Santamarina y Steta > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

Santamarina y Steta > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Labour and employment Tier 1

Santamarina y Steta remains a leading force in labour matters in Mexico, highly regarded by clients as a ‘point of reference or “benchmark” in labour law‘, and whose lawyers ‘give us solid legal advice, with excellent responsiveness and understanding of our business objectives and zeal to defend them’.  The practice is particularly sought out by clients for complex collective bargaining issues and the design of union negotiation strategies, unfair dismissal litigation and high-level terminations, and more recently for corporate reorganisations due to the recent labour subcontracting reform. The team is jointly led by Juan Carlos de la Vega, who is is widely recognised for his expertise in the resolution of union disputes in the mining and automotive industries in Mexico; Francisco Udave, who ‘has the ability to have a very complete vision of the issues – in addition to technical solidity, he perfectly understands the business aspects’; he specialises in employment litigation, representing management in high-profile cases filed by top executives, as well as representing clients in employer/union conflicts; and Andrés Rodríguez, who advises clients on individual and collective litigation, and legal audits focused on labour-obligations compliance. The partners can call on a sizeable and experienced second line comprising: counsel Álvaro Álvarez (contractual labour relations; labour conflicts); Raquel Ortiz (labour disputes representation; personnel transfers and employment relations); Ernesto De La Puente and Djuro Fernández (labour litigation); Victor Coria (mining sector labour and employment matters); and Jaime Vázquez G, who was raised to counsel in January 2022.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 2

Praised for the ‘excellent quality’ of his work, as well as for his ‘unparalleled depth of market knowledge’, practice-head Juan Carlos Machorro steers the banking and finance group at full-service firm Santamarina y Steta, which is well known for its strength in corporate and project finance, regularly representing both financiers and borrowers. Machorro is closely supported by partners Alberto Saavedra, a veteran figure with some 35 years' experience in securities, banking and finance, capital markets, foreign investment and project finance; and Sergio Chagoya, who offers additional expertise advising government entities, and handles a variety of financial transactions, including private equity and venture capital in relation to infrastructure projects, public offerings, securitisations and privatisations. Further expertise is provided by a solid pair of younger partners, namely Diego Ostos (banking and finance, capital markets, project finance and government procurement); and Ricardo Orea, who has particular experience advising on the financing of infrastructure projects in the energy and transport sectors, and on other asset-backed financing transactions. Promoted to counsel in January 2022, Margarita Casarin is another name to note.

Mexico > Capital markets Tier 2

Santamarina y Steta houses a seasoned and reputed capital markets practice, which remains involved in advising clients in debt and equity offerings, including work on FIBRAS and CKDs, as well as on public tender offers in several jurisdictions for clients that have subsidiaries and relevant assets in Mexico. Practice-head Alberto Saavedra brings his extensive experience in this area to the table, with the structuring of debt programmes undoubtedly one of his core strengths. Sergio Chagoya, whose capital markets practice is complemented by a solid knowledge of banking and finance and corporate/M&A; and Diego Ostos, who was welcomed to the partnership in February 2022, are also key departmental contacts.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 2

The practice group at Santamarina y Steta is acclaimed as ‘definitely a great team, always attentive to the client, and with wonderful follow-up on the matters they see’. The practice has great expertise in agrarian and urban development matters,  along with acquisitions, transfers, leasing, construction, financing and guarantees, and developmental/operational real estate project issues relating to -among others- industrial parks, distribution centres and malls, offices, housing complexes, tourist developments, mixed-use complexes, airports and “ejido” properties. The team is led by ‘great partner‘ Vicente Grau, who advises clients on the acquisition, leasing, development, construction and sale of real estate properties, as well as on the related structuring of financing and security, the contribution of properties to FIBRAS, and on CKDs and guaranty trusts. Additional partner level expertise is provided by Claudia Rodríguez, who advises Mexican and international clients on the structuring, planning and implementation of operations for the acquisition, financing, development, leasing and sale of real estate projects, as well as on the structuring of real estate guarantees; she specializes in the commercial and industrial sectors. Associate Yakov Kobets who is ‘always on top of matters’ participates in the structuring and execution of projects related to the acquisition and/or sale of assets, including due diligence procedures.

Mexico > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

Veteran full-service firm Santamarina y Steta boasts a longstanding presence in the competition domain, and garners praise form clients for its ‘great capacity to see beyond what is presented’, as well as for being ‘responsive and proactive’. Following the retirement of Ernesto Duhne  in June 2021, the practice is now solely led by Vicente Grau, and is well known for handling merger-review proceedings, and obtaining authorisations for large multi-jurisdictional and domestic transactions. The group has additional expertise assisting clients implement compliance programs, representing and advising domestic and international clients in antitrust investigations, and challenging resolutions from the competition authority. Other highlighted practitioners include Francisco Torres; senior associate Ivan Szymanski, who according to clients is ‘particularly good’ in this area; and associate Yakov Kobets.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Mexican market stalwart, Santamarina y Steta, houses a sizable practice -which operates from both Mexico City and Monterrey- with extensive experience and activity in the corporate and M&A sphere. The group, co-led by seasoned practitioners Juan Carlos Machorro and Jorge León-Orantes (both based in Mexico City), is known for handling mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, corporate restructurings and joint-ventures, as well as advising private equity and venture capital players on transactions and corporate restructurings. Corporate and finance expert Alberto Saavedra; Guillermo Moreno, who was promoted to partner in January 2022 and garners praise for offering ‘excellent advice, knowledge of the subject and support’; and Monterrey-based César Cruz Ayala, are among the practice’s main contacts. Senior associate Ilse Bolaños is another name to note. The group’s client roster includes notable names from the automotive, pharmaceutical, construction, real estate, retail, hospitality and manufacturing sectors.

Mexico > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

A ‘recognised team in Mexico’, full-service firm Santamarina y Steta's practice boasts a solid track record representing international clients on domestic and cross-border disputes. Particularly skilled in cases arising from civil and commercial disputes, the group is co-led by Mexico City-based partners Carlos Olvera, who ‘is always one step ahead’, Roberto Fernández Del Valle, and Carlos Brehm, who operates from Monterrey and also handles ADR, arbitration, reorganisations, internal investigations and anticorruption matters. Associate José Antonio Moreno is another name to note. Recent work highlights include representing BID Invest before the Federal Courts in Mexico City in a commercial claim initiated against Alpha Credit and its subsidiaries in order to collect a debt of approximately $21m.

Mexico > Intellectual property Tier 3

Santamarina y Steta's intellectual property practice has significant bench strength and strong transactional experience as well as providing efficient legal structures to protect its clients’ intangible assets and facilitate their exploitation. The team is highly knowledgeable regarding patents, utility models, industrial designs, trade marks, slogans, copyright, plant varieties and litigation, for national and international clients who recognize the practice as being ‘very efficient both in solving problems and in planning strategies in trademarks and patent related matters’. The group is co-led by Jose Pablo Pérez Zea who specialises in franchising and licensing and has experience in patent and trade mark prosecution, copyright, and unfair competition, among other areas; and Daniel Legaspi, who was promoted to partner in January 2022 and focuses primarily on trade marks, licensing and franchising. similarly raised to counsel, Efraín Olmedo is head of the department's litigation practice.

Mexico > Life sciences Tier 3

Santamarina y Steta combines transactional and regulatory experience to provide a strong offering in life science matters to companies in the food and beverage, chemicals, pharma, healthcare and tobacco industries, handling the verification of  compliance with applicable Mexican laws, regulations and standards – primarily in relation to the manufacture and distribution of products. The practice is led by Alejandro Luna, who has experience advising national and international clients on foreign trade and customs, health and life sciences, and consumer protection. Key support is provided by associate Mariana Larrea who focuses on the life science and healthcare areas, particularly regarding the analysis, research and advertisement of products and services. Since the end of research, Larrea has moved in house - effective as of September 2022.

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure Tier 3

Santamarina y Steta is particularly well known for its experience advising public and private sector entities in the planning, development, execution, and financing of urban infrastructure projects in the power, oil and gas, telecoms, transport (including roads, railroads, ports and airports), social infrastructure, and water treatment/waste management industries. The team is led by the deeply experienced Juan Carlos Machorro, who focuses on the development and implementation of investment and manufacturing projects in Mexico. Sergio Chagoya also has considerable experience with some 25 years advising lenders, sponsors, borrowers and state-entities on financial transactions (including private equity and venture capital) on infrastructure projects, public offerings and securitisations. Younger partners Ricardo Orea (financing for energy, transport and social infrastructure projects, as well as aircraft, vessel and other asset-backed financing transactions) and Diego Ostos (banking and finance, capital markets, project finance, infrastructure, M&A, PPPs and government procurement), complete the senior team. Experienced senior associate Margarita Casarin (corporate and financial law, including syndicated, structured and project finance, and infrastructure projects) provides key support.

Mexico > TMT Tier 3

Santamarina y Steta‘s TMT practice’s good capabilities stem from the expertise of its skilled leading duo, composed of Jorge León-Orantes, whose practice focuses on M&A transactions, financing and TMT, and who is particularly experienced automotive, technological and entertainment sectors; and counsel Paola Morales, who specialises in telecommunications, media and technology, satellite-related matters, e-commerce, privacy & data protection. Regarding the latter two areas of work, Morales is well-versed in reviewing, negotiating and preparing terms and conditions for electronic commerce for national and international clients with operations in Mexico, including their e-commerce platforms and privacy notices. Of late, the group has been approached by Tesla on this matter. Since publication, Morales has been promoted to the partnership - effective as of 2023.

Mexico > Environment Tier 4

Santamarina y Steta has substantial experience in environmental project management, including obtaining environmental permits, authorisations and licenses; implementing compliance systems, auditing, and the monitoring and evaluation of environmental legal obligations; and originiating strategies for environmental, social and corporate governance and corpproate social responsibility. The team acts for clients in the tourism, infrastructure, energy, mining, automotive and chemical industries, among others, and is co-led by Claudia Rodríguez who specialises in real estate, environmental and agrarian law, and indigenous consulting; and Monterrey-based Heriberto Garza whose broad practice takes in real estate, environmental matters, estate and wealth planning, family offices, regulatory banking and cyber security, among other areas. Also a key player in the team, Juan Carlos Aguirre‘s practice is centred on environmental and climate change matters, traditional and renewable energy, agrarian law, indigenous consultation/socio-environmental impact assessment, tourism, mining and real estate. The practice was further strengthened in March 2022 with the hire of David González Vega as a senior associate; an experienced environmental practitioner, he arrived from Fonatur, where he was legal director with regards to the Tren Maya project.

Mexico > International trade and customs Tier 4

‘Very knowledgeable about foreign trade matters’ is how a client describes Santamarina y Steta's practice, which offers a comprehensive advisory service which combines foreign trade and tax advice. Following the retirement of Ernesto Duhne , the practice is now solely headed by Alejandro Luna, who has a particular focus on the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, medical device, food and retail industries, advising primarily on import and supply chain strategies, customs consultations, and import and export strategies of products. Associate Michel Zelaya, who specialises in international trade and anti-dumping matters, is also noted.

Mexico > Tax Tier 4

Santamarina y Steta's tax department is well known for its capabilities when challenging determinations from the tax authorities. The group led by Mariano Calderón (whom clients place among the ‘most experienced tax legal experts in Mexico’), works for a wide range of multinational clients from an array of sectors, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. Counsel Karina Robledo, who handles domestic and foreign corporate reorganisations, contract review, and the design and implementation of tax structures for M&As and project financing transactions; and senior associate Jair Vaca, a promising tax litigator, are other names to note.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 5

Santamarina y Steta houses a sizable team of energy transactional and advisory lawyers who can , in addition, call on other practice areas to cover clients’ needs including corporate/contractual and financing work, real estate matters, and environmental, social impact, tax, foreign trade, restructuring, arbitration and litigation requirements. In energy and natural resources, the team advises on project finance, the migration of clients in the electricity market, supply and power purchase agreements, and regulatory and compliance matters. The team is led by partner Juan Carlos Machorro who focuses on transactional mandates and financing, and provides advice to various local and international entities on the development and implementation of investment and manufacturing projects in Mexico. Key support is provided by associate practice director María Ximena Gonzalez.

Mexico > Bankruptcy and restructuring

Mexico > Compliance