Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. houses a leading corporate and M&A team over 40-lawyers’ strong which is lauded for its ‘outstanding experience and knowledge in all areas’. Billed by one client as ‘by far the best M&A team in Mexico’, the practice group is well-equipped to advise on sophisticated M&A transactions involving both publicly and privately-traded companies in regulated and unregulated industries. Domestic and multinational corporations, real estate investment funds, private equity funds, global development institutions and investment banks all feature on its client roster, and recent headline matters include advising Apollo Global Assset Management on the conversion of its DIP loan into an equity interest in Grupo Aeromexico (valued at $1.5bn); and Aimia on the divestiture of a $558m, $48.9% equity stake in loyalty program operator PLM, which thereby becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of the airline. The practice is co-led by seasoned M&A heavyweight Jean Michel Enríquez along with Jorge Montaño, who majors in private equity, venture capital and capital markets transactions. Additional key partners include Eduardo González, who frequently advises private equity firms on follow-on acquisitions and liquidity events; and Humberto Botti, who handles domestic and cross-border acquisitions and divestitures. Providing ‘clear, strategic, tailored solutions, on time… and with a clear 360° vision of the risks and how to mitigate them’, real estate-focused practitioner Carlos del Río and younger M&A partner Diego Barrera comprise ‘a duo the likes of which you are unlikely to find at another firm’. Former practice co-head Iker Arriola, who focuses on M&A, corporate law and antitrust matters, is now resident partner at the firm’s Madrid office, which officially opened its doors in January 2023; while Esteban Valadez (M&A, private equity, joint venture and complex real estate transactions) who was promoted to partner the same month, rounds out the senior bench. A deep associate bench includes seniors Gerardo Zimbrón, who has 15 years’ M&A experience; and Edgar Ancona, who undertakes M&A, PE, joint ventures, minority investments and asset sales. Since publication, Zimbrón has been raised to the partnership and Ancona promoted to counsel - effective as of January 2024.

The ‘outstanding’ corporate team at Galicia Abogados S.C. boasts an impressive track record in the corporate and M&A space. Domestic and cross-border M&A, private equity and strategic investments, joint ventures, buyouts, divestments, and spin-offs are notable strengths. Infrastructure, real estate, energy, financial services, retail, hospitality and telecoms are particular sectors of expertise. Recent headline matters include advising KPS Capital Partners on the $767.4m acquisition of a majority interest in a newly incorporated entity which will hold the primary products division of Tate & Lyle (among other assets); and representing loyalty program operator PLM Premier in the $558m sale by Aimia of its 48.9% equity stake to Aeromexico. The group is co-directed by José Visoso, whose practice centres on M&A, financings and real estate mandates; and Ignacio Pesqueira, who is primarily dedicated to advising private equity funds and companies with capital raising and other corporate finance matters; the pair are also the firm’s co-managing partners. The corporate bench also includes name partner and veteran corporate practitioner Manuel Galicia; Christian Lippert, who in addition to handling M&A, has particular antitrust and compliance expertise; Héctor Kuri, who has niche experience advising on mining transactions; Ramiro Sandoval, in turn noted for his work on real estate mandates; and the ‘first class‘ Ricardo García, who has a notable focus on tech and e-commerce transactions. The group was further strengthened with the notable lateral hire of former Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. corporate practice c0-head Carlos Obregón Rojo in August 2022. At associate level, a strong bench of transactional and corporate all-rounders includes seniors Roxana Schäfer, ‘emerging talent‘ María Fernanda Luna, Mariana Islas, Florent Patoret and Ximena Armengol. In an additional innovative step, the firm has also recruited Enrique Argüello – formerly in-house at Telefónica – as the firm’s own general counsel, effective as of November 2022. Since publication, Patoret has been raised to the parntership - effective as of December 2023.

Fielding a team over 30 lawyers' strong - including no less than 13 partner - the powerhouse practice at Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C. remains a market leader and is highlighted for its ‘incredible service’ advising major multinational corporates, banks, private equity firms and investors involved in high-value, cross-border M&A. With a robust client base spanning such sectors as aviation, real estate, manufacturing, financial services, life sciences and energy, the firm’s comprehensive offering covers matters ranging from stock acquisitions, asset sales and competitive processes, to non-solicited offers and mezzanine investments. The deep partner bench house an array of talent and experience, including: Ricardo Maldonado, who brings over 25 years' experience to M&A, joint ventures and strategic alliance-related matters; capital markets specialist and corproate finance all-rounder Patricio Trad , who has particularly notable M&A experience in the energy sector; real estate expert Lorenza Langarica, who handles structured financing, corporate matters and M&A, particularly with regard to the real estate and energy sectors; corporate finance and M&A specialist Patrick Meshoulam; and Francisco Glennie, who provides expertise in IPOs, follow-ons and debt issuances, all of whom have been very active over the last year. The group can also call on additional exepertise and firepower in the form of founding partners Pablo Mijares (M&A, private equity and private bidding processes) and Francisco Fuentes (M&A, antitrust and telecoms); along with Manuel Echave (banking and corporate finance), Francisco Ibáñez (banking and finance, capital markets, M&A and general corporate practice), Martín Sánchez (capital markets, M&A and corporate finance) and Eugenio Macouzet (domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures and strategic partnerships). Key associate support is provided by seniors Anacandy Perusquía, who utilises a multi-disciplinary skillset across both M&A and corporate tax matters; and Isabel Gamboa, who handles M&A, joint ventures and general corporate matters, and also has a niche specialism advising non-bank financial institutions on regulatory matters.

Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC remains a force in the marketplace, pairing the bench strength of its national presence with its London office to advise major domestic and multinational businesses (including Macquarie and Microsoft) on complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions. The team’s dense client roster spans sectors ranging from tech, energy and healthcare to insurance, banking and real estate; with recent headline matters include advising Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Estate Assets on the bidding process to acquire three solar power generation plants (in Mexico) owned by Reden Holding – a deal valued at E2.5bn; and Grupo Murano on a joint venture for the development of real estate properties in Mexico City and Cancún worth over $1bn. Led by senior partner Michell Nader (who brings over 30 years’ experience to the M&A sector), the practice group – over 25 lawyers’ strong and including 11 partners ‘distinguished by their experience, ethics and excellence’ – provides a comprehensive corporate service offering that extends to joint ventures, due diligence, stock and asset purchases, spin-offs, restructuring, corporate governance and regulatory compliance. The core practice group also includes Hans Goebel, a specialist in private equity transactions; Julián Garza, who represents both sponsors and financial intermediaries in structured finance and capital markets transactions; London-based insurance expert Yves Hayaux-du-Tilly, who has notable experience regarding cross border M&A and corporate law in general; and fellow insurance specialist Luciano Pérez, whose broad practice also encompasses banking and financial services (particularly financial regulatory work concerning fintech and insurtech), M&A, structured and project finance, real estate, data protection and AML regulations. Key support is provided by José Manuel Zavala (M&A, joint ventures, private equity and corporate governance matters), who was promoted to of counsel in March 2022; and senior associate Miguel Ángel González, whose practice encompasses banking and finance, M&A, capital markets, private equity and corporate law. Former partners Hector Arangua and José Humberto Rocha both left the firm in January 2023.

The ‘unfailingly commercial and collaborative’ team at Gonzalez Calvillo is praised for ‘consistently providing highly sophisticated advice’ in corporate and M&A matters. Corporate restructurings, shareholders’ agreements, domestic and cross-border M&A, and corporate governance are core areas of expertise and the firm fields a deep partner-level bench with profound transactional know-how. While long best known for handling M&A deals in the energy sector, the practice has demonstrated its adaptability during the current downturn in that sector, migrating its focus to pick up a healthy flow of work in the technology, fintech, automotive and science-related sectors over the last few years. A recent case in point saw the team represent the management of leading Mexican tech company, KIO Networks, on the $1bn sale of all its assets to global infrastructure fund Isquared Capital. Co-managing partner José Ignacio Rivero Andere focuses primarily on corporate finance and cross-border M&A; and banking and finance specialist José Victor Torres Gómez is also frequently active in major cross border transactions. Additional key partners include Rodrigo Rojas Robleda, who has particular experience in project finance, infrastructure, foreign investment and energy matters; Jorge Cervantes Trejo, who advises sponsors, developers, investors, and lenders on M&A, dispositions, and joint ventures; and Hernando Becerra de Cima, who routinely advises clients on mergers in the renewables space. Co-manging partner Jorge Mondragón (who was recently appointed the new chair of global law firm alliance Multilaw) heads up the firm's franchising and licensing practice and is hence also frequently active in corporate and commercial matters - such as his advice to Diltex on its joint venture with Etam. Of counsel Rosa Elena Coto is regularly instructed by Mexican and foreign entities, startups, and capital investment funds for her transactional expertise; and senior Jacinto Ávalos is the name to note at associate level. Since publication, both Torres Gómez and Coto have left the firm (effective April 2024), subsequent to which the firm has announced an agreement to merge into Spain's Pérez-Llorca.

Miami-headquartered international firm Greenberg Traurig, S.C. fields a sizeable 30-strong corporate team from its Mexico office and has reaped the rewards of this offering in terms of a noticeable upturn in mandates and caseload. The practice works across a broad array of sectors – banking, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, real estate, education, telecoms, pharma, tech and retail, to name just a few, and also receives mandates from the private equity and venture capital segments. The group is highly is accustomed to handling at all stages (negotiation, structuring, completion) and in all types (M&As, joint ventures, recapitalisations) of corporate transactions, with recent highlights ranging from representing a Fibra-E on the MXN$7.7bn acquisition of a participation in certain toll roads to advising both Syngenta and Betterware on strategic acquisitions in their respective sectors in Mexico. The practice is co-led by Miguel Yturbe (M&A and general corporate matters) and Arturo Pérez Estrada (corporate matters, financial regulation, privacy and corporate finance law), with managing partner José Raz Guzmán (financial and M&A transactions); José Antonio Butrón (M&A, banking, project finance, capital markets, structured finance and securitisations); Victor Manuel Frías (M&A, takeovers and JVs; along with corporate governance, corporate compliance matters and internal investigations); and Gabriel Lozano (general corporate and securities matters, including international M&A, PE and VC investments, commercial loans and securities offerings) providing further senior-level support. The deep partner bench is further reflected in the availability of an up-and-coming group of younger partners including Luis Cortés (commercial and corporate law, compliance and financings); Antonio Robles Hüe (energy, financial, commercial and corporate law); and Gabriela Palomino (project, energy and infrastructure-related transactional matters). The foregoing can also call on an array of experienced associates, notably: Víctor F Callarisa, Luis A Torres, Rocío Olea, Adriana García-Cuellar and Ana Acosta Silva.

'A solid firm with a lot of talent and experience', Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. leverages the experience of its sizeable, multi-disciplinary team to assist investment managers and domestic and multinational corporates with a diverse spectrum of complex, cross-border matters. The practice’s active client base spans sectors ranging from energy, tech, logistics and transport to pharmaceuticals, healthcare, food and beverages, while its full offering covers complex M&A, private equity fund management, divestments, negotiations, due diligence and regulatory compliance. Recent mandates include various matters in the fintech sector, notably advising blockchain-enabled accounts receivable and B2B payment platform, Paystand, on its acquisition of cash flow, management and liquidity solutions business Yaydoo; and Mexican payments platform Billpocket on its sale to Kushki. Following the August-2022 departure of former practice co-head Carlos Obregón Rojo , the team is led by Luis Nicolau, who brings over 30 years' experience managing M&A and debt & equity capital markets transactions to the table. Jean Paul Farah is an also a senior figure in the practice with considerable experience across the banking and finance, M&A, private equity and real estate areas. Younger partners Eduardo Triulzi, whose M&A experience is supplemented with niche expertise advising public companies on tender offers; banking and finance specialist Gabriel Robles; Héctor Cárdenas Ortega, who handles the structuring of private equity real estate funds; and capital markets specialist Eric Silberstein (who was raised to the partnership in January 2023) are all increasingly coming to the fore. Associates Lucía Ibañez Tirado and Daniel Kuri Breña R left the firm in August 2022 and June 2023, respectively.

Fielding a team over 35-strong -including eight partners who dedicate the majority of their time in the sector-  Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC demonstrates genuine strength in both transactional and corporate mandates. The group is retained by major international corporates and notable private equity fund managers, among them AB InBev, BMW, Uber and Mitsubishi. Indeed the firm is both full service and oriented towards relationships with its clients (as opposed just a transactional footing), and organised in terms of industry groups: with consumer goods, automotive and manufacturing, energy and natural resources, financial services and real estate all being areas of particular expertise, and the life sciences and pharmaceutical sector being a sector of significant growth. Senior partner Luis Burgueño (‘very knowledgeable regarding the corporate area‘) focuses his practice on cross-border M&A, joint ventures and corporate governance matters; he co-leads the practice in conjunction with Pablo Jiménez, who also offers strong transactional capabilities and corporate governance support, along with stakeholder matters and reputational management with an ESG focus. The healthily deep bench also houses antitrust practice head Fernando Carreño; Pablo Saez, who shines on transactional matters with a real estate component; Alberto Córdoba, who majors on M&A, joint ventures and financing transactions; and Alejandro Orellana, who is active on venture capital and private equity transactions. Counsels Gloria Martínez and Javier Betancourt, and senior associate Manuel Martínez, all provide across-the-board support regarding corporate and transactional matter. In an additional and significant first, the firm has also launched its a tailor-made, large language model (LLM), AI-driven chatbot (“VonBot”), which -while designed for internal use- underlines its commitment to technology and is likely to notably enhance its service offering and delivery. Since publication, Betancourt has been raised to the partnership - effective as of January 2024.

Not just ‘a good day-to-day corporate practice’, but also ‘a skillful and knowledgeable practice that understands the current challenges of international transactional operations’, Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C.‘ 50-strong corporate team -spread across offices in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Cd. Juárez, Monterrey and Tijuana- constitutes a unique offering, both as a local “one-stop shop” and with its ability to draw on the firm’s truly global network. The practice regularly handles a broad range of M&A, joint ventures, public offerings, restructurings and strategic alliances for clients of all sizes and sectors, both local and foreign, including both public and private companies, start-ups, investment banks, venture capital operations and growth equity firms. Overall head of the M&A and transactional practice in Mexico, Gaspar Gutiérrez Centeno leads the department from the Mexico City (CDMX) office and is particularly active in transactions across the projects and real estate sectors. Indeed, the bulk of the team is in CDMX, with former managing partner Reynaldo Vizcarra-Mendez, and younger partners Carlo Pérez-Arizti (M&A, VC, foreign investment, and corporate and contractual law), Lorenzo Ruiz de Velasco (corporate and cross-border financial transactions, M&A projects, negotiations, divestitures and capital markets’ matters), and Stephanie Arias-Marruffo – who was promoted to the partnership in July 2023 – all working out of the capital. Elsewhere, in Cd Juárez, principal partner Jorge L Ruiz and Adriana Martínez-Alderete are warmly endorsed as ‘trusted advisors’ who are ‘always readily available and have always provided legally sound advice, tailored to our requirements’. At associate level, seniors Jesus Perez-Palazuelos (M&A, corporate, contractual and foreign investment law), and Alejandra Heredia-Martinez (general corporate law, foreign investment and corporate reorganisations), and associate Javier Zenteno are all noted.

A member of both Lex Mundi and the World Service Group, longstanding full-service market player Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C. fields a sizeable team of over 50 lawyers from across its offices in Guanajuato, Querétaro, Mexico City and Monterrey. The practice handles a broad range of matters - including cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and restructuring & reorganisations; leveraged buyouts, buybacks and equity transactions; along with auctions, spin-off's, divestitures, and tender and exchange offers - and has a particularly strong presence in the manufacturing and services sectors. Senior figure and manging partner Juan José López de Silanes focuses on local and cross border transactions (including company formation, partnership agreements, M&A, reorganisations, investments, acquisitions and public bidding processes). Additional key practice partners include Jesus Colunga (corporate and M&A); Amilcar Garcia (joint-ventures, M&A, reorganisations and investments - particular in relation to the real estate sector); and Pedro Said Nader (banking, finance and corporate transactions); all of whom are in Mexico City; along with Carlos Velázquez de León, in Monterrey, who heads up the corporate practice; and Luis Luján, in Querétaro, who primarily handles general corporate matters, M&A, cross-border contracts and liquidations. Miguel Angel Peralta (banking & finance; capital markets), Juan Carlos Serra (energy, mining and infrastructure) and Amílcar Peredo (competition and antitrust) are all also regularly involved in M&A matters; as are younger partners Gerson Vaca and Rodrigo Gardner in Mexico City and Monterrey, respectively. Key associates include Moisés Gómez Flores (who heads up the Guanajuato office), Pablo Nosti and Fernando Morayta, all of whom have over a decade's experience.

January 2023 saw Cuatrecasas‘ Mexico office absorb local boutique Rico, Robles, Libenson, S.Cl, thereby gaining a 12-lawyer team (including four partners) with particular strength in transactional matters and disputes work. The move has only served to further strengthen the practice offering from an office that -since its opening in 2016- has steadily developed impressive track record in corporate and M&A matters. Moreover, the team can also draw resources not only from the firm’s Spanish headquarters but also from it’s increasingly relevant offices in Bogotá, Lima, Santiago de Chile and New York. Locally, the now 12-strong corporate practice is led by Santiago Ferrer (who also heads-up the competition department) and advises both domestic and international companies on commercial transactions, M&A, joint investments and financing, and asset and liability transfers, among other matters. Key associate support is provided by semi-senior Fernando Ruiz, who focuses on corporate, commercial and transactional matters. The group is gaining traction in an ever growing number of sectors, including consumer products/retail, infrastructure, healthcare, real estate, gaming, and energy and renewables; and recent headline matters saw the team advise Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets on the $173.8m acquisition of Gasoducto de Morelos and Morelos (the owners and operators of a 172km pipeline), from Elecnor and Enagás. Corporate and finance associate Juan Carlos Galicia left the firm in March 2023; however, since research concluded the firm has further built out its capabilities with the October-2023 hire of former Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. senior associate, Gizeh Polo Ballinas, as a partner; he is tasked with developing the office’s capital markets capability.

Fielding a 24-strong practice group co-led by six partners Hogan Lovells’ Mexico-based M&A offering cover the full spectrum of corporate transactions, with the added resources of a full service firm backed by a strongly integrated global firm. Unsurprisingly, the team attends a prestigious client roster with myriad “household names” – from Mondelez, IBM, Daimler and Ford, to Sony Music, Del Monte Foods and Prudential Real Estate. The practice houses a number of renowned figures, such as Juan Francisco Torres Landa, who is highly-regarded for his skills handling cross-border work and corporate restructurings; Federico De Noriega, who boasts a strong track record in joint ventures and multi-party acquisitions; and Carlos Ramos, who provides additional expertise regarding insurance and energy law in Mexico (and divides his time between the firm’s Houston and Mexico City offices). With a practice centred on the industrial, consumer products, automobile and financial services sectors, Mario Jorge Yañez also divides his time between two offices: Mexico City and Monterrey; while Guillermo González Frankenberger and July-2022 hire, counsel Gina Decanini, operate solely from Monterrey. Indeed, the pair are highlighted f0r their ‘great knowledge and experience’: Gonzalez has over 25 years’ experience in M&A, real estate, corporate governance, and commercial and corporate matter; while Decanini – formerly a partner at Canales and experience in house at Cemex – has experience across the administrative, company law, corporate, energy and real estate sectors. Rounding out the partner group, Ángel Domínguez de Pedro focuses on civil law and commercial, real estate and M&A transactions. Counsel Andrea López De La Campa, also in Mexico City, is another key member of the group and focuses on M&A, corporate reorganisations, corporate day-to-day activities and commercial cross border transactions. Corporate and M&A focused senior associate Karla Rabasa is also noted.

Following the 2022 tie-up with the former Thompson & Knight, Holland & Knight has further demonstrated its commitment to the Latin America market – and México in particular – with the April-2023 incorporation of a sizeable multidisciplinary group (seven partners, two senior counsels and eight associates) from local firm Sánchez Devanny. As specifically regards the corporate/M&A practice, this included former practice co-head Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza, along with Humberto Morales Barrón, Jaime Israel Moreno Treviño and Oscar Quiróz Chávez, all of whom joined the firm’s Monterrey office. They join a department led by Mexico managing partner Luis Rubio (a well-known market figure who has particular expertise in the TMT segment), which is highlighted for its ‘vast knowledge and experience with respect to Mexican Law but also in complex international transactions’. Octavio Lecona (‘knowledgeable’, ‘a rounded professional’) provides additional expertise in the telecoms and tech areas as part of a broader practice that takes in M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and contractual matters. Corporate partner Xavier Magnino and senior counsel Elena Ibarrola are further names to note in the Mexico City office (both having arrived from DLA Piper Mexico in March 2022), as is Selene Espinosa who was promoted to partner in January 2023; of counsel Alejandro F Sánchez Mújica and partner Alejandro A Sánchez Mújica A are, in turn, additional names to note in the Monterrey office. Recent matters include mandates in the aviation, shipping, financial services, technology & telecoms, industrial & manufacturing, and oil & gas sectors, among others.

Mayer Brown Mexico, S.C., the local outpost of global white-shoe firm Mayer Brown is part of the firm’s broader Latin America offering which includes an association with Brazilian firm Tauil & Chequer Advogados. With a growing reputation in the corporate sector the office fields a 20-plus strong team (six partners and some 15 associates) and is increasingly entrenched in the finance sector (especially fintech), along with the packaging, manufacturing and spirits’ sectors – indeed, the practice has proved adept at transforming particiption in transactions in these areas into more extensive involvement in these clients’ production, distribution and supply chain contracts and related business activity. The practice also frequently works closely with the firm’s Salt Lake City office, where the growth of a minor venture capital hub has generated work in relation to Mexico-based real estate funds and fintech matters. While the Mexico City office is relatively young (established in 2018), the partners co-leading the office have been working together for over 20 years: Raúl Fernández-Briseño (M&A, cross-border transactions and financings – particularly with regard to the infrastructure, telecoms, PE, fintech and restructuring matters) and Francisco García-Naranjo (M&A, banking, corporate law, corporate governance and joint ventures; along with financial regulatory matters, and financial and foreign investment transactions) are ‘more than lawyers’, constitute ‘an excellent team’ and provide ‘excellent service’. The pair are supported by a solid associate bench including senior Javier Garibay (M&A, securitisations, corporate restructuring and bankruptcy matters); and up-and-coming semi-senior, Eduardo Diego Fernández Forseck. Moreover, the team has been further strengthened with the October-2022 arrival of counsel Jorge Escalante from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C.; a fund formation specialist he is tasked with growing the office’s footprint in the capital markets sector.

Sánchez Devanny harnesses the bench strength of offices in Mexico City, Monterrey and Querétaro to advise local and international corporates involved in multi-jurisdictional transactions, across a range of industry sectors, including telecoms, manufacturing, medical devices, IT, chemicals, and food and beverages. The team’s broad service offering takes in M&A, investment and divestment operations, restructurings, the purchase and sale of entities and assets, due diligence and regulatory compliance, among other matters. Monterrey office-head Ernesto Silvas-Medina primarily advises clients on inbound and outbound acquisition transactions and equity joint ventures. Working out of the Mexico City and Querétaro offices, Diego Gómez-Haro (who served as the general counsel of The Blackstone Group in Mexico prior to joining the firm), brings extensive experience to assisting multinationals, private equity investors and sponsors on acquisitions and investments in the domestic market. Also in Mexico City, Jose Antonio Postigo-Uribe can draw on over 20 years’ experience of major transactional matters and negotiations with governmental entities; while Daniel Maldonado-Alcántara (corporate M&A, foreign investment and antitrust) and Yutaka Kimura (who has a labour and employment aspect to his corporate practice), are also noted. At associate level, senior Marisol González-Echevarría advises clients on sales, spin-offs and the liquidation of companies. However, former Monterrey-based partners Gerardo Prado-Hernandez, Francisco Andrés Gámez Garza  and Humberto Morales-Barron all left the firm in March 2023, and Cristina Sanchez-Vebber  left to establish her own practice in August the same year. Since publication, both González-Echevarria and fellow senior associate Debby Mckey (M&A, divestitures, corporate restructuring, joint ventures and financings, among other matters), have been promoted to the partnership - with effect from January 2024.

With offices in Mexico City, Monterrey and Queretaro, Santamarina y Steta coordinates experienced teams to advise private equity firms and national and multinational corporates across the manufacturing, food, insurance, construction, telecoms and automotive industries involved in high-value, cross-border transactions. Co-led from Mexico City by Juan Carlos Machorro and Jorge León Orantes (who between them bring over 60 years' corporate and transactional experience to bear), the practice group (some 50 lawyers' strong) has a broad offering that encompasses the negotiation and execution of M&A and joint ventures, the drafting and negotiation of transaction agreements, legal due diligence and regulatory compliance proceedings. Additional key contacts includee securities expert Alberto Saavedra (also Mexico City); Guillermo Moreno in Querétaro, who, in addition to M&A, advises on government procurement and project finance matters; seasoned transactional specialist César Cruz Ayala in Monterey. Key associate support is provided by seniors Ilse Bolaños (cross-border M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructurings, along with general corporate and commercial matters), and Diego Acosta (corporate, M&A, e-commerce, and privacy and data protection.)

Praised for their ‘extraordinary response times’, ‘experience and knowledge of the market’, and ‘quality work’, the lawyers at White & Case S.C. specialise in cross-border M&A. Multinationals, commercial and investment banks, REITs and private equity funds regularly turn to the group for support, with recent matters including activity in the drinks sector, advising Pernod Ricard subsidiary Austin, Nichols & Co. on the purchase of a 20% interest in Sotol Nocheluna, a producer and marketer of sotol spirits. Henri Capin-Gally steers the 12-strong practice and has focused his practice on M&A and competition matters. Corporate, banking and finance and capital markets all-rounder Sergio Márquez is well-versed in advising sellers and purchasers on the acquisition of assets or shares, in addition to the incorporation of joint ventures. Senior associate Mariel Martínez Zárate (who returned to Mexico in early 2022 after three years as a member of the firm's New York-based corporate team) supports private equity funds and SPACs on matters involving global M&A and equity investments. Fernando Vázquez-Chelius Solís was promoted to local partner in January 2023. Since publication, the team has been further strengthened with the hire of Alfonso Vargas Mayoral as a local partner - he arrives from Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C., effective January 2024.

Tax powerhouse Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa’s recently established corporate and M&A practice continues to steadily develop its capabilities with clients lauding the team's ‘control of the services at all times’ and ‘timely follow-up on all issues’, and benefitting from the firm's presence in Madrid, New York and Houston, as well as México City, Queretaro and Monterrey. The ‘excellent team’ is led by Miguel Valle, whose extensive experience includes cross-border transactions, joint ventures, PE and VC transactions, along with complex and day to day corporate matters such as foreign investment, SPVs, corporate obligations, governance structures and  commercial agreements. In addition to Valle, Ana Sofía Ríos, (‘really capable and prepared to handle issues’), advises on corporate governance and regulatory compliance matters; Jimena González De Cossío, handles corporate and financial law (including stock market operations, international and structured financing, and M&A); younger partner Fernando González (raised to the partnership in December 2021); and Guillermo Bueno (a September 2022 hire from Araoz & Rueda to the Madrid office), complete the senior practice group. A strong associate bench includes senior Marisa Labrador (an October 2022 hire from Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C.); experienced associate Isabel Núñez (corporate restructuring, M&A, and wealth management); and Santiago Carrera and Alejandra Pacheco.

‘Providing efficient advice applicable to the client’s reality’, CMS Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow continues to grow its young practice that now counts three partners and five associates. While continuing to act on transactional matters throughout the energy sector, and -to a lesser degree- in the infrastructure space, the group has significantly diversified its client roster, with recent matters including mandates from the food, media, pharma and gaming sectors. Most notably, it has been active in a range of tech-related mandates ranging from payment platforms to e-learning and secure networks. ‘An outstanding lawyer’, practice head Giancarlo Schievenini demonstrates ‘excellent negotiation skills’, the ‘ability to work under pressure’ and ‘communicate effectively’, along with ‘knowledge of the market’. Schievenini can also call on senior partner (and head of the office’s banking and finance practice) Raul Zepeda, who has longstanding experience in corporate and transactional matters as part of his wider practice. Key support on corporate transactional matters is provided by semi-senior Bruno Triay (corporate law/M&A – ‘very responsible’) and intermediates Sofía Reyes (M&A, corporate law, project finance and infrastructure – ‘organised and meticulous’), and Eduardo Revilla (corporate M&A, real estate and infrastructure); senior associate Gabriel Salinas is also on hand for M&A in the energy sector.

A core practice at the firm, Creel Abogados, SC fields a 20-strong practice group (including six partners) in the corporate and M&A area, where it enjoys a steady stream of generally mid-market mandates, both M&A and financings. The client roster is composed of both foreign and local companies -many of the latter from Mexico’s regions, a demographic generally less well-served by the capital’s major firms; indeed, the combination of a tech-facilitated lean staffing model (with one partner, a senior and an associate on any given deal), along with a close relational approach to its clients, and the team’s extensive experience in M&A, joint ventures and corporate governance, has proved very successful. Active across a number of different sectors and industries, especially real estate and private equity, the firm opened a second office –in Mérida, in Mexico’s southeast– in November 2022, which has seen it make further advances in the hospitality and agrarian sectors. Senior partner Carlos Creel, a veteran practitioner with some 40 years’ experience, is particularly well-versed in corporate matters – including M&A and corporate restructurings, governance mandates and cross-border joint ventures; he co-leads the practice with Gustavo Struck, who complements his corporate expertise with solid knowledge of an array of finance operations, including syndicated lending and secured financing, and has a particular focus on advising non-bank banks and private funds on their transactional work. Diego Valdes A, who has notable in-house experience, is increasingly active in the transactional segment and handles M&A, corporate governance, and corporate and structured finance deals, among other matters. Alfonso Razú heads up the Mérida office and focuses primarily on transactional work and private equity; while back in Mexico City, y0unger partner Pablo Arellano undertakes M&A, corporate restructurings and joint ventures, along with corporate governance matters. At associate level, Alejandro Creel and Sandra López C are the names to note.

Operating from offices in Mexico City, Guanajuato and Guadalajara, Meritas alliance member and veteran market presence Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C. has an extensive track record in M&A transactions, corporate restructurings and joint ventures, and has become a favoured corporate advisor to a number of leading multinationals as well as notable local companies. With corporate practice the central pillar of the firm, the team handles both the full range of associated transactional and financing operations as well as day-today advisory, company law and shareholder matters, and relevant administrative and regulatory work. The practice group -some 20+ lawyers strong- has a certain focus on the automotive, manufacturing, financial, real estate, and alcoholic-beverage industries, but has also -despite slow market conditions- enjoyed an uptick in agribusiness and IT mandates; it has also been particularly active as regards compliance and corporate governance matters. Results appear promising with the firm adding  Pretium Packaging, Enoflex, Roboyo Group, Armira, CMB Fabricating, Supercap North America and Drains Made Simple, as new clients over the course of the last year. A deeply experienced practitioner, firm CEO Hugo Cuesta handles international transactions (both inbound and outbound), including corporate M&A, commercial matters and corporate governance; he co-leads the practice alongside Azucena Marin, who undertakes corporate restructuring, strategic acquisitions, joint ventures and asset-based lending, among other key transactions, and is also a specialist in competition and antitrust matters. The second line of practitioners includes senior principal associate Rafael Sánchez (who leads the firm’s corporate, contractual and tax practices); and fellow principal associate for corporate and transactional matters, Jesús Bueno; however, former senior Franscela Sapien left the firm in July 2023.

DLA Piper Mexico fields a compact 10-strong team in the corporate and transactional area, handling public and private M&A, the division and/or sale of assets, cross-border transactions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, the conducting of due diligence processes; preparation of MOUs, obtaining of governmental approvals and post-merger integration; the office can also handle relevant tax planning and structuring matters. Not insignificantly, the group also enjoys the benefit of sitting as part of -primarily- the firm's largely unparalleled regional network of offices, and beyond that has access to the firm's global capabilities. A trio of partners jointly-lead the practice: Diego Martinez focuses on general corporate matters with an emphasis on corporate finance, corporate governance matters and M&A - notably in the regulated sectors (he also has strong expertise in financial regulatory matters); while Álvaro Garza-Galván handles M&A, bankruptcy, restructuring, banking and finance, and securities transactions; the pair are also the office's co-managing partners. The leadership group is completed by younger partner Mauricio Valdespino, whose practice is centred on M&A, private equity, corporate and commercial law. Additional partner level experience is provided by veteran practitioner María Eugenia Ríos Espinosa, who has particular knowledge of the labour aspects of corporate transactions and private equity deals; and Jorge Benejam, who has notable experience in competition matters as part of his broader corporate/M&A practice oriented towards the regulated sectors - particularly life science, telecommunications and technology. A solid associate bench includes seniors Jaime Ancer Fortea (complex corporate transactions and  general corporate and commercial issues) and Andrés Calderon (M&A, bankruptcy and corporate matters related to real estate and capital markets); intermediate José Luis Gutiérrez Ramírez, an April-2022 arrival from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C., is also noted.

The local Mexican office of Spanish full-service giant, Garrigues, fields a 14-strong corporate and M&A practice which was notably strengthened in March 2023 with the hire of banking, securities and M&A practitioner Manuel Groenewold fr0m White & Case S.C.. Steadily building its market presence, the practice has to some extent sought to focus on sectors such as consumer goods, education and health. Recent matters include handling the Mexican aspects of a pair of transactions on behalf of Accenture: one, the acquisition of Austin-based cloud and platform engineering services firm, Headspring; the other the purchase of Alfa Consulting Group. The practice is led by Gerardo Lemus – who focuses on corporate and real estate matters (along with issues such as corporate governance, commercial contracts, and merger-control filings and notifications), in conjunction with Gabriela Pérez Sierra, who has a certain focus on energy project and fintech transactions. Energy head David Jiménez Romero brings further partner-level M&A experience.  Support comes from a group of experienced associate practitioners including counsel Miguel Ángel Rocha (corporate, labour and employment); principals Carlos Eduardo Gómez (corporate, banking & finance, ESG) and Rodrigo Durán de la Vega (banking & finance, M&A); and senior Gabriela Cosío (corporate and dispute resolution – particularly as regards the energy sector). The department’s industry expertise also encompasses financial services, infrastructure, technology, retail and telecommunications.

Providing ‘great business knowledge and market intelligence’, the corporate/M&A practice at Ibarra, del Paso y Gallego continues to grow beyond the real estate practice for which the firm remains best known; in particular, it is increasingly active in the pharmaceuticals sector, and has also made inroads into the banking/finance area. This expansion of the corporate practice's focus is part of a larger process by which the firm is seeking to grow and consolidate its position as a mid-sized firm, to which end it hired Arturo Sánchez García as director general in January 2023; his previous experience includes almost nine years at Sánchez Devanny as Director of Administration and CFO. The corporate and transactional department is led by Gerardo Gallego Diaz De Leon (‘always seeks the best outcomes for the client’), who is praised by clients for his proactivity and clear communication; in addition to corporate, commercial and transactional matters, he also handles governance issues. Raised to the partnership in 2022 and the firm's first "home-grown" partner, Alejandra Gutierrez Pérez Avena divides her time between hospitality and real estate matters, and corporate and commercial work. Of counsel Jennifer Ayluardo also handles corporate and commercial matters as part of a practice that also reaches into capital markets and financial law. At associate level, senior Jorge Cobos and Fernando González Gómez are the names to note; both handle a mix of corporate and financial work, transactions and real estate matters.

With recourse to the firm’s global office network as necessary, Jones Day’s Mexico-based transactional practice is a respected presence in the corporate sphere. Traditionally most active in the energy and infrastructure sectors, the 14-strong department is co-led by experienced office managing partner Manuel Romano – a transactional specialist; and of counsels Mauricio Castilla (M&A and corporate governance); and Javier Martínez Del Campo (cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions); all three excel at handling cross-border M&A, joint ventures and strategic alliances, with corporate governance too, constituting a particular niche strength. Also of counsel, Antonio Franck is a genuine corporate and transactional specialist who enjoys a loyal clientele. Recent matters saw the team advise Grupo Mexico on several unsolicited purchase offers (including a merger proposal) made in conjunction with Grupo Acosta Verde for real estate and construction company Planigrupo Latam, which culminated in a tender offer to acquire 100% of the capital stock of the company. Elsewhere, the practice has seen activity in near-shoring matters, particularly in the industrial parks niche.

Fielding ‘a robust, professional team’ that provides ‘close and adequate monitoring of projects and customer needs’, Kuri Breña, Sánchez Ugarte y Aznar‘s well-established 15-strong practice that advises on matters ranging from M&A, joint ventures, private equity, venture capital and cross-border transactions, to general corporate matters – particularly in relation to the real estate, energy, manufacturing, banking and automotive sectors. Indeed, clients highlight the practice group’s ‘incredible knowledge of the corporate and stock market world’, and also note how the practice has proved adept at remaining abreast of the constant evolution of the M&A market so as to meet all client expectations. The practice is co-led by founding partner Daniel Kuri Breña, whose corporate practice is centred on joint ventures, M&A (particularly on behalf of funds), private equity and venture capital investments; Luis Octavio Núñez, who also handles M&A, private equity, venture capital and joint ventures – particularly in relation to the real estate and development, manufacturing and finance sector; and antitrust specialist Jesús Sánchez Ugarte (also a co-founding partner) who focuses on M&A and financings. Additional bench depth is provided by corporate and finance partner Álvaro Sarmiento Lapiedra; with younger partner Silvia Ema Roldan, who was raised to the partnership in July 2023, rounding out the partner level team. Key support is provided by senior associate Álvaro Alan Pérez; and intermediates Daniel García Hernández (who returned to the firm from an in-house position in mid-2022), and Elizabeth Tovar, who focuses on real estate-related matters.

The nine-strong corporate and M&A practice at Pérez Correa González is led by a well-known and experienced partner duo comprising corporate finance and M&A specialist Fernando Eraña, whose practice is oriented towards cross-border finance matters, private equity and venture capital; and Luis González, who also has considerable knowledge in private equity transactions, as part of a broader corporate and transactional practice that also takes in real estate mandates. Further partner level capability is provided by Omar Aguilar M who undertakes corporate, contractual and compliance matters; M&A, JV and finance transactions, particularly as regards the mining, hospitality and real estate industries. Indeed, real estate has long been one of the firm’s strengths but more recently it has seen an uptick of activity in relation to both the tech and distilled beverage sectors. At senior associate level, Juan Carlos Izaza (who regularly advises domestic and foreign clients on the establishment of new ventures and their corporate structures in Mexico); along with Eduardo Yrigoyen (an April 2022 hire from Galicia Abogados S.C.) and Eduardo Montenegro (who was raised to senior in September 2022) are the names to note. Former tech and M&A senior, Carlos Ugalde  left the firm in August 2022.

Built upon the twin-pillars of core litigation and transactional practices, Sainz Abogados is best known for its strength in bankruptcy and restructuring matters; nevertheless it has considerable corporate and M&A capacity that was notably boosted with the incorporation of Hugo López Coll in early 2022. The 13-strong team advises clients from a broad array of industries (including aviation, banking, biotech, construction, energy, finance, gaming, hospitality, insurance, mining, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, real estate, IT and transportation) on domestic and cross-border corporate transactions (including corporate restructurings, M&As and joint ventures) along with associated antitrust issues, governance matters and corporate compliance. Practice head Octavio L Hernandez handles both corporate/M&A and financing matters and also has considerable private equity experience. Name partner Alejandro Sainz is also active in the finance and M&A sectors, with his market leading bankruptcy and restructuring experience giving him additional insight and expertise in both areas. Further partner-level engagement is provided by Santiago Alessio Robles, a corporate reorganisations specialist who also handles M&A matters; while the above mentioned López Coll (who is dual-qualified in New York and Mexico) focuses on M&A, private equity, capital markets, and regulatory and compliance matters, along with internal investigations and shareholder disputes. At associate level, Daniela Alcázar is a corporate and M&A-dedicated practitioner, while Lucía Laganá handles corporate finance matters as part of her broader practice. Since publication, the team has been substantially boosted by the arrival of established corporate, transactional and finance partner José Victor Torres Gómez and counsel Rosa Elena Coto, members of a more sizeable group that arrived from Gonzalez Calvillo in April 2024.

‘Super capable and experienced,’ SMPS Legal fields a sizeable 18-strong corporate and transactional practice group (including eight partners), it’s numerical strength reflecting the practice’s growing importance to the firm – which remains, perhaps, best known for its strength in the tax sector. The experienced partner group -who share leadership of the practice- includes: Eduardo Pizarro, whose practice has a particular emphasis on the creation and structuring of corporations, spin-offs and M&A; María Teresa Paillés and María Esther Rey , who both have over two decades’ experience handling corporate and real estate transactions in Mexico and abroad; and Daniel del Rio, formerly head of the corporate and M&A department at Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C., who arrived in mid-2022 as a strategic partner for transactional side of the practice. Banking-focused Iván Pérez Correa provides a financial vision and know how to the practice’s transactional activity and is another key name. Moreover, ongoing development saw the firm hire José Gerardo Vázquez, the former head of legal and compliance at Gap Inc/Old Navy, in January 2023, and susbsequently competition specialist Fernanda Garza (also from Basham) two months later; both arrive as partners. Senior associates Andrés González (capital markets, finance transactions, M&A and corporate law) and Nadiezhda Vázquez (company and contractual law, shareholder matters, banking and foreign investment), provide key support.

With over 20 years in the market, the Monterrey-based Canales 's legal offering ranges primarily across corporate matters, wealth management and real estate, with the team also housing expertise in energy, mining and infrastructure; banking regulatory matters; and aviation. On the corporate front, the firm fields an 11-strong team co-led by key partners Ana de la Paz Parga and Bernardo Canales. Canales' practice is centred on corporate law, M&A, and corporate and project finance; along with banking and finance, administrative law and a niche specialisation in aviation matters. De la Paz, in turn, focuses on commercial transactions, including M&A, corporate finance, private investment, co-investments and corporate restructuring - along with operations in the real estate sector. Banking and finance specialist Sergio Dávila and energy specialist Emilio Sáenz are also active in the M&A sector. Key associate support is provided by Javier Rodríguez, especially as regards transactional and due diligence matters.

The local office of the global consultancy Deloitte Legal Mexico fields a 15-strong team that advises national and international clients on a wide range of matters - including M&A, carve-outs. restructuring, divestitures, joint ventures and due diligence procedures, among other matters. Senior practitioner Ramón Bravo has over 30 years' practice experience, handles the gamut of corporate operations, and splits his time between the firm's Mexico City and Monterrey offices. He co-leads the practice with younger partner Héctor Cuevas (in Mexico City), who specialises in M&A and other transactional matters. Additional up-and-coming partners include Berenice Rivas (banking, finance, corporate governance, structured finance operations, M&A, administrative regulation, foreign investment and competition matters); Julio Paredes Valenzuela (M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, project finance and banking) and José Ángel Romero (corporate law, compliance and regulatory governance). At associate level, senior Leonet Pinto Núñez is the key figure. Former partner Luis Lavalle left the firm in June 2022 and senior associate Alfonso Malagón left to undertake his LLM in June 2023.

Best known for its market leading international trade and commerce capabilities, EC Rubio  has a lengthy track record advising multinational corporations with business operations in Mexico from across a broad array of industries, particularly regarding cross-border work. Derived from its above mentioned IT&C practice, the team houses particularly strong expertise in the maquiladora industry (where it advising clients primarily drawn from the automotive, industrial and logistics services industries) and which positions it well to benefit from the wave of "near-shoring" work that is driving much of the country's current corporate activity. A sizeable, 30-plus team includes key practitioners César Ochoa (foreign investment, corporate law and real estate) and Daniela Flores (foreign investment, corporate governance and compliance), in Ciudad Juárez; Eduardo David (M&A, corporate restructuring, joint ventures and takeovers), Mario Prado (corporate and regulatory matters), René Alva (foreign investment) and Alejandro Montes (corporate, transactional and AML-compliance), in Mexico City; and Sergio De La Rocha and Lorena Mejía (both of whom handle corporate and contractual law, JVs and foreign investment) in Querétaro. Younger partner Yamel Cázares and Daniel Magaña, who was promoted to counsel in March 2022, are also noted. The firm also has offices in Irapuato, Chihuahua and Puebla.

Co-led by Fernando Alonso-De-Florida (corporate, export and project finance; M&A, real estate and energy), counsel María del Pilar Labastida (corporate, commercial and transactional law) and Justo Fernández del Valle (corporate/M&A, international trade, foreign investment, administrative law, public bids and real estate), the compact, six-strong corporate team at Jáuregui y Del Valle, S.C. ‘offers quick and effective responses’, ‘good service’ and ‘consistency’. At associate level, Fernanda Acevedo focuses primarily on corporate and real estate matters. Former senior associate Alejandro Creel Ysita exited in June 2022, but the firm subsequently hired senior Luis Rodolfo Flores from PBP Abogados S.C. in September.