Mexico Practice

Our firm has a strategic alliance with Mexico City-based SAI Derecho & Economía, S.C., allowing us to expand our range of services into Mexico through SAI’s well-established full service law firm. This strategic alliance is led by Mariano Gomezperalta as the JV Partner and the Head of SAI’s Corporate Law Group (View Bio).

Our firm provides specialized legal services on Mexican cross-border matters in the areas of international trade, foreign investment and arbitration. We have assisted private sector and government clients on a wide range of issues under NAFTA, WTO and Mexican trade regulations. Our team currently advises domestic industries and foreign exporters in connection with the potential renegotiation of NAFTA, the application of local content requirements in Mexico and the assessment of anti-dumping measures by the Government of Mexico. We have also participated in numerous trade negotiations and over fifteen trade and investment disputes under NAFTA, WTO and bilateral investment treaties.

As lead counsel in a large number of aircraft finance transactions, we have experience in complex financing structures for the acquisition of aircraft and engines by Mexico’s major air carriers and helicopter and business jet operators. We have direct, on the ground experience with foreclosure proceedings pursuant to Mexican guaranty trusts and the remarketing and sale of aircraft subject to bankruptcy proceedings.

For an overview of our Mexico Aviation Practice, click here.

Latin America Practice

RW members have also acted as international counsel on Latin American transactions, including airport privatizations, power projects and international trade and investment matters. Our representative transactions in this area include:

• International counsel to a BBVA led consortium engaged to assist the Municipality of Guayaquil, Ecuador in the concession process of the Simon Bolívar International Airport;

• International counsel to a consortium led by Lufthansa Consulting GmbH in connection with the development of a strategy for privatizing the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport of Belize;

• International counsel to the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the Government of Colombia in connection with the design and implementation of a program to disseminate the understanding of Colombia’s obligations under international investment treaties;

• U.S. counsel to a commercial bank in a two-phase, limited-recourse financing facility of $64 million, insured for political risks by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, to rehabilitate a Nicaraguan geothermal power plant jointly operated by the national electric company and a geothermal plant operating company; and

• U.S. counsel to the Export-Import Bank of the United States in connection with the financing of aircraft, engines and helicopters for airlines, helicopter operators and leasing companies based in Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Mexico.

Speaking Engagements

• WTO Public Forum 2017. “The Truths about Regional Integration: NAFTA as a Living Example of the Benefits and Challenges of Regional Trade Agreements”. Mariano Gomezperalta C. Geneva, Switzerland. September 28, 2017.

• International Chamber of Commerce – Mexico. “Dispute Resolution Procedures under NAFTA and WTO”. Mariano Gomezperalta C. Mexico City, Mexico. April 16, 2017.

• American Bar Association. Section of International Law. “Foreign Investment Transactions in Latin America – Document Drafting & Negotiation”. Mariano Gomezperalta C. Bogota, Colombia. November 16, 2016.

• Mexico Trade and Export Finance Conference. “International Disputes”. Mexico City, Mexico. Mariano Gomezperalta C. October 20, 2016.