DLA Piper Mexico
DLA Piper Mexico is a critical cog in the firm’s global dispute resolution offering. The offices arbitral practice is coordinated by Kate Brown de Vejar, who is ‘at the top of her game’ and acts of co-chair of the global international arbitration practice, as well as deputy managing partner of the Mexico office. While remaining active internationally, Brown de Vejar and her team have enhanced the practice’s visibility in the domestic Mexican market in recent years and have become particularly well-established in the energy space, including electricity generation and renewables. Co-head of the firm’s Latin America dispute resolution practice Gabriela Álvarez-Ávila ’brings a truly international wealth of knowledge’ and focuses on international arbitration particularly in relation to investment law. Additional figures of note include Antonio Cárdenas, who specialises in obtaining amparos suspending government measures ending resolution of the merits of arbitration; and younger partner Daniel González Estrada who has extensive experience in obtaining provisional measures and the enforcement of arbitral awards before Mexican courts. At associate level, Fernando Osawa E provides dedicated support. Senior figure Gerardo Lozano Alarcón departed the firm in 2022 to establish a practice as a solo arbitrator.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘During proceedings the DLA team exhibited minute knowledge about how incremental regulatory changes affected the industry and the company, and how these changes were subject to various international agreements and treaties. The also showed a keen awareness of precedent that was favorable to their client. With these facts in mind they advanced the proceedings in a strategically advantageous way in order to optimize the outcome for their client.'
- 'DLA had an extremely strong team headed by Kate Brown de Vejar. In addition to very strong representation during the actual tribunal, the team doing preparation, from background research to preparation for witnesses was extremely hard working and diligent. They had experts obviously in the legal matters at hand but also in other less visible areas such as language experts to assess the native language testimony and the demeanor of witnesses, also IT savvy team members to build impactful visual presentations to name a few.'
- 'From a diversity standpoint, the team was truly international, and the three main partners were women. I have never seen, and I think it would be unusual at other firms to see team leadership comprised as such.’
‘Kate Brown de Vejar is amazing. She is at the top of her game and showed it during the tribunal proceedings. Counsel from the other side was poor in comparison. Her understanding of client needs and issues, her sense of teamwork and leadership, and her grasp of the industry, company, and case overall was outstanding. I believe that almost every word she utters is well thought out calculated to best represent her client's needs. From preparation to tribunal, overall unequivocally excellent.
- 'Gabriela Alvarez-Avila brings a truly international wealth of knowledge and experience. She was incredibly focused on the client, their needs, and how to bring the case forward in a way that was most advantageous to them. Her willingness to talk to, and work with clients and the outside consultants was exceptional, and her communication ability and overall sense of empathy really made teamwork easy, and enjoyable. Her understanding of the case and industry overall were top level and without her the team would not have been nearly as successful.’
Key clients
- Government of the Republic of Lithuania
Work highlights
- Defending the Republic of Lithuania against a claim brought by a Russian fund in respect of the nationalisation of Banka’s Snoras.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Kate Brown de Vejar