Partner | Shearman & Sterling
Denise Grant
Partner | Shearman & Sterling
29
Project Development & Finance; Banking & Finance
New York
English
I have a longstanding history in Mexico, having worked on financing transactions in the country for more than two decades. I regularly advise lenders and borrowers on financings involving major Mexican corporates from a wide variety of industries, such as oil and gas, mining and metals, telecommunications, manufacturing and others. Additionally, I have acted as lenders’ counsel for Pemex for 10 years, including having advised on all syndicated financings.
From my perspective, I see no disadvantages in advising Mexico-based clients from the US. With our use of technology and our focus on the country, we have instilled confidence in our Mexican clients and are able to work with them seamlessly and efficiently. We offer them a holistic approach through our own lawyers’ decades of experience and through our international associates program that builds bridges between us and our Mexico-based colleagues.
Additionally, because we have no office in Mexico, we do not compete with local counsel. Instead, we nurture those relationships and are able to work alongside leading lawyers in the country, ensuring we always bring the best teams for whatever our clients’ needs may be.
Given the upheaval in national and global political and economic landscapes, we can expect continuing change within the Mexican market, and are seeing those changes unfold before our very eyes. The Mexican market will be a dynamic one in the year ahead and the ability to nimbly provide legal advice will be key to clients and stakeholders. Despite the major reforms of 2013 – and, in part, because of the abrupt halt of portions of the implementation thereof – key financial and development players will need to be actively involved in the market and keenly aware of each development. As we anticipate a dynamic set of circumstances in the political, social, industrial, financial and macroeconomic arenas, being well-informed and able to “cut through the noise” will be essential to the success of any endeavour. We expect to see more debate in the power and oil and gas sectors, and infrastructure generally, and will continue to pay close attention to, and participate in the dialog surrounding, any new legislation and judicial and executive branch activity.
Legal technology will serve to enhance our already strong ability to work collaboratively and efficiently across borders. Co-counsels will be in a position to work more seamlessly together in a more integrated manner and efforts are already being made at a technological level to work electronically in real time.
Our experience when working with in-house counsel, it is clear that they prioritize: cost-effective and efficient solutions; strong execution; availability and responsiveness; experience-based legal and business knowledge that makes their lives easier.
