The Legal 500 > Latin America > Mexico > Environment

National full-service powerhouse, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C., is a regular advisor on major real estate, energy and infrastructure development projects, as well as corporate M&A and administrative litigation. Praised for its ‘expertise and agility’, the practice -led by highly-regarded partner Carlos De Icaza (environment and real estate)- frequently advises clients from sectors including hospitality, retail, manufacturing and energy in the full range of environmental matters, including regulatory matters compliance and administrative litigation. Recent mandates saw the firm advise Macquarie Infrastructure on the acquisition of the Eólica de Arriaga and Eólica Los Altos wind-farms, including all environmental aspects and advising Asterion Industrial Partners on the environmental aspects concerning electricity supply, emergency systems, adequate conditions and server temperatures, related to its acquisition of a data centre. A strong associate group includes highly-experienced senior associates Jessica Villaverde, Alejandro Castelló and Mariana Westendarp.

González Calvillo, SC has developed a strong practice group that is notable for the varied and complimentary practice-focus of its members, many of whom have been working together for over a decade. It handles the full range of preventative and advisory environmental work, as well as all associated litigation, including before environmental ministry SEMARNAT, water agency CONAGUA, and the Federal Environmental Protection Prosecutor (PROFEPA). With particular expertise in energy, water management and hazardous waste control, department-head Leopoldo Burguete-Stanek is a pioneer in the sector with over 30 years' experience across the full range of environmental matters (particularly regulatory, due diligence and project development in relation to cross border transactions). He and the ten-strong team recently advised Saavi Energía regarding on obtaining SEMARNAT environmental impact authorization to increase the output of the La Rosita combined-cycle thermoelectric plant. Highly experienced support comes from Enrique Muñoz Guízar (environmental law and regulatory matters, particularly regarding national waters, public bids and administrative procedures), and Carlos Castilla (contentious administrative environmental matters; administrative and criminal case management), both of whom were promoted to counsel in July 2020. Associates Georgina Zavala and Julia González Romero are also noted.

Housing a nine-strong environmental team, Galicia Abogados S.C. handles a wide range of issues, from support on major corporate transactions and infrastructure projects, to more specific contamination, water, hazardous waste management and litigation issues. Highly experienced 20-year environmental law veteran Mariana Herrero has broad experience on the environmental aspects of transactional and project development, corporate and liability management, and administrative permitting, among other matters. With over 15 years' experience in environmental matters (notably in complex regulatory issues concerning oil, gas and renewables; environmental impact and risk assessments, remediation and permitting), Carlos Escoto was appointed counsel as of Janaury 2021; he is undoubtedly one to watch. Senior associate Lucía Manzo (environmental law and regulation) is also noted.

Jones Day offers a first-class environmental practice in Mexico, renowned for its comprehensive experience in all areas of environmental and health and safety legislation, and with a particular focus on compliance, environmental damage liability, climate change, and energy projects. Lead partner Mauricio Llamas is an environment-focused administrative and regulatory law specialist; identified as ‘extraordinary, very knowledgeable and efficient’, he heads a ‘committed’ team that recently advised Newmont Goldcorp on local community consultancy matters related to a new mine development, and construction group Elementia in relation to remediation procedures and ongoing environmental litigation. Environment and health and safety focused associate Mauricio Villegas brings key associate support, and tax and administrative litigator Andrés Lieja  also acts on contentious environmental cases.

The sturdy, multi-disciplinary environmental and social impact practice at Ritch, Mueller, Heather y Nicolau, S.C. comprises practice head Héctor A Garza (particularly noted for his social impact and indigenous consultation capabilities), along with a six-strong team of experienced associates - notably seniors Estuardo Anaya and Christian Rosales. The department, which is frequently praised for its ‘great knowledge’, particularly regarding ‘social issues related to the development of energy projects’, provides key support to its energy, infrastructure, real estate and corporate teams, particularly in transactional matters. Recent mandates include primarily the environmental aspects of refinancings, along with environmental and regulatory due diligence and impact assessment matters. matters.  Associates José Enrique Cruz Lozano and mid-2019 hire, Colombia-qualified María Fernandez Martínez Triviño (who has environmental experience in various jurisdictions), are both noted.

The seven-strong team led by partner Edmond Grieger at Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC provides contentious and non-contentious environmental support to numerous major international corporations, including BMW, BHP Biliton, Amgen and Grupo Modelo. Demonstrating 'real industry knowledge', the team also has solid experience in compliance issues (particularly regarding water supply and waste water discharges), environmental impact assessments, and the relevant municipal, state and federal environmental and social permits required for project development - particularly in the energy sector. The team is currently advising Invenergy on the environmental and social permitting of its multiple renewables' projects across the country. Senior associate Ariel Garfio, and associates Rebeca Márquez and Marco Polo Sánchez provide key environmental support, particularly in regard to the energy, infrastrucutre and real estate sectors. Since publication, Garfio has been appointed counsel, effective as of January 2021.

Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C. houses a four-strong "environment and sustainability consulting" practice which offers integrated consultancy but probably remains best known for its expertise in administrative litigation. The group recently represented Volkswagen de México before the Federal Administrative Court regarding an $8.5m fine imposed by the Federal Attorney for the Environmental Protection, a penalty resulting from the commercialisation of certain 2016-models without the corresponding environmental compliance certificates. Specialist senior associate Ricardo Evangelista, who formerly worked at Mexico's Environmental Protection Agency, is the key practice contact. Partner-level input comes from Juan Carlos Serra and Daniel Del Rio (who formerly co-led the practice). Up-coming associate Mariana Arrieta Maza is also noted.

Recognized environmental, regulatory and public law specialist Roberto Torres, heads the practice at Garrigues, which is primarily active across the  renewable energy and hospitality sectors. The wind and solar segments, in particular, are a steady source of environmental due diligence instructions; other ongoing mandates includes permanent advice to Fibra Prologis on all environmental issues related to its real estate portfolio in Mexico. Associate Paulina Beck is noted.

Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego's standalone practice has built a solid reputation in the environmental arena, primarily due the expertise of practice head and name partner Adrián del Paso, an ‘excellent attorney with a creative and entrepreneurial approach’. He is supported by a five-lawyer team, which includes senior associate Mauricio Sandoval, who is experienced in administrative, constitutional and environmental litigation. The team's recent caseload involves primarily environmental due diligence mandates (both internal and transaction related); along with issues ranging from  hazardous-waste disposal and environmental impact assessments, statements and authorisations to nullity trials and administrative litigation against PROFEPA, CONAGUA and SEMARNAT resolutions.

The Mexico office of the international heavyweight, White & Case S.C., is necessarily involved in the firm's flow of global deals, involving highly-experienced practice head, counsel Pedro Morales in the environmental and regulatory aspects of significant transactional matters. In terms of depth, however, the practice remains a work in progress, following the May 2020 departure of key associate Eduardo Mendez, who has left practice. Additional partner-level assistance comes from project finance-focused Roberto Rios; energy regulatory partner Francisco de Rosenzweig; administrative litigator Antonio Cardenas and M&A-focused Henri Capin.

The five-strong practice at international full-service firm, Greenberg Traurig, S.C., has an ever-growing presence in the environmental arena, particularly in relation to the energy sector and associated project development. The department is led by partner Erick Hernández Gallego, who has over 15 years' experience advising on the environmental aspects of project matters, along with land use, urban development, corporate environmental regularization, environmental impact and risk matters, soil contamination, emissions reductions, climate change, green project finance and the management of hazardous materials. Senior associate Luis Jorge Akle provides key specialist support; and associate Nancy Guillén Espinosa is also noted.

The environmental practice at Hogan Lovells has particular expertise in water-related litigation, soil and sub-surface contamination (and associated remediation strategies), air emissions, hazardous substances and chemicals (handling, labelling and transportation), facilities expansion and new project development, and transactional support, as well as issues related to Mexico's energy reform. Co-led by partner Brenda Rogel Salgado and counsel Jeanett Trad, its recent mandates have involved issues concerning water-extraction rights; environmental impact; compliance, regulations and technical environmental and energy efficiency standards, enforcement procedures in relation to new air emission standards, and general environmental advisory.

Seasoned partner, Aarón Levet, heads the practice at Santamarina y Steta. With over 35 years' experience and specialisation in environmental, natural resources, and real estate law, he regularly advises domestic and international clients on the environment aspects of transactional matters, particularly in the hospitality and industrial real estate sectors. Recent mandates have involved environmental and regulatory due diligence, hazardous waste management, compliance audits and the regularization of environmental obligations. Key support comes from seniors Isaac Zatarain (environment and natural resources, renewable and clean energy and real estate, along with anti-corruption matters), and October-2019 hire, Juan Carlos Aguirre, who has a significant track record in the sector.