Holland & Knight > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 2

Following the two firms' merger, completed in August 2021, Holland & Knight now combines the strength of its own, capable, Mexico City group with that of the former Thompson & Knight LLP, where energy was very much a hallmark practice. The resulting offering has impressive strength across the full range of oil, gas, energy and renewables' matters. Power (particularly renewables) expert Claudio Rodriguez, and the Monterrey-based Gabriel Ruiz (who primarily focuses on oil-and-gas industry clients), advise on matters ranging from tender processes, transactions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, to project structuring, development and finance, and regulatory matters; while former CFE deputy general counsel, Carlos Ochoa, brings to bear his substantial expertise in the power and renewables sector, to advise investors, lenders, sponsors and public sector entities on regulatory, transactional and infrastructure issues. Other key figures include Alejandro Landa, who regularly represents Mexican and foreign companies and financial institutions on all finance-related matters, including in relation to energy projects; a former head of legal and compliance at Iberdrola Mexico Rodolfo Rueda Ballesteros (who made partner in February 2021), has a ‘broad knowledge of the regulation of the sector’ and splits his time between the firm's Mexico City and Houston offices; and senior counsel Regina Legorreta maintains a practice centred on structuring all types of energy and natural resource-related infrastructure projects. Key support comes from senior associate Aldo González Melo and associate Alberto Esenaro. However, former head of the energy practice José Antonio Prado left the firm in May 2020 to establish his own energy, infrastructure and litigation boutique, EnerSaPra; and Héctor Velasco Perroni, former head of the office's administrative and regulatory practice departed the following month to open specialist boutique Perroni & Associates.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 3

Holland & Knight´s robust Mexican banking and finance practice, which is lauded for its ‘experience, permanent updating and direct involvement of the partners’, stands out for its proven track record representing banks in public finance matters, specialised cross-border commercial lending and energy and infrastructure finance. Steering the nine-strong department, which also boasts expertise in sub-sovereign and real estate finance, we find partner Alejandro Landa, who has a wide range of experience representing lenders on all matters related to financial transactions, including project finance, and securitisations.  Fellow partners Adrián Gay; Guillermo Uribe, who is well-known for his expertise in real estate and FIBRA transactions; and senior counsel José Luis Villareal, who focuses on structured finance, securitisations and project finance; are other key members of the well-rounded department.

Mexico > Capital markets Tier 3

Holland & Knight showcases particular prowess in Mexican real estate investment trusts (FIBRAs), where it advises on both equity and debt matters, including CKDs. Guillermo Uribe Lara, who has significant experience working in the public sector, has a strong reputation in the capital markets sphere, especially in FIBRA-related mandates. He co-heads the department together with Alejandro Landa. REIT specialist Adrián Gay Lasa is another noted member of the team.

Mexico > International trade and customs Tier 3

The sturdy, four-strong practice at Holland & Knight continues to bolster its footprint in the international trade and customs arena thanks to steady growth over the last couple of years, and its dexterity handling a wide range of matters, including NAFTA verification-of-origin and renegotiation procedures, imports and exports, and WTO disputes and permits, among others. Heading the team are Luis Rubio, a seasoned practitioner in the area who is also well-known for his strength in corporate and transactional matters; and Carlos Vejar, who has a lengthy trajectory in both the public and private sectors (he worked at Mexico's Ministry of Economy -SE- for over 20 years), and garners praise from peer for his capabilities in investment arbitration.

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

With the completion of its merger with Thompson & Knight in September 2021 still so recent, the boost to what is now Holland & Knight LLP's Mexican practice remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the office is praised for it ‘excellent project finance team that knows the sector well in all legal, environmental and financial aspects’, and has seen its client roster, traditionally centred on the energy and financial sectors boosted with oil, gas and power clients as a result of the merger. Practice co-head Alejandro Landa is a qualified engineer as well as a lawyer, which gives him a particular insight into project development and infrastructure matters; while Claudio Rodríguez Galán is a former GC of Iberdrola and legal manager at EDF and has a wealth of expertise in the power-side of the energy sector (as well as extensive experience in all types of electricity-generation -including nuclear- along with pipeline, transmission and downstream projects). Additional key practice figures: Carlos Ochoa has notable expertise across the energy sector, regarding government procurement and public bids, and on contracts, regulatory matters and project finance; while Gabriel Ruiz, handles the corporate and operational design for the development of oil, gas, and energy projects, as well as project advisory, administrative representation, contracts, M&A and financings. A sturdy second line of professionals providing key support includes senior counsel Selene Espinosa, who specialises in corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on infrastructure projects (including mining, aviation and airport sectors); and senior associate Aldo Gonzalez Melo, who undertakes banking and finance work in relation to the renewables, infrastructure and technology sectors.  

Mexico > Real estate Tier 3

Holland & Knight's Mexico office -recently notably expanded following the firm's combination with the form Thompson & Knight- houses a 11-strong real estate team, which stands out for its impressive cross-border capabilities as well as for its particular expertise in placing Mexican real estate investment trusts ("FIBRAS") and capital development certificates ("CKDs"). This has allowed the practice to secure notable clients such as Fibra Uno, the first and largest Mexican Reit, which has relied on the firm since its initial public offering in 2011. The team is led by recognised practitioners Guillermo Uribe, who has a focus on real estate finance matters related to banking and securities law, international capital markets, structured finance and syndicated loans. Additional partner-level expertise is provided by Adrián Gay Lasa, who is particularly known for his work on REIT-related work. Key support comes from experience senior Jorge González Carlini, who primarily handles real estate finance matters. The energy, finance and transaction-focused Alejandro Landa also participates in real estate matters on an ongoing basis.

Mexico > TMT Tier 3

The four-strong practice at Holland & Knight offers comprehensive advice in all areas of TMT, and is particularly skilled on the financial and regulatory aspects of telecommunications projects, as well as cross-border transactions, restructuring processes, and mergers and acquisitions in the telecoms sector. Managing partner Luis Rubio, and partner Octavio Lecona (who can draw on the expertise accrued as an in-house at Telefonica and as a former official at the Mexican telecommunications regulator), co-head the practice, which recently advised Telefonica on a long-term, wholesale deal struck with AT&T in Mexico, which will allow Telefonica to use AT&T’s wireless radio access network (RAN).

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

Strengthened by the firm's August 2021 merger with the former Thompson & Knight LLP, and benefiting form the firm’s solid international network, Holland & Knight's Mexican office is an outstanding choice, primarily for foreign -predominantly US- clients, arriving and operating nationally, or requiring assistance with joint venture contracts, reorganisations, corporate restructurings, spin-offs, mergers and dissolutions. Managing partner Luis Rubio, who is particularly well-known for his expertise handling transactional TMT mandates, heads the practice, closely supported by TMT-specialist Octavio Lecona, and Alejandro Landa, whose broad corporate practice takes in a range of energy, finance, transactional and real estate matters. Senior counsel Selene Espinosa is another key asset of the department, which also assists with the management and processing of all types of permits or governmental authorisations.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 4

Holland & Knight 's Mexico office houses a seven-strong practice that is highlighted by clients for having a ‘great deal of knowledge in arbitration’; its expertise is frequently sought out in relation to investment disputes and matters that have public international law or multijurisdictional components that require the application and interpretation of the laws of different countries. With skilled partner Carlos Vejar at the helm, the team handles primarily commercial arbitration, with an additional mix of construction, investment treaty and NAFTA-related disputes. In addition to being backed by the firm´s international network, at a local level Vejar works closely with partner Luis Rubio; associate Juan Pablo Moyano and international semi-senior Laura Yvonne Zielinski, who is France and New York qualified. The practice is still in the midst of a process of rearming after the departure of former department-head Salvador Fonseca in June 2020 but has been boosted - particularly on the energy side - by the August 2021 merger with Thompson and Knight.

Mexico > Labour and employment Tier 4

Following its mid-year merger with the former Thompson & Knight LLP, Holland & Knight has been reorganising, not least in its Mexico City office. One result has been the promotion of former senior counsel  and labour practice head, Leslie Palma , to the partnership in August 2021. An experienced figure, Palma has 20 years’ corporate labour expertise, including individual and collective procedures and labour due diligence; she leads on all labour mandates. The 10-strong team’s recent caseload incudes the labour aspects of transactional operations (including employee transfers), labour-law compliance audits, restructuring processes, labour litigation and payroll and incentivisation matters. Key support comes from associates Claudia González, Karla Copka and Jorge Andazola. However, since publication, Palma has moved to Greenberg Traurig, S.C. to head-up the labour practice at the firm’s Mexico office, taking her entire team with her.

Mexico > Tax Tier 5

The tie-up of Texan firms Thompson & Knight (TK) and Holland & Knight, completed in August 2021, was definitely a win-win scenario for the firms' Mexican operations, where the merger's synergies have resulted in a broader overall offering. The firm's ‘unbeatable’ tax practice attracts praise for its unfailing proposal of innovative solutions and for its ability to ‘foresee future actions of the tax authorities’. The practice has a strong focus on the energy sector, although it also frequently handles matters related to the mining, real estate and pharmaceutical industries, among others. The small team is led by Mario Barrera (formerly of TK), who regularly represents clients before the tax authorities in audits, settlements, rulings, and mutual agreement procedures. He is also experienced handling transfer pricing, tax litigation, and corporate reorganisations. Concurrent with the firms' merger, former senior counsel Eugenio Grageda was promoted, giving the merged practice two partners; he focuses on international tax and estate and patrimonial tax planning for major businesses. Associates Catalina Mandujano and Maria Teresa Quintero are noted.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

Holland & Knight LLP’s Latin America international arbitration team is ‘very knowledgeable’ and supports clients with ‘professionalism, intelligence and high ethical standards’. The practice advises on commercial and investment treaty disputes under all major arbitration rules and is particularly strong regarding infrastructure, energy, mining and construction matters. Miami-based Adolfo Jiménez leads the firm’s international arbitration practice and has acted on complex arbitrations for clients in the hospitality, energy, mining and transportation sectors, as well as acting as arbitrator on matters coming before the ICC and ICDR. The team benefits from presence on the ground in two Latin American jurisdictions: in Mexico, Carlos Vejar is ‘very good for investor-state cases and for trade-related matters’, and Juan Pablo Moyano, who was appointed senior counsel in July 2021, is also a name to note. The Colombian office, in turn, houses the talents of disputes specialist Alberto Zuleta, with highly experienced arbitrator Enrique Gomez-Pinzon splitting his time between Bogota and Washington DC. At associate level Arantxa Cuadrado in New York and Laura Yvonne Zielinski, currently at the firm's Mexico office, are also both noted.