Eduardo Flores Herrera > White & Case S.C. > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile

White & Case LLP has performed admirably in spite of a difficult climate for capital markets issuances, with deal flow from Brazil – the firm’s primary market – remaining strong with a series of bond restructuring engagements. It has a large team of capital markets specialists in São Paulo, along with a significant number of New York partners and associates that have a particular focus on Brazil. Mexico, the Andean region and Argentina are also core markets for the team; 2022 partner-hires Eduardo Flores Herrera and Narciso Campos in Mexico City are both capital markets focused. The firm has also benefitted from its strength in energy and infrastructure, areas where capital markets activity has remained relatively buoyant, and it has leveraged its prominence in liability management to significant effect. The practice group continues to benefit from its exceptional issuer client base that provides a steady pipeline of engagements, while it also maintains strong links to bulge-bracket investment banks and funds – including distressed debt funds – that are increasingly prominent in this space. Further growth in the team has come through the promotion of São Paulo’s Abraham Paul and Miami-based Karen Katri to the partnership. Donald Baker remains the premier international capital markets lawyer in São Paulo, while John Vetterli is global head of capital markets and has a major focus on the Brazil market. São Paulo’s John Guzman is increasingly prominent in Brazil capital markets offerings, and Bibiana Jaimes and the highly-rated Rafael Roberti are also key team members. Sao Paulo associate Beatriz Barros is active team member on many large deals. Named individuals are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

As well as representing leading domestic and global financial institutions and corporations as both lenders and borrowers in loan transactions and infrastructure financings, the practice group at White & Case S.C. provides regulatory banking counsel. The team is highlighted as being ‘a step ahead of their counterparts’ and garners praise for its ‘knowledge, skill, teamwork and communication’. Juan Antonio Martín singlehandedly leads the practice, and specialises in syndicated loans and asset-backed financings. Maria Teresa Fernández-Labardini provides strategic and legal counsel on a broad range of finance matters, including requests for authorisations and loan restructurings; advising primarily on financial regulatory matters, Andrés Mosqueira has a particular focus on asset management, pension funds and securities regulatory matters; Carlos Mainero also handles financial regulatory matters, along with bank and debt finance. The practice was strengthened by the arrival of partners Eduardo Flores Herrera and Narciso Campos in July and August 2023, respectively; the latter garners praise for his ‘skillful handling and closing of deals’. Fernando Vázquez-Chelius and Rebeca García López were promoted to the partnership in January 2023; and former partner Manuel Groenewold left the firm in December 2022.

White & Case S.C. houses a strong capital markets team whose work covers the range of transaction types, with particular expertise in debt and structured finance matters. Its experience includes advising investment funds on subordinated notes issuances, and also counts major international banks, and energy and aviation companies among its clients. Juan Antonio Martín steers the department and has led on the firm’s recent key cases; a figure of note in capital markets in Mexico, his practice is focused on securities, domestic and cross-border financings, securitisations and derivatives. Eduardo Flores Herrera, who joined the practice in July 2022, has garnered praised from clients for having ‘great experience in the equity market’ and offering ‘tried and tested solutions to complex problems’. Narciso Campos, who rejoined the firm in September 2022, assists on capital markets and regulatory matters, as does Carlos Mainero. Counsel Eric Quiles brings valuable experience and assists with securities and bond issuances. Manuel Groenewold left the firm, effective December 2022.

White & Case S.C.‘s compliance practice is lauded by clients for the ‘exceptional quality’ of its counsel on regulatory compliance and anti-money laundering matters. In addition, it offers litigation and guidance on investigations to an array of major local and international financial institutions, routinely advising on complex cross-border matters. Longstanding clients include Morgan Stanley and domestic FMCG giant, Oxxo. María Teresa Fernández Labardini co-heads the practice and is an authority on regulatory, anti-corruption, fintech and corporate matters; she demonstrates ‘experience, skill and attention to detail’. Co-leading the team alongside her are: Juan Antonio Martín, who provides specialist fintech and payment systems’ experience; and Enrique Espejel, who specialises in white-collar investigations and litigation. The expertise of Andrés Mosqueira and Carlos Mainero lies in financial regulatory guidance. Rebeca García López focuses on the financial sector, and was promoted to local partner in January 2023. The practice has also demonstrates strong growth, with the recent hires of ‘team player’ and partner, Eduardo Flores Herrera; and of counsel Eduardo Apáez – in July and September 2022, respectively – from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C..