Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018 – GC Powerlist

Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

  • Industries

  • Powerlist

Adam Brenneman

Partner | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 11 Principal practice areas: Energy, aviation, bankruptcy and restructuring, capital markets Admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish One of the most promising up-and-coming US...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Adrian Talamantes

Partner | Morgan Lewis

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 28 Principal practice areas: Corporate, finance and investment management, energy transactions Bar admissions: Mexico, Texas Languages spoken: English and Spanish Mexican-born, Adrian Talamantes has deep experience...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Alan Sakar Azuara

Special legal consultant | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 7 Principal practice areas: Projects and energy, project finance, M&A Bar admissions: Mexico, New York, District of Columbia (special legal consultant) Languages spoken: English and Spanish...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Alejandro Gonzalez Lazzeri

Partner | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 16 Principal practice areas: Banking, corporate finance, project finance Bar admissions: New York, Mexico Languages spoken: English and Spanish ‘Very hardworking, technically very sound and well-connected...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Alexandro M. Padrés

Partner | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: Project development and finance Bar admissions: New York, United Mexican States Languages spoken: English and Spanish Active on projects spanning conventional power,...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Allan T. Marks

Partner | Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 27 Principal practice areas: Project, energy and infrastructure finance; M&A Bar admissions: California Languages spoken: English and Spanish A member of Milbank’s project, energy and infrastructure...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Alvaro Mestre

Partner and chair of Mexico desk | Squire Patton Boggs

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: Compliance, cross-border M&A, global project development Admissions: District of Columbia, Maryland Languages spoken: English and Spanish Alvaro J. Mestre is a partner...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Alyssa Grikscheit

Partner | Sidley Austin

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: Alternative investment funds, private equity, M&A Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, French and Spanish The largest US law firm without...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Antonia E. Stolper

Partner; regional managing partner for the Americas | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 29 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, finance, compensation, governance and ERISA Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Shearman & Sterling’s regional managing partner...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Antonio del Pino

Partner; co-chair of Latin America practice | Latham & Watkins

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 23 Principal practice areas: M&A, private equity, projects and energy Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Co-chair of Latham & Watkins’s Latin America...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Antonio Peña

Shareholder | Greenberg Traurig

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 18 Principal practice areas: Corporate, finance, M&A Bar admissions: Florida, Mexico Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish A shareholder at Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office, Antonio Peña...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Armando Rivera Jacobo

Counsel | Debevoise & Plimpton

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 16 Principal practice areas: Corporate, finance Bar admissions: New York, Mexico Languages spoken: English and Spanish Armando Rivera Jacobo is a counsel based in the New...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Arturo Carrillo

Partner | Paul Hastings LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 21 Principal practice areas: Corporate finance, capital markets and M&A Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, Italian and Spanish With a broad and diverse practice...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Augusto Ruiloba

Associate | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 12 Principal practice areas: Project development, project finance Bar admissions: New York, Peru Languages spoken: English and Spanish Augusto Ruiloba is native Spanish-speaking associate in the...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Bernardo Piereck

Partner | Dechert

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 10 Principal practice areas: Corporate, corporate governance, energy and natural resources, life sciences, M&A and private equity Bar admissions: District of Colombia, Virginia Languages spoken: English...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Bob Kartheiser

Partner; chair of energy and infrastructure practice | Paul Hastings LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 25 Principal practice areas: Energy and infrastructure, project development and finance, corporate/M&A Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, French, Portuguese and Spanish For the last...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Boris Dolgonos

Partner | Jones Day

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 23 Principal practice areas: Capital markets Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, French and Russian Boris Dolgonos has over 20 years’ experience advising issuers and...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Boyd G. Carano

Partner | Vinson & Elkins

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 33 Principal practice areas: Energy transactions and projects Bar admissions: California, District of Columbia, New York, Texas Languages spoken: English Houston-based Boyd Carano is a member...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Brian Bradshaw

Partner | Sidley Austin

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 23 Principal practice areas: Energy, M&A Bar admissions: Texas, New York, England and Wales (Solicitor) Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish A new recruit to Sidley...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Carlos Viana

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Acquisition finance, bank finance, project finance Bar admissions: Florida, New York Languages spoken: English, French and Spanish Carlos Viana is at the...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Carlos E. Martinez

Partner; head of the Latin America practice group | Proskauer Rose LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 31 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, finance, M&A, private equity Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish Carlos Martinez is a partner and...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Carlos Solé

Partner; co-chair of Latin America practice | Baker Botts

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: Projects and energy, M&A, corporate finance Bar admissions: Texas Languages spoken: English and Spanish Houston-based Carlos Solé co-chairs Baker Botts’ Latin America...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Carlos T. Albarracín

Partner | Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 19 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, finance Bar admissions: New York, Argentina Languages spoken: English, Spanish and Portuguese (conversant) Argentine native Carlos Albarracín advises domestic and...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Carlos von der Heyde

Partner | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 17 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, M&A, debt restructuring Bar admissions: New York, Argentina, Spain Languages spoken: English, French (proficient) and Spanish With particular experience in...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Carolina Walther-Meade

Partner | Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Energy finance, infrastructure finance, project finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish Carolina Walther-Meade lived and went to...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Chantal Kordula

Partner | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Acquisition finance, leveraged finance, M&A, project finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, French and Spanish A leader in Mexico M&A...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Christian Hansen

Partner; regional section head of the Americas energy, infrastructure, project and asset finance division | White & Case

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 27 Principal practice areas: Asset financing, banking, corporate M&A and private equity Bar admissions: Florida, New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish In 1991, White &...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Christopher Cross

Partner; co-chair of the oil-and-gas industry group | Latham & Watkins

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: M&A, private equity, projects and energy Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English With experience in dozens of developing markets across Africa,...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Christopher Erckert

Partner; head of global finance and banking practice | Mayer Brown

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 29 Principal practice areas: Banking and finance, capital markets; corporate and securities, M&A and private equity Bar admissions: District of Columbia, New York Languages spoken: English,...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Christopher Mann

Partner; coordinator of global infrastructure practice | Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 27 Principal practice areas: Corporate, finance and M&A Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish As designated underwriters’ counsel for frequent issuer the...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Daniel Ganitsky

Partner | Proskauer Rose LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 19 Principal practice areas: M&A, private equity Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Daniel Ganitsky is a partner in the M&A and Latin...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Daniel D. Bartfeld

Partner; global head of project, energy and infrastructure finance; co-head of Latin America practice | Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: Projects and energy, project finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English Daniel Bartfeld is a partner in the New York office...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

David Penna

Partner | Latham & Watkins

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 16 Principal practice areas: M&A, private equity, projects and energy Bar admissions: New York, District of Columbia Languages spoken: English Based between New York and Washington,...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

David Brinton

Partner | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 33 Principal practice areas: M&A corporate Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English David Brinton has been a partner at Clifford Chance since 1994, specialising in...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

David Mercado

Partner | Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 34 Principal practice areas: Corporate M&A, financings and private equity Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish David Mercado is a partner in Cravath,...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Debora de Hoyos

Global client relationship partner | Mayer Brown

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 40 Principal practice areas: Agribusiness, banking and finance, cybersecurity and data privacy Bar admissions: Illinois Languages spoken: English and Spanish Focusing primarily on lending and emerging...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Denise Grant

Partner | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 29 Principal practice areas: Project development finance Bar admissions: New York, District of Columbia Languages spoken: English Guyana-born Denise Grant counts corporate, acquisition, leveraged and project...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Dennis Sullivan

Partner | Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 34 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, finance Bar admissions: District of Columbia, New York Languages spoken: English In Mexico, nearly one third of the population is...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Dino Barajas

Partner | Akin Gump

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 25 Principal practice areas: Projects and energy, project finance, M&A Bar admissions: California Languages spoken: English and Spanish A Mexican native with decades of experience in...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Dorina Yessios

Partner | Allen & Overy

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 19 Principal practice areas: Projects and energy, project finance, M&A Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, French (proficient), Greek and Spanish (proficient) The ‘client-oriented’ Dorina...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Doris Rodríguez

Partner | Hunton Andrews Kurth

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 38 Principal practice areas: Projects and energy, project finance, M&A Bar admissions: Texas Languages spoken: English and Spanish Doris Rodríguez has a transactional practice concentrated on...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Fernando Alonso

Partner | Andrews Kurth Kenyon

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 35 Principal practice areas: M&A, private equity, capital markets, corporate finance Bar admissions: District of Columbia, Florida, New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Splitting his...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Francisco Mendez

Partner | Mayer Brown

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 34 Principal practice areas: Energy Bar admissions: Mexico Languages spoken: English and Spanish Prior to joining Mayer Brown as a partner in the firm’s global energy...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Gabriel Mesa

Partner | Covington & Burling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 35 Principal practice areas: Corporate and M&A, private equity, finance, restructuring Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish As well as handling cross-border M&A...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

George Humphrey

Partner | Orrick

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: M&A and private equity, energy, infrastructure, renewable energy, banking and finance Bar admissions: Texas, Florida Languages spoken: English and Spanish Another key...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Glenn Pinkerton

Partner | Sidley Austin

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 32 Principal practice areas: Energy, M&A, private equity, project finance and infrastructure Bar admissions: Texas Languages spoken: English Texan energy lawyers have been among the big...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Gregory Tan

Partner; global head of the project development and finance group | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 23 Principal practice areas: Project finance, projects and energy, M&A Bar admissions: New York, England and Wales, Hong Kong Languages spoken: English Gregory Tan is global...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Grissel Mercado

Partner | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Practice areas: Capital markets Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Grissel Mercado is a partner in Shearman & Sterling’s capital markets group where she advises issuers and...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Howard Kleinman

Partner | Dechert

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 27 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, corporate and M&A Bar admissions: New York, New Jersey Languages spoken: English and Spanish Howard Kleinman is a partner in...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Humberto Padilla Gonzalez

Partner | Morgan Lewis

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 17 Principal practice areas: M&A, corporate, finance and investment management, private equity, white collar litigation and government investigations Bar admissions: Mexico, New York, Texas Languages spoken:...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

J. Allen Miller

Partner; co-chair of the Latin America practice | Winston & Strawn

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 39 Principal practic areas: Corporate, capital markets Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Co-chair of Winston & Strawn’s Latin America practice, Allen Miller...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Jaime Ramirez

Partner | Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 11 Principal practice areas: Energy and infrastructure, project finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Jaime Ramirez is a partner in the New...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Jake Farquharson

Partner | Clifford Chance

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 15 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, M&A, corporate finance Bar admissions: New York, Massachusetts Languages spoken: English and Spanish Jake Farquharson is a corporate and securities...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Jeffrey Chester

Partner; global head of project finance | Morrison & Foerster

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 37 Principal practice areas: Project finance, renewable energy and clean technologies, energy regulatory, M&A and private equity investment and buyouts Bar admissions: California Languages spoken: English...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Jim Dowden

Partner; co-coordinator anti-corruption practice | Ropes & Gray

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 17 Principal practice areas: Litigation and enforcement, anti-corruption and international risk Bar admissions: Massachusetts Languages spoken: English A member of Ropes & Gray’s litigation and enforcement...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

John R. Vetterli

Partner; regional section head of the Americas for capital markets division | White & Case

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 21 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, M&A and finance (particularly in relation to oil and gas) Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Jorge U. Juantorena

Partner | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 26 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, corporate governance, M&A, joint ventures, finance Bar admissions: New York, California Languages spoken: English and Spanish (native) Jorge Juantorena is...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Jose Valera

Partner and member of global energy group | Mayer Brown

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 31 Principal practice areas: Energy projects Bar admissions: Louisiana, Texas, Peru (inactive) Languages spoken: English, French and Spanish Corporate and energy specialist José Valera was a...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

José F. Sanchez

Partner | Sidley Austin

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 26 Principal practice areas: White collar: government litigation and investigations Bar admissions: California, US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, US District Court (ED, ND, SD, CD)...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Joy K. Gallup

Partner | Paul Hastings LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 25 Principal practice areas: Finance, corporate, alternative lender and private credit Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Joy Gallup is a partner in...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Juan F. Méndez

Partner | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 18 Principal practice areas: Cross-border corporate finance, M&A Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Juan Francisco Méndez is a partner at Simpson Thacher...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Ken Cullota

Partner; leader of global transactions practice | King & Spalding

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 33 Principal practice areas: Energy and infrastructure projects, private equity, M&A and financial services Bar admissions: Texas Languages spoken: English, French, German and Spanish Seasoned practitioner...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Kenneth Irvin

Partner | Sidley Austin

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: Energy, M&A, securities and derivatives enforcement and regulatory Bar admissions: District of Columbia, New York, US Supreme Court, US Court of Federal...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Lewis Cohen

Partner | Hogan Lovells

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 32 Principal practice areas: Asset finance, aviation finance, derivatives and structured products, securitisation, structured finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English Hogan Lovells’ finance partner...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Malcolm Montgomery

Partner | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Principal practice areas: Real estate finance, leveraged finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English Malcolm Montgomery’s wide involvement at a leadership level within Shearman & Sterling sees him head...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Manuel Garciadiaz

Partner | Davis Polk

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Corporate, capital markets, leveraged finance Bar admissions: New York, São Paulo (Foreign Legal Consultant) Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish A partner...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Manuel Rajunov

Shareholder | Greenberg Traurig

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: M&A, tax, real estate, IP Bar admissions: Mexico, Registered foreign legal consultant in Texas Languages spoken: English, Spanish and Hebrew Manuel Rajunov...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Manuel Vera

Partner, foreign legal consultant | Bracewell

Private Practice

Principal practice areas: Projects and energy, M&A, corporate finance Bar admissions: Mexico, Texas (foreign legal constultant) Languages spoken: English, Spanish As a lawyer licensed in Mexico, Houston-based Manuel Vera represents...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

María Luisa Cánovas

Partner | Jones Day

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: Cross-border M&A, financings Bar admissions: New York, Madrid Languages spoken: English, French, Portuguese (working knowledge) and Spanish (native). Dual-trained as both an...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Maurice Blanco

Partner | Davis Polk

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 18 Principal practice areas: Corporate, capital markets, leveraged finance Bar admissions: New York, São Paulo (Foreign Legal Consultant) Languages spoken: English, French and Spanish Maurice Blanco...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Michael L. Fitzgerald

Partner and chair of Latin American practice | Paul Hastings LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 38 Principal practice areas: Banking, capital markets, corporate finance, M&A Admissions: New York Languages spoken: English Michael Fitzgerald’s reputation for, and track record in, innovative and...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Miguel Zaldivar

Partner | Hogan Lovells

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 32 Principal practice areas: Finance, infrastructure, energy and projects Bar admissions: District of Columbia, New York and Venezuela Languages spoken: English, Italian and Spanish Miguel Zaldivar...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Nicholas Berg

Partner | Ropes & Gray

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 13 Principal practice areas: Anti-corruption/international risk, government investigations, litigation Bar admissions: Illinois, US Court of Appeals (Sixth Circuit) Languages spoken: English and Spanish A white-collar crime...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Nicolas Grabar

Partner | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 34 Principal practice areas: Capital markets Bar admissions: New York, Paris Languages spoken: English, French, Portuguese and Spanish Nicolas Grabar’s practice focuses on international capital markets...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Pablo Ferrante

Partner; co-head of the Latin America corporate and M&A group | Mayer Brown

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 20 Principal practice areas: Corporate and securities (with a particular focus on the energy sector) Bar admissions: New York, Argentina Languages spoken: English and Spanish In...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Paola Lozano

Partner | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: M&A, Private equity Bar admissions: New York, Columbia Languages spoken: English and Spanish New York-based M&A partner Paola Lozano serves as head...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Paul O’Hop

Partner | Squire Patton Boggs

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 29 Principal practice areas: International business transactions, infrastructure development and finance Admissions: District of Columbia Languages spoken: English and Spanish Paul O’Hop has been active in...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Pedro Reyes

Of counsel | Paul Hastings

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 15 Principal practice areas: Corporate, capital markets, finance, restructuring Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Of counsel Pedro Reyes is an up-and-coming name...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Raquel Bierzwinsky

Partner | Norton Rose Fulbright

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 19 Principal practice areas: International finance, M&A, project development and finance Bar admissions: Mexico, New York Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish (native) Trilingual in English,...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Richard Puttré

Partner; head of projects and infrastructure practice and leader of Latin American transactional group | Jones Day

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 26 Principal practice areas: Banking, finance and securities, projects and infrastructure, energy Bar admissions: Florida, New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Rich Puttré has more...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Richard C Lorenzo

Partner, office managing partner (Miami) | Hogan Lovells

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Main industries covered: Energy and natural resources, telecommunications Practice areas: Cross-border disputes, litigation, arbitration Bar admissions: Florida Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish Recognised by...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Richard Cooper

Partner | Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 30 Principal practice areas: Bankruptcy and restructuring, finance, M&A, private equity Bar admissions: New York, US Court of Appeals (First Circuit), US Supreme Court Languages spoken:...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Roderick O. Branch

Partner | Latham & Watkins

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 17 Principal practice areas: Capital markets Bar admissions: Illinois, New York Languages spoken: English, French, Italian and Spanish Roderick Branch is a partner in the corporate...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Roderick O. Branch

Partner | Latham & Watkins

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 17 Principal practice areas: Capital markets Bar admissions: Illinois, New York Languages spoken: English, French, Italian and Spanish Roderick Branch is a partner in the corporate...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Rodrigo Dominguez

Partner and co-head of Latin America practice | Orrick

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 15 Principal practice areas: M&A and private equity Bar admissions: Mexico, Texas, New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Houston-based Rodrigo Dominguez Sotomayor serves as co-head...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Roland Estevez

Partner | Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 15 Principal practice areas: Projects and energy, project finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish To his clients, Roland Estevez stands out for...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Rubén Kraiem

Partner | Covington & Burling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 37 Principal practice areas: M&A, corporate finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish Noted for his experience in the life sciences, banking and...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Sabrena Silver

Partner; co-head of the firm’s Mexico working group | White & Case

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: Acquisition finance, asset-based facilities, debt restructurings, private equity, structured finance and trade finance Bar admissions: District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Sergio Galvis

Partner; head of the Latin America practice; Spanish practice group coordinator and member of the firm’s management committee | Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 33 Principal practice areas: Equity and debt capital markets, FCPA and anti-corruption, leveraged finance and lending, M&A Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English Throughout his...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Steven Otillar

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: M&A, project development and project finance Admissions: England and Wales, Texas Languages spoken: English and Spanish Steven Otillar advises clients seeking to...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Stuart Fleischmann

Partner | Shearman & Sterling

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 36 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, structured finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English Over the course of more than three decades, Stuart Fleischmann has...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Taisa Markus

Partner | White & Case

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 31 Principal practice areas: Cross-border banking and finance, cross-border securities offerings, M&A, restructurings and securities Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Thais Garcia

Partner | Clifford Chace

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 10 Principal practice areas: M&A corporate Bar admissions: Madrid, New York Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish Regarded by clients as a ‘great transactional lawyer’ who...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Thomas Malone

Partner | Latham & Watkins

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 12 Practice areas: M&A, Private equity Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English Part of Latham’s hugely impressive Mexico-focused private equity team, Thomas Malone has acted...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Todd Alexander

Partner | Norton Rose Fulbright

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 24 Principal practice areas: Corporate, M&A, finance and securities (primarily in relation to the energy sector) Bar admissions: District of Columbia, New York Languages spoken: English...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Todd Crider

Partner; co-head of Latin America practice | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 27 Principal practice areas: Capital markets, M&A, private equity, project finance Bar admissions: Connecticut, New York Languages spoken: English, French, Portuguese and Spanish Todd Crider is...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Ulises Pin

Partner | Morgan Lewis

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 22 Principal practice areas: TMT, bankruptcy and restructuring, M&A, privacy and cybersecurity, international trade and national security Bar admissions: District of Columbia, Mexico and New York...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Vera de Gyarfas

Partner | King & Spalding

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 25 Principal practice areas: Energy and infrastructure projects, corporate governance and M&A Bar admissions: Texas Languages spoken: English, Portuguese and Spanish Venezuelan-born and trained, Vera de...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Vera Rechsteiner

Partner | Hunton Andrews Kurth

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 33 Principal practice areas: Projects and energy, project finance, M&A Bar admissions: District of Columbia, Maryland Languages spoken: English, French, German and Spanish A veteran of...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Veronica Rodriguez

Associate | Paul Hastings

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 13 Principal practice areas: Corporate, capital markets, finance Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish An impressive New York-based associate, Veronica Rodriguez is a...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

Vijaya Palaniswamy

Partner | Linklaters

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 15 Principal practice areas: Projects Bar admissions: New York Languages spoken: English, French and Tamil One of Linklater’s star young partners, Vijaya Palaniswamy was promoted to...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

William Candelaria

Partner | DLA Piper

Private Practice

Number of years practice: 23 Principal practice areas: Cross-border finance Bar admissions: California, New York Languages spoken: English and Spanish William Candelaria joined DLA Piper’s New York office from Curtis,...

#GCPowerlist Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico 2018

For over 30 years, The Legal 500 has been analysing the capabilities of law firms around the world. Over the last five, we have expanded our legal analysis to include corporate counsel, again, on a global scale. This has been reflected in our GC Powerlist series, recognising the leading corporate counsel in a number of markets. Most recently, we have begun the development of the Private Practice Powerlist, in which The Legal 500 has sought to focus upon key individual practitioners with outstanding expertise in, and knowledge of, particular jurisdictions. …read more

With this second edition of Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico we highlight the leading US-based counsel active in the Mexican market today, consolidating our engagement with a critical market that, given that the broader political context, has only grown in importance over the last 12 months. Frankly, the US-Mexico focus is more relevant than ever and many of the lawyers named here have already played a crucial role in ameliorating what appeared likely – until very recently – to be an abrupt re-calibration of bi-national relations, most notably in the area of trade.

Future editions the Private Practice Powerlist will, in a similar manner, seek to identify key specialists in relation to other significant jurisdictions. Specifically, in relation to the Americas, and given the central role of the US in so much of the hemisphere’s legal and economic activity, we foresee further bi-national editions.

Research of the Private Practice Powerlist has involved the canvassing of opinion from law firm partners and in-house counsel alike, as well as analysis of the career trajectories of the candidates considered for inclusion. Throughout, we have looked to identify practitioners with an engagement that goes beyond occasional involvement. In the undoubtedly complex process of bilateral re-accommodation occurring under the current US administration (and which looks set to face further challenges during the next Presidential sexenio in Mexico), it is to this group of lawyers that we can look for the expertise to ensure the minimisation of the impact of this transformation. As such, they will be crucial in ensuring the continuity of bi-national business integration developed over the 20-plus years since the enactment of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, as well as the identification and exploitation of the opportunities this period of change will undoubtedly generate.

Our team of experienced researchers has assessed the candidates, analysing both current practice and historical data to confirm the inclusion of individual practitioners. The Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico not only highlights the work of those who made the final list (when such details were publishable), but also includes future-facing commentary, indicating which legal and industrial sectors are likely to remain active or indeed develop further in the new bi-national context.

Tim Girven
Editor, The Legal 500 Latin America

González Calvillo, S.C.

González Calvillo, S.C. logo

Were we wrong? To varying degrees, admittedly yes. Last year, while writing our business message for the very first Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico, we largely anticipated a highly challenging 2017 for the Mexican economy, with potential collateral damage to the legal industry in our country. Our core message back then was the old adage ‘adapt or die’; and adapt it seems has been the overwhelming response by the leading firms in Mexico to an increasingly competitive and uncertain economic landscape. Unexpectedly, I guess, we are delighted to report that 2017 was record-breaking across the board for all major law firms in our country, in terms of headcount growth, revenue and profits. We continue to receive consistently optimistic reports from our colleagues north of our border, which is precisely from where the list of lawyers in this book is selected.

But this is 2018, and new challenges test Mexico’s future. While global political instability continues to play a key role in shaping our economy, this year the foremost element of uncertainty is homegrown: the presidential and accompanying congressional elections. Experts coincide in that the country has never been faced with a more polemic roster of candidates standing for election for the next six-year term. The controversial field includes populism, socialism, right-wingers combined with leftists backing the same candidate, and ultimately a whole plethora of formulas unheard of in the past; perhaps not the optimal platform to persuade the world that Mexico is maintaining the trend of a political project able to afford stability and constancy to business investments. Other elements of financial disruption include the tax reform in the United States – which will inevitably require adjustments in Mexico if we are to remain competitive – and the fact that the renegotiation of NAFTA, at least at the time of this writing, has yet to be concluded.

We thus find ourselves once again, as legal advisors, confronted with continuously changing business and regulatory environments that will significantly affect decision-making demands by clients. It is in this context that those lawyers and their firms who continue to participate directly and indirectly in Mexico will be required to play the same critical role they have for so long, and one that increasingly requires the use of common sense, adaptability, collaboration and even a dose of humanity.

González Calvillo, S.C. has, once again, the honour of working together with The Legal 500 in sponsoring this Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico. Congratulations to those individuals that, after very serious research, have been selected as stand-out leaders in their cross-border legal work relating to Mexico. We trust they will understand how much their interventions affect infrastructure, trade and investment that reaches Mexicans of all social levels across its entire territory. We hope these renowned individuals realize how important they are, even if their physical desks might be thousands of miles away from where their decisions actually take effect. We are proud to collaborate with these distinguished attorneys and seek to continue to work hand-in-hand with them.

The Legal 500 Medellín Roundtable and Dinner

               On Tuesday 14th of March we were delighted to hold the second Legal 500 GC Roundtable in Medellín, once again in conjunction with Contexto Legal, at the Park 10 Hotel. Despite torrential rain a healthy quorum of GCs – including representatives of Andercol, FANALCO, Alión, Postobón, Grupo Santamaria, Grupo Éxito, Bancolombia and Isagen, among others, turned out to discuss a range of topics arising from the current wave of key reforms being enacted or under discussion in Colombia.

               After words of welcome from Contexto Legal’s managing partner, Guillermo Villegas, the first topic of discussion was a consideration of how companies and businesses were responding to the considerable changes of regulatory and normative frameworks. Given the breadth of areas – tax, mining, labour, social security, health etc. – that these developments are affecting, there was particular consensus around not only the need to grasp the transversal points arising from all these reforms and to approach and respond to them with a singular voice (for example via the ANADE business chamber), but also to have confidence in the independence and resilience of relevant Colombian institutions, the Courts, etc. A valuable additional point was made regarding the need for the business community to reconsider its vocabulary and rhetoric in the ongoing negotiations that will undoubtedly take place as the year proceeds, adjusting to current realities so as to better make its points and ensure its voice as a stakeholder in current debates.

               While the conversation would then touch on how the stresses of these reform processes are affecting GC/Board relations, it was the issue of crisis management – particularly as understood from the GC perspective  – that particularly animated the assembled participants. Crisis management specialist Andrés Gómez (of consultancy ‘Laberinto’), set the frame for the discussion with his definition of a crisis as ‘ a negotiation in which one is obliged to participate but without having any degree of control. Effectively, there is little doubt that the current scenario is one in which the business community is being obligated to participate in just such a negotiation. The conversation ranged across the varying steps that need to be put in place to handle specific emergent crisis – having a media trained figure in place, for example – but the discussion highlighted that many of these steps were beyond the capacities of small-to-medium enterprises which the speed and range of reforms were pushing into crisis with immediate effect. What also increasingly became clear is that communication will be absolutely central to the business community’s collective health in the face of these changes, and that -in general- the extent of its activities on the social front, with communities, etc., as part of ongoing business activities has largely remained unacknowledged. Indeed, the depth and longevity of this social and community welfare activity must be given the prominence it deserves and can also constitute a point of commonality in the discussions to come.

               A fine evening was brought to an end with some measured and well-weighed closing remarks by Contexto Legal partner Gustavo Cruz, whose optimistic realism before the challenges ahead were at once sober but heartening.