Ms Raquel Bierzwinsky > Norton Rose Fulbright > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright has one of the largest teams in the market, spread primarily across its New York, Washington DC, Mexico City and Sao Paulo offices. This affords the Latin America team with a broad and enviable client base of sponsors, commercial banks and agency lenders. The firm has a strong pipeline of engagements, particularly in Brazil and Mexico, but also in other key markets such as Chile, Peru and Colombia. It has achieved further growth in data centre infrastructure projects in Brazil and Mexico, along with further urban infrastructure matters and green technology financings. The team is also active on the acquisition of power and renewables portfolios, including existing assets and those under development, along with the renewables refinancings. In Mexico, it remains focused on pipelines and LNG facilities, among other areas. Native Spanish speaker Raquel Bierzwinsky splits her time between Mexico City and New York, and advises on projects and transactions in multiple market segments – including metro lines and LNG liquefaction projects. Washington DC’s Sarah Devine represents numerous of agency lenders and development banks, and has a prolific recent record in Latin America. Sao Paulo partner Daniel Spencer is an experienced figure in energy and infrastructure projects in South American jurisdictions.

Norton Rose Fulbright is unique in having a large banking and finance team in São Paulo, that works alongside Latin America-focused colleagues in New York, Washington DC, Mexico City and other offices. The practice has an extensive record in project finance, acquisition finance, restructurings, trade finance and aviation finance, and is also increasingly making its mark in relation to sustainability-linked financings and ESG loans. The Washington DC office has close connections to agency lenders and DFIs, while the broader team has an impressive portfolio of commercial lender clients and large corporate borrowers. Charles Johnson is a leading figure in structured trade finance, asset finance and restructuring, and – although focused on Brazil – he has broad geographic coverage, including Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and Paraguay. Michael McCourt has impressive connections to Brazilian and international lenders, and has a fine record in structured trade finance, leveraged finance and acquisition finance. Daniel Spencer is a prominent name in project finance and project bonds; while Raquel Bierzwinsky, who splits her time between New York and Mexico City, brings further project finance expertise. In Washington DC, key figures Sarah Devine and Jeremy Hushon frequently represent agencies and DFIs. Counsel Diego Brandão is another prominent team member. All named individuals are based in Sao Paulo unless stated otherwise.

Norton Rose Fulbright leverages its position as a heavyweight firm worldwide to provide counsel on transactions and project development in the hydrocarbons, renewables and power industries in Mexico. The team in Mexico City has broad project finance, regulatory and M&A expertise in the Mexican energy sector and the firm has a particularly well interconnected offering across the Americas, benefitting its multinational clients with operations all over the region. In co-leading the department, César Fernández Gomez draws on experience working at Pemex during the period of comprehensive energy reforms in the early 2010s. He coordinates the practice alongside Hernán González Estrada, whose broad expertise spans energy, project finance, public procurement, and regulatory and antitrust matters; and Raquel Bierzwinsky, a highly regarded project development and finance expert; admitted to practice in the US and Mexico; she divides her time between the firm’s New York and Mexico City offices. Senior counsel Liliana Anzaldúa is another key contact with prior experience at Pemex; while at the senior associate level, Itzell Méndez focuses on transactional, commercial and regulatory matters, and José Luis Romo supports on oil and gas projects. Since publication, Méndez has been raised to counsel – effective as of March 2024.