Carlos del Río > Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile

Undoubtedly one of Mexico’s predominant forces in real estate practice, the ‘attentive’ and ‘robust’ team at Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. garners praise for its ‘exceptional knowledge of real estate issues’ and skill at negotiation. The group’s expertise encompasses the regulatory aspects of direct and structured investment, and  strategic property acquisitions in the industrial, retail, commercial, tourism & leisure, residential and urban segments, as well as the development, management and operation of real estate projects. It is routinely instructed by local and multinational developers, promoters, tourism and hospitality companies, and investors – including real estate funds, Mexican CKDs, CERPIs and FIBRAs. The practice is co-led by Monterrey office head Francisco Montalvo, who has a strong track record advising domestic and multinational conglomerates on the acquisition and development of tourism, industrial and residential developments, as well as on the acquisition and divestiture of companies and assets in northern Mexico; and Carlos de Icaza, who works from Mexico City and has led on numerous innovative real estate transactions, often representing industrial groups, real estate investment trusts, development companies and private equity funds. Carlos del Río handles M&A, private equity and real estate transactions from the Mexico City office; Monterrey-based Badir Treviño-Mohamed advises real estate developers, administrators and investors (including international real estate funds, Mexican CKDs and FIBRAs), on the legal and regulatory aspects of investments in real estate for industrial, retail, commercial and tourism purposes. At of counsel level, key contacts include D&I director Valentina Villa and Alejandro Castelló, both of whom focus on real estate and environmental matters; Carlos Yamamoto (real estate and transactional matters); and Alfonso Pulido, who is seen by one client as ‘one of the best real estate lawyers in Mexico’ and is well-versed in the acquisition and sale of industrial and commercial real estate portfolios. Senior associate Brenda Elizondo is also noted.

Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. houses a leading corporate and M&A team over 40-lawyers’ strong which is lauded for its ‘outstanding experience and knowledge in all areas’. Billed by one client as ‘by far the best M&A team in Mexico’, the practice group is well-equipped to advise on sophisticated M&A transactions involving both publicly and privately-traded companies in regulated and unregulated industries. Domestic and multinational corporations, real estate investment funds, private equity funds, global development institutions and investment banks all feature on its client roster, and recent headline matters include advising Apollo Global Assset Management on the conversion of its DIP loan into an equity interest in Grupo Aeromexico (valued at $1.5bn); and Aimia on the divestiture of a $558m, $48.9% equity stake in loyalty program operator PLM, which thereby becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of the airline. The practice is co-led by seasoned M&A heavyweight Jean Michel Enríquez along with Jorge Montaño, who majors in private equity, venture capital and capital markets transactions. Additional key partners include Eduardo González, who frequently advises private equity firms on follow-on acquisitions and liquidity events; and Humberto Botti, who handles domestic and cross-border acquisitions and divestitures. Providing ‘clear, strategic, tailored solutions, on time… and with a clear 360° vision of the risks and how to mitigate them’, real estate-focused practitioner Carlos del Río and younger M&A partner Diego Barrera comprise ‘a duo the likes of which you are unlikely to find at another firm’. Former practice co-head Iker Arriola, who focuses on M&A, corporate law and antitrust matters, is now resident partner at the firm’s Madrid office, which officially opened its doors in January 2023; while Esteban Valadez (M&A, private equity, joint venture and complex real estate transactions) who was promoted to partner the same month, rounds out the senior bench. A deep associate bench includes seniors Gerardo Zimbrón, who has 15 years’ M&A experience; and Edgar Ancona, who undertakes M&A, PE, joint ventures, minority investments and asset sales. Since publication, Zimbrón has been raised to the partnership and Ancona promoted to counsel – effective as of January 2024.