About

Number of years practice:

23

Principal practice areas:

M&A, private equity, projects and energy

Bar admissions:

New York

Languages spoken:

English

What differentiates your Mexico-facing practice from those of your US competitors and peers?

I co-chair Latham & Watkins’ oil and gas industry group. Infrastructure projects are a key area of expertise, with M&A, joint ventures, project finance and upstream and midstream development among my core strengths. I have worked in each Latin American country and in particular Mexico.

I regularly act for major energy-sector clients such as Consolidated Edison, Energy Transfer Partners, Fermaca, ArcLight Capital Partners and Antero Resources, along with sovereign wealth funds, state institutions and global banks. Pipelines are a particular focus for me. I acted for a private equity sponsor on a $400m gas pipeline development in Mexico, involving syndicated project financing from Mexican and international banks. I also advised Howard Energy Partners on its $353m joint venture agreement with Grupo Clisa to create Nueva Era Pipeline, a project that involves 200 miles of new pipeline. Fermaca Global instructed me on the $820m financing of its Northern Mexico pipeline, the first natural gas pipeline to obtain funding since new hydrocarbons legislation was passed by the Mexican government in 2017. In 2016 I represented Fermaca Global on the $425m financing of the 378km Villa de Reyes-Aguascalientes-Guadalajara pipeline, and on the $622m financing of the 450km La Laguna-Aguascalientes pipeline. My previous mandates include representing Fermaca Global on the $858m development and financing of the 445km El Encino-La Laguna pipeline. I am currently working with a PE client on the development of liquids import and product distribution projects in Mexico.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of advising Mexico-based clients from an office in the United States?

Our practice brings the degree of intensity and sophistication to deals in Mexico that clients doing deals in Mexico require – the presence or absence of an office is not particularly relevant to them, particularly where we have such excellent relationships with the top Mexican law firms. Obviously, personal contact on a regular basis is important to any practice, and so we need to work harder to maintain the contact without an office.

What changes in the commercial and/or legal market do you anticipate in the 12 months ahead in Mexico?

Deals and clients will continue to be whipsawed between political forces on both side of the border that take inconsistent approaches to facilitating investment and investment security. That means a lower level of activity but more considered and solid deals being done. I suspect the usual suspect sectors will include energy and infrastructure, but also consumer goods and distribution and logistics.

What influence will legal technology have on US/Mexico working practices in the future?

Technology will continue to shrink the effects of geographic distances between the United States and Mexico. We have more means of communication with Mexican clients and counsel than ever.

What is your perception of in-house counsel’s priorities in terms of client service when working with US-based law firms?

Excellent quality; responsiveness; value for money – the same thing as sophisticated in-house counsel worldwide!

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