Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C. > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C.
GOLDSMITH 53 (PISO 3)
POLANCO III SECTION, MIGUEL HIDALGO
MEXICO CITY 11560
Mexico

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 3

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.

Practice head(s):

Raúl Fernández-Briseño; Ariel Ramos; Francisco García Naranjo; Doug Doetsch; Debora de Hoyos; David K. Duffee; Gabriela Sakamoto

Testimonials

Extremely fast, always delivering ahead of client expected timing, with a deep knowledge of Mexican structured finance law.

Very strong expertise even from junior members.

Rapidly identifies key issues and always solicits client feedback if unsure about a point.

Francisco and Eduardo always work to the highest standards.

Francisco García Naranjo is an excellent lawyer with wide experience.

Key clients

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

Alloy Merchant Finance

R2 Capital

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

The Bank of Nova Scotia

PCN Bank

Work highlights

  • Assisted Goldman Sachs Bank USA with a senior secured revolving credit facility up to $150m with Clara.
  • Advised Alloy Merchant Finance on a $100m loan-and-servicing agreement granted by Victory Park Capital.
  • Assisted R2 Capital with a secured multi-draw term loan facility of up to $100m.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

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.

Practice head(s):

Raúl Fernández-Briseño; Francisco García- Naranjo González

Testimonials

Extraordinary team, very good service, they are like another member of the household. I would keep using them all the time.

More than lawyers, we consider them “consiglieri” and for this reason we have such a high level of trust that no one can replace them.

Key clients

Casa Lumbre

Licores y Destilados Gran Malo

L Catterton Latin America

Ocupa Holdings

Exitus Capital

SOFOM

Morpho Capital Partners

Casa Whiskey México

Kandeo Asset Management

Mezcal Contraluz

Sotol Nocheluna

Work highlights

  • Represented Casa Lumbre – through Mezcal Contraluz – in its participation in a joint venture company (Backlit Investments) with Juan Luis Londoño Arias (aka Maluma), for the distribution and commercialisation of a Mezcal spirit, through a Mexican subsidiary incorporated for such purposes (Contraluz Cristalino).
  • Acted for L Catterton on its $67m acquisition of a 32% equity participation in Crediclub (closing of the transaction is subject to approvals from the National Banking and Securities Commission and the antitrust agency in Mexico).
  • Advised Ocupa Holdings, a port operator in Manzanillo (whose shareholders were a conglomerate of recognised customs agents, maritime agents, port operators and other port users), on the sale of 100% of its capital stock to SSA México, a subsidiary of major privately-owned port operator, Carrix.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 5

Global Law firm Mayer Brown’s Mexico City office advises clients investing both locally and internationally

We regularly advise on innovative deals—domestic and worldwide—involving M&A, acquisition finance and leveraged finance, FinTech, asset and project finance, securitization/ structured finance and derivatives, chain supply finance, trade finance, project finance, bank lending, cross-border lending and regulatory finance.

Industries
We are one of the few firms in Mexico that has provided counsel in matters across multiple industries. In addition to our work in the traditional energy industry, we have advised clients in the renewable energy, alcohol (spirits), infrastructure (e.g., toll roads), e-commerce, chemicals, automotive, pharma and transportation (aviation and shipping) industries, among others.

 We have a long track record of successfully working with international companies entering Mexico. Guiding a client through its acquisitions outside of its home market takes not just transactional legal knowledge but also deep commercial instincts. Having both, we provide insight and solutions that other firms may struggle to present.

 A Global Platform
Our lawyers based in Mexico work closely with colleagues from Mayer Brown offices around the world, such as those in New York, Chicago, Charlotte, Houston, London, Paris, Hong Kong and Beijing—a global platform built to serve our clients, whose businesses and matters are increasingly multi-jurisdictional in nature.

Department Name Email Telephone
Managing Partner, Corporate M&A, Financial Services and Regulatory, Fintech Raúl Fernández Briseño raulfernandez@mayerbrown.com +52 55 9156 3650
Partner, Energy, Infrastructure, Project Finance, ESG Ariel Ramos aramos@mayerbrown.com +52 55 9156 3666
Partner, Banking, Financial Services and Regulatory, Corporate M&A, Fintech, ESG Francisco García Naranjo fgarcia@mayerbrown.com +52 55 9156 3690
Counsel, Structured Finance, Finance, Lending, Financial Services and Regulatory, Fintech Jan R. Boker jboker@mayerbrown.com +52 55 9156 3656
Counsel, Capital Markets, Funds, Financial Services and Regulatory, Fintech Jorge Escalante jescalante@mayerbrown.com +52 55 9156 3620
Spanish
English
American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico AC (AMCHAM)
Asociación Mexicana de Capital Privado, A.C. (AMEXCAP)
Cámara Mexciano-Alemana de Comercio e Industria (CAMEXA)

Partner Perspectives – Raúl Fernández-Briseño, Mayer Brown