DLA Piper Mexico > Mexico City, Mexico > Firm Profile

DLA Piper Mexico > The Legal 500 Rankings

Mexico > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 2

DLA Piper Mexico continues to build out its presence in domestic arbitral matters, where it already demonstrates particular strength in energy sector disputes. The practice is nevertheless perhaps better known for its stellar international arbitration offering, with the Mexico City office acting as a regional hub for the practice, and which is, in turn, a key component of the firm’s global dispute resolution offering. Global head of the firm’s internatioal arbitral practice as well as co-head of the (local) team Kate Brown de Vejar is one of the foremost names in Mexico for international commercial and investment arbitration, practicing US and Australian law. Co-head of the Latin America disputes group, Gabriela Álvarez-Ávila‘s international arbitration practice evidences particularly expertise in disputes relating to investment law and high-stakes’ transactions in infrastructure, banking, energy and TMT. Both partners are currently co-leading on GoldGroup Resources’ case against Mexico under the sunset clauses of the USMCA and NAFTA chapter 11 and arising from the judicial expropriation of the client’s shares in a mining company The practice heads are supported by intermediate associate Irene Cuéllar Araiza, who joined from Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle S.C. in May 2023; and more recent counsel-level hire Juan Pablo Moyano, an April 2024 hire from Holland & Knight. In addition, litigators Antonio Cárdenas and Daniel González Estrada provide valuable advice in matters that have dual arbitration and litigation components.

Mexico > Competition and antitrust Tier 3

Underpinned by its ‘extraordinary strategic capacity in litigation‘, the competition and antitrust practice at DLA Piper Mexico excels on the contentious side of the practice, while also maintaining a robust offering in merger control filing and other transactional issues. Litigator Antonio Cárdenas spearheads the disputes and investigations side of the practice and is recommended by clients as ‘one of the great strategists in administrative litigation‘. Fellow practice co-head Jorge Benejam is a corporate and M&A expert who has notable familiarity with technical and regulatory rules in the life-sciences, telecoms and technology sectors; he also has particular expertise in identifying and analysing potential antitrust risks for M&A transactions. Associate Regina Esparza supports the practice heads across the full spectrum of matters handled by the department.

Mexico > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

DLA Piper Mexico‘s corporate team is well-versed in a range of transactions including public and private M&A, spin-offs, asset sales, corporate restructurings, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. Additional pillars of practice include due diligence, tax planning and corporate governance. Four practitioners share leadership of the group. Office co-director Mauricio Valdespino routinely advises private equity firms and institutional investors on complex M&A transactions; while Álvaro Garza-Galván provides both advisory and transactional support. Diego Martinez, in turn, takes care of corporate finance and debt restructuring transactions; and Jorge Benejam completes the leadership group, specialising in M&A and antitrust matters, with a particular focus on the life science, telecom and tech sectors.

Mexico > Banking and finance Tier 4

DLA Piper Mexico‘s group is well-placed to advise clients on a range of local and cross-border financial transactions, including acquisition financings, refinancing and capitalisations, project finance, asset-based loans, workouts and restructurings. The team routinely represents both lenders and borrowers, acting for a client base that includes domestic and international banks, SOFOMES, and companies in the telecoms, real estate, energy and financial services sectors. The practice group is jointly led by Mexico City office co-head Edgar Romo, who is well-versed in international credit facilities, structured and project finance, and securities offerings; Roberto Ríos, who specialises in project finance and development; and Diego Martinez, who handles banking regulatory matters and securities financings. Associate Javier Pichardini is noted for his work assisting financial institutions and debtor companies with international credit facilities and structured finance. Álvaro Sarmiento, formerly of Kuri Breña, Sánchez Ugarte y Aznar, joined the firm in January 2024.

Mexico > Tax Tier 4

DLA Piper Mexico‘s tax offering continues to go from strength to strength under the stewardship of Guillermo Aguayo, particularly improving its profile for contentious cross-border matters involving the US, where it collaborates closely with its sister offices. Litigation against tax assessment decisions and arbitration claims under NAFTA are among the practice’s slate of contentious work; while on the advisory side, the practice has a strong reputation in tax matters related to cross-border and domestic M&A and corporate reorganisations. Key support is provided by associate Ricardo Mendoza, who regularly assists with audit procedures and tax and administrative litigation. A further differentiator for the team is the presence of lawyer accountants at the associate level, with Jorge Flores being the name to note.

Mexico > TMT Tier 4

Telecoms is the clear strength of DLA Piper Mexico‘s TMT group and it continues to advise major clients on some of the more complex regulatory issues in the market. Along with licences and authorisations, the negotiation of interconnection agreements, and new technology implementation, the practice is also a strong choice for contentious matters in the TMT area, particularly amparo cases. Antonio Cárdenas is an expect in such suits in the sector, but is also an increasingly sought-after advisor on regulatory matters. He co-leads the department with Jorge Benejam, a corporate and M&A partner who dedicates a significant amount of his practice to the TMT sectors. Associate litigator Ana Marietta Rivero frequently supports on contentious matters. September 2023 the practice saw the departure of experienced sector specialist Eduardo Gallastegui, who has opened his own practice.

Mexico > Energy and natural resources Tier 5

DLA Piper Mexico‘s work in the energy sector includes the full range of corporate matters in the oil and gas industry, as well as power generation project development for clients both domestic and multinational. Its experience in the hydrocarbons area includes incorporations in Mexico, upstream natural gas licensing (both onshore and offshore), and significant project financing. The team is jointly led by Roberto Ríos, a financing expert; and Mexico City office co-director, Edgar Romo, whose practice is focused on project financing and the corporate law aspects of energy sector mandates. Former co-leader of the department Marcelo Paramo left the firm in January 2024 for an in-house position.

Mexico > Projects and infrastructure

United States > Dispute resolution > International arbitration

DLA Piper LLP (US)’s international arbitration practice impresses with its ability to ‘greatly capitalize on its international presence’, as evidenced by a recent case list that has seen the team act alongside lawyers in Canada, Colombia and Mexico. The group additionally stands out for its extensive experience in Latin American markets, with a focus on infrastructure, energy and natural resources disputes. Global department co-chair Kate Brown de Vejar splits her practice between New York and Mexico City, where she represents corporations, sovereign states and state-owned enterprises in commercial and investor-state disputes. Also in New York, Kiera Gans is building a strong reputation for investment treaty arbitration.

Latin America: International firms > International arbitration

DLA Piper LLP (US) continues to expand its presence in international arbitration and has a strong weighting towards Latin America cases. Kate Brown de Vejar is co-chair of the firm’s global international arbitration group and is based in Mexico City, where prominent arbitration partner Gabriela Álvarez-Ávila – who previously spent seven years as senior counsel at ICSID – is also located. The firm also has strong teams in Brazil and Peru, particularly for energy and infrastructure cases, is present in Chile, and has a growing team in Colombia. The firm has increased its presence in investor-state disputes, including the enforcement of arbitration awards against Latin American states. Carlos Núñez heads the Latin America international arbitration practice from Lima. Former Bogotá-based practice director Ricardo Alarcón is now a counsel in the México office following the departure of the Colombian office from the DLA network in June 2024.