Sánchez Devanny > Monterrey, Mexico > Firm Profile

Sánchez Devanny > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > International trade and customs Tier 1

Lauded for its ‘extensive experience in the efficient and practical resolution of complex foreign trade issues’, Sánchez Devanny‘s international trade and customs offering draws on the proven expertise of its partners in the sector. Praised for her ‘great dedication’, Turenna Ramirez is well-versed in customs compliance programs, customs audits, customs and tax litigation, international treaties (including USMCA), export promotion programs (including IMMEX) and verification-of-origin processes. Fellow specialist José Alberto Campos focuses on the tax aspects of foreign trade and customs, as well as on tariff and non-tariff requirements and export controls, and offers significant experience in FTAs executed by Mexico. Eduardo Sotelo, a skilled litigator whose experience also encompasses NAFTA verifications-of-origin, tariff classification, rules of origin, export controls, and import and export regimes, and has additional experience of non-tariff regulations and restrictions, completes the solid Mexico City-based trio in charge of the practice. The team houses particular expertise in the chemicals, automotive, food and beverages, cosmetics, medical devices, pharmaceutical products, alcohol and tobacco, textile and footwear sectors.

Mexico > Compliance Tier 2

Boasting over a decade of experience in this field, Sánchez Devanny ‘s practice has developed strong knowledge in an array of mandates related to compliance, while earning praise for consistently ‘delivering quality work’. The team is co-led by Monterrey-based Humberto Morales-Barrón, who specialises in a broad range of corporate law, corporate governance and compliance; and Daniel Maldonado (who operates from the Mexico City and Querétaro offices), who regularly acts for clients from the automotive, pharmaceutical, energy, medical device and retail industries on internal corporate investigations, anti-corruption regulations, risk assessment and anti-money laundering investigations. Senior associate Oscar Quiroz, who is part of the AML subgroup, focuses on audits and the design of programs and protocols; an area where he is supported by fellow senior associate Alberto Lascurain. The latter pair are based in Monterrey and Mexico City respectively.

Mexico > Labour and employment Tier 2

‘Innovative and with very high-quality services’, Sánchez Devanny has a solid background advising clients on compliance with labour and social security laws, the design and implementation of labour structures, immigration, employment agreements, terminations, and employment litigation. The team is led by the ‘excellent‘ Alfredo Kupfer-Dominguez who advises clients on matters including union negotiations, efficient labour structures, executive transfers and terminations, and social security. Following the departure of David Puente-Tostado to Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C. in May 2021, key support is provided by senior associates Fermin Lecumberri-Cano (Mexico City), who is particularly experienced in union negotiation and the litigation of collective labour matters, as well as labour matters related to M&A transactions; Francisco Garcia-Lerma (in the Monterrey office), who is experienced in social security matters and also handles complex advisory and collective labour litigation; and Sebastian Rosales-Ortega (in Querétaro), who provides complex advice to international clients, undertakes strategic labour litigation ands particularly experienced in union negotiation and M&A transaction-related labour matters .

Mexico > Tax Tier 2

Sánchez Devanny's sturdy five-partner tax department ‘excels at understanding complex cases and finding interesting alternatives for resolution’; additionally, according to clients, it also offers a ‘good balance between contentious and advisory experience’. Key contacts include Monterrey-based managing partner Ricardo León Santacruz, who is particularly well-versed in tax planning and transfer pricing; Guillermo Villaseñor Tadeo, who focuses on contentious mandates and continues to gain momentum as a tax litigator; and Mariana Eguiarte, who specialises in non-contentious matters and has significant expertise in consumption taxes, focusing on VAT and the special goods and services tax. Luis González, who possesses a broad experience in national and international tax audit as well as tax refund processes, and  Querétaro-based partner Pedro Miranda, who is lauded for his ‘deep technical knowledge in tax matters’, also warrant highlighting, as does senior associate Jorge Lopez, who assists the tax litigation group. Unless stated otherwise, all mentioned lawyers are based in Mexico City.

Mexico > Wealth management Tier 2

The wealth management group at Sánchez Devanny garners praise for its team of ‘expert lawyers’ who offer ‘solid, prudent, practical solutions, and ‘stand out for their expert knowledge and their experience – especially in designing cross-border solutions’. Key contacts of the group include Querétaro's Abel Mejía and Monterrey's Ricardo León, who is valued by clients for being ‘able to understand the big picture’ when handling mandates. Mejía specialises in international tax planning, both for companies and individuals. Regarding the latter, he advises on a range of matters such as pre-migration tax planning to other countries, design of international patrimonial structures that incorporate corporate-family governance protocols and orderly inheritance transmission, as well as as planning regarding inheritance taxes in different jurisdictions. León's expertise allows him to structure tax-efficient domestic and cross border acquisitions, mergers, reorganisations, spin-offs, redemptions, liquidations, post-acquisition integrations and business restructurings.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Boasting a strong national footprint which includes offices in Mexico City, Monterrey and Querétaro, Sánchez Devanny assists a roster of international and domestic clients with M&A transactions, joint ventures and corporate governance matters; it is also particularly skilled at implementing investment structures – mainly for foreign companies looking to initiate or expand their businesses in Mexico. Key contacts in Monterrey include Francisco Andrés Gamez-Garza, who has broad expertise in the automotive, general manufacturing and appliances sectors; corporate governance and regulatory expert Humberto Morales-Barrón; and senior associates Oscar Quiroz and Jaime Israel Moreno. Operating from Mexico City, Jose Antonio Postigo-Uribe has more than two decades’ M&A and transactional experience under his belt and particular knowledge of the energy sector. He is closely supported by senior associate Marisol González-Echevarría. In a significant June-2022 hire, the firm incorporated finance and capital markets specialist José Berrueta – formerly at Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. – who will undoubtedly assist the firm make further in-roads into the financing aspects of the practice.

Mexico > Life sciences Tier 3

Sánchez Devanny routinely assists clients in the pharma, chemical, cosmetics, tobacco, and food and beverage industries on a range of life science matters including regulatory, compliance, approvals, marketing, labelling and litigation. The practice is co-directed by José Alberto Campos-Vargas, who handles regulatory matters, international trade and administrative litigation; and Juan Luis Serrano, who has experience in government procurement and crossover IP matters. In addition, the pair can call on the expertise of senior associate Maria Luisa Mendoza López who handles international trade and has a particular focus on the import and export requirements for regulated products which correspond to the life sciences industry.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 3

Sánchez Devanny has an excellent reputation and is an established player in the real estate sector, advising clients on the acquisition and lease of industrial and retail properties, as well as on project finance and real estate matters for private equity funds. The team is co-led by Rafael Villamar-Ramos, who is  experienced in industrial, commercial and residential real estate acquisition and leasing transactions; and Diego Gómez-Haro who focuses primarily on real estate transactions – including the structuring of investment vehicles, the acquisition and sale of assets, leasing, the development and construction of projects, due diligence and financing. Senior associate Alfredo Villarreal Hansmann is experienced at handling lease agreements, acquisitions, the construction of industrial facilities, and commercial, hospitality and residential projects, provides key support. However, former senior Alonso Sandoval moved in house as senior legal manager at housing platform QuintoAndar’s international arm, Benvi, in July 2022.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 4

Fielding a 15-strong energy group, Sánchez Devanny is consistently sought out by clients for major projects in Mexico, and is highlighted for the ‘remarkable speed of response and the availability of senior lawyers in the team. Partners demonstrate in-depth knowledge of their practice area and are always present throughout the entire affair'. The practice is active on various fronts, ranging from oil and gas, and electricity generation, transmission and distribution; to energy supply, power purchase agreements, constitutional actions and regulatory advice. The team has notable experience throughout the hydrocarbons delivery chain, from up- to down-stream, as well as in greenfield renewable energy projects (such as solar and wind farms), and assisting industrial clients with energy supply agreements. The team is co-led by partners, Jose Antonio Postigo-Uribe, a ‘high-quality lawyer, with in-depth knowledge of the energy industry’ according to clients, who advises international and local companies on the electricity sector (particularly as regards renewables), as well as regarding oil and gas matters. Fellow practice co-head Gerardo Prado-Hernandez handles corporate and commercial matters, M&A, general regulatory compliance and energy project development - with an emphasis on renewable energy.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 5

In recent years, Sánchez Devanny‘s banking and finance practice has increasingly focused on advising Mexican and foreign banks on cross border loans and securities in Mexico, along with syndicated multi-jurisdictional loans and bonds issuances, as well as continuing to advise clients on fund formation. The firm’s June-2022 hire of Mexico City-based finance and capital markets specialist José Berrueta -formerly at Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C.– will undoubtedly assist the practice to make further in-roads into these areas. He joins a group that is co-led from Monterrey and Querétaro and which has particular expertise in the automotive industry (particularly the representation of borrowers and their subsidiaries in Mexico). Practice co-heads Ernesto Silvas (who has a focus on acquisition-finance), and Francisco Andres Gamez-Garza are based in Monterrey; while real estate specialist, Diego Gómez-Haro, operates from Querétaro. At senior associate level, Monterrey-based Jaime Moreno-Treviño brings additional key expertise.

Mexico > Intellectual property Tier 5

Sánchez Devanny is sought out by clients for its experience in intellectual property matters including patent portfolios, clearances, prosecution,  trade mark portfolios management and infringements, and litigation. The team is jointly led by Juan Luis Serrano-Leets , who advises multinational companies on intellectual property matters and is experienced in legal policy management issues in Mexico, the NAFTA region and Latin America; and of counsel Rodrigo Calderón Ponce, who joined the practice from Córdova, Campos & Calderón in May 2021, bringing expertise in patent related matters, particularly as regards the technology segment.

Mexico > Capital markets