Top-tier six-partner group joins DLA Piper’s Mexico City office across multiple practices

DLA Piper today announced the addition of six new partners in its Mexico City office, reinforcing the firm’s strength in a key region, as well as its focus on growth. Álvaro E. Garza-Galván, Mauricio Valdespino, Roberto Ríos Artigas, Antonio Cárdenas, Daniel González Estrada and Guillermo Aguayo have joined the firm’s Corporate, Finance, Litigation and Tax practices.

“Trade and investment across the western hemisphere are rapidly growing in significance, and Mexico City is a key hub for economic activity. The expansion of our Mexico City office is consistent with the strategy that we have delineated across the Americas and specific markets in the region,” said John Gilluly, the firm’s Managing Partner, Americas. “The deep experience of this sophisticated team of market-leading attorneys will further assist our domestic and international clients in achieving their goals within Mexico and across the region. With now more than 350 lawyers in seven offices in Latin America, we are well positioned for continued success.”

Along with the addition of this team, DLA Piper is also pleased to announce that Diego Martínez, a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice, and new partner Alvaro Garza-Galván, have been named Co-Managing Partners of the Mexico City office. Kate Brown de Vejar, Global Co-Chair of the firm’s International Arbitration practice, has been named Deputy Managing Partner. Eduardo Gallástegui, who has held the role of Mexico City Office Managing Partner since his firm, Gallástegui y Lozano (GyL), joined DLA Piper in 2015, remains as a partner and will serve as Emeritus Managing Partner. Gerardo Lozano also remains as a partner and will serve as Emeritus Chair of the Mexico City Arbitration Practice.

“DLA Piper’s global platform and reputation for outstanding client service played a large role in our initial decision to combine with the firm and since then, we’ve notably expanded the Mexico City office and increased our ability to serve clients based in Mexico and those who wish to expand their operations here. As we continue efforts to integrate our services across the Americas region, growing our presence in Mexico City remains a priority. The addition of these six partners will bolster our ability to provide crucial legal services across several key practice areas and we look forward to continuing our success in Mexico City in the years to come,” Gallástegui said.

Álvaro E. Garza-Galván advises domestic and international clients on a broad spectrum of matters and has a strong track record in M&A, banking and finance and securities transactions. He offers clients authoritative advice on a wide variety of complex corporate and finance transactions. Garza-Galván received his Law Degree from Universidad Iberoamericana and his LL.M from Columbia Law School.

Mauricio Valdespino specializes in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, real estate, corporate and commercial law. He represents buyers, sellers, boards of directors and financial advisors in connection with complex transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, joint ventures, strategic alliances, minority investments and asset sales. Valdespino received his Law Degree from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de Mexico (ITAM) and his LL.M from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Roberto Ríos Artigas practice focuses on project finance, infrastructure, public-private partnerships and energy. He has extensive experience in local and cross-border financings, securities, mergers and acquisitions as well as private equity transactions. Artigas received his Law Degree from Universidad Panamericana and his LL.M from New York University School of Law.

Antonio Cárdenas specializes in bringing amparo proceedings and ordinary defense procedures in administrative matters, as well as counsel in regulatory matters and relations with authorities. He has extensive experience in litigation and regulatory matters of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), as well as antitrust affairs. Cárdenas received his Law Degree from Universidad Iberoamericana and his Masters Degree in Economic Law from Universidad Panamericana.

Daniel González Estrada focuses on civil, commercial and bankruptcy litigation, as well as amparo proceedings, with emphasis on commercial and civil law matters. He has participated in commercial insolvency proceedings, representing creditors and banking institutions before Mexican courts in loan recoveries. Estrada received his Law Degree from Universidad Latinoamericana and a Diploma on Bankruptcy Law from Escuela Libre de Derecho.

Guillermo Aguayo provides tax advice to clients in local and cross-border and domestic mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganizations, as well as other specialized and complex tax matters, in addition to advising on Mexican customs and foreign trade issues. Aguayo received his Law Degree from Universidad de Monterrey and his LL.M from Georgetown University Law Center.