Practice Areas

Arbitration

Our Arbitration practice includes both domestic and international arbitrations, which either are ad hoc procedures or administered by the world’s leading arbitration institutions.

Our team’s wide experience provides a mastery of the different rules of procedure applicable, which ensures an efficient and successful case management. We also deal with arbitrations related to contractual disputes in infrastructure, construction and energy, among others. The team has wide experience in handling arbitrations against Mexican government entities, specifically state-owned companies from the energy sector, which the team collaborates with our Energy practice.

The arbitration team advises foreign investors with a comprehensive analysis of the applicable Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT) and the Free Trade Agreements (FTA), defining strategies to protect and defend their investments as broadly as possible.

One of the strengths that set us apart is our collaboration with other areas of the Firm, most of them recognized as leading practices in Mexico, which specialize in the specific subject matter of the arbitrations. We are able to combine our skills in oral and written defense with the strategic procedural decisions involved in a comprehensive far-reaching approach to the merits of every case. This allows us to represent our client’s interests in the most effective and efficient possible manner.

Another key advantage is our close collaboration with firms in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia, both for arbitration proceedings or as experts, which ensures that cases with an international element are handled by teams with extensive knowledge and experience in the applicable laws.

Galicia’s arbitration team hosts the Galicia Pre-Moot, an international event in which renowned Latin American arbitrators participate in practice rounds with the members of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna and the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong.

Our Arbitration practice is highly recognized at both national and international levels. It frequently receives feedback from both our clients and colleagues.

Chamber & Partners, The Legal 500, Latin Lawyer and other prestigious international legal directories recognize our Arbitration team as leader in Mexico, highlighting that its members are “analytical and that they understand the legal issues of every case and know the market really well. They have extensive experience in arbitration”.

Chambers & Partners renowned Rodrigo Zamora as a leader in the market (Band 1), and describes him as a “leading figure in the practice of litigation and arbitration”, who is “appreciated by clients who stress his empathy and connection”.

Cecilia Azar is well recognized as a leader in the local market and is praised internationally. Chambers & Partners describes her as a lawyer “very active in international and domestic arbitration”, and highlights that she is often engaged by local and international clients, and receives positive comments for her analytical skills, as well as her experience in the energy sector. In 2021, her name was added to the list of “Most in Demand Arbitrators”, being the first Mexican woman to belong to such list.

Additionally, both Rodrigo and Cecilia are considered as national and international arbitration leaders by Who’s Who Legal, and experts in arbitration in Latin America by The Legal 500 and Leaders League, among others.

Banking and Finance

Our banking & finance practice advises international and local lenders and borrowers in the structuring, negotiation, documentation and execution of financing transactions of all kinds. Our practice group also focuses on regulatory, compliance and risk management matters for financial institutions. Our team has presence in Mexico City and Monterrey.

We also provide advice to financial intermediaries on representation before Mexican financial regulatory authorities. Our practice group is frequently involved in M&A transactions in the financial services industry, and can offer unique capabilities in contentious matters and regulatory risk management. We also work closely with our Competition practice in regulatory matters related to antitrust investigations in the financial industry.

Our banking & finance practice is focused on:

• Cross-Border syndicated transactions: our practice has one of the busiest teams in the cross-border syndicated loan market, representing lenders and borrowers. We focus on highly complex transactions. We advise large Mexican borrowers and most of the global, international or local lenders participating in this market.
• Acquisition finance: our team has unparalleled experience in cross-border and local acquisition financings, teaming up with our M&A practice group in a seamless fashion.
• Sub-Sovereign financing: we are involved in sub-sovereign financing and refinancing representing both states and municipalities, as well as financial institutions in the implementation of financing and refinancing structures as well as on regulatory matters. We represent both banks and public entities in different debt structures, including securitizations.
• Real estate financing: our team has a unique experience in real estate financing for all asset classes, including commercial, residential, and industrial and hospitality properties in recourse, non-recourse and cross-collateralized structures. We work together with other practice groups on due diligence related to permits and licenses and on environmental matters.
• Regulatory work: unlike any other law firm in Mexico, we have a large and experienced team dedicated to local and international regulatory matters and investigations for financial institutions, including banks, brokerage firms, pension funds and insurance companies.

Our unrivalled experience has allowed us to gain extensive knowledge in several industries, in addition to the financial services, such as food & beverage, energy, oil & gas, retail, mining, ports, hospitality, maritime, transportation and real estate industries.

With over 25 practitioners, we have a market-leading team of banking & finance specialist with the depth and breadth to handle the most complex and significant transactions in the market. Our lawyers are known for their ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions.

The Firm’s banking & finance practice is routinely ranked as leading Firm in all relevant legal directories, with several of our partners recognized as leading lawyers.

The team is often involved in award-winning deals and, according to The Legal 500 “stands out for its experience and depth”.

Capital Markets

Galicia’s capital markets practice offers the full range of legal services across all stages and aspects of domestic and international capital markets transactions, helping clients to raise capital through debt, equity and equity-like products.

Our practice is known for unparalleled experience in project bonds, international debt offerings (144A debt issuances and Regulation S offerings), equity and equity-like transactions (IPOs and follow-on offerings), local debt transactions, public M&A transactions, asset securitizations and other structured financings.

The capital markets team has ample expertise and advises on corporate governance, compliance and other financial regulatory matters.

The capital markets team works closely with the firm’s energy, M&A and tax practice areas in securities and financing transactional work as well as with our litigation team on proceedings commenced by the Mexican securities regulator and/or that results from capital markets transactions.

We advise both issuers and underwriters and have extensive experience and deep knowledge in multiple industry sectors, including financial, hospitality, food & beverage, energy, oil & gas, retail, mining, transportation and real estate.

Our Firm boasts a market-leading capital markets team and is frequently involved in the most complex and high-profile transactions in the market.

Our capital markets practice is ranking in Tier 1 by Legal500 and in Band 2 by Chambers and Partners. Our key partners are lauded for their extensive experience, international profile and proactive, client-centric approach. Co-heads of practice, Guillermo Pérez Santiago and Maurice Berkman are recognized as Leading Individuals by several international publications and Chambers and Partners ranks Guillermo Pérez Santiago in Band 1 in Mexico and Latin America 2021 Guides.

Civil & Commercial Litigation

Our Civil and Commercial Litigation practice advises and represents our clients in sophisticated litigations arising out of different transactions. Additionally, the Civil and Commercial Litigation team, in collaboration with the Firm’s Restructuring and Insolvency practice, has wide experience in handling insolvency proceedings before Mexican Courts.

Together with the Firm’s transactional practice, we guide our clients in the inclusion of dispute resolution clauses in their contracts, verifying that the chosen dispute resolution mechanism is a tailor made suit and covers the needs of the specific operation.

One of the strengths that set us apart is our collaboration with other areas of the Firm, (most of them recognized as leading practices in Mexico), which specialize in the specific subject matter of the litigations. We are able to combine our skills in oral and written defense with the strategic procedural decisions involved in a comprehensive far-reaching approach to the merits of every case. This allows us to represent our client’s interests in the most effective and effcient possible manner.

Another key advantage is our close collaboration with firms in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia, which ensures that cases with an international element are handled by teams with extensive knowledge and experience in the applicable laws.

Our Civil and Commercial Litigation practice is highly recognized and frequently receives feedback from both our clients and colleagues.
Chambers & Partners highlights Galicia’s Civil and Commercial Litigation practice, as its members are “analytical and understand the legal issues of every case and know the market really well”. In addition, this practice area comes highly recommended by Latin Lawyer.

Rodrigo Zamora is ranked as a Band 2 in commercial litigation by Chambers & Partners, where he is described as a “leading figure in the practice”, who is “appreciated by clients for his empathy and connection”.

Competition and Regulated Industries

Compliance and Investigations

Our investigations & compliance practice advises foreign and domestic clients in connection with the design and implementation of anti-bribery, privacy, antitrust and general compliance policies and manuals.

Because of the Firm’s international client base and strong cross-border transactional practice, we are very familiar with the global compliance policies of our foreign clients and constantly work with them to harmonize such policies with Mexican law and business practices.

As part of these efforts, we design and provide bespoke training to executives, directors and employees on anticorruption, privacy, antitrust and other compliance matters.

Our transactional work includes working with our clients in the due diligence of potential acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, participation in public procurement processes and high profile recruiting.

Our investigations & compliance practice frequently advises and represents clients in investigations conducted by Mexican authorities in connection with potential violations of anti-bribery, financial, privacy and competition laws. We represent clients in investigations conducted by the Federal Competition Commission, the Federal Telecommunications Institute, the Rail Regulatory Agency, the National Banking and Securities Commission and the Federal Data Protection Institute.

Our administrative litigation capabilities allow us to assist clients in proceedings before the federal and state authorities, enforcing the aforementioned laws and in seeking judicial review of their resolutions before federal and state courts.

Galicia has had a constant focus on highly regulated industries, and is committed to helping its clients to deal effectively with regulatory compliance issues. The main regulated industries in which we are active include, healthcare, telecommunications, banking and financial services, energy and transportation.

Investigations practice has a strong team of professionals led by Carlos Chavez and Christian Lippert. Both expert lawyers recognized by international publications such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and Latin Lawyer.

Corporate Services

We offer assistance and solutions to our clients by providing corporate housekeeping services on their day-to-day operations. We have structured an efficient and effective platform with specialized corporate services lawyers and with a reduced cost, process driven and efficiency approach to these kind of more standardized services.

With these, we are able to support our clients with a wider, more constant and more complete range of services, outside of the transactional process, while we are able to consistently generate high quality documents and service at a competitive value.

Through this practice area, we support our clients with the incorporation, dissolution and liquidation of companies, dealings with public notaries, and publications in the electronic system established by the Mexican Ministry of Economy, granting of all types of powers-of-attorney, drafting and preparing partners and shareholders meetings, as well as assistance in merger proceedings of companies.

We also coordinate the fulfillment of obligations before the National Registry of Foreign Investments, and provide corporate housekeeping services to all types of Mexican companies.

Our corporate services team offers advice on annual general meetings, including reviewing annual report and accounts, business reviews, directors’ remuneration reports and minutes of meetings, corporate governance issues, share capital and shareholder rights including redenomination of share capital, class rights, conversion rights, redemption and transfer of shares or other securities and financial assistance issues, directors’ indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies, company formation and administration.

Customs and International Trade

Our customs and international trade practice focuses on advising domestic and international clients on issues arising from the global trade of goods and services. We assist our clients through strategic planning, project development and the maximization of opportunities offered to them by the Mexican legal framework and the international trade and investment agreements signed by our country.

We work with clients on the implementation of the various mechanisms established in Mexico to promote manufacturing, importation and exportation of goods, such as the Maquila (IMMEX) and PROSEC Programs, Value Added Tax Certification, etc.

Likewise, we assist our clients in the complex process of tariff classification of goods, obtaining import and export permits, licenses and certificates; as well as in the assessment of compliance with obligations applicable to imports and exports operations for the prevention of contingencies in matters related to M&A, infrastructure, oil and gas, and project financing transactions.

We actively participate in local and foreign antidumping and subsidies investigations, application of safeguard measures, and litigation and arbitration proceedings on customs and trade matters.

We offer specialized knowledge of the rules and regulations applicable to the international trade of goods and services, in accordance with the WTO and its various trade agreements, which allow us to offer our clients comprehensive services in this area.

Our specialized customs and trade team has extensive experience advising leading companies in oil and gas, renewable energy, electricity, mining, telecommunications, e-commerce and retail industries, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, automotive and chemical.

Our team stands out for being pioneers in the development of the PROSEC Program for the electric power industry associated with the generation of clean power and renewable energy, as well as for being an active player in the negotiation and renegotiation of Free Trade Agreements, working alongside our clients in consultative bodies such as the “Cuarto de Junto”.

The leading international directories recognize our team as experts. The Legal 500 highlights clients’ appreciation of the team’s “reactivity, pertinent questions, and ability to adapt to clients’ needs: the firm delivers on its promises in terms of time and quality”.

Energy (Oil & Gas, Renewables & Power)

 Galicia has an industry-focused, multi-disciplinary energy practice and one of the most recognized and experienced teams in Mexico. Galicia is the only firm in Mexico with a dedicated energy team comprised of highly experienced lawyers led by five partners. The energy practice combines transactional strengths with highly specialized regulatory capabilities, supported by strong strategic litigation and arbitration teams.

Our expertise includes the main regulatory, commercial and financial strengths needed to develop and finance a full-array of energy projects. At the same time, we have the expert support of strategic areas, such as environmental, real estate, capital markets, commercial and administrative litigation, antitrust, international trade, among others, with an outstanding level of expertise and knowledge of the energy industry, its regulations, market and participants.

Oil & Gas

Our team has been pioneer in the sector in Mexico, which allows us to maintain a strong presence in the different markets of the industry. We participated in the first projects in the sector in Mexico and were involved in the design of innovative legal and contractual structures, including (i) the first privately-owned natural gas pipeline, (ii) the first privately-owned gas compression offshore platform, (iii) the nitrogen supply facility for maintaining the pressure in the Cantarell and Ku-Maalob-Zaap oil fields; (iv) some of the first production sharing and license agreements for exploration and production (E&P) contracts with the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH), along with alliances with Pemex (farmouts) for onshore as well as shallow and deep waters fields; (v) the development of infrastructure for oil treatment plants and related pipelines, and (vi) the first acquisition of privately owned production blocks awarded under the E&P rounds.

Likewise, we have been involved in the financing and development of projects for the construction and operation of infrastructure necessary for the import, storage, transportation, distribution and retail of gas and liquid fuels, including port facilities, pipelines and compression stations.

Power

We are also proud to have been industry pioneers in the power sector in Mexico after the opening of the sector to private investment in 1994. We participated in the structuring, development; financing and operation of the first independent power production, self-supply and export projects in the electricity sector.

We contribute our legal expertise in complex and high profile transactions, advising our clients on all aspects of local and cross-border project development and financing, M&A transactions, joint ventures, regulation, market and trading, disputes, competition/antitrust, environmental and public procurement.

We represent the full spectrum of industry participants, including sponsors, developers, project companies, financial institutions, multilateral agencies, export credit agencies, investors, insurers and contractors. Our experience extends to all areas involved in the development of infrastructure for the power sector, including, among others, development, financing, acquisition and/or sale of generation facilities, transmission lines and substations.

Renewables

Our experience in power related activities extends to all assets in the renewable sector, including wind, solar, biomass and hydro projects, covering regulatory, real estate, clean energy certificates and market trading matters.

Our services are offered to all the participants in the energy sector, including developers, sponsors, commercial and development banks, multilateral agencies, capital markets, construction companies, suppliers, operators, traders and consumers.

Galicia has the largest and most experienced dedicated energy team in the market with 5 partners with extensive experience and international recognition, as well as a group of qualified lawyers.

For almost two decades, we have been consistently ranked in Band 1 across the main legal directories, and received ample praise for our “extremely good track-record” (The Legal 500) or “very strong and experienced lawyers” (Chambers and Partners). Our team frequently receives industry accolades from leading business publications and is constantly involved in award-winning transactions.

Environmental

Our Environmental practice is renowned for its strong team of professionals with in depth experience in both transactional work doing corporate environmental law, but also on complex environmental regulatory issues regarding, water and wastewater, site contamination, waste management and environmental impact and other environmental regulated matters.

We add value to our client’s daily operations by being available to give advice in direct communication with industrial facilities, with a preventive approach and help them navigate through the complexities of complying with ever evolving environmental regulations.

Another element that distinguishes our practice is the support of strong litigation and arbitration practice groups. This support helps us make a more in-depth risk analysis and also guarantees that we are able to defend the environmental strategies we propose to our clients within a transaction or in everyday situations.

We are the leading firm for environmental work in Project related matters, with emphasis in energy (power and oil & gas), real estate and regulated industries, including, ports, roads, water projects and pharmaceutical, among others. The experience of our team and the strength of our Projects (Energy & Infrastructure) and M&A practice groups allows us to add value to our clients from all perspectives; sponsors, lenders, buyers or sellers alike.

Our team of specialists allows us to deliver sophisticated technical solutions to complex regulatory problems, while also advise our clients on the environmental transactional aspects of an operation and defend our strategies and clients before authorities or third parties. This integrated capability is unique in the Mexican market.

The leading partners of our environmental practice area are recognized by international directories. Chambers and Partners describes Mariana Herrero as “a great specialist, meticulous and very technical, who provides excellent client service”. Carlos Escoto is recognized as an expert in environmental matters.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

We oer unique tailor-made, comprehensive advisory capacity, in all legal and compliance issues related to the environment, climate change, social impact, fundamental labor rights including diversity, equality and inclusion, sustainable finance and investments, corporate governance, disclosure and transparency frameworks, sustainable project financing, energy and renewables and other areas that are central to the ESG global agenda.

Among other services, the ESG team can assist clients in adopting policies, conducting due diligence, carrying out sustainable projects and investments and comply with the highest standards of corporate governance, as well as exploring ways to prevent, mitigate and remedy actual and potential human rights, social or environmental impacts.

Galicia’s main dierentiator, as a leading Mexican firm, is an integral legal service oer that includes a combination of our unparalleled experience in transactional work, regulatory and compliance strengths and strategic litigation capabilities.

Our team of experts advise on the main legal matters regarding the following areas of our ESG practice:

• Environmental and Climate Regulation aspects including, climate change (biodiversity, water, land and forests), sustainable resource management, environmental impact and risk, environmental licensing, circular economy, renewable energy transition, energy eciency, carbon footprint and markets, wastes and water management.
• Social, Human Rights and Pro Bono work which includes, pro bono work, labor standards and employee relations, human rights (due diligence in investigation on human rights and labor violations, structuring of policies), health and wellness, stakeholder and community engagement.
• Governance and Risk Management issues like corporate reputation, corporate governance, anti-bribery and corruption, compliance, data protection and privacy, company director liabilities, ESG performance and disclosure, financial reporting and risk/crisis management.
• Sustainable Finance and Investments such as, green bonds, sustainability investments and social bonds, gender bonds, private equity, structured finance, ESG funds and environmental assets.

Labor

In an ever changing landscape with growing demands from labor unions and the need to develop innovative strategies for talent retention, our labor & employment practice advises multinational businesses to manage their day-to-day employment related requirements.

We are best known for our consultancy services in labor and employment related aspects stemming from transactional work, including due diligence, drafting and revision of asset and stock purchase agreements, labor restructures, employee transfer mechanisms, downsizing and mass layoffs.

Our labor and employment practice works in close collaboration with our M&A, Energy, Tax, Environmental and ESG groups in order to provide a business oriented, integrated service.

The scope of our consultancy services includes assisting clients during the entire course of employment, from recruiting practices to termination; compliance with local labor and employment laws; government inspections; work place investigations, including sexual harassment; inclusion, diversity and workplace discrimination; employment related policies; safety and health matters, including psychosocial risks; executive compensation and benefits; industrial relations and collective bargaining; subcontracting of work; expatriate personnel; telework; confidentiality agreements and employee invention assignment agreements; employee data privacy; specialized training on employment matters for HR departments; and social security.

We offer proactive counseling and risk prevention strategies in all aspects of workplace law to national and international clients in every industry.

All members of the practice group are bilingual and stay up-to-date on labor regulations derived from international treaties such as the USMCA and ILO Conventions.

Recently, our team has advised clients from all industrial sectors on labor issues arising from the Covid-19 health emergency, including the implementation of protocols for the safe return to the workplace.

Further, we have helped clients from all industries in the analysis, strategy, and implementation of the labor subcontracting reform recently enacted.

Infrastructure

Our infrastructure practice advises on all phases of the asset life cycle of large-scale infrastructure and landmark construction projects, from concession agreements, public-private partnership (3P) structures, project acquisitions, financing, capital raising, to portfolio management, restructuring, dispute resolution, and asset sales.

Working closely with both private and public clients, as well as financing entities, we have gained a broad experience particularly in roads, airports, railroads, social infrastructure projects (such as governmental offices, hospitals and correctional facilities), tele-communications and urban infrastructure (such as water pipelines, water treatment plants, water desalinization plants, sanitation systems, and waste management centers).

Our infrastructure practice is highly accomplished in the negotiation of concession titles at federal and state level, public-private partnership (3Ps), services contracts, public works contracts, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contracts and operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts.

We are also actively involved in the financing of complex infrastructure projects through non-recourse or limited recourse structures and related payment mechanisms based on the revenue generated by the operation of such projects.

Our team has extensive experience in structuring and documenting financing and guaranty mechanisms based on the flow of funds originating from the operation of such projects, including governmental guaranties, which are typical in this type of transactions.

We make a difference by combining our transactional muscle with strategic litigation capabilities and financial regulation, environmental, tax and real estate expertise.

Our infrastructure team represents all participants in infrastructure projects: sponsors, project companies, financial institutions (commercial and development banks), private equity funds, multilateral agencies, governmental entities, export credit agencies, insurers and contractors.

We have advised governmental entities in the design of bidding guidelines, its instrumentation, negotiation and drafting of the actual project agreements, as well as during all the stages of the bidding process and until the award of the concession titles and contracts. On the other side, we have represented companies during the bidding processes, the financing and construction of the projects and all legal aspects of their operation.

Our infrastructure team is highly experienced and technically outstanding with strong regulatory capabilities. It includes highly specialized project finance and regulatory lawyers, and builds on the Firm’s strengths in banking, capital markets, corporate and M&A, real estate, litigation, tax and environmental law. Our practice combines a pragmatic and commercial approach, with a deep regulatory knowledge. We consistently work hand in hand with other strategic practice groups, in order to provide our clients an integrated and comprehensive service, and a full understanding of the different risks to consider when structuring sophisticated project development and financings.

Few firms can match Galicia’s market-leading position in infrastructure matters. We have been honored “Best Infrastructure Law Firm in Latin America” for two consecutive years in 2017 and 2018 by IJ Global, and participate in many award-winning infrastructure and project finance deals every year.

Insurance

Galicia´s insurance practice group is an interdisciplinary team of lawyers with experience in insurance transactions, regulation and litigation.

Galicia has represented several major international and local investors in M&A transactions involving Mexican insurance companies. We have represented sellers, buyers and strategic partners in the negotiation and drafting of acquisition documentation, joint venture agreements and other ancillary agreements required to formalize each transaction.

Likewise, we have participated in the incorporation of several Mexican and affiliates of foreign insurance companies, assisting our clients with the setting up of the relevant corporate vehicles and obtaining the authorizations required from the corresponding financial authorities and the Federal Antitrust Commission.

Additionally, we advise several insurance and reinsurance institutions on their ordinary course operations, on regulatory matters and compliance investigations. Members of our firm serve and have served as directors on the boards of different insurance companies in Mexico.

Galicia has also advised local insurance companies in connection with the analysis and of claims and the negotiation of claims with reinsurers.

Galicia litigates high profile cases in state and federal courts, as well as before domestic and international arbitral tribunals, on behalf of insurers, insureds, and insurance brokers.

Intellectual Property

Our intellectual property practice covers the development of complex intellectual property protection and enforcement strategies, as well as advisory with respect to transactions involving substantial intellectual property content across a wide range of sectors, including pharmaceutical, telecommunications and technology, entertainment, fintech, finance and banking, retail and consumer goods industries. The IP practice group’s expertise ranges from the prosecution and enforcement of trademarks, slogans, copyrights and software in Mexico and abroad, to the preparation and negotiation of IP related agreements (including software and databases), such as assignments, licenses and franchises.

These services comprise the development of strategies to protect our clients’ IP rights against infringement, unlawful use and piracy, including tactical registration proceedings and arbitration relating to domain names; due diligence and IP transactions; unfair competition and false advertising.

Galicia is also distinguished for representing top international and local software corporations in their technology operations, with ample expertise advising in the fields of fintech, mobile APPs and software solutions, digital rights management and personal data protection.

Our data protection work can be divided in two main areas: (i) day to day compliance, where we assist clients in designing and implementing their compliance policies and manuals; preparing and reviewing privacy notices and privacy policies regarding personal information, including copies of internal guidelines, policies to protect personal information against loss and against unauthorized access, use, modification, disclosure or other misuse; preparing and negotiating data processing agreements and pro forma clauses for third-party contracting, and generally; on compliance of privacy obligations under applicable Mexican law (whether as data controllers or data processors), including in cases of the exercise of any access, rectification, cancellation or opposition (“ARCO”) rights and their businesses daily activities, and (ii) transactional compliance, where we advise clients in connection with the compliance angles of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures.

Our data protection team advises foreign and domestic clients in connection with the design and implementation of data protection policies and manuals. Being a corporate firm with a premiere transactional and cross border practice, we are familiar with the global compliance policies of our foreign clients and constantly work with them to harmonize such policies with Mexican law and practice.

Our data protection team constantly advises and represents our clients in investigations conducted by Mexican authorities in connection with potential violations of privacy law. In addition to the foregoing, our administrative litigation capabilities allow us to assist clients in proceedings before the Data Privacy Regulator under the Data Privacy Act and its regulation.

Life Sciences

Our Life Sciences practice offers assistance and advice on the regulatory aspects of the manufacture, importation, exportation, release, sale, labelling, promotion, advertising and distribution of pharmaceutical products (large and small molecules), medical devices, human vaccines, cannabis derivatives, vaping devices, food, beverages, food supplements, health services, eHealth, mHealth, health supplies, cosmetics and facilities.

Our practice also advices on mergers, divestures, acquisitions, manufacturing, license (in & out) and joint ventures in Mexico’s dynamic life sciences industry.

We also advice on the regulatory, healthcare and environmental aspects of the planning, construction and operation of biological facilities. Also, we advice on human clinical research matters, regulatory data protection, public procurement and intellectual property aspects of medicines and medical devices.

Our services include advice in public tenders, the drafting and negotiation of distribution agreements, public-private partnerships agreements, clinical trials and assets and/or share purchase agreements, in- and out-licensing, assignment of marketing authorizations (registros sanitarios), manufacturing, supply, research and development agreements, compliance, public policy matters and antitrust aspects of the pharmaceutical industry.

Our Life Sciences practice represents leading pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufactures, food and food supplement companies, think tanks and trade associations in healthcare-related matters in Mexico.

We advise industrial clients in the regulatory aspects of the manufacturing, registration, importation, exportation and commercialization of pesticides, precursor chemicals, and other controlled substances (such as solvents, reagents or catalysts).

The Life Sciences team is a multidisciplinary practice made up of industry specialists, complemented by our market leading M&A, antitrust, tax, international commerce, compliance, ESG, environmental, and litigation (both administrative and commercial) practitioners, covering the full spectrum of health-related legal issues.

Our practice is recognized by major international directories as a Band 1 practice. Our team is led by Bernardo Martínez-Negrete, recognized by The Legal 500 as a “Leading Individual” and Chambers and Partners recognizes our counsel Lisandro Herrera as an “Associate to Watch”.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Our Mergers and Acquisitions practice is internationally recognized for its leading transactional team. We have gained considerable experience managing many of the most relevant, complex and high-value M&A transactions in Mexico. Additionally, we advise our clients on a wide range of corporate issues, private equity and strategic investments, and joint ventures.

Our leadership position in M&A is based on the work we carry out with our strategic regulatory practices of antitrust, tax and litigation that are frequently involved in large-scale M&A transactions. What sets us apart is our depth regulatory expertise and our ability to attend every type of litigation arising out of M&A transactions. In cross border deals, we are used to work seamlessly alongside global elite firms in an efficient and coordinated manner.

We are recognized as taking a balanced approach to M&A transactions for being creative and innovatory, while always ensuring that our clients remain protected.

Over the years, we have built up a wealth of experience in certain industries, such as infrastructure, energy, financial services, real estate, hospitality, technology, manufacturing, retail and education. We also work in regulated industries, such as telecommunications and life sciences.

What makes us different in our approach and experience is how we counsel our clients. Complex and innovative operations require a multidisciplinary perspective which we are able to offer given our areas of practice that bring together knowledge and experience in the industry concerned.

We have developed considerable experience in private equity investment in different industries. We also assess our clients in the best way to implement environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) in their transactions.

Our clients include private and public companies, individuals, small family businesses, as well as large corporate institutions, multinational and national equity funds. We counsel them in their most strategic and representative operations.

Our global approach towards business and our solid links with the best firms in the most important processes of jurisdiction in the world, significantly strengthen our ability to offer advice not only to our clients but also to foreign firms. This confirms our international presence. The number of lawyers and their considerable experience in all areas of practice in our firm, makes us unique in the Mexican market. Our M&A area is the biggest practice of the firm and epicentre of our transactional approach, with partners and their multidisciplinary teams dedicated to attending our clients based on their specific needs.

We are recognized as the undisputed leader of the market in Band 1 of the most prestigious international directories, such as Chambers and Partners, FILR1000 and Legal500. Not only have we been recognized as “Corporate Firm of the Year” in the IFLR Americas Awards, but also we are the only Mexican firm to be nominated “Latin America Firm of the Year”, by Chambers and Partners.

Mining

Galicia is one of the few top firms offering a dedicated mining practice, and works with leading international and domestic mining, metals and other natural resources companies active in Mexico.

In Mexico, specialized mining services are offered almost exclusively by small boutique firms that lack the capacity of handling complex legal transactions. Galicia can not only offer such specialized regulatory advise but can also deliver best in class services to cover any type of transaction involving mining companies and their assets, ranging from large-scale mining projects and their financing to local and cross-border M&A and financial transactions.

Our strength lies in delivering a comprehensive service to our clients that blends our unrivalled legal know-how with a sector-specific experience and a deep understanding of the business issues that drive this industry.

In this heavily regulated sector, we can offer clients distinctive capabilities related to health, safety and environmental issues, and have a broad experience in dealing with relevant authorities. The team is able to leverage these capabilities in audits, inspections and in dealing with community consultations.

Our cross-practice mining team consists of a stellar combination of transactional, regulatory and litigations lawyers, who all have a demonstrated record of accomplishment in the industry. The team is able to offer a full service offering across the entire life cycle of mining projects.

Our natural resources team is an undisputed market leader, and is ranked as a top-tier firm in the leading international legal directories.

Project Finance

Our Projects Finance practice offers advice on the development, financing, negotiation, construction, operation, restructuring and sale of long-term infrastructure and energy projects. We advise clients on different kinds of non-recourse or limited recourse financing structures, the negotiation of concession titles at a federal and state level, service agreements, power purchase agreements, PPP structures, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, and operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts.

Our team also has extensive experience in organizing and documenting financing and guarantee mechanisms based on the resources obtained from the operation of such projects, including governmental guarantees, which are typical in these types of transactions.

We make the difference by combining our transactional muscle with strategic litigation capabilities and unique expertise in financial regulation, environment, antitrust and real estate.

We are particularly experienced in the energy sector, where we frequently participate in upstream, midstream and downstream oil & gas projects (pipelines, compression stations, offshore platforms, petrochemical plants) and power projects (power plants, renewable energy projects). Our practice also regularly advises on urban infrastructure projects (waste management, water treatment plants), social infrastructure projects (governmental offices, hospitals and correctional facilities), and transportation projects (toll roads, railroads, ports and airports), telecommunications facilities and other government owned infrastructure projects.

We represent all participants in infrastructure projects: sponsors, project companies, financial institutions (commercial and development banks), private equity funds, multilateral agencies, governmental entities, export credit agencies, insurers and contractors. We have a strong record of accomplishment in advising governmental entities in the design of bidding guidelines, its instrumentation, negotiation and drafting of the actual project agreements, as well as during all the stages of the bidding process and until the award of the concession titles and contracts. On the other side, we have represented companies during the bidding processes, the financing and construction of the projects and all legal aspects of their operation.

Alejandro de la Borbolla, Carlos de Maria y Campos, Bernardo Martínez-Negrete and Francisco Fernández Cueto co-head Galicia ’s Projects Group. We have one of the largest and most experienced teams in Mexico, which is recognized for its outstanding quality, deep knowledge and excellent service.

The team includes highly specialized project finance lawyers, and builds on the Firm’s strengths in banking, capital markets, antitrust, corporate and M&A, real estate, litigation, tax and environmental law.

Our team combines a pragmatic and commercial approach, with a deep regulatory knowledge. We consistently work with other strategic practice groups, in order to provide our clients an integrated service, and a full understanding of the different risks to consider when structuring sophisticated project developments and financings.

Real Estate

Our real estate practice advises clients on the most demanding real estate projects and transactions in the market.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, we offer clients comprehensive services and integrated advice on acquisition and dispositions, public and private market joint ventures, structuring and formation of private equity funds and REITs, capital raising, securities offerings, portfolio- and asset-level financings, leasing and property management on behalf of landlords and tenants, real estate litigation, and environmental and regulatory matters involving real estate projects.

Our real estate practice is known for its creativity and effective, approach, combining in-depth regulatory expertise in environment, financial services and energy, with strategic litigation capabilities and our market-leading transactional expertise.

The real estate practice advises both private and public sector clients, including developers, private equity funds and family offices, investors, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other investment vehicles (such as CKDs), managers, lenders and major national and international corporations.

We work with leading companies active in the residential, commercial and industrial real estate markets, and with a proven record of accomplishment in Mexico’s fast-growing tourism and hospitality industry.

Our full-service real estate practice is particularly experienced in advising large, international players investing in Mexican real estate assets.

The Firm’s real estate practice consists of a cross-practice team of industry specialists, offering market-leading capabilities in tax, M&A, securities, asset based and corporate finance, environmental, regulatory and litigation. The team is known for its commercial focus, industry knowledge and extensive cross-border experience.

Our real estate practice garners praise from leading directories such as Legal500 and Chambers and Partners, which highlight the team’s empathy, proactivity and availability.

Restructuring & Insolvency

Our restructuring and insolvency practice actively participates in restructurings, distressed asset transactions, and preventive financial restructuring. Our team has the experience and technical expertise to provide legal advice in any of these areas to both debtors and creditors.

We have participated in some of the most significant insolvency proceedings and out-of-court restructurings and reorganizations in the country. When we represent debtors, our advisory services cover the day-to-day operations of a company in financial distress, where decision-making becomes very different from that of a solvent company. We can assist such clients along every step of the entire financial restructuring and insolvency process. We have experience negotiating and implementing debt-restructuring transactions, as well as accompanying our clients during the pendency of bankruptcy proceedings.

Our distressed assets transactional advice focuses on leveraged buyouts, distressed M&A, corporate break-ups and spin-offs, divestitures, non/performing loan portfolio transactions, and distressed financing.

Tax (Consultancy, Controversy & Litigation)

Our tax team offers specialized services across a wide range of tax related matters, such as consulting, controversy and litigation.

Considering the growing diversity and complexity of business structures and transactions across all areas of economic activity, our tax consulting services offer the development and implementation of innovative legal strategies to minimize our clients’ tax exposure. Taking advantage of our in-depth knowledge of the national tax system, international tax treaties as well as of the tax consequences thereof, we enhance our clients’ efficiency and profitability.

Our tax practice works in close collaboration with our M&A, Capital Markets, and other practices in order to provide an integrated service, advising our clients on the most suitable structure considering their goals and objectives.

We advise our clients on tax inquiries pertaining their day-to-day operations, as well as on corporate restructures involving mergers, spin-offs, or any other corporate act that allows our clients to conduct business efficiently, always in full compliance with Mexican tax provisions and obligations.

Likewise, we have vast experience and capabilities advising Galicia’s banking, infrastructure and energy clients, in the review and optimization of the financial models that are carried out, with the objective of analyzing the application of the tax provisions for both investment and disinvestment in their projects.

Similarly, Galicia’s tax team has solid expertise in fund formation, particularly those involving private equity and real estate projects. We provide our clients with advice on compliance with tax obligations with respect to the structures and vehicles used to carry out investments in this type of projects, such as Mexican Trusts (e.g. FIBRA, FICAP, CERPI, passive trust, business trust), Mexican entities or even through other types of foreign vehicles (e.g. Trust, LP).

Galicia is aware that when it comes to taxes, controversies may arise. That is why we have strengthened and complemented our tax services by offering our clients cutting-edge capabilities to avoid and effectively resolve complex tax disputes.

From the dispute avoidance perspective, our team is able to provide high-level tax risks assessments, in order to identify any tax liabilities the client could be exposed to and to suggest strategies for managing such risks.

Our team has relevant on-the-ground experience in handling sophisticated tax audits on transfer pricing, financial system, international taxation and digital services among other issues. Deep knowledge in alternative dispute resolution procedures allows us to offer our clients not only an effective solution to solve the case at hand, but also to preserve a good long-term relationship with the tax authorities through an open and cooperative communication.

Our tax litigation practice group is a remarkable handpicked team, recognized for its ability to develop strategic litigations. We offer advice on all appropriate means of defense against resolutions issued by tax authorities, offering the best legal strategies and solutions for our clients and accompanying them in every step of any litigation process.

Relevant and important precedents have been obtained in favor of clients known as key players in their industries through administrative appeals, nullity claims before the Federal Administrative Court and constitutional claims before District Courts, Circuit Courts and the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice.

Our consulting, controversy and litigation tax teams work together in a collaborative environment, in order to provide the clients with a pro-business, practical and holistic approach and solution to their needs.

Galicia is fully committed to building a market-leading tax practice, with full-service capabilities on the transactional, advisory and litigation front. The team has been reinforced significantly in the last few years, and is now made up of nearly 20 professionals, including five partners.

The tax team is recognized by Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, the latter praising the team’s “great technical capabilities and exceptional relationships with clients”. It is also included in ITR World Tax rankings for both its “transactional tax” and “corporate tax” rankings.

Technology & Telecomm

Our Technology practice is supported by a multidisciplinary team, coordinated by our partner Ricardo García, in which partners and lawyers from various practice areas such as Tax, Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking and Finance, Labor, Life Sciences, Intellectual Property, Personal Data Protection, among others, participate whenever their expertise comes into play. We differentiate by providing a comprehensive service, relying on the specialization of our lawyers and focusing on the particular needs of each of our clients. In addition, we recognize the cross-border scope of technology regulation, so we provide a global service, in collaboration with the most recognized law firms in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Our Technology practice represents and advises clients in keeping up to date with regulations and investigations initiated by Mexico’s governing bodies, and assists clients in connection with securing new concessions, permits and licenses, completing mergers and acquisitions in the various technology-related industries, obtaining secured and unsecured financings for such endeavors, structuring and formalizing joint ventures, negotiating and preparing key operational arrangements and agreements, as well as planning and implementing tax-efficient corporate structures. We work with clients on various issues relating to e-commerce and other internet-related business technology, including marketing and distribution, licensing, payment systems, data collection and protection, and related consumer legislation.

Our team of professionals structures and negotiates agreements and provides sophisticated business advice on the legal and commercial issues that arise in complex, multi-jurisdictional technology transactions, including software and information technology licensing and procurement, outsourcing arrangements, and development, collaboration, patent licensing, and distribution deals. Galicia is also distinguished for representing top international and local software corporations in their technology operations, with ample expertise advising in the fields of mobile APPs and software solutions, digital rights management and personal data protection.

Our regulatory strength also allows us to advise on related matters such as privacy, consumer protection, and public procurement, anticorruption and antitrust. In addition, our administrative litigation capabilities allow us to assist clients in proceedings before relevant regulators, including specialized federal courts under the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Act, the Federal Competition Act and regulation issued thereunder. We have particular experience in proceedings before the privacy regulator (INAI) that involve telecommunications services, privacy and data protection issues.

The Firm has advised several big-tech companies, Fintechs and startups in connection with the Mexican Fintech regulatory landscape, including crowdfunding, e-money institutions, online lending, digital payments, cryptocurrencies and regulatory sandbox, among others. In this respect, our advisory has comprised assisting clients with the design and development of compliant business models, in accordance with the frameworks applicable to their specific products and services. We have also advised companies and financial entities in connection with the structuring of partnerships and joint ventures for purposes of collaborating in the offering of user-facing Fintech products.

Galicia’s Fintech practice has advised diverse venture capital funds and Fintech companies in connection with regulatory licensing processes followed before Mexican financial regulators.

Our Technology practice is recognized by The Legal500, praising the team’s “excellent service with availability and engagement”.

Wealth Management

Our wealth management practice offers comprehensive, market-leading expertise in relation to the legal aspects of estate and succession planning, including tax, corporate governance, real estate, wills, trusts, regulatory compliance and litigation risk management.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, we offer our clients customized solutions that optimize control, management and protection of assets, organize structured transfers of assets to the next generations.

In addition to planning and creating efficient structures, our wealth management practice provides ongoing advice to our clients, particularly family offices, in the daily operation of those structures and assist with any changes, adjustments or implementations required in connection thereto. The wealth management practice benefits greatly from our regulatory strengths in the financial services sector. When litigation becomes unavoidable, we have a proven record of accomplishment of defending our clients in court.

Galicia’s wealth management practice acts as trusted advisor to individuals, families, family offices and trustees and help them navigating an increasingly complex, regulated and international environment.

Our wealth management practice consists of a specialized, cross-practice team that combines deep expertise across, corporate, real estate, tax and dispute resolution. Because many of our clients and their assets operate in a global environment, we commonly collaborate with foreign firms and advisors in order to provide our clients with seamless cross border advice with respect to their international assets and/or the situation of their foreign family members.