Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 1

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. is widely acclaimed as one of the market’s undoubted heavyweights, not least in the field of banking and finance. Renowned rainmaker Carlos Aiza, who has an impeccable track record of activity in this area, heads the department, which boasts a stellar client roster consisting of a mix of international and domestic lenders, borrowers and financing entities, who seek out the practice for its expertise and ability to navigate a broad array of transactions. Of late, the team has handled complex structured financings, restructurings and DIP financings; cross-border, local single-bank and syndicated loan facilities; acquisition, structured and maritime financings (secured and unsecured), and high-level restructurings, project finance and derivatives operations. The sizeable practice counts a number of other prominent practitioners in its ranks, including Giovanni Ramírez Garrido, who has a focus on real estate lending and other asset-based lending transactions and has a particular experience in agro-sector loans; managing partner Pedro Velasco, who advises clients on a wide range of secured and unsecured financings, across several industries; Rodrigo Castelazo (banking, finance, bankruptcy, capital markets and private equity); Mercedes Haddad who handles banking, finance and capital market matters. Up-and-coming figures include younger partner Emilio Aarún (asset-backed, mezzanine and structured finance; real estate, corporate and project finance, payroll loans, workouts and finance regulatory); and Alejandro Isaac, who was promoted to the partnership in January 2022. Former counsel Víctor Gallegos moved to Cervantes Abogados in July 2021, while -since research concluded- Eduardo Flores Herrera has also left the firm (effective July 2022).

Mexico > Capital markets Tier 1

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.‘s revered practice is a dominant force in the capital markets arena in Mexico. Its sizable and ‘highly-qualified team’ is renowned for its prowess advising issuers and underwriters on both debt and equity transactions, and is lauded for its for its pioneering track record handling transactions such as CKD-listings and the initial operations for mortgage REITs, master limited partnership Fibra-Es, and CERPIs. The sturdy practice houses a number of notable, senior practitioners, first and foremost: senior partner Carlo Aiza, who remains a renowned specialist in this field; Rodrigo Castelazo, who recently led the team which advised Finsa on its first-ever Mexican private fund, which allows Mexican pension funds to invest in a platform that offers access to investments in industrial real estate assets; Carlos Zamarrón, who boasts a wealth of experience in capital markets, structured finance, and asset securitisation transactions; and Mercedes Haddad, who brings additional expertise in structured finance, asset securitisations and derivative transactions. Since research concluded, Eduardo Flores Herrera has left the firm – effective as of July 2022.

Mexico > Competition and antitrust Tier 1

Over an outstanding 30-year track record, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. has successfully built what for some is the ‘the best competition law firm in Mexico and one of the best competition law firms in the world’. The practice, described as ‘particularly ‘responsive’, bright and charming’, handles a broad range of cases before the competition authorities, from pre-merger filings, to investigations, administrative procedures, and constitutional (amparo) proceedings. The group is a regular presence in the investigations conducted by COFECE against monopolistic practices (cartels), abuse of dominance, barriers to entry, essential inputs and illegal concentrations; indeed, recent highlights include advising football Club Monterrey Rayados regarding an investigation that marks the first time COFECE has investigated and penalized an antitrust case in the employment or recruitment sphere, specifically, so-called “no-poaching” agreements. Mauricio Serralde, who handles a variety of cases before the competition authorities; and Carlos Mena, whose experience includes a stint as chief Investigator and Prosecutor (Autoridad Investigadora) at COFECE, co-head the team. Luis Gerardo García, who focuses on merger control matters; Jorge Kargl, who was promoted to partner in January 2022; counsel Sara Gutiérrez, who handles antitrust investigations and litigation; and senior associate Edgar Martín Padilla, are other key names in the practice.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. draws praise and recognition for its stellar corporate and M&A department, which is an undoubted force to be reckoned with when it comes to handling complex and innovative transactions in Mexico. The ‘very professional, dedicated and experienced’ practice, which is recommended for its ‘excellent service and outstanding quality of the work’,  is a recurring ‘go-to option’ for a number of large multi-national corporations, Mexican conglomerates, private equity funds, real estate investment funds, investment banks, foreign and domestic investors and global development institutions. The group boasts specialist knowledge across a variety of industry sectors and is jointly led by the renowned Jean Michel Enríquez, who shows great facility handling private and public M&A; and Iker Arriola, whose expertise encompasses mergers and acquisitions, corporate law and antitrust. The deep bench of expert practitioners also includes Eduardo González, who some consider to be ‘the best M&A lawyer in Mexico’; real estate specialist Carlos del Río; Jorge Montaño, who has a focus on private equity, venture capital and capital markets transactions; Humberto Botti, who handles domestic and cross-border acquisitions and divestitures; and Diego Barrera, who was promoted to partner in January 2022, and garners praise form clients for his ‘great negotiation skills’. Moreover, in a notable move in August 2022, the firm announced the opening of an office in Madrid, Spain; to be led by Arriola, it will only advise on Mexican law and is expected to be fully functional by January 2023.

Mexico > Environment Tier 1

With long-standing experience Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. has considerable and longstanding experience in the environmental sector, advising clients on the full spectrum of matters -including regulations, compliance, administrative proceedings, litigation and transactional issues- on a nationwide basis. The team handles issues related to forestry and land use, hazardous waste, water concessions, air quality and emissions, and climate change regulations (among other matters), tending to a wide range of industries such as real estate, oil and gas, energy, health care, and food and beverages. The practice is led by Carlos de Icaza, who represents clients on a broad array of regulatory and transactional matters arising under federal, state and municipal environmental laws, regulations and standards. De Icaza is supported by a capable and experienced second line of associates including  Alejandro Castelló (who was promoted to counsel in August 2022) who has deep experience in environmental law, particularly in relation to the energy and natural resources and real estate sectors; and senior associates Mariana Westendarp and Jessica Villaverde who both have over 15 years’ experience dealing with environmental matters. The team is also profoundly involved in the firm’s recently relaunched ESG and Sustainable Finance practice.

Mexico > Insurance Tier 1

Corporate powerhouse Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. houses a consolidated and ‘highly-specialised’ insurance and reinsurance practice, which earns additional praise for its ‘professionalism, friendliness and efficiency’. Department-head, and regulatory specialist Leonel Pereznieto, boasts extensive experience advising global insurance and broker groups in connection with their local establishment and acquisitions, while also remaining active on contentious insurance and reinsurance mandates, with a focus on the negotiation and settlement of reinsurance claims, and/or their resolution through arbitration. The team is enhanced by the expertise of valued counsel María José Pinillos, who is lauded for her ‘exceptional way of transmitting knowledge’, and who provides additional experience in arbitration-related matters. Drawing on the firm's full-service capabilities, the team has been working closely with the tax department, recently, representing the Mexican insurance subsidiary of a global client in a tax assessment process and litigation.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 1

Undoubtedly one of Mexico’s predominant forces in real estate practice, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. garners praise for delivering the ‘best services in the industry with the peace of mind that all aspects of the operation have been reviewed and impeccably attended to’. The practice is highly experienced in regulatory aspects of direct and structured investments, strategic property acquisitions in the industrial, retail, commercial, tourism & leisure, residential and urban sectors, as well as in development, management and operation of real estate projects. It advises multinational and domestic developers, promoters, tourism and hospitality companies, and investors – including real estate funds, Mexican CKDs, CERPIs and FIBRAs. The team is co-led by head of the firm’s Monterrey office, Francisco Montalvo, who represents multinational companies and domestic conglomerates on the acquisition and development of tourism, industrial and residential developments,  and on the acquisition and divestiture of companies and assets; and Carlos de Icaza in Mexico City, where he leads the real estate and environmental practice group, and has acted or led on numerous innovative real estate transactions, generally representing industrial groups, real estate investment trusts, development companies or private equity funds. Also in Mexico City, Carlos del Río focuses on M&A, private equity and real estate (and also leads the firm’s corporate social responsibility and pro bono program); while in Monterrey, Badir Treviño-Mohamed‘s activity centres on advising real estate developers and investors (including international real estate funds, Mexican CKDs and FIBRAs), on the Mexican legal and regulatory aspects of direct or structured investments in, or strategic acquisitions of, real estate across all asset types and market segments. The quartet of partners can call on a powerful second line comprising counsel Valentina Villa (who is also director of D&I at the firm), whose focus is on real estate, M&A and banking & finance; Alejandro Castelló, who specialises in real estate and environmental law; Carlos Yamamoto, who specialises in real estate and transactional matters; and Alfonso Pulido who advises private and public funds, and FIBRAS, on the acquisition of industrial and commercial real estate portfolios, as well as counselling clients on the structuring of real estate developments and handling the administrative requirements to obtain licenses, permits and authorisations. The latter three were all promoted to counsel in August 2022. Also noted, senior associates Brenda Elizondo and Hugo J García de la Garza.

Mexico > Tax Tier 1

Firmly established among the ‘top-tier of Mexican tax advisors’, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.‘s talented practice is also praised for its ‘very good relationship with the authority’, and for offering ‘clear and practical advice on matters’. The department, which boasts solid expertise regarding M&A, financial services, private equity, projects and debt and equity capital markets, is led by Alejandro Santoyo, who regularly acts for large multinationals, banks and global private equity investors and sponsors on acquisitions and investments in Mexico across multiple industries. Recent work highlights include advising Apollo Global Management as lender on a DIP facility to Grupo Aeromexico in connection with its chapter 11 procedures in the US. Santoyo is closely supported by tax advisory specialist Omar Zúñiga, who is well-versed in international tax matters and advises foreign companies doing business in Mexico as well as domestic players operating abroad; Jorge Correa, whose practice encompasses capital markets and financial products, cross-border structuring, M&A and energy; and Luis Vázquez, who handles tax controversy and tax litigation mandates, representing clients before the tax authority on tax inspections and refund applications. Eduardo Brandt, who was promoted to partner in January 2022, and associate Eduardo Espinosa are other key contacts of the team.

Mexico > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 2

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.'s practice continues to gain momentum in the bankruptcy and insolvency domain, with a team that has excellent skills and a strong track record of success advising clients on the non-litigious aspects of corporate recovery, insolvency, restructurings and workouts. The group, which counts revered practitioners in the matter -such as of counsel Thomas Heather- in its ranks, is led by senior partner Carlos Aiza. The team is well-versed in advising bondholder banks and companies in financial debt restructuring; the restructuring of existing credit facilities and debt instruments; creditor advisory in connection with workouts and liquidation of distressed companies; the acquisition of distressed loan, companies and assets; and acting as mediators (conciliadores) and receivers. Finance and capital markets specialists Pedro Velasco, Rodrigo Castelazo, and Emilio Aarún; and senior associate Christian Dorantes, are other key names of the practice.

Mexico > Compliance Tier 2

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. offers a ‘well-established and highly experienced investigations and compliance team’, with a focus on anticorruption and white-collar matters from the perspective of investigations, due diligence and compliance program implementation. Leonel Pereznieto, ‘the attorney you want in your circle when facing a serious compliance issue or handling a delicate internal investigation’, heads the practice following the departure of former co-head Narciso Campos, who left the firm to move in-house in November 2021. Pereznieto, who boasts a blend blend of regulatory expertise and proven experience advising risk managers, is sought after by clients in need of assistance in anti-corruption and white-collar investigations, and he also regularly advises in the implementation compliance programs. The practice's clients span industries and sectors, including health, IT, energy, financial services, infrastructure, and automotive. Counsel Eduardo Apáez, who specialises in compliance with an emphasis in anti-money laundering; and ‘secret weapon’ senior associate Santiago Acosta bring additional key expertise to the practice.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 2

With a practice that ‘mixes experience and youth’, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. continues to nurture its presence in the arbitration sphere, most recently hiring Elsa Ortega (arbitration and corporate/M&A) and Sofía Gómez Ruano (arbitration, mediation and data privacy) -the former founders of boutique firm Ortega & Gómez Ruano (OGR Law)- as partners in July 2022, thereby both extending its strategic contentious capabilities and strengthening the group’s leadership structure. Underpinned by the expertise of the firm’s corporate and transactional capabilities, the practice has particular expertise in both commercial and investor-State arbitration, dispute prevention (including negotiation and mediation) and crisis management, and acts across a broad array of sectors, including energy and natural resources, private equity, financial matters, real estate, hospitality, healthcare and manufacturing. The group is helmed by two highly-recognised and seasoned disputes’ practitioners: Bernardo Sepúlveda (a former ICJ vice-president), and Thomas Heather – both of whom are of counsel. Closely supporting them is a second line of accomplished counsels comprising Luis Jardón, who ‘knows mediation and arbitration like few other lawyers in Mexico’; Héctor Anaya Mondragón, who undertakes both commercial and investment arbitration in addition to his litigation activity; and Carlos Martínez Betanzos, a ‘promising future figure in the arbitration scene’, who focuses on domestic and international commercial arbitration, cross-border disputes and international law. Since research concluded, Martínez has left the firm to co-found Fonseca, Rodríguez, Perchemlian & Martínez Abogados

Mexico > Labour and employment Tier 2

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. has impressive expertise in labour and employment matters both in terms of transactional matters, such as due diligence, and on the regulatory front; it also has considerable experience advising on union negotiations, corporate reorganisations, employee transfers, layoffs, labour audits, wrongful dismissals and advice on the recent labour outsourcing reform. Additionally, the firm has significantly grown labour group in its Monterrey office. The overall team is led from Mexico City by Francisco Peniche, an experienced 20-year plus veteran in the sector who undertakes the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements; the development and implementation of effective hiring structures; personnel training workshops, health and safety regulations and manuals, anti-discrimination protocols; consulting on the implications of labour law compliance in commercial transactions; the hiring and termination of personnel; and high-level litigation before local and federal authorities. With the January 2022 promotion of Julio Alvarez to the partnership, the practice now has additional senior-level capability; Alvarez focuses on individual, collective, and social security matters – particularly the labour aspects of M&A operations, reorganisations, and employee and executive compensation. Moreover, with the September 2021 recruitment of Rodrigo Espíritu Santo (a veteran practitioner with extensive in-house labour experience) from Scotiabank, the practice retains a strong second tier; he joins María Fernanda Pariente (conflict prevention and ADR; labour investigations) at senior associate level.

Mexico > Life sciences Tier 2

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.‘s life sciences practice is focused on providing regulatory and transactional advice in the pharma, medical device, biotechnology, and food and beverage industries on matters such as compliance with sanitary regulations, labelling requirements, and registrations and authorisations, as well as transactional advice and litigation. The team – which is well regarded for ‘knowing the various complex laws around life sciences exceedingly well and applies it in a practical way’ – is co-led by insurance and regulatory specialist Leonel Pereznieto and Iker Arriola, whose input is in terms of corporate, finance, transactional and competition matters . Also, a key player in the practice, specialist counsel Guillermo Govela -whose past experience includes time at both COFEPRIS and the office of the Health Secretary- has a close focus on health regulation and administrative law; clients identify him as ‘smart, timely and extremely responsive on a range of time-sensitive needs’. Since research concluded, the team has been further bolstered with the September-2022 hire of experienced senior associate David Campos, who has considerable litigation experience in relation to life science matters, from Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C..

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure Tier 2

Co-led by partners Santiago Sepúlveda and José Ignacio Segura, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.‘s nine-strong practice is ‘a cohesive team, with very deep knowledge of all relevant issues‘, and is regularly called upon by a broad mix of sponsors, developers, construction companies and lenders for the development and financing of infrastructure projects in sectors such as oil and gas, power (primarily renewable energy), petrochemicals, telecommunications, transport (including airports, rail and toll-roads) and water and waste management. Sepúlveda handles the structuring, development and financing of infrastructure projects, along with M&A and PE investments; while Segura focuses on the electricity and natural gas industries from both regulatory and transactional perspectives. Key support is provided by energy-and-infrastructure transactions focused counsel Vanessa Gimenez, along with senior associate Ana Irma Amado (energy and infrastructure development, public tenders and permitting), and associate Juan Carlos Luna R (oil and gas, power, infrastructure, project finance and PPPs).

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 3

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. remains a capable presence in the energy and natural resources market, with clients noting that ‘the team, apart from its specialty, comprehensively understands the transactions and the challenges that arise to provide complete advice‘. The practice group undertakes the full range of M&A, financing, regulatory and infrastructure work for domestic and international clients across the power (including renewables), oil-and-gas, and petrochemicals sectors, as well as working extensively with investment funds. Santiago Sepúlveda, who specializes in M&A transactions and private equity investments involving large oil, gas, power, telecom and transport infrastructure projects in Mexico; and José Ignacio Segura, whos pracitce focuses on project finance and energy and infrastructure in the electricity and natural gas industries, co-lead the nine strong team. Younger partner Vanessa Gimenez advises energy companies, project developers, engineering and construction companies, as well as lenders and investors on energy and infrastructure transactions and also has experience of all phases of project development. Ana Irma Amado (energy, infrastructure, compliance), and Juan Carlos Luna (energy, infrastructure and project finance) are the associates to note.

Mexico > TMT Tier 3

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.‘s powerful transactional DNA is also reflected in its TMT practice, which has an impressive track record in this sense, although the team also offers strong regulatory mandates capabilities; all of which translates into a more than capable practice in this sector, that acts for clients such as Amazon, AT&T, Audi, Avaya, Blackstone, DAZN, Equinix and Facebook. The practice is co-led by antitrust and competition expert Luis Gerardo García; senior partner Jean Michel Enríquez, who is a well known corporate/finance all-rounder; and Jorge Kargl, who was promoted to partner in January 2022, and regularly assists clients in the telecom, broadcasting, satellite, entertainment, automotive, e-commerce and OTT industries regarding Mexican law, regulations and authorisations. IP partner Begoña Cancino left the practice in July 2021.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 4

Endorsed by its ‘prestige and national and international recognition’, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. has built up a solid dispute resolution practice, which centers mainly on administrative and cross-border litigation, the protection of foreign investment, and arbitration. The firm's profile as a transactional giant gives the team a leading role in disputes arising from large cross-border and domestic transactions. Key contacts of the group include tax litigation specialist, Luis Vázquez, and senior counsel Héctor Anaya Mondragón who, in addition to his arbitration practice, represents clients in disputes across the electricity, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, real estate, and insurance and reinsurance industries.

Mexico > Intellectual property Tier 4

Full service powerhouse Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. is gradually establishing the relevance of its the intellectual property practice, which has already built a fine reputation not only for its experience in protecting client’s intangible assets and trade mark, patent and copyright applications, prosecution and registration, but especially for its advice in the context of M&As, joint ventures and other transactional scenarios for both local and international clients; indeed some go as far as to suggest that ‘working with Creel is a guarantee in obtaining favourable results for companies‘. The practice is led by counsel Gaby Finkel who has experience drafting licensing, merchandising, distribution, franchise and service agreements (among others), as well as entertainment rights, trade marks and copy right, and who is heralded as ‘extremely knowledgeable, professional … level-headed and thoughtful‘. Key support comes from associates Dafne Méndez (‘prompt and accurate attention‘) and Sofía Castañón (a ‘great attorney‘).