Deals of the YEar awards
Despite a generalized global market downturn in 2022, Mexican issuers, public and private alike, managed not only to raise meaningful sums of capital, but often in highly innovative ways.
A common denominator in many of landmark capital markets transactions was Mexican law firm Ritch Mueller. Over the past year, the firm has been involved in a range of momentous deals, from the sovereign’s $5.8 billion bond in January 2022 to a ground-breaking offering by telecoms giant, América Móvil.
“We continue to be innovative,†says Pablo Perezalonso, senior partner and co-head of the banking and finance practice at Ritch Mueller, which wins the award for Law Firm of the Year - Mexico. “As proof of that, we have been involved in the most relevant transactions. We are leading the pack here, providing the best service in the most efficient way.â€
The firm is not resting on its laurels. Founded nearly a half century ago as a boutique firm focused advising the financial services sector, it has grown over the years into a multi-disciplinary firm servicing both domestic and international clients.
It now has more than 20 full partners, adding nine new partners in the past two year in the areas of arbitration, capital markets, environment, M&A, project finance and real estate.
Perezalonso sees a number of trends that will continue to present both challenges and opportunities for the marketplace, especially for financial service firms. On the public side, he says the federal and state entities are looking for sources of capital beyond traditional bilateral loans and bonds.
“We have been looking at different forms of financing for the government, working with different banks on structures that are new in the Mexican market. While innovative, we are making sure lenders and borrowers have the protection they need,†he says.
On the private side, Perezalonso says fintechs, which are now firmly part of the financial ecosystem, will play a larger role in deals going forward.
“We have a number of clients who are looking at innovative ways to finance. We have seen a lot of innovation, but I think it has only just started and over the next few years will be more competition for Mexican banks,†he says. LF
