Firm Profile > CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow > Mexico City, Mexico

Energy and natural resources Tier 1

CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow has experience in upper- mid- and downstream oil-and-gas segments, from exploration and production, through trading and supply, to storage and distribution. However, it is in the electricity sector where the practice truly stands out, handling the full range of industry matters including generation, transmission, the wholesale and retail markets, and renewables (including solar and other green energy types). Integrally involved in the implementation of the new wholesale electricity market and the restructuring of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) during the previous presidential sexenio, it has adapted well to the current administration's re-definition of the energy landscape, with clients praising its ‘extensive knowledge of the market and regulation’ and for ‘understanding the customer's needs’. The team is led by the ‘always available’, ‘first-class’ practitioner, Derek Woodhouse, whose focus is private sector participation in traditionally 'public-sector' projects; he advises across a broad range of transactional, project-related and regulatory issues. Younger partner and practice co-head alongside Woodhouse, Luis Fernández Lagunas is a power and energy regulatory specialist with particular knowledge of the wholesale market. Key associate-level support comes from seniors José Antonio Téllez, who focuses on  regulatory consultation, transactional structuring and negotiation, and project finance related to the electricity industry; and Gabriel Salinas Ruiz, whose practice centres on  international and domestic transactions related to the structuring and development of energy and infrastructure projects.

Projects and infrastructure Tier 1

CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow is undoubtedly one of the markets heavyweights when it comes to projects and infrastructure, housing solid credentials in the power, oil and gas, mining and infrastructure sectors. The impressive six-strong practice provides 'excellent service' to a broad mix of public and private sector clients, and is led by founding partner Enrique Lorente Ludlow, a 20-year veteran of projects matters from inception and design, through structuring finance, construction and operation; and Marcia Santomé Sánchez who is closely focused on private participation in formerly public sector projects, including via PPPs, and who was made partner in July 2019. Specialised senior Giancarlo Schievenini, who works on all aspects and stages of infrastructure project development, including financing, leads a strong associate group. The team is currently advising the Mexican Federal Government on the legal structuring (design, structuring and implementation) of its flagship 'Tren Maya' project, worth an estimated of $8bn as well as the associated public procurement procedures. Both real estate partner Cesar Lechuga Perezanta and energy specialist Derek Woodhouse also participate in the practice.

Life sciences Tier 2

CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow fields a seven-strong life sciences practice, probably best known for negotiations with and representation before health-related government agencies. Practice head Mauricio Gómez (who handles life sciences regulatory matters, pharmaceutical products, biotech, medical devices, food, beverages and consumer products), can also draw on former experience in different posts at regulator COFEPRIS. Further partner level input comes from corporate practitioner Cesar Lechuga Perezanta and PPP-specialist Marcia Santomé, who was raised to the partnership in mid-2019). The team has experience advising on new businesses and products, regulatory strategies and compliance audits, good manufacturing practices and certifications, premarket approval of products and services, health licenses and advice on approval of labelling and marketing of regulated products and services, from biotech, biologics and medical.

Corporate and M&A Tier 3

The strengthening of CMS' international network, not least in South America, has further boosted CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow participation in major transactional activity particularly in the tech, media and communications, and energy, infrastructure and projects areas which are particular strengths of the office. The growing practice group is co-led by seasoned founding partner Enrique Lorente Ludlow and transactional specialist César Lechuga. Luis Fernández Lagunas handles M&A in the energy sector, as does senior associate Gabriel Salinas Ruiz; and fellow senior Giancarlo Schievenini, who has a broader corporate practice, is also noted. Recent mandates include providing holistic advisory -including corporate, IP, healthcare and life sciences, contracts and regulatory- to Biomitech, a Mexican start-up that has originated a new greenhouse gases remediation device. The team was further boosted by the January 2020-hires of Raúl Zepeda (corporate and capital markets) from Banco Inbursa, as partner; and senior associate Héctor González Martínez from Ontier México. Since publication, Schievenini has been raised to the partnership, effective as of January 2021.

Real estate Tier 3

The practice at CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow has over 20 years' experience advising on all aspects of the structuring and financing of real estate developments in industrial, residential, hospitality, office and mixed-use projects. Moreover, the five-strong team is renowned among clients for its ‘extensive knowledge of the real estate aspects related to energy projects’. Enrique Lorente Ludlow, who represents landowners, developers and investment funds on complex lease arrangements, as well as on the sale and purchase of commercial, industrial, residential and corporate properties, co-leads the practice with César Lechuga, who has ‘outstanding  reactivity and proactivity’, and specializes in transactional real estate with a primary focus on the industrial, logistics, commercial, office space and retail sectors, as well as large plots of land for wind and solar projects.

Banking and finance Tier 4

The banking and finance department at CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow has experienced substantial growth thanks to the January 2020 hire of Raúl Zepeda (formerly managing partner at ONTIER México), who boosts the practice particularly regarding financial regulatory issues. Considered by some clients as ‘true business partners’, the team, which specializes in public-private partnerships, advises lenders and borrowers, including federal and local governments, private developers, national and international banks and other financial institutions, on obtaining all types of loans necessary to implement projects, especially in the infrastructure segment. Other noted members of the practice include partner César Lechuga, who focuses on real estate financing.