Holland & Knight > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

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Mexico > City focus - Monterrey Tier 1

August 2021 saw Holland & Knight land in Monterrey following its merger with Thompson & Knight, whose local office it took on. Since then, the group has grown substantially, most notably in April 2023, when it brought in six partners, a senior counsel, and a number of associates from Sánchez Devanny. The key new arrivals to note are partners Gerardo Prado Hernández, Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza, José Ricardo Ibarra Córdova, Humberto Morales Barrón, Jaime Israel Moreno Treviño, and Oscar Alejandro Quiroz Chávez, as well as corporate/commercial-focused senior counsel Rogelio Azcárraga. Prado Hernández, who was previously energy practice co-head at his former firm, is noted for his handling of renewable energy projects, as well as corporate, M&A and regulatory compliance matters. Gámez Garza's practice is centred on corporate and M&A, real estate transactions and environmental permitting matters. Ibarra Córdova deals with tax consulting and litigation, while Morales Barrón, Moreno Treviño, and Quiroz Chávez all handle corporate and M&A work. Gabriel Ruiz acts as office executive partner and specialises in corporate, energy, real estate and financing matters; he has particular expertise in the development of oil, gas and energy projects. Rounding out the group of partners, Alejandro Sánchez Mújica's practice focuses on M&A, finance and IP. The team was further strengthened with the September 2023 hire of senior counsel Glafira Mercado, who previously worked at developer Grupo Delta, and focuses on real estate transactions, joint ventures, and development and construction mandates. In July 2024, David Alberto Zavala also joined the office as senior counsel – he is well-versed in corporate matters, including the entry of foreign corporations into the Mexican market. Recent mandates of note for the team include assisting artificial grass manufacturer CCGrass with the acquisition of an industrial property in Nuevo León to establish their operations locally; and carrying out an audit of Bodenheim’s environmental permits in Santa Catarina, Nuevo León.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

The Mexico City and Monterrey offices of Holland & Knight work in close conjunction to offer clients comprehensive counsel on energy sector matters. The team regularly advises on licensing, construction and development issues across the spectrum of energy matters, as well as on transactional mandates. Clients include project owners, sponsors and lenders of varying sizes, but including some of the biggest stakeholders in the Mexican market. At the helm of the practice, Carlos Ochoa has recently led counsel to a diverse range of clients on regulatory matters. He co-leads from Mexico City alongside Rodolfo Rueda, whose practice focuses on regulatory and government related matters, as well as transactions in the energy and natural resources space. At the Monterrey office it’s Gerardo Prado and Gabriel Ruiz who are the lead contacts. Ruiz assists with corporate matters and the operational design of oil-and-gas and other energy projects; while Prado’s focus is on transactional mandates. At senior counsel level, Regina Legorreta supports on energy project structuring, while Aldo González focuses on energy-related banking and finance matters.

Mexico > International trade and customs Tier 2

Holland & Knight acts for a prestigious, multinational client list on a range of issues connected with international trade concerning Mexico. The international scope of the firm naturally serves as a boon to clients in this area, and in terms of the expertise at the firm's Mexico offices, the team is well versed in matters relating to Nafta and the USMCA, along with World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements. Dispute resolution of all methods in this area is also a strength of the practice. Leading the team are two of the most experienced and best recognised lawyers in this category: Turenna Ramírez-Ortiz -who arrived from Sánchez Devanny in April 2023- advises a diverse client base on the most sophisticated matters concerning foreign trade, multilateral treaties and antidumping laws; Luis Rubio, in turn, has over three decades' experience in Mexico-related trade and customs advice (having previously been involved in the Nafta negotiations), and has advised the Mexican government as well as major domestic and international companies. Cinthia Hernández stands out from a deep pool of associate talent. Former partner Carlos Véjar left the firm in August 2023.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 3

The banking and finance team at Holland & Knight handles the negotiation, structuring and restructuring of financing terms, including the design and development of collateral packages and source-of-payment structures. In addition to providing energy, consumer goods, and tech-sector clients with transactional support, the group also assists banks with regulatory matters. At the helm, Alejandro Landa specialises in advising companies and financial institutions on domestic and cross-border financings, project finance, and asset-backed and future-flow securitisations; his fellow practice co-head  Guillermo Uribe focuses on banking and securities law, particularly in relation to real estate matters; his practice takes in structured finance, syndicated loans and national and international capital markets. Alejandro F Sánchez Mújica has focused his practice on M&A, restructuring, and public and private project finance; Selene Espinosa also handles M&A transactions, corporate governance and foreign investment matters. Jaime Israel Moreno Treviño and Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza, who joined the practice from Sánchez Devanny in April 2023, are the key Monterrey office contacts for corporate and finance work. Mexico City-based senior counsel Aldo Gonzalez Melo majors on corporate, project, structured and public finance transactions.

Mexico > Capital markets Tier 3

The capital markets group at Holland & Knight has a track record assisting both Mexican and foreign entities, including companies, funds, trusts and financial institutions, with public and private issuances to secure financing through the stock market. A key area of focus for the team is the structuring of REITs, and it is also regularly involved in capital and debt issuances related to FIBRAs, as well as IPOs and follow-ons. A recent highlight saw the team advise SMBC on a global $400m syndicated loan facility for Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior. Following the March 2024 departure of ex-practice head Xavier Mangino, the group is directed by Guillermo Uribe, whose practice encompasses banking and securities law, capital markets, structured finance, syndicated loans and securities-related compliance matters. Adrián Gay has focused his practice on REITs, SPACs, CKDs, and financing transactions; and Alejandro Landa handles structured finance, M&A, project finance, and real estate transactions. The key name to note at associate level is Jorge González Carlini, who is active on real estate and finance matters. April 2023 saw the arrival of a group of 17 lawyers from Sánchez Devanny to the firm’s Mexico City and Monterrey offices, among them corporate, real estate, and capital markets practitioner Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza. Senior counsel Elena Ibarrola also left the firm in March 2024.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Holland & Knight's Mexican corporate team takes care of a range of related transactions, including M&A, joint venture, private equity, reorganisations and dissolutions. In addition, the drafting of commercial contracts and the provision of corporate governance advice are additional areas of expertise. The group’s client roster includes domestic and international corporations working in the petrochemicals, tech, transportation, hospitality and banking segments. The firm saw its ranks grow in April 2023, when it onboarded seven partners, two senior counsels, and eight associates from Sánchez Devanny. The corporate/M&A practice welcomed four of those partners to the firm’s Monterrey office: Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza, Humberto Morales Barrón, Jaime Israel Moreno Treviño and Oscar Quiróz Chávez ; their arrival considerably bolster's the practices capacity. Luis Rubio steers the group from Mexico City and has experience assisting companies, trade associations, and government bodies with complex corporate matters. Additional names to note in Mexico City include Octavio Lecona (telecoms, media, tech and M&A); Selene Espinosa (corporate and securities law); and Jaime Israel Moreno Treviño (corporate and real estate transactions). Xavier Mangino and senior counsel Elena Ibarrola left the firm in March 2024.

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Praised for its ‘profound knowledge’, the team at Holland & Knight LLP is equipped to assist developers, commercial and development banks, and government entities with the financing of projects involving urban infrastructure, highways, airports, waste and wastewater, telecoms, electricity and hydrocarbons. Three partners share leadership of the practice: Alejandro Landa (who also directs the banking and finance group), is lauded as ‘very dedicated, available 24-7, and proactive’; he specialises in corporate, M&A, capital markets, real estate and the financing of infrastructure and energy projects. Carlos Ochoa majors on energy, infrastructure, real estate, project finance and M&A transactions; and Rodolfo Rueda, who divides his time between Mexico City and Houston, and deals with regulatory and government affairs, as well as cross-border natural resources and energy transactions. Senior counsel Aldo Gonzalez Melo‘s practice focuses on corporate law, projects, and structured and public finance, as well as the structuring of infrastructure and energy transactions. Since publication, the practice has been further strengthened with the hire of Mónica Rodríguez Díaz as a senior policy advisor; her experience includes both time at the Comision Reguladora de Electricidad (CRE) and as an independent energy consultant.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 3

The practice at Holland & Knight LLP, which stands out for its ‘timely and efficient responses’, is well-placed to assist with the planning, development and financing of real estate projects across all asset classes, namely hospitality, industrial, commercial, retail and residential. Additional core areas of expertise include related tax structuring work and the formation of REITS, CKDs and private investment funds. The practice is co-directed by Adrián Gay Lasa and Guillermo Uribe from Mexico City, in conjunction with Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza in the Monterrey office. Gay Lasa has strong knowledge of domestic and cross-border asset-backed securitisations and Mexican REITs; Uribe, for his part, focuses on real estate acquisitions, capital markets transactions, and structured finance. Gámez Garza, who arrived at the firm in April 2023 following his departure from Sánchez Devanny, specialises in corporate, M&A, joint ventures, real estate transactions and environmental permitting matters. The team was further consolidated with the September 2023 hire of senior counsel Glafira Mercado, who was previously at developer Grupo Delta.

Mexico > Tax Tier 4

A 'practical, fast and experienced' team handles tax law at Holland & Knight's offices in Mexico. The department is a key component of the firm’s wider offering in tax law across North America and internationally, assisting multinationals operating in Mexico with both domestic and international tax services. Clients appreciate the 'incredible strategic thinking' of Eugenio Grageda (international and local tax, private wealth & wealth, offshore tax compliance), who now shares leadership of the practice with Ricardo Ibarra (who is well versed in domestic and international tax matters as part of his broader corporate practice), following the October 2024 departure of former practice co-head Mario Barrera in Octobre 2024. The associate pool was strengthened in October 2023 by the addition of Alonso Pelayo from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.; intermediate Miguel Rosas is also a name to note. Former senior Catalina Mandujano left the firm in September 2024.

Mexico > TMT Tier 4

Holland & Knight's Mexico City office acts for a select multinational client base across the segments constituting the TMT sector and is well regarded for advice on M&A, restructuring processes and high-profile litigation. While characterised by their international presence, the practice's client base reflects a broad array of industry stake-holders and participants - from investors, lenders and developers, to private-sector companies and fibre-optics developers. Luis Rubio and Octavio Lecona co-lead the practice, with 2023 partner-appointment Alejandro Sánchez Mújica (technology transfers, data privacy, cyber-security and IP) a further name to note.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 5

Commercial and investment arbitrations with public international law or cross-border elements are the forte of the offering at Holland & Knight‘s Mexico City office, which collaborates extensively with the firm’s US counterparts, notably the Miami office. Experienced partner Luis Rubio is particularly known for his expertise in NAFTA-related disputes; he now coordinates the practice in Mexico following the departure of former practice head Carlos Vejar in August 2023. Octavio Lecona, a partner in the TMT and corporate and M&A groups, lends his expertise on contractual disputes; and senior counsel Laura Yvonne Zielinski is a further notable contact, specialising in international investment and commercial arbitration. Promoted to senior counsel in April 2024, Antonio Barrera Ríos specialises in energy and natural resources sector (energy, hydrcoarbons and mining) arbitration.

Mexico > Intellectual property Tier 5

Holland & Knight's intellectual property offering in Mexico is led from its Monterrey office by senior counsel José Luis Villareal, who has a strong track record as regards transactional IP advice for both Mexican and international clients. A diverse client base trusts the team with portfolio management concerning trade marks, patents and copyright, and the firm is also well equipped to support on IP litigation. M&A and finance partner Alejandro Sánchez Mújica provides ancillary support on IP matters from Monterrey, while in Mexico City, TMT expert Octavio Lecona also lends wider expertise on IP matters.

Mexico > Compliance and data privacy

Mexico > Environment