Mr Ariel Garfio > Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile

Benefitting from the firm’s increasingly defined market position as a full service firm oriented primarily towards long term relations with its clients, the environmental team at Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC benefits from both a steady stream of transactional matters and the ongoing matters generated by the firm’s strong industrial and manufacturing client base. While this constitutes some 60% of the team’s current activity, the remainder is made up of administrative (environmental) litigation – particularly, of late, concerning water resources, concessions and supply. The 11-strong team is co-led by Edmond Grieger, who has some 20 years’ experience in the sector, including both advisory and compliance concerning complex M&A and major project and infrastructure developments, as well as environmental and administrative litigation; and energy and projects specialist Ariel Garfio, whose expertise takes in contractual, environmental, regulatory, social impact, rights of way and agrarian matters. While the practice has seen some changes at the more junior level, key support comes from mid-level associate Roberto Flores, whose practice is centred on environmental law, energy and natural resources and real estate. Headline mandates include ongoing assistance to Ivenergy regarding all the environmental and social authorisations and licensing concerning its more than 20 renewable and co-generation plants across the country and in particular advice concerning all environmental aspects of the company’s Parque Eólico de Fenicias project, currently at the EPC stage. Other matters include advising Blanmin on the environmental and administrative matters required to regularize two mining concession titles in Campeche; and Nissan on compliance related matters concerning its water concession obligations before CONAGUA for the operation of its facilities in Aguascalientes and Morelos.

The practice group at Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC specialises above all in the conversion of ejidos into private property, as well as property acquisition, development, management, leasing, financing and litigation. The 13-strong team is co-directed by Pablo Saez, who has extensive M&A experience and is active on social property and urban development matters; and Alejandro Orellana, who advises domestic and foreign developers, lenders, and investors in connection with real estate-related regulatory issues. Raymundo Soberanis and Ariel Garfio are additional partner-level contacts. The practice was strengthened with the March 2023 hire of Rodrigo de los Ríos, formerly a partner at Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego, as counsel.

Energy generators, service providers, developers, financial institutions, suppliers and off-takers are all among the companies that look to Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC for advice on transactions, financings and disputes, among other matters. As part a full-service firm, the practice can offer clients support through the life-cycle of a project or business operation in Mexico; indeed, the team has advised on a sizeable share of the renewable energy projects in the country over recent years. Leading the practice, Edmond Frederic Grieger is an experienced name in the Mexican energy market and works across energy and environmental matters, public bidding process, and administrative litigation. Ariel Garfio has a broad focus on the power, mining, and oil and gas sectors; while Luis Burgueño has advised on major transactions as well as guiding multinationals through their compliance with Mexico’s energy sector regulations. Raymundo Soberanis is a key contact for contentious issues in the sector; and from a deep pool of associates, Victor Delgado has been especially active since joining from Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C. in June 2022.