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

CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 1

Having historically played a major role in advising the Mexican government on an overhaul of the electricity market and restructuring the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow is an established powerhouse of the Mexican energy and natural resources space, advising international and national private clients on the full range of matters. Under the López Obrador administration, a focus on energy sovereignty and a protectionist outlook has resulted in an increased contentious workload. Other regular instructions include handling business agreements of all types across electricity generation (both traditional and renewables), and up-, mid- and downstream oil and gas. Practice co-heads Derek Woodhouse and Luis Fernandez Lagunas have extensive experience advising government bodies, as well as companies dealing with such; Woodhouse has notable expertise regarding power generation and PPPs, and Fernandez Lagunas across a range of energy project types. Giancarlo Schievenini is a key contact in transactional and regulatory matters, and senior associate Gabriel Salinas provides additional expert support on electricity matters. Fellow senior associate Manuel Ferrara - formerly at energy regulatory body, CRE - is a litigator with experience in energy-related controversies.

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure Tier 2

In the words of its clients, ‘professional’, ‘up-to-date’ and ‘highly specialised’ are some of the standout qualities of CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow’s 12-strong team. The group is frequently sought out by private and public sector clients for its wide-ranging projects and infrastructure experience, and assists with PPPs and financing for toll roads, railroads, highways, hospitals and hydrocarbons projects. A recent highlight saw it advise the Mexican government on a new international border crossing between Tijuana and San Diego. Founding partner Enrique Lorente Ludlow steers the practice and specialises in matters ranging from the design, structuring, financing, construction and operation of projects. A pair of younger partners provide key support: Giancarlo Schievenini handles all aspects and stages of infrastructure project development, including financing, and has significant expertise in toll roads concessions; and the ‘always attentive’ Fernando Nava Herrera, majors on project finance and PPPs and stands out for his ‘personalised service, empathy and skill’. Marcia Santome Sanchez completes the senior team. Senior associate José Antonio Ruiz P, active on project development, regulatory matters and financing, is an additional key contact.

Mexico > Life sciences Tier 3

CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow fields a small, four-strong practice in Mexico City but significantly the team sits as part of the international firm’s global life science practice which boasts more than 300 dedicated lawyers. The local practice group primarily handles work from the domestic and international pharma sector, along with clients across the medical devices, food and drink, and chemicals’ sectors, including administrative procedures, regulator-mandated audits, and market approval/launch matters. Practice head Mauricio Gómez Guerrero is a former chief of staff to the Federal Commissioner at COFEPRIS – the federal regulatory entity responsible for protection against health and sanitary risks; his practice focuses on life sciences regulatory matters, along with regulatory enforcement administrative procedures, issues concerning controlled substances, and government affairs strategy. Key support is provided by administrative (and constitutional) litigator, senior associate Manuel Ferrara Ibarra, who works across both the energy and life science sectors; he has particular expertise in both defence strategies before federal and local administrative procedures, and undertaking challenges related to regulatory, administrative and fiscal matters.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 3

The ‘multidisciplinary and committed’ group at CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow is lauded by one client as providing ‘an unbeatable service’ in real estate matters. The group advises developers, institutional investors, and lenders on all necessary areas of real estate projects, including the purchase and sale of land, assistance with real estate financing, and the efficient administration of real estate portfolios. The ‘attentive, diligent and friendly’ team of lawyers is led by César Armando Lechuga, wo is highlighted for his ‘proactivity, willingness and skill at conflict mediation’. Lechuga’s practice is focused on the purchase and sale of real estate assets of all kinds, as well as the drafting, negotiation and implementation of transfer of rights contracts. Key partner Enrique Lorente Ludlow 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. At associate level, Luis Mora y Medrano advises on real estate matters related to the energy segment; he is praised for his ‘great knowledge of the sector’. Associate María José Estrada Suárez left the practice in January 2023.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 4

Recognised for being ‘dedicated to its work and always eager to help’, the team at CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow is known for both its lender and borrower-side capabilities, representing major banks and construction firms (among others), as well as advising on acquisition and leveraged finance and syndicated lending transactions. Practice head Raul Zepeda’s experience encompasses a wide range of transactional and regulatory banking and finance work; Enrique Lorente Ludlow majors on project finance; corporate and project finance specialist Cesar Lechuga Perezanta is ‘committed’ and has an ‘ever-pleasant disposition’; Eduardo Saldaña and Alejandro Perera are the names to note at associate level.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 4

‘Providing efficient advice applicable to the client’s reality’, CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow continues to grow its young practice that now counts three partners and five associates. While continuing to act on transactional matters throughout the energy sector, and -to a lesser degree- in the infrastructure space, the group has significantly diversified its client roster, with recent matters including mandates from the food, media, pharma and gaming sectors. Most notably, it has been active in a range of tech-related mandates ranging from payment platforms to e-learning and secure networks. ‘An outstanding lawyer’, practice head Giancarlo Schievenini demonstrates ‘excellent negotiation skills’, the ‘ability to work under pressure’ and ‘communicate effectively’, along with ‘knowledge of the market’. Schievenini can also call on senior partner (and head of the office’s banking and finance practice) Raul Zepeda, who has longstanding experience in corporate and transactional matters as part of his wider practice. Key support on corporate transactional matters is provided by semi-senior Bruno Triay (corporate law/M&A – ‘very responsible’) and intermediates Sofía Reyes (M&A, corporate law, project finance and infrastructure – ‘organised and meticulous’), and Eduardo Revilla (corporate M&A, real estate and infrastructure); senior associate Gabriel Salinas is also on hand for M&A in the energy sector.

Mexico > Tax Tier 5

In October 2023, the former Escalante & Asociados announced its merger into CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow as the latter continues to broaden its service offering as part of the growth of the international player's regional platform. While it remains to be seen how the combination fares, the new department certainly has proven capability as a stand alone practice. A deeply knowledgeable tax all-rounder, department head Ángel Escalante is characterised as 'being a partner who is particularly attentive to his clients, providing concrete and efficient solutions in short periods of time'. The practice assists with a broad range of tax issues (including capability in the international trade area), with contentious tax matters a particular forte - Escalante can draw on lengthy tax litigation experience, as well as handling audits and mutual agreement procedures. In an advisory capacity, the team excels in the real estate sector, double taxation, digital services, project finance and capital markets related tax matters. Associates Angélica Cacheaux and Gabriel Rojas  provide key support. However, Jorge Díaz Carvajal - who had arrived as a partner in June 2022 from Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC, chose to exit with the merger and has established his own practice.

Latin America: International firms > Projects and energy

CMS  has a large Latin America-based team (across its offices in offices in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru) which undertake local law and English law engagements. The firm enhanced this offering through a cooperation agreement with Brazilian law firm FAS Advogados, in cooperation with CMS in 2023. It has a strong record in energy (including oil and gas, electricity and renewables). In the renewables sector, it has made an impression in solar, wind and green hydrogen. It has also worked on headline infrastructure projects in Mexico, Peru and other jurisdictions; a Mexico City-based team advised Grupo Typsa in connection with the design, construction, and maintenance of  ‘El Tren Maya’, a railway that will traverse the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Rio de Janeiro managing partner Ted Rhodes is an experienced figure in oil and gas, and offshore projects and transactions; he has a growing presence in renewables. Daniel Rodríguez is a notable name in Bogota, along with Derek Woodhouse and Enrique Lorente Ludlow in Mexico City, and Carlos Hamann in Lima.