Maria Gabriela Alaña Castro

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Maria Gabriela Alaña Castro advises Mexican and foreign entities on real estate, corporate, financial and banking matters. Maria represents Mexican and foreign real estate developers of office, multi-family, retail and resort project. She also counsels clients in matters relating to the development and implementation of corporate and financial structures and has broad experience representing clients in acquisitions and dispositions.

Maria is a member of DLA Piper’s North American Pro Bono Committee.

Experience:

– Grupo Sordo Madaleno: all aspects of the acquisition of real estate in multiple Mexican states and drafting and negotiating joint ventures with foreign and local partners for the construction,development and operation of mixed-use projects, including office and retail
– Grupo Sordo Madaleno: joint investment with one of the largest Canadian pension funds for MX$2,500 million pesos (US$130 million) to develop and operate mixed-use projects in strategic locations in México City and various Mexican states
– Desarrollos Inmobiliarios Mar y Tierra, S.A. de C.V.: drafting and negotiating a joint venture with a local partner for the construction, development and operation of a mixed-use project, including office and retail, in the high-end Polanco area in México City, and the implementation of an administration trust agreement
– Bovis Lend Lease, S.A. de C.V.: drafting project management agreements for the development of office space and negotiating project management agreements
– Large and medium-sized clients (both landlords and tenants) in drafting and negotiating office leases in Class A and stand-alone premises, and drafting and negotiating lease and other guarantees
– Prudential Real Estate Investments: acquisition of properties in various states in México, negotiation of JVs with local partners for the development, management and operation of industrial parks, and drafting and negotiating landlords in build-to-suit leases
– Controladora de Terminales de México: drafting and negotiating build to suit and other leases
– Marriott: due diligence for the acquisition of land in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur México, for the development of a hotel and residential project, and the negotiation of a lease for Marriott’s corporate offices in México City

Admissions:

United Mexican States

Prior Experience:

Before joining DLA Piper, Maria was a partner in the law firm Gallástegui y Lozano, S.C. GyL, which combined with DLA Piper in February 2015. Earlier in her career, Maria practiced in a prominent Mexican law firm, focusing on real estate, corporate and securities matters. She was also a banker at BBVA Bancomer, one of México’s largest banks.

Education:

– LL.M., International Business Transactions, University of San Francisco 2000
– Law Degree (Licenciatura en Derecho), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico 1996

Law Firm:

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world.

We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality and value to our clients.

We achieve this through practical and innovative legal solutions that help our clients succeed. We deliver consistent services across our platform of practices and sectors in all matters we undertake.

Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies. They include more than half of the Fortune 250 and nearly half of the FTSE 350 or their subsidiaries. We also advise governments and public sector bodies.

Daniel García Barragán López

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Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico.

Daniel Graduated from the Faculty of Law, National Autonomous University of Mexico (2012), with an Honorable Mention.

Education: Postgraduate Studies Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration. International Chamber of Commerce / Escuela Libre de Derecho (2012-2013) Fundamentals of International Arbitration Course, University of Miami (2014) New York University (2014-2015) Master of Law within the Program “International Business Regulation, Litigation and Arbitration”, Dean’s Graduate Award.

Memberships & Associations: Member of Barra Mexicana Bar Association, National Association of Business Lawyers (ANADE), International Chamber of Commerce, ICC YAF, Young ICCA, Young ITA.

Languages: ​​Spanish, English, French and Italian.

Date of Admission: 2012.

Areas of Professional Practice: Corporate and Commercial law, National and International Contracts Law, Energy Law, Maritime Law and Arbitration.

Law Firm:

In 1978, García Barragán Abogados was established in Mexico City and consolidated as a leader throughout the country, in the field of International law and has gained a presence thanks to its partnerships with important offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia. The prestige of this organization has been built by understanding the specific needs of each client, regardless of its size, to offer you the best legal solutions through personalized attention. The prestige of García Barragán Abogados is due to the quality and formation of its partners, for this reason different legal entities They consider her as one of the leaders in Mexico. The social commitment of García Barragán Abogados becomes patent through pro bono legal services for those causes and people who do not have economic resources and require To face diverse challenges and legal needs. In this sense, the firm reaffirms its humanist vocation and its responsibility towards Mexican society.

Tomás Héctor Natividad Sanchez

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During 36 years, Natividad Abogados, S.C. Company Advisors, has consolidated its position in the country as a reference in the solution of conflicts in the areas of Labor Law and Social Security; it has also become an ally of its clients in the prevention of possible conflicts, because of its specialized strategic advice.

View:

To be the best acknowledged legal firm in the business environment, providing comprehensive and innovative services in all Labor and Social Security matters to all our clients, through our team of specialized lawyers and nationwide coverage.

Our Strengths:

As a specialized firm we are prepared to assist and support our clients in solving their labor disputes taking into account our main strengths.

• With 36 years of experience.
• Promoting the training of our professionals.
• Exclusively protecting the rights of companies, whether national, multinational or governmental.
• We are advocates of the Labor Reform.
• We actively participate in the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, in corporate entities and summits, in conciliation and arbitration boards, both federal and local, in the National Minimum Wage Commission, the Business Coordinating Council, the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic, as well as In prestigious national and international forums.
• We have an extensive network of correspondents in the main cities of the country.
• We are a firm that seeks continuous improvement in all its operational areas always looking for excellence and our customers’ satisfaction.
• We have partnerships with international firms to offer solutions to conflicts that go beyond our borders.

Rogelio López-Velarde

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Rogelio López-Velarde’s practice focuses on the energy and infrastructure industries. With respect to energy, he covers the full spectrum of the industry with the highest level of expertise, from oil and gas upstream, midstream and downstream to the power industry and is considered the top energy lawyer in the Mexican market.

As to the energy and infrastructure industries, his practice includes regulatory matters, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, antitrust, anti-bribery and real estate.

Rogelio held various positions at Pemex from 1988 to 1993, including acting as in-house counsel in Houston and New York, as well as heading the International Legal Department of Pemex.

Experience:

His unparalleled experience in the Mexican energy sector has allowed him to participate, for over 20 years, in a considerable number and spectrum of the relevant and major energy projects developed in Mexico in such period. His experience in the sector includes the following:

  • Have assisted numerous oilfield service companies in their contracts with Pemex-Exploracion y Producción, including for offshore drilling rigs, onshore integrated services, seismic, completion services, drillships, among many others. Representation has included assistance in different stages of the projects, from bid participation and structuring, contract risk assessment, contract execution and project performance issues, labor, regulatory issues, termination disputes, payment disputes, administrative litigation and arbitration.
  • Have provided over the year instrumental advice to various companies which led to evolution of Pemex model contracts in matters such as liability exposure, guarantees, performance delivery obligations, among others.
  • Assisted numerous companies in negotiation of joint bidding agreements and thereafter joint venture agreements for the successful execution of projects on a post-bid stage.
  • Have assisted different operators in the different bids of the Round 1 called by the National Hydrocarbons Commission (“CNH”) in the process of pre-qualification as bidders and in regulatory, contractual and risk assessment issues concerning the onshore and offshore blocks being awarded for Exploration and Production Production Sharing Contracts and Licenses.
  • Currently assisting an international operator in its process of migration of its existing Pemex incentive-based contract to a Production Sharing Agreement as part of the transition under the energy reform.

Midstream and Downstream:

  • Since the liberalization of the natural gas sector in 1995, Mr. Lopez-Velarde has participated in the development and financing of a major portion of the most relevant natural gas transportation pipelines built by the private sector, including, among several others: (a) the San Fernando pipeline developed by Gasoductos de Chihuahua (a joint venture then owned by Pemex-Gas y Petroquimica Basica (“PGPB”) and El Paso Energy; (b) Palmillas-Toluca pipeline, in which he assisted since the pioneering process of obtainment of the first open-access pipeline permit for a private party and the acquisition of the rights of way for the project, (c) Los Ramones trunkline, currently being built.
  • Assisted natural gas local distribution companies (LDCs) in different regulatory matters (including bid processes for the award of the distribution permit, rate cases before the Energy Regulatory Commission, force majeure cases concerning lack of mandatory customer coverage, financial guarantee procedures, among others) and transactional matters, including M&A transactions (dealing both with the acquisition/divestiture and with the regulatory matters ensuing therefrom).
  • Represented one of the largest energy investment funds in the U.S. in the acquisition of a relevant participation in a successful natural gas and liquids pipelines conglomerate in Mexico.
  • Assisted a natural gas and power company in Mexico in respect of their €73 billion horizontal merger with another European conglomerate. Both companies maintained large operations in the Mexican gas and power industries.
  • Represented the developer of the 450 MMCFD LNG regasification terminal in Altamira, including the negotiation of real estate rights, corporate structure, regulatory aspects, antitrust, and the obtainment of some of the most important government permits.

Power:

  • Successfully represented two Japanese conglomerates in the US$1.25 billion acquisition and re-financing of a portfolio of Mexican companies holding five gas-fired combined cycle power plants with an aggregated power generation capacity of 2,233 MW, and a 54km open-access natural gas transportation pipeline with a maximum capacity of up to 330,000 MMBtu/d; all these projects located in the Northeast part of Mexico.
  • Successfully represented the consortium developing the Valladolid III IPP bid for the construction and operation of a 525MW gas-fired, combined cycle power plant. Representation from the outset as Mexican project counsel from the successful submission and award of the tender, the filing and obtainment of all governmental permits and consents, negotiating and closing all project documents including the negotiation and closing of the US$195 Million JBIC project financingand the successful commissioning and COD achievement of the plant.
  • Assisted in the pioneering project for the construction, development and finance of a 245MW gas-fired power plant in Monterrey, including the negotiation and execution of an Interconnection Agreement, a Wheeling Services Agreement, a Back-up Power Supply Agreement, a Facilities Assignment Agreement and a Power Surpluses Sale Agreement with CFE, having offtakers with more than 30 facilities countrywide. Thereafter assisted in the sale of the project to a third party in the context of a developer bankruptcy process.

Recognition:

  • Ranked as a “Star Individual” for energy by Chambers Latin America 2015, which has ranked him in the top tier since its first edition
  • Has consistently been considered for over 15 years by ranking services including Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Energy Lawyers as a leader in its field in Mexico, and recognized by such publication as one of the top energy lawyers in the world.
  • Honored with the “Most Distinguished Attorney Award” of Pemex for the period 1990-1991
  • Appointed as a member of the Energy Council of the Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission
  • Featured by Who’s Who Legal Project Finance 2015
  • Active speaker on numerous occasions, and has extensively published articles on international law in Mexico, U.S., Canada, Europe and South America. He was the Mexican representative of the Editorial Board of the Oil & Gas Law and Taxation Review, the Oil & Gas Committee of the International Bar Association, and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law of the International Bar Association

Memberships:

  • Former Chairman of the Energy Committee of the Mexican Bar Association
  • Former President for the Latin America Chapter of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN)
  • Former Chairman of the International Practice Committee of the S. Institute for Energy Law, 2010 – 2012
  • Member, Mexican Bar Association
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Mexican Academy of Private International Law

José Carlos M. de Uriarte

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José Carlos de Uriarte has a multidisciplinary legal practice with a strong emphasis in labor and employment matters, where he has over 20 years of experience regarding individual and collective (union) labor matters, administrative labor matters, employee benefits and executive compensation, separation of top tier executives, design of stock, RSU and retirement pension plans, designing strategies to meet outsourcing of employees challenges, individual and collective litigation, administrative inspections, regulations and litigation.

José Carlos also has broad experience in commercial and corporate law, complex international joint venture operations, cross-border transactions and loans, start-up operations, data protection, acquisition of real estate for industrial purposes, and industrial infrastructure development. As counsel to international clients, he has negotiated at the federal and local government levels to obtain a wide variety of operational and investment authorizations. José Carlos regularly participates in business mergers and divestitures of transnational companies, often involving antitrust counseling and lobbying. He also is active in counseling local and international entities in gaming activities in Mexico, both for administrative lobbying and commercial contract negotiations.

Practice Areas:

  • Labor and employment
  • Global human capital solutions
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • General corporate
  • Privacy and data security
  • Gaming
Corporate Law:

Greenberg Traurig’s Corporate Practice focuses on the business objectives of our clients. More than 400 corporate and securities lawyers work together to provide clients with the legal and market experience needed to manage and close the most complex transactions, as well as provide practical counsel on clients’ day-to-day operations.

We advise public and privately held companies on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, private equity and venture capital, underwritten and syndicated offerings, commercial finance and syndicated lending, cross-border transactions and general corporate matters. Our industry experience includes transactions in a wide range of fields, from the pharmaceutical, medical devices and life sciences fields, to representations involving clients in the aviation, banking, energy, health care, manufacturing, technology, and telecommunications sectors.

We offer corporate clients the combined benefits of local presence and global resources, providing advice and services to companies and entrepreneurs throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

 

Diego A. Ramos Castillo

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Diego Ramos, is a founding name partner of Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster, where he leads the Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice team.

Diego obtained his Master’s Degree in Public Law with honors with specialization in Constitutional Law and Amparo Trial, and Civil and Commercial Procedural Law at the Universidad Panamericana.

He is an active member of the Mexican Bar Association (Barra Mexicana de Abogados), where he has coordinated, the Civil and Commercial Law committee and Arbitration Committee. Member of the Employers Confederation of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX), where he has coordinated the Tax and Fiscal Commission of the Young Entrepreneurs Section of Guadalajara. Diego, is also a member of the International Chamber of Commerce, where he actively participates within the Jalisco Committee of Arbitration.

His practice focuses in the areas of commercial, civil and constitutional litigation (amparo trial), where he has represented both national and international companies, both public, and private. On Arbitration, Diego has successfully represented national and international companies, in complex commercial and construction arbitrations.

He was named in 2014, by the organization Global Law Experts, as the expert lawyer for Mexico for the areas of Civil and Commercial Litigation. Also, in 2015, the Firm was awarded by CorporateINTL as the Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Mexico.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Diego, is currently Professor of General Theory of Obligations (Contractual and Tort Law) at the Universidad Panamericana where he has taught also courses on international sale of goods and arbitration. Mexican Delegate to the Global Sales Law Project at the University of Basel, Switzerland. Also, Diego was Co-Founder and President of the Instituto de Enseñanza Práctica del Derecho (Institute for Practical Learning of Law) which is a prestigious academic institution for both lawyers and non-lawyers

Litigation and Dispute Resolution Law Practice:

Our Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Team, has wide experience in the resolution of all kinds of disputes, both in jurisdictional procedures before state and federal courts, as well as in alternative dispute resolution proceedinds, such as arbitration and mediation.

Our practice focuses upon disputes in commercial, civil, familiar, constitutional and administrative matters.

Our main objective is to ensure the protection and defense of your interests in any conflict, always based upon the principles of trust and security.
We have successfully participated in litigation related to general business operations, as well as in disputes derived from complex international transactions, including interference in various jurisdictions around the world

Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster Abogados:

Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster is a law firm founded in Mexico with a Global vision, dedicated to offering legal advice of high added value and specialization.

We currently have offices in Mexico (Guadalajara, Mexico City, Veracruz) and the United States (Houston). We have broad experience in all areas of practice relevant to businesses, from corporate governance compliance and transactions to litigation.

Our services are supported and enriched by the professional background, expertise and competence of our Lawyers with a single purpose: satisfy the needs of our Clients by rendering optimal, practical and specialized professional legal services.

We believe in the specialization of legal services, which allows us to offer our Clients immediate and practical solutions to their necessities. Accordingly, we have lawyers specialized in each one o the different legal practices of the Firm.

Our Firm currently offers legal services to small, medium and large corporations, as well as to financial institutions, and governmental entities at their different levels, providing integral and personalized consultancy in order to capitalize all business, commercial and investment opportunities that may arise, as well as to deal with ant related contingency.