Mexico: Transport
According to Business Monitor International’s Mexico Freight Transport Report for the final quarter of 2011, the country’s air freight tonnage will post annual growth of 7.67 per cent to 2015, while the port of Manzanillo (the country’s busiest) will see a 9.11 per cent increase over the same period. In December 2010, the Mexico civil aviation authority was returned to International Civil Aviation Organization category one status, after a temporary downgrade to category two in June of that year, following a US Federal Aviation Administration review of its safety standards. These are optimistic times for Mexico’s transport bar, and the 11 lawyers we list below constitute the sector’s leading lights.
Abogados Sierra y Vazquez SC is the best-recognised firm in this chapter, fielding both name partners. A former in-house counsel of Mexicana Airlines, Carlos Sierra is “very well known and respected” for his work advising clients in complex aircraft leasing and financing transactions as well as representing them in default, bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings. Antonio Vázquez is a “recognised authority” in civil and corporate law and foreign investment transactions as well as a “first-rate” litigator and arbitrator.
At Ritch Mueller SC, Octavio Olivo Villa is praised for his work in insolvency, restructuring and default proceedings involving Mexican airlines, having recently acted for Aviacsa and Compañía Mexicana de Aviación, and also comes “highly recommended” for his work in leasing, M&A and joint venture transactions.
Juan Carlos Machorro C of Santamarina y Steta SC is renowned for his work in M&A, projects and infrastructure development matters and is “nationally recognised” for his aircraft financing expertise.
Manuel García Pimentel Caraza represents his own firm and earns praise from respondents to our survey for his “world-class” knowledge of insurance law.
José Raz-Guzmán is a “leading name” in aircraft leasing transactions, with extensive experience in banking and finance law, and he represents Mijares Angoitia Cortés y Fuentes SC in these pages.
David Enríquez heads the maritime and offshore energy practice at Goodrich Riquelme y Asociados and sources hailed his seaport regulation, transport, commercial contracts, dumping and competition work as “excellent”.
Garza Tello y Asociados fields name partner and “disputes expert” Enrique Garza, who focuses his practice on shipping and insurance matters and has acted for numerous national and international companies in matters related to accidents in Mexico.
Jose Walterio Pinedo Rivas is founder and managing partner of Pinedo Abogados and a specialist in admiralty law with “extensive experience” in commercial litigation and transactions, encompassing casualty matters, environmental and offshore issues and financing deals.
Yves Hayaux-Du-Tilly represents Nader Hayaux y Goebel, where his corporate, transactional and financing expertise and “great international outlook” earn him a “superb reputation” among respondents to our survey.
Javier Alegre of Alegre Calderón y Márquez comes “highly recommended” for his work counselling clients in the aviation sector.