litigation and arbitration, as well as compliance, M&A, and project and infrastructure development-related matters. Key support is provided by counsel Ariel Garfio who has over 15 years’ experience advising on environmental matters, energy and natural resources and project development; and Rebeca Márquez, whose practice is centred on the regulatory, environmental and real estate aspect of energy project audits and inspections.

Garrigues is well regarded for its ‘great experience and expertise on environmental issues’, and focuses on the management of potential environmental liabilities and irregularities for projects in the energy sector, social impact evaluations, project development, environmental permits, licenses, notices, and authorisations. The practice is led by partner Roberto Torres Velasco who specialises in environmental, regulatory and public law, and has extensive experience in licensing and environmental due diligence for energy, real estate, infrastructure, industrial and tourism projects; he is ‘excellent at his job, has full command of his field of action and has collaborated impeccably’, note clients.

Leveraging the combined strength of international offices in over 40 cities, Greenberg Traurig, S.C.'s Mexico office is known for its capabilities in environmental matters and is consistently sought out by clients since ‘they innovate to seek alternative solution from different perspectives'. The team's broad experience encompasses contentious and non-contentious matters, environmental and regulatory permits, contaminated sites, waste, air emissions, water, surface occupation of lands, and on the environmental aspects of infrastructure and real estate projects, and transactions in general. Given the foregoing, unsurprisingly, the team advises clients in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food and beverages, infrastructure, mining, renewables, real estate, telecommunications, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The practice is led by Erick Hernández Gallego who has longstanding experience in the sector and particular expertise regarding regulatory issue, urban development, corporate environmental regularisation, environmental impact and risk matters, and the financing of green projects, among other matters. Key support is provided by associate Luis Jorge Akle.

Hogan Lovells remains a presence in the Mexican environmental sphere, demonstrating experience regarding the analysis and implementation of business strategies to guarantee water supply for future operations; wastewater matters, site contamination issues determining potential risks, advise to clients on single-use plastics bans issued by various Mexican states (including a wide range of industries including food, beverage, electronic and e-commerce), advice on e-waste management, and climate change issues such as participation in the Pilot Program of the Emission Trading System in México, and analysis of new local regulations establishing the payment of green taxes. The practice is led by Brenda Rogel Salgado, an established environmental practitioner who is experienced in environmental risk, risk management advisory and drafting the environmental provisions of transactional documentation, as well as regulatory compliance at municipal, state and federal levels. Intermediate associate Javier Camacho has specialised in environmental matters since the outset of his career and is one-to-watch. Since publication, Rogel Salgado has left the firm – effective as of January 2023.

LHO has successfully responded to industry trends, gaining a roster of clients interested in innovation in environmental matters since it ‘is at the forefront of cutting-edge issues, especially those that are currently related to Environmental Social Governance‘. The team advises on the environmental aspects of project development, including matters related to permits, authorisations, compliance and litigation. Clients include local and international companies as well as start-ups from diverse industry sectors, such as energy, textiles, food, urban development, fertilizers, logistics, and agriculture. The ‘undoubtedly, exceptional and committed team’ is jointly led by Luis Miguel Ramírez Ruggeberg who focuses on renewable energy and environmental matters related to sustainability programs; and Luis Enrique Rangel De La Peza, whose experience is in project finance, natural resources, acquisitions, joint ventures, and restructuring for local and international clients. Promoted to head of the firm’s office in Morelos in 2021, associate Jimena Arazá has experience on project development matters – particularly the establishment of structures for natural resources ventures.

Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C.‘s environmental practice has notable strength on compliance with environmental regulations, administrative and criminal environmental litigation, environmental risk and damage prevention, environmental damage and liability and due diligences processes with regard to M&A transactions and project finance. The team advise clients drawn from an array of industries, most notably infrastructure, renewable energy, hydrocarbons, petrochemicals, real estate development, forestry, the automotive sector, and food and beverages. The practice is co-led by specialised senior associate Paula Pérez, who focuses on environmental, administrative and regulatory matters  particularly compliance, environmental impact and environmental risk; and of counsel Gabriel Calvillo who focuses on compliance, corporate criminal liability, corporate crime and environmental litigation. Associate Paulina Martínez provides key support.

Santamarina y Steta has substantial experience in environmental project management, including obtaining environmental permits, authorisations and licenses; implementing compliance systems, auditing, and the monitoring and evaluation of environmental legal obligations; and originiating strategies for environmental, social and corporate governance and corpproate social responsibility. The team acts for clients in the tourism, infrastructure, energy, mining, automotive and chemical industries, among others, and is co-led by Claudia Rodríguez who specialises in real estate, environmental and agrarian law, and indigenous consulting; and Monterrey-based Heriberto Garza whose broad practice takes in real estate, environmental matters, estate and wealth planning, family offices, regulatory banking and cyber security, among other areas. Also a key player in the team, Juan Carlos Aguirre‘s practice is centred on environmental and climate change matters, traditional and renewable energy, agrarian law, indigenous consultation/socio-environmental impact assessment, tourism, mining and real estate. The practice was further strengthened in March 2022 with the hire of David González Vega as a senior associate; an experienced environmental practitioner, he arrived from Fonatur, where he was legal director with regards to the Tren Maya project.