Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C.

Ritch Mueller is a top tier multidisciplinary transactional firm committed to offering high value-added legal advice to national and international clients with respect to their operations in Mexico.

Since 1975, our firm has been actively involved in shaping how Mexican law is practiced within each of our main practice areas, including M&A, banking and finance, capital markets, real estate, energy, and infrastructure. Our tax, environmental, antitrust, arbitration, corporate and regulatory practice groups complement our traditional practice areas while at the same time tending to our clients’ ongoing needs.

Our firm has played a significant role in the structuring, development and financing of private businesses and public sector projects in Mexico. Our work encompasses transactions across a broad array of sectors within the Mexican economy, including financial, industrial, infrastructure, energy, retail and services. We strive to add value to our clients through efficient and in-depth service, backed by high levels of expertise and experience.

Our firm has a staff of more than 100 law and tax professionals deployed amongst our different practice areas. Most of our partners and senior associates hold graduate degrees from prestigious universities in Mexico, the United States and Europe, along with work experience at renowned international firms.

Areas of practice

Arbitration and dispute resolution: Our firm has developed a solid reputation in the field of institutional and ad-hoc mediation and arbitration. We have extensive experience in disputes related to infrastructure and energy project finance, as well as in other sectors such as real estate, financial, commercial, M&A, retail and corporate matters. Our lawyers are active members of the most prestigious national and international institutions and associations related to arbitration.

Aviation: Our firm has significant experience and proven expertise in all aspects of aviation law. We advise clients in the development of Mexican airport infrastructure and in the pursuit of corporate strategies in this sector delivering advice for the financing of aircraft objects and space assets. We represent airport developers and operators, aircraft and helicopter manufacturers, engine companies, airlines, satellite launch companies and satellite operators, as well as aircraft lessors, export credit agencies and financial institutions. Our firm has also represented clients in virtually all restructuring, insolvency and default situations involving Mexican airlines.

Banking and finance:Our firm represents Mexican and international banks, as well as financial intermediaries, in secured and unsecured lending transactions, both bilateral and syndicated, involving Mexican obligors or assets. We have participated in all phases of the credit cycle, from origination to restructuring during global crises. Our experience includes advising foreign financial institutions in establishing subsidiaries in Mexico and navigating fintech regulations. We have supported clients in obtaining licenses for crowdfunding, wallet management, and money transfers, as well as advising on fintech acquisitions and crypto-related matters. Additionally, we counsel domestic and foreign banks on regulatory issues, treasury transactions, and derivatives, including advising organizations like ISDA and the Mexican Banking Association.

Capital markets:  Our firm constantly represents issuers, international and local broker dealers, investment banks in private and public offerings of debt and equity securities by Mexican issuers in the international markets. Our domestic expertise covers equity, debt and structured securities offerings, including asset-backed securities, CKDs, CERPIs, FIBRAS-E (MLPs), real estate FIBRAS (REITs) and bank capitalization notes. We also specialize in the establishment and operation of investment funds, as well as in the registration of non-Mexican issuers in the Mexican market and has advised non-Mexican issuers in respect of the offering of non-Mexican securities in Mexico.

Compliance, anti-corruption and investigations: Our firm advises Mexican and multinational clients with respect to sensitive and relevant issues, participating in the development of their compliance programs to assist in mitigating risks effectively, as well as in critical crisis response issues, including investigations and the representation of their clients before enforcement agencies and courts.

Competition and antitrust: Our firm has significant expertise in handling complex antitrust matters across multiple sectors, including regulated industries. We assist domestic and international clients with a wide range of services in Mexico, such as merger filings, cartel and dominance investigations, leniency applications, and antitrust compliance advice.

Energy and infrastructure projects:  Our firm represents national and international lenders, investors, developers and contractors in connection with the financing, development and implementation of energy and infrastructure projects, including, among others, power (renewables and conventional), oil and gas (upstream, midstream and downstream), roads, water treatment, airports and ports. Our work encompasses all stages of the projects, including project financing, bidding processes, project development, equity investment and divestiture, due diligence, regulatory matters, permitting, land and rights of way, offtake agreements, engineering, procurement, construction, operation, maintenance and other related agreements.

Environmental and social impact: Our firm focuses on environmental, regulatory and sociocultural aspects of energy, industrial, infrastructure and real estate projects, representing national and international clients in administrative filings with federal, state, and municipal authorities, environmental impact, environmental due diligence, rulemaking, sociocultural impact assessment, prior consultation, wastes, national waters, emissions to the atmosphere, interpretation of environmental zoning and urban development zoning plans, federal maritime zone, climate change, management of filings to obtain authorizations, permits, and registrations for energy projects, pollution of water, soil, and air.

ESG: Our firm advises national and multinational companies on navigating the evolving ESG landscape. We assist our clients in structuring ESG policies, due diligence, regulatory compliance, diversity and inclusion, corporate governance, human rights, climate change, and community impact. We also help assess ESG exposure, ensuring transparent reporting of goals and performance. Our multidisciplinary approach identifies and mitigates risks effectively, and we support clients during critical environmental, social, and governance crises. We have expertise in indigenous consultation, clean energy, decarbonization, GHG reductions, and other ESG-related matters.

Mergers and acquisitions: Our firm advises buyers and sellers, including Mexican and international private equity funds and strategic corporate players, in mergers and acquisitions involving publicly traded and private companies in Mexico, as well as in the purchase and sale of cash-flow generating assets located in the country.  We have structured and implemented transactions with varying degrees of complexity, including public takeover bids, corporate reorganizations and leveraged buyouts, with respect to companies engaged in a wide range of activities (financial services, insurance, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, retail, transportation and others), as well as different types of assets located throughout Mexico, such as hotels, power plants and other infrastructure assets.

Real estate: Our firm represents both Mexican and international developers, lenders, and private equity investors in real estate projects across all asset classes. We play an active role in the creation of private and public real estate funds in Mexico. Our extensive experience includes advising real estate investment trusts (REITs) on their equity and debt investments, as well as addressing the tax and regulatory challenges associated with these transactions.

Restructurings and insolvency: Our firm is a leader in corporate restructurings, having participated in some of the largest and most complex national and cross-border cases in Mexico.  We have successfully advised on restructuring proceedings both before the Mexican courts and out-of-court corporate refinancings processes across sectors such as aviation, satellite communications, real estate development, energy, construction and concession of infrastructure projects, among others.

Tax: Our firm has a multidisciplinary tax practice that provides tailored advice across diverse transactions, actively participating in structuring and implementing projects that seek tax-efficient solutions while ensuring regulatory compliance and alignment with recent Mexican court rulings. We assist national and international clients with tax due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, transfer pricing analysis, evaluation of tax implications in financial models, as well as audit procedures, tax controversies, and litigation.