Raúl Fernández-Briseño > Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C. > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile

Lauded for having ‘a deep knowledge of Mexican structured finance law’, the close-knit team at Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C. stands out for across-the-board skill in the representation of lenders, borrowers and private-credit lending funds. Notable clients include international financial institutions Goldman Sachs, Scotiabank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The practice is co-led by three partners: Raúl Fernández-Briseño focuses on structured finance; Ariel Ramos specialises in projects and energy finance; and Francisco García-Naranjo is skilled at obtaining regulatory authorisations for the establishment of financial institutions. Other key names include senior counsel Jan Boker and senior associate Javier Garibay; clients also note ‘very strong expertise even from junior members’ of the team. Of counsel Jorge Escalante joined the practice from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. in October 2022, while associates Pablo Solórzano and Romina Fernández Flores departed in July and November 2022, respectively.

Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C., the local outpost of global white-shoe firm Mayer Brown is part of the firm’s broader Latin America offering which includes an association with Brazilian firm Tauil & Chequer Advogados. With a growing reputation in the corporate sector the office fields a 20-plus strong team (six partners and some 15 associates) and is increasingly entrenched in the finance sector (especially fintech), along with the packaging, manufacturing and spirits’ sectors – indeed, the practice has proved adept at transforming particiption in transactions in these areas into more extensive involvement in these clients’ production, distribution and supply chain contracts and related business activity. The practice also frequently works closely with the firm’s Salt Lake City office, where the growth of a minor venture capital hub has generated work in relation to Mexico-based real estate funds and fintech matters. While the Mexico City office is relatively young (established in 2018), the partners co-leading the office have been working together for over 20 years: Raúl Fernández-Briseño (M&A, cross-border transactions and financings – particularly with regard to the infrastructure, telecoms, PE, fintech and restructuring matters) and Francisco García-Naranjo (M&A, banking, corporate law, corporate governance and joint ventures; along with financial regulatory matters, and financial and foreign investment transactions) are ‘more than lawyers’, constitute ‘an excellent team’ and provide ‘excellent service’. The pair are supported by a solid associate bench including senior Javier Garibay (M&A, securitisations, corporate restructuring and bankruptcy matters); and up-and-coming semi-senior, Eduardo Diego Fernández Forseck. Moreover, the team has been further strengthened with the October-2022 arrival of counsel Jorge Escalante from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.; a fund formation specialist he is tasked with growing the office’s footprint in the capital markets sector.