Cuatrecasas > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

Cuatrecasas > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

January 2023 saw Cuatrecasas‘ Mexico office absorb local boutique Rico, Robles, Libenson, S.Cl, thereby gaining a 12-lawyer team (including four partners) with particular strength in transactional matters and disputes work. The move has only served to further strengthen the practice offering from an office that -since its opening in 2016- has steadily developed impressive track record in corporate and M&A matters. Moreover, the team can also draw resources not only from the firm’s Spanish headquarters but also from it’s increasingly relevant offices in Bogotá, Lima, Santiago de Chile and New York. Locally, the now 12-strong corporate practice is led by Santiago Ferrer (who also heads-up the competition department) and advises both domestic and international companies on commercial transactions, M&A, joint investments and financing, and asset and liability transfers, among other matters. Key associate support is provided by semi-senior Fernando Ruiz, who focuses on corporate, commercial and transactional matters. The group is gaining traction in an ever growing number of sectors, including consumer products/retail, infrastructure, healthcare, real estate, gaming, and energy and renewables; and recent headline matters saw the team advise Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets on the $173.8m acquisition of Gasoducto de Morelos and Morelos (the owners and operators of a 172km pipeline), from Elecnor and Enagás. Corporate and finance associate Juan Carlos Galicia left the firm in March 2023; however, since research concluded the firm has further built out its capabilities with the October-2023 hire of former Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. senior associate, Gizeh Polo Ballinas, as a partner; he is tasked with developing the office’s capital markets capability.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 3

Bolstering its international arbitration offering across Latin America, Cuatrecasas’ burgeoning practice in Mexico is led by René Irra, whose ‘leadership in the market is unquestioned’. Irra has been particularly active in the construction, infrastructure and energy fields in recent years, and is well-versed in acting as party counsel, arbitrator and as an expert on Mexican law in proceedings outside Mexico. Moreover, the practice bench was further strengthened with the promotion of experienced senior associate Miguel Ángel Ortiz to the partnership in April 2023. The department collaborates closely with the firm’s offices throughout Latin America (and the Iberian peninsula) on relevant cross-border cases, with clients -particularly those across the energy and projects segments- look to the firm as a one-stop-shop for transactional matters and any subsequent disputes. Key support is provided by intermediate associate Iván Esquivel.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 4

Cuatrecasas advises on the full spectrum of financial transactions, with particular strength with regards to corporate finance, structured transactions, and project and infrastructure finance, and counts major banks and insurance companies among its clients. The firm fortified its position in the Mexican market with its January 2023 integration of the former Rico, Robles, Libenson, S.Cl firm, which has increased its capacity to deal with domestic transactional and regulatory matters, combining this expertise with its existing strength in cross-border matters. The firm’s recent standout work has included advising Hotel Excellence Riviera Cancún and the Riviera Nayarita One&Only Mandarina Hotel on the refinancing of their debts. Spain-qualified León López has over two decade's experience in banking matters and is well versed in the full range of financing transactions, he leads the team with Gustavo Robles -one of the group that joined the practice in January 2023- an additional name of note. Since research concluded the firm has further built out its capabilities with the hire of former Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. associate, Gizeh Polo Ballinas, as a partner; tasked with developing the office’s capital markets capability, he arrived in October 2023. Since publication, the practice has been further strengthened with the February 2024 hire of Mariana Campos; with extensive in-house experience including Barclays Bank (Mexico), BIVA and JP Morgan, Campos is a 20-year veteran of  the banking and finance sector, also handling capital markets, financial regulatory matters and banking transactions.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 5

Since opening its Mexico office in 2016, Cuatrecasas has steadily grown its presence in the country’s energy and natural resources sector. An expert in energy, infrastructure and associated regulatory compliance Marco Antonio de la Peña heads the practice which handles relevant corporate and M&A, regulatory matters and disputes in the sector. Associate Elías Gallardo Palma assists with infrastructure projects and corporate matters in the hydrocarbons segment. Fellow associate Rafael Rodríguez supports on the full range of energy and infrastructure work.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: litigation

Latin America: International firms > Banking and finance

Cuatrecasas’ multi-office strategy in Latin America continues to pay dividends. The offices in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru advise a range of financial institutions, funds and corporates on acquisition finance, project finance, trade finance, and refinancings and restructurings, among other matters. It is noted for Spanish law-governed financings and has landed a number of major restructuring engagements. Bogota partner Manuel Quinche leads the team and has a fine record in corporate lending, project finance and real estate finance. Santiago’s Roberto Guerrero V has impressed in the restructuring field and Lima partner Aldo Reggiardo is well regarded for project finance. Mexico City partner León López is another important figure in project finance; while Madrid partner Carlos Lasarte regularly advises on Spanish law financings in Latin America, notably advising Bancóldex on its Spanish law bilateral loan agreement with BBVA.

Latin America: International firms > Corporate and M&A

Cuatrecasas is a significant player in Latin America thanks to its offices in Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Chile. Alongside its growing teams in these jurisdictions it has a substantial group of Latin America-facing practitioners in Iberia and New York. It is among the most prolific advisers on Latin America transactions, excluding Brazil. Along with a range of local transactions, the firm has extensive experience in cross-border deals, including private equity investments and exits. In January 2023, the firm absorbed Mexican four-partner firm Rico, Robles, Libenson, S.Cl into its local Mexico office and wider Latin America team – which  remains best known for operations in the energy and infrastructure, healthcare and retail sectors. Alfonso Ugarte transferred from Santiago to New York in 2022 to head the Latin America M&A, finance and special situations practice in North America. He joined an established Latin America-facing M&A team there, including Antonio Baena and Diego Pérez-Yarza; Baena recently advised Patria on the sale of Odata, the local company that operates a network of data centres in Latin America. Alfonso Reina led the launch of the Bogota office before returning to Madrid where he continues to have a strong focus on cross-border M&A in Colombia. Peru-based Oscar Trelles is head of the Latin America M&A and private equity practice and has a fine record in cross-border transactions, including intra-regional deals. Chile’s Roberto Guerrero V, Colombia-based Juan Felipe Vera and Santiago Ferrer in Mexico City are also key partners.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Cuatrecasas’ prominence in Latin America-related international arbitration field stems from its commitment and track record in Spain, coupled with its growing presence in Latin America itself. Unlike many other international firms, it has a sizeable team of international arbitration specialists based in Latin America. With a steady influx of investment and commercial arbitration engagements, the team is best known for energy, infrastructure and construction cases. It has represented parties in a series of headline infrastructure disputes. Madrid partner Alfonso Iglesia leads the international arbitration group and is hugely experienced in Latin America-related arbitrations, including those involving Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Panama, Ecuador and Dominican Republic; he has acted in a series of recent ICSID and ICC cases. Santiago partner Cristián Conejero is a senior figure in the team and is noted for construction arbitrations. Alberto Zuleta is another experienced arbitration expert in Bogota along with René Irra in Mexico City and Domingo Rivarola in Lima. Madrid partners Alberto Fortún and Manuel Franco are also active in Latin America cases, both noted for construction, infrastructure and energy disputes. Raised to the partnership in April 2022, Uruguay-qualified Juan Manuel Rey (in the Santiago office), is also noted.  

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy

Cuatrecasas’ projects and energy practice in Latin America is largely driven by its local office in the region, in Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru. It has a broad-based practice covering transport infrastructure, social and community infrastructure, and energy (including renewables, oil and gas, and mining). The firm has worked on a series of road and highway projects in Colombia and Mexico, and advises a range of project sponsors and lenders in the wider region. Bogota partner Manuel Quinche is an experienced project finance expert, especially in the transport infrastructure (including roads, railways and metro lines) and renewables segments. Lima’s Aldo Reggiardo is also a recognised project finance specialist in the energy, infrastructure and mining fields. Mexico City partner León López is another key figure.