Firm Profile > Sánchez Devanny > Monterrey, Mexico

Wealth management Tier 1

Ten-strong, Sánchez Devanny's ‘sophisticated team’ has ‘deep knowledge and experience in the field’ of wealth management. Prominent practice members include: Queretaro-based Abel Mejía, who advises high-net-worth individuals on tax planning, including pre-immigration planning and family estate structuring, as part of a broader practice that also takes in advising multinationals on their operations in Mexico and associated inter-company cross-border transactions; Ernesto Silvas, who has broad experience advising Mexican family companies and family-offices on the design and implementation of their corporate ownership and governance structures, and succession planning; and managing partner Ricardo León, an expert in cross-border tax planning and transfer pricing matters, who focuses on estate planning mandates. The latter pair operate from the firm's Monterrey office.

International trade and customs Tier 2

Sánchez Devanny continues to shine in the international trade and customs market, thanks to its well-rounded team comprised of expert practitioners. Turenna Ramirez handles strategic planning of trade and customs matters along with litigation, and specializes in international treaties (including NAFTA), customs audits, export promotion programs (including IMMEX) and verification-of-origin processes. José Alberto Campos has a broad expertise in tax and regulatory aspects including tariff and non-tariff requirements and export controls, as well as significant experience in Free Trade Agreements executed by Mexico.  Eduardo Sotelo, who made partner in January 2020, is a very competent litigator. All three co-lead the practice. Also recently raised to the partnership, María Luisa Mendoza (IT&C matters particularly in relation to the energy, health and life science sectors) is another name to note among the eight-strong team, which has experience across the chemicals, automotive, food & beverages, cosmetics, medical and pharmaceutical, and alcohol and tobacco sectors, among others.

Labour and employment Tier 2

Clients appreciate the ‘excellent personalized service’ and ‘full understanding of both the needs of the company and the Mexican market’ provided by Sánchez Devanny's labour and employment department. The 18-strong team, regularly advises clients -particularly from the energy and automotive sectors- on labour, immigration and social security matters. It is co-led by Alfredo Kupfer-Dominguez in Mexico City, a recognized market expert and ‘opinion leader on the subject’; and Monterrey-based David Puente-Tostado. Recent matters include undertaking an analysis of the labour (and tax) legal effects of Enel's buisness structure, including over 40 legal entities in Mexico, in order to comply with new labour subcontracting requirements. Key support comes from senior associate Fermin Lecumberri-Cano (labour advisory and litigation), and associate María Fernanda Castellanos, who also has labour litigation experience.

Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Operating from its offices in Mexico City, Monterrey and Querétaro, the practice at Sánchez Devanny is over 30-strong and handles a broad range of work, including advice on joint ventures, M&A, corporate governance and compliance. Key partners include Francisco Andres Gamez-Garza (corporate, M&A financings, joint ventures and compliance due diligence), Cristina Sanchez-Vebber (corporate M&A and competition law), Ernesto Silvas, who is very experienced in cross-border transactional matters; and Jose Antonio Postigo-Uribe (head of the corporate and M&A practice in Mexico City, where he is also office managing partner); while in Monterrey Gerardo Prado-Hernandez (M&A, commercial transactions, day-to-day advisory and contracts) and office managing partner Humberto Morales-Barron, who is also head of the corporate governance and regulatory compliance practice. Ongoing matters include advising Medtronic on its MXN$173m acquisition of certain business lines (concerned with coronary health) from Artimédica; the team also remains particularly active in the automotive sector, long a strength of the firm.

Energy and natural resources Tier 3

Sánchez Devanny 's 'strong' inter-office energy industry group is 'consolidated' 'and can provide full service for all related matters including regulatory, compliance, labour, litigation and corporate,' according to clients. The 12-lawyer team is co-led by transaction-specialised senior partners Jose Antonio Postigo-Uribe and Gerardo Prado-Hernandez, in Mexico City and Monterrey, respectively; both have extensive energy-sector experience, notably with regard to solar projects, wind farms and cogeneration plants. Postigo also handles oil and gas matters including E&P bid processes, transportation, commercialization, investment structuring and dispute resolution advisory. The team's recent caseload has been dominated by the preparation of PPAs, which it has negotiated on behalf of Essity, Embotelladora Niágara, Pipe México, Bendix and Bioenergía de Nuevo León, among others. Net Code regulations and compliance with the technical requirements for generators' interconnection to the national electricity system is another source of mandates. On the oil and gas side, the team is assisting Repsol Downstream Mexico with its participation in the fuel and lubricants retail market. Key associate support comes from energy focused semi-senior, Max Ernesto Hernández-Ernult.

Life sciences Tier 3

Partners José Alberto Campos (tax and international trade) and Juan Luis Serrano-Leets (the IP, regulatory and privacy aspects of life sciences), co-head the practice at Sánchez Devanny, which has a ‘strong experience in the sector’, and handles matters pertaining to pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food, beverages and dietary supplements, cosmetics, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, hazardous substances, cannabis products, and medical and health related services, among others. Moreover, the team, has a good ‘knowledge of customer needs’ and ‘understanding of political norms'; Campos has extensive experience, while Serrano's past experience includes three years' as head of legal at AstraZeneca Mexico. The team collaborates with the firm's corporate governance and regulatory practice group as regards compliance matters led by Humberto Morales-Barron. The primarily international trade-focused María Luisa Mendoza, who was appointed non-equity partner in January 2020, also participates extensively in life-sciences matters.

Real estate Tier 3

The incorporation of Diego Gómez Haro, formerly head of legal for Mexico real estate at Blackstone Group back in July 2018, has clearly boosted Sánchez Devanny's practice, allowing the firm to strengthen its presence in Mexico City, from where he operates. Very prominent in, among other areas, syndication, restructures, portfolio acquisitions, financing, equity investments, joint venture incorporation or asset divestiture, he co-heads the department with Monterrey-based managing partner Rafael Villamar-Ramos, a reputed market player with substantial experience in industrial, commercial and housing real estate acquisition and leasing transactions. The eight-strong team also includes key practitioner Alfredo Villareal, who is appreciated for being ‘flexible to the customers' demands, receptive to feedback, and very empathetic at the time of negotiation’.

Tax Tier 3

Sánchez Devanny's international experience has given the practice substantial hands-on expertise in cross border tax matters. The 20-strong team is co-led by five partners: the experienced Ricardo Leon-Santacruz, who specializes in tax planning and transfer pricing; Guillermo Villaseñor-Tadeo, who leads on the litigation front; Luis Antonio González Flores, who has broad experience in national and international tax audits, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption compliance strategies, with a special focus on multinational enterprises; Mariana Eguiarte-Morett, who has ‘impressive technical knowledge on international tax matters’; and Abel Mejia-Cosenza, who specializes in international tax planning for both individuals and corporations.

Compliance Tier 4

Sánchez Devanny offers a solid compliance practice with extensive expertise in corporate internal investigations, anti-corruption regulations and anti-money laundering investigations. The 12-strong practice, led by Humberto Morales-Barron, José Alberto Campos and Daniel Maldonado-Alcantara (in Monterrey, Mexico City and Queretaro, respectively), also counsels clients on FCPA, UK Bribery Act and Mexican anti-corruption regulations; on compliance and/or regulatory audits and their legal implications in connection with M&A and commercial agreements; and on internal vetting procedures for distributors, agents and service providers. Additionally, the regulatory/compliance group represents clients during administrative proceedings, inspections and litigation, including sanctions, closures and product seizures.

Banking and finance Tier 5

Three partners lead the practice at Sánchez Devanny; Monterrey-based Ernesto Silvas-Medina, who focuses on mergers and acquisition financing and restructuring; Francisco Andres Gamez-Garza, who primarily handles commercial lending for the industrial sector; and real estate financing expert Diego Gómez-Haro Katznelson, who operates from Mexico City. Key support comes from senior associates Jaime Moreno-Treviño and Debby McKey, both from the Monterrey office. The eight-strong team, which also acts for private equity clients on debt financing acquisitions, remains a popular choice for banks, borrowers and investors due to its experience in cross-border loans, securities, syndicated multi-jurisdictional loans, bonds issues and fund formation.

Intellectual property Tier 5

The IP practice at Sánchez Devanny is differentiated by its strong focus on the pharmaceutical industry, advising key clients including Stendhal, Servier, Merck, Alexion, Serral, Lakeside, Biotoscana, Stendhal and Exeltis on a broad range of issues including prosecution, litigation, interactions with regulatory law for both patents and trade marks, as well as general policy advisory. IP practice head Juan Luis Serrano-Leets has 20 years' experience and is a 'a very complete lawyer'; formerly in house at Astra Zeneca, he also leads the life sciences and data privacy areas.