Capital markets Tier 2

The Holland & Knight capital markets team is particularly prominent in the Mexican real estate investment trust – or FIBRA – segment, advising on both equity and debt matters, including capital development certificates (CKDs). Recognized for his considerable experience in FIBRA-related matters, Guillermo Uribe Lara is an 'exceptional practitioner, with a very solid team and extensive reputation in the market'. He co-leads the department with Alejandro Landa and dedicated REIT-specialist Adrián Gay Lasa, who was raised to the partnership in January 2020. Key support comes from associates Jorge González Carlini, Santiago Soldevilla and Mirna Ordaz. Headline mandate work saw the team advise Fibra Uno on its $1bn issuance of unsecured senior notes; the team has been acting for the real estate investment trust since its initial public offering in 2011. Among other transactions, the team advised Fibra Inn – a client since 2013 – on its successful $64m debt offering.

Banking and finance Tier 3

The ten-strong practice at Holland & Knight has a significant presence within the Mexican banking and finance market, particularly for its expertise in sub-sovereign, real estate and infrastructure finance, frequently showing its admirable cross-border capabilities. Practice head, the talented Alejandro Landa, focuses his practice on energy, bank and corporate finance; he and the team also have broad experience representing foreign and local companies and financial institutions in financial transactions, project finance, asset-backed and future-flow securitisations, aircraft and transportation financing, and leveraged leasing. Other key practice figures include Guillermo Uribe, an expert in Mexican FIBRAs, and senior counsels Adrián Gay and Selene Espinosa.

International trade and customs Tier 3

The young international trade practice at Holland & Knight has grown steadily over the past few years, advising on matters ranging from NAFTA verification-of-origin and renegotiation procedures, imports and exports, WTO disputes and permits, among other. The team is co-led by partner Luis Rubio, an experienced market player, also well-known for his strength in corporate and transactional matters; and Carlos Vejar, whose ‘vast experience’ and ‘excellent trajectory in the public and private sectors has allowed him to position himself as one of the most experienced lawyers in Mexico’, according to a client. Former general counsel for international trade at the Mexican Ministry of Economy, he offers specialized advice on international treaties and dispute resolution mechanisms. Associate Josafat Paredes is another key member of the five-strong department.

Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Holland & Knight's Mexican projects and infrastructure team has a solid trajectory advising clients mainly from the energy and financial sectors. Experienced practice head Alejandro Landa is a qualified engineer as well as a lawyer, giving him particular insight into project development and infrastructure matters; while Carlos Ochoa has experience across the energy sector, regarding government procurement and public bids, and on contracts, regulatory matters and project finance. Recent matters include advising Bancomext on a loan agreement for a mining project in Sinaloa and a VAT loan agreement for the development of a 306MW power plant; and Banco Multiva on a $22m project financing for the drilling, interconnection and distribution works of seven oil-and-gas wells. Senior counsel Selene Espinosa focuses on corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on infrastructure projects (including mining, aviation and airport sectors), while associate Aldo Gonzalez Melo undertakes banking and finance work in relation to the renewables, infrastructure and technology sectors. However, partner José Antonio Prado left the firm in mid-2020.

Real estate Tier 3

Holland & Knight has built up a robust real estate practice, with a unique expertise in placing Mexican Reits (FIBRAS) and CKDs, that has allowed it to secure important clients such as Fibra Uno, the first and largest Mexican Reit, and which has relied on the firm since its initial public offering in 2011. The five-strong team also handles cross border real estate transactions, particularly in the hospitality segment. The department is led by partner Guillermo Uribe, who focuses on real estate finance matters related to banking and securities law, international capital markets, structured finance and syndicated loans. Adrián Gay Lasa, who provides key support, especially with REIT-related work, was promoted to the partnership in January 2020. Former practice co-head Luis Moreno left the firm in August 2019.

TMT Tier 3

The three-strong practice at Holland & Knight, valued by clients for its ‘personalised attention and punctual support during the process’, covers the full breadth of the TMT sector - including telecommunications, satellites, media, wireless services, quadruple play, e-commerce and cloud services and communications; and advises on transactions, disputes, and antitrust and regulatory matters. The department is led by Luis Rubio (who includes telecoms as part of a broader practice involving corporate / M&A and international trade); and corporate specialist Octavio Lecona who is closely focused on the telecom, media and tech sectors. Recent mandates saw the pair advise Telefónica on a wireless infrastructure deal with AT&T in Mexico. However, former senior counsel Blanca Luévano, who was active in competition  matters before the IFT and COFECE, moved in house at AT&T in August 2020.

Corporate and M&A Tier 4

Holland & Knight's Mexico office fields a small team with considerable experience advising on mergers, asset purchases and sales, tender offers and leveraged buy-outs, spin-offs, MBOs and joint ventures, along with corporate recapitalizations, reorganizations and restructurings. It also demonstrates impressive private equity expertise and is a frequent participant in regulated-industry transactions, notably in the financial and energy sectors. A well-known figure -particularly in the telecoms segment- experienced managing partner Luis Rubio heads an eight-strong group that primarily acts for foreign -predominantly US- clients, arriving and operating in Mexico. Alejandro Landa, whose broad corporate practice takes in a range of energy, finance, transactional and real estate matters; and Octavio Lecona, a telecoms, media and technology specialist whose corporate practice includes M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and contractual matters, bring further partner-level participation. Key support comes from senior counsel Selene Espinosa who undertakes M&A, financings, international joint ventures, cross-border transactions and strategic alliances, among other corporate activity. However, fellow former counsel Blanca Luevano moved in-house at AT&T in August 2020.

Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 4

The eight-strong team at Holland & Knight handles primarily commercial arbitration, with a mix of construction, investment treaty and NAFTA-related disputes. Led by Carlos Vejar, a ‘first-class’ practitioner who focuses on disputes and international trade, the group is currently involved in diverse commercial cases under LCIA rules involving Mexican state-owned enterprises. At associate level, focused support comes from Juan Pablo Moyano (whose past experience includes three years as an international case manager at the ICDR); and international semi-senior Laura Yvonne Zielinski, who is France and New York qualified. However, the team endured the departure of practice co-head Salvador Fonseca, who left to join disputes boutique "RoyPe" - now Fonseca, Rodríguez y Perchemlian - in June 2020.

Energy and natural resources Tier 4

According to a client, Holland & Knight's energy practice ‘stands out for their complete understanding and knowledge of the industry’, which they reflect in each matter they are instructed on. The practice is led by the ‘outstanding’ Carlos Ochoa, a former CFE deputy general counsel well-known in the power and renewables sector for advising investors, lenders, sponsors and public sector entities on regulatory, transactional and infrastructure issues. Fellow partner Alejandro Landa leans into the practice, especially regarding renewables and environmental matters; and associates Alberto Esenaro and Aldo Gonzalez Melo are also noted 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.

Labour and employment Tier 4

Senior counsel Leslie Palma heads a 10-strong labour and employment practice at international full-service firm, Holland & Knight's México office, which garners praise for its ‘personalised service’. An experienced figure, Palma has 20 years' corporate labour expertise, including individual and collective procedures and labour due diligence, and leads on all labour mandates. Recent matters include the labour aspect of transactional operations (including employee transfers), labour law compliance audits, restructuring processes, labour litigation and payroll and incentivisation matters. Key associate support comes from Claudia González; however, former counsel Jaime Rodríguez Eguiarte left for Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego in mid-2019.

Tax Tier 5

Senior associate Eugenio Grageda heads the young tax practice at Holland & Knight, which is praised by clients for providing ‘the best solutions, especially when it comes to international issues’ and for their ‘knowledge of the subject, clarity of opinion and speed of delivery’. The small team, which is backed by the firm's international network, has ‘great capabilities’ advising on corporate reorganizations, investment vehicles, start-ups and financing structures, as well as on the design of tax-efficient strategies for different types of transactions, expansion into Mexico, and offshore tax compliance. It also undertakes tax audits, estate tax and succession planning.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration > International arbitration Tier 5

Holland & Knight's 'well-established' international arbitration practice works primarily with clients from the mining, energy and construction sectors, along with various repeat sovereign-state clients. Led by Miami-based Adolfo Jiménez, who acts as sole or co-arbitrator in ICC and ICSID hearings, the team' most recent highlight involved representing the Republic of Guatemala against two US parties responsible for silver and gold mines in La Puya. The team also continues to handle French-side proceedings, opposing the Mexican government, in light of Eutelsat bilateral investment treaty breach claims. Bogotá-based Enrique Gómez‐Pinzón and Alberto Zuleta Londoño (who divides his time between Bogotá and Miami), are further key contacts, while Katharine Menéndez de la Cuesta and Orlando Segura, who both made partner in January 2020, are also active in the area. Salvador Fonseca – the firm's previous head of dispute resolution in Mexico – left to join Fonseca, Rodríguez & Perchemlian Abogados, S.C.  in June 2020.