Mr Giancarlo Schievenini > CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile

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.

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.

‘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.