Mexico: Mergers & Acquisitions
Our research reveals a trend towards fragmentation among law firms in the Mexican corporate bar, with a high number of partners setting up their own practices As US companies expand their presence in the country through trade and investment, Mexico is forecasted to experience four per cent growth for 2011-2012. However, a general slowdown is expected by the end of this year, so lawyers expect restructurings to continue providing the bread and butter work. This year we feature 45 lawyers in the chapter.
With six listings, Galicia Abogados SC enjoys the biggest representation in the M&A section. Manuel Galicia is the founding partner of the firm and has a leading reputation in the country for his work with insurance companies, brokerage firms, banks and other financial institutions. He assists on high-yield issuances, debt and equity swaps and corporate issues relating to joint ventures, M&A transactions and strategic alliances and is “first tier”. Alongside him is Alejandro de la Borbolla, a corporate lawyer who works in banking, finance and M&A and is considered “very good on M&A financing”. Christian Lippert is “very good on M&A-related competition matters” and securities, as is Ignacio Pesqueira, who has a “solid reputation” and an established practice representing clients in competition law matters before the Mexican commission and shareholders in takeover disputes. The “top-tier” Arturo Perdomo concentrates on capital markets, M&A and project finance. He has broad experience working on mergers and joint ventures involving Mexican financial institutions and international creditors and debtors. José Visoso’s practice centres on financing and M&A. His clients are primarily energy and natural resources companies. He represents public, private and federal entities and is “well regarded”.
Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez SC also makes an impressive showing in the chapter with five inclusions. Carlos Creel Carrera is “highly thought of” for his work advising public and private companies on corporate governance and cross-border ventures and alliances. Jean Michel Enriquez Dahlhaus is “top tier” and has an impressive client list, including Financiera Independencia, Southern-Cross Group, Hoteles City Express and Consorcio Aeromexico, advising on acquisitions, investments and sales. Similarly, Luis Gerardo Garcia Santos Coy provides both M&A and private equity expertise for local and foreign clients. He acts as counsel for Groupe Danone, Onex Corporation and Oaktree Capital Management, Home Depot and Merril Lynch, among others. He advises on major acquisitions, mergers and pre-merger procedures. Samuel García-Cuéllar is “very active” and “among the top in the firm” for his work assisting major corporations on mergers, privatisations and alliances of domestic entities. He has worked with the Mexican government in the privatisation of the national telecommunications provider. He has also worked on major acquisitions involving BAT industries, Pepsi Bottling Group and Vodaphone Group. Alfonso Garcia-Mingo provides tax, foreign investment issues and labour advice for domestic and foreign investors during takeovers, mergers and corporate ventures. He has worked for Tyco Group and Kohlberg and Partners in a number of large acquisition deals in Latin America.
Equally well represented is Mijares Angoitia Cortés y Fuentes SC. Leading lawyer, Horacio M de Uriarte has broad experience in corporate, M&A and securities deals, as does Francisco Fuentes, who worked on Televisa’s intended merger with Nextel and has represented NYSE listed Grupo Casa Saba in a US$637 million acquisition. Ricardo Maldonado-Yáñez holds prominent positions and advises on some of Mexico’s leading corporate boards. He is “a first choice” for transactional work and considered to be the “go-to guy at the firm”. Pablo Mijares Ortega received a lot of nominations from peers and is seen as “a top ranking M&A lawyer” in his country. He advises all companies on structured finance, alliance strategies and divestitures. Patricio Trad Cepeda is highly praised as a “committed professional”, particularly in the area of equity and debt, tenders, acquisitions, buyouts and joint ventures.
Head of the Mexican disputes practice at White & Case LLP, Juan Pablo Rico Caso focuses on assisting and advocating for domestic entities in their financing transactions, regulatory compliance matters and debt concerns. The highly recommended Eugenio Sepúlveda is the head of the Monterrey office and concentrates on the financial implications of corporate mergers and acquisitions, with a particular emphasis in the real estate sector. Managing partner of the Mexico City office, Alberto Sepúlveda Cosío’s work centres on banking alliances and regulatory matters. He is “an undoubted inclusion”.
At Barrera Siqueiros y Torres Landa SC, founding partner Eduardo Siqueiros T is a “well-known” practitioner with a wide expertise covering domestic and international matters, for which he is considered a “great talent”. Juan Francisco Torres-Landa is “internationally renowned” and receives praise for his mergers and acquisitions work, with an emphasis on the natural resources and real estate sectors. Carlos Ramos Miranda also combines his M&A practice with that of natural resources and his work is “highly rated” according to our research.
At González Calvillo SC, Enrique González Calvillo is internationally “respected and well known” for his corporate and dispute resolution practice. He is joined by José Victor Torres Gómez, who is “highly regarded” by clients and peers. He has been involved in major workouts for entities such as PEMEX, GICSA and Qualcomm. Jorge Cervantes Trejo is a “rainmaker” in the M&A field and represents international clients on corporate finance, mergers and joint ventures.
At Santamarina y Steta SC, Tijuana team leader Aarón Levet V features prominently and his financing knowledge is “first rate”. Juan Carlos Machorro C is a “well-known name” for M&A in the natural resources and mining sectors where he is “one of the best at the firm”. In Monterrey, Jorge Barrero Stahl is a prominent name: his practice is largely traditional M&A for the automotive, internet and technology industries, advising on investments and expansion.
Michell Nader Schekaiban of Nader Hayaux y Goebel has “superior legal knowledge” in the corporate field. He has a strong practice advising on infrastructure projects and acquisitions and is “very well known and experienced in the Mexican market in this area”. Hans Goebel Caviedes represents major banks and institutions on financings, restructurings, capital ventures and alliances.
From Ritch Mueller SC, Luis Nicolau “is definitely recommended” and “stands out” for his practice assisting foreign financial institutions and corporate entities. He has represented the Mexican Stock Exchange, Arca Bottling Company and Santander. Rodrigo Conesa Labastida features in M&A where he is widely considered to be an “expert” on real estate financings and acquisitions.
Kuri Breña Sánchez Ugarte y Aznar SC boasts two listings in this practice area. Founding partner, Daniel Kuri Breña Romero works for clients on restructuring, finance, securities and M&A law and his fellow partner, Jesus Sánchez Ugarte focuses on foreign investment and M&A deals for high-tech companies. He is a “definite” inclusion.
Daniel Del Río of Basham Ringe y Correa SC “plays an important role in the practice and management of the firm” while maintaining a “recognised M&A practice”. At Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle LLP, Santiago Corcuera-Cabezut’s practice focuses on corporate law, finance and securities, corporate governance and international contracts. He advises on private equity investments in Mexican companies, regulatory implications and corporate governance compliance.
Luis Rubio Barnetche of Greenberg Traurig LLP is a “good and active” lawyer in the field of divestitures, M&A transactions, joint ventures and cross-border trade. He provides advice to automotive, mobile, technology and satellite operators, including Satmex, General Electric and Chrysler,
“Senior statesman” Alberto Sepúlveda de la Fuente enjoys an active practice and is highly rated.
Antonio Franck of Haynes and Boone LLP is a “very respectable” inclusion for the chapter. His notable deals have included advising on the structuring and financing of electric energy projects, assisting on the incorporation of Banco Aztec among other credit institutions and the placement in the Mexican Stock Market of bonds for Coppel, SA de CV and Banco Compartamos, SA.
Thomas Heather of Heather & Heather is “very well recognised” for his experience and knowledge and his representation of clients such as the Mexican International Air Transport Association, the domestic bakery group Bimbo, and glass producer Vitro. From Jáuregui y Navarrete SC, founding partner and chairman, Miguel Jáuregui Rojas is a “rainmaker”. He specialises in M&A matters relating to the telecommunications, energy, infrastructure, real estate and estate planning industries.
At Martínez Algaba de Haro Curiel y Galván-Duque, Carlos Galván Duque C combines his project finance practice with his corporate experience to provide due diligence and procedural assistance on major deals. At Robles Miaja Abogados, the “top-tier” Rafael Robles Miaja is the founding partner and a leading M&A and finance lawyer with a broad experience in the securities and capital markets arena. He is considered to be “one of the best in Mexico” and has earned a notable reputation for his corporate work.
At Sánchez DeVanny Esseverri SC, Jorge Mario Sánchez-DeVanny has a wealth of experience advocating on behalf of multinationals in cross-border, investment, governance and procurement issues for entities who operate in Mexico. He is a “doyen” of the Mexican bar. At Thompson & Knight LLP, Miguel de Erice has advised the Mexican government and major corporations on their cross-border transactions and mergers relating to public infrastructure and energy projects.