Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 1

A recognised market authority when it comes to banking and finance transactions, the 'extraordinary' Michell Nader steers the large practice at Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC, which represents a superb list of global banks, financial institutions and corporate clients including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, HSBC, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, Barclays, Banamex, BBVA México, Prudential and Metlife, as well as public bodies such as Banobras and Pemex. Praised for its ‘extreme discipline, seriousness and quality of work’, the group handles the ful range of finance transactions, from structured finance and complex securitizations deals, to leasing, corporate lending, real estate finance -particularly for the hospitality sector- and project financing. In addition, the team has recently seen an increase in fintech-related mandates, be it regulatory work or lending transactions. The practice houses numerous other experienced practitioners, notably: Julián Garza, who has a strong background in banking law and financial regulations; Hans Goebel, whose exepertise takes in banking, banking regulatory, structured finance and capital markets; Javier Arreola (project and asset-backed financing; restructurings) and Yves Hayaux-Du-Tilly (banking, banking regulatory, insurance); Eduardo Villanueva, who has a particular focus on real estate finance; and José Humberto Rocha, who has garnered considerable experience acting on financial transactions for a variety of domestic credit institutions and foreign and international financial organisations. Recent developments saw associate Federico Vergara appointed of counsel in May 2022. Former partner Diego Sanchez Villarreal left in February 2021.

Mexico > Bankruptcy and restructuring Tier 1

Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC houses a ‘highly competent and committed team’, which is well-regarded among clients for ‘always having everything under control and being one step ahead’. The practice is co-led by Michell Nader, who has longstanding expertise leading restructuring and workouts, having advised in numerous US/Mexico cross-border matters; and Javier Arreola, who brings a further 20 years' experience in restructuring and workouts -mainly representing creditors- to the table. Work highlights include advising the ad hoc group of holders of senior notes (due 2025) issued by Aerovías de México (and guaranteed by Grupo Aeromexico), on the Mexican aspects of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings filed by Grupo Aeromexico and its subsidiaries in a NY court; namely on all legal aspects related to Aeromexico’ s bankruptcy proceedings. Fellow partner Adrián López, who has a focus on high-end insolvency matters, is another name to note.

Mexico > Capital markets Tier 1

Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC's highly-reputed practice earns praise for being ‘at the forefront of new ideas/capital structures’, as well as for its ‘high-level of execution when it comes to complex structures, whether public or private, national or transnational’. Market-reference Michell Nader leads the department, which boasts solid knowledge of a broad array of capital markets transactions, from securitisations and structured finance to equity placements, IPOs, tender offers and equity fund leveraged buyouts. Recent work highlights saw Nader lead advice to Total Play Telecomunicaciones on its successful placement of $600m of 6.375% senior notes (due 2028) in the international markets. He works alongside other renowned practitioners in the field, including Hans Goebel, who has a particularly strong expertise in security issuances; Hector Arangua, who focuses on the area of CKDs, private securities placements and cross-border offers; Julian Garza, who specialises in securitisations, equity issuances, CKDs and FIBRAs; Gunter Schwandt, who offers a robust knowledge in CKDs, FIBRAs and securitisations; and Ana Paula Telleria, who handles innovative private placements, CKDs and FIBRAs, and related transactional and regulatory work.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC's corporate practice is recommended for its ‘ability to truly understand what the company wants and provide the specific options to achieve it’. Fronted by market-stalwart Nader Michell, the department assists renowned international and local clients -particularly from the insurance, finance and telecoms sectors- with a broad range of transactionl matters, including M&A, joint ventures, spin-offs and private equity buyouts. The team, which garners additional praise for its ‘great availability and legal knowledge’, houses an enviable roster of talent, including Hans Goebel, who has a focus on M&A and private equity transactions; real estate and finance expert Julián Garza; Yves Hayaux-Du-Tilly, who heads the London office and has a strong specialism in the insurance sector; and Luciano Pérez, who is particularly adept at handling private equity-driven M&A. Associate Miguel Ángel González is another name to note. Recent work highlights include steering the Mexican portion of the acquisition of Sirius Computers Solutions for $2.5bn. Former partner Diego Sanchez Villarreal left in February 2021, while former senior associate José Manuel Zavala was promoted to of counsel in March 2022.

Mexico > Insurance Tier 1

Earning plaudits for its ‘extraordinary understanding of the insurance and reinsurance sector’, Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC's veteran practice group brings over three decades' experiences advising in the Mexican insurance field. At the helm of the team is Yves Hayaux-Du-Tilly, ‘one of the most important insurance experts in Latin America’, who has profound experience in a broad range of matters, including dispute resolution, product development, regulatory and corporate matters, corporate governance and compliance, as well as transactional work. Recent highlights include representing Principal Financial Group in the MX$280m transfer of the insurance portfolio from Principal Seguros to Seguros Banorte. Fellow partner Luciano Pérez, regarded by clients among the ‘best insurance attorneys in Mexico’, handles both contentious and non-contentious insurance matters, including the management of claims, the negotiations of settlements and the analysis of policies and coverage opinions. The practice is further strengthened by a local presence in London. Former senior associate Juan Pablo Sainz moved in-house as deputy general counsel at Global Prametrics in April 2022. Associate Enrique Salcedo is also noted.

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure Tier 1

Undisputed heavyweight Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC garners praise from clients for its ‘deep, 360-degree knowledge of public-private partnerships, with a strong focus on Mexican law, and understanding of the technical and market factors that make a project viable’. As this suggests, the ‘very professional‘ 12-strong practice has inordinate expertise in public-private partnerships, representing lenders, strategic and financial investors, sponsors, sellers and buyers, and numerous Mexican and non-Mexican government entities, including the Mexican Federal Government and several state governments and municipalities. A trio of experienced partners head the team: Javier Arreola Espinosa, who has extensive experience advising lenders on project financing, and sponsors on the structuring of and bidding for projects; Vanessa Franyutti specialises in project finance and public-private partnerships, concessions and other such legal structures, as well as joint venture arrangements, engineering, construction, and operating and management agreements; and Alejandro Rojas, who also has extensive PPP expertise, and has developed a particular niche advising on municipal and state water and lighting projects; he is also knowledgeable about the public health sector, energy, railroad projects, toll roads and port concessions. Additional high-level input and expertise is provided by senior partner Michell Nader and Santiago Medina; while at associate level, José Manuel López Castro is active on the financing aspect of infrastructure projects, including through service contracts, PPPs, project finance, and/or the refinancing and restructuring of public debt of states and municipalities.

Mexico > Real estate Tier 1

Demonstrating 'extensive knowledge of civil law, economic competition and the regulatory issues applicable to industrial real estate projects', Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC fields a 23-strong practice group that is acclaimed for ‘always being one step ahead in a negotiation - it prepares its strategies very precisely’. The full-service practice is deeply experienced in financings as regards real estate projects, along with acquisitions and sales, the creation of foreign investment trusts, infrastructure project development, and the structuring and implementation of time-share and fractional ownership systems, among other matters. Leading the practice, senior partner Michell Nader has a diverse client base in respect to financings, acquisitions and capital markets transactions in the real estate sector. Additional partner level expertise is provided by the 'very practical' Eduardo Villanueva Ortiz  who garners praise since ‘his level of customer service, together with that of his team, is of the highest quality’; he specializes in real estate finance, acquisitions and fund formation, covering the retail, residential, industrial and hospitality sectors. The senior team is completed by VanessaFranyutti, who stands out for her market-leading expertise in the hospitality segment, as well as her focus on the financial aspects of the retail, residential and industrial real estate markets; Alejandro Rojas, who has a broad corporate and finance practice and a particular focus on the hospitality sector; and Javier Arreola and Julián Garza, who provides key support, particularly as regards fund formation. Federico Vergara M (real estate, infrastructure, project finance and banking law) provides key associate support, but former associate Benjamin Torrero left in April 2022 to focus on the development of investment fund Blackburn Capital.

Mexico > Compliance Tier 3

Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC‘s corporate compliance practice group comprises renowned experts from other departments of the firm, including antitrust, corporate M&A, insurance, and tax so as to offer a solid cross-practice service in the matter. Practice co-heads Alejandro Mendiola and Luciano Pérez are highly specialised in antitrust compliance programs and anticorruption matters; and financial regulatory, anti-money laundering, data protection and consumer protection regulation, respectively. Seasoned partners Michell Nader and Yves Hayaux-Du-Tilly bring additional key expertise to the group. Associate Enrique Salcedo is also noted; former fellow associate Juan Pablo Sainz left the firm in April 2022.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 3

Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC's energy practice  is best known for its capabilities in major energy and natural resource investments (including complex financings for renewable energy projects), financings and transactions, spanning the electricity, water, waste-to-energy, and oil and gas segments, and to a lesser extent mining. The 'excellent team', which 'knows the market very well' and 'balances seniority levels appropriately', comprises: Javier Arreola, who specialises in public-private partnerships, and he up-to-the-minute experience of bidding processes and the acquisition, structuring, restructuring and financing of energy projects; and Vanessa Franyutti, also a PPP expert, who focuses primarily on project finance; the pair co-head the practice. Praised for his 'extensive knowledge of the Mexican market and the challenges involved in carrying out an infrastructure project in Mexico', Alejandro Rojas has strong international experience and regularly advises multinational clients on infrastructure and energy projects in Mexico. Completing the senior energy and natural recourses bench, the very active Santiago Medina Z undertakes the structuring and financing of energy and water projects (including through equity or debt), and also has strong expertise in energy regulatory matters and the negotiation of PPA, EPC, and O&M contracts.

Mexico > Tax Tier 3

The tax practice at Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC garners praise form clients for the ‘simplicity and clarity of the team’s proposals to address complex problems’. The practice group is particularly well known for its skills handling tax advisory mandates related to transactions and projects, including capital markets and M&A transactions. ‘Genius’ Adalberto Valadez steers the practice, and brings to bear his experience advising public entities and private companies on federal tax implications relating to their operations in Mexico, focusing primarily on federal income tax and international tax, particularly in connection with cross-border M&A, joint ventures and in-bound investments. Ana Paula Pardo joined the team in July 2021; her expertise includes transactions, tax audits, tax and estate planning, and transfer pricing consulting, while her arrival will notably boost the practice’s capacity. Associate Iliana García handles both transactional matters and representation before relevant authorities.

Mexico > TMT Tier 3

The ‘very responsive and knowledgeable’ TMT practice at Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC is known for handling corporate and finance transactions in the telecoms and broadcasting sectors, as well as in the satellite industry, with ongoing clients such as Eutelsat (Satélites Mexicanos), who instructs the group regarding corporate, regulatory and transactional matters. Regulatory mandates such as securing authorisations from the Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (Ifetel), are also part of the practice group’s offering. Julián Garza, who enjoys a solid reputation for his work in variety of corporate, financial and regulatory matters in the sector, and senior partner Michel Nader, co-lead the practice. Fellow partner Gunter Schwandt is also active in the sector, primarily as regards corporate and finance matters, but also on the regulatory front, such as his recent advice to Grupo Werthein on its acquisition of digital entertainment services company Vrio Operations from AT&T.

Mexico > Competition and antitrust Tier 4

Well into the fourth year since its launch, Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC‘s practice continues to strengthen its presence in the competition and antitrust sphere, building on a good track record of work in both investigations and merger control. Recent work highlights include representing Bank of America in a cartel investigation, both in terms of the investigation by the antitrust commission and in subsequent litigation to challenge the fine imposed. Alejandro Mendiola, who focuses on merger-control clearances and investigations into abuse of dominance and cartels, as well as developing antitrust compliance programs, is head of the practice; he is closely supported by senior associate Daniella Ramírez, a former director at the FTI. The team was further reinforced with the May 2022 arrival of Gabriel González Aragón –formerly at Gonzalez Calvillo– as of counsel, but also endured the loss of senior associate Cecilia Serrano Hernández the same month. Since research concluded, Ramírez has also left the firm – effective as of September 2022.