BackEver since the first participation of the private sector in the electricity industry in Mexico in 1994, we have actively participated in all types of energy projects.
We have advised developers, investors, state enterprises, commercial and development banks, export promotion agencies, and multilateral financial institutions in the development, construction, operation, and financing of the major projects in Mexico’s electricity sector.
Our team has more than two decades of experience representing clients in the development, construction, operation, and financing of all kinds of electrical projects, including cogeneration, combined cycles, wind, solar, and mini-hydroelectric.
Our team stands out with its creative approach and has been involved in many legal innovations in the industry. We have contributed to the creation of the first contractual schemes under the figures of “buildlease-transfer” (BLTs) and commitment of capacity and electricity sales under the scheme of independent power producers (IPPs) promoted by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). We developed the first self-supply projects under regulatory, corporate, contractual, and financial schemes that had not been used in the industry. We designed the legal structure and developed the first project for an IPP which combined capacity for CFE and surpluses for self-supply, as well as the first IPP with excess capacity for export.
Our Law Firm has also participated in major electricity cogeneration and steam projects.
In the renewable energy industry, we advised financial institutions in the financing and development of the first wind farm in Mexico, having also actively participated, along with CFE and regulating entities, in drafting and negotiating the first interconnection agreement for renewable energy generating sources with the National Electricity System.
We have also advised various clients in the development, operation, and financing of substations, lines, and other electricity transformation and transmission facilities.
Our energy team has participated in the drafting of the new legal framework that resulted from the recent energy reform in the electric sector, contributing our experience of over twenty years in the sector. Under this new legal framework, we have advised our clients in the acquisition, development and financing of power projects subject to a transitional regime (proyectos legados), as well as of those regulated under the new regime.
We owe our market position to a unique combination of transactional expertise, highly specialized regulatory offerings, and strategic litigation capabilities.
International directories and publications such as Latin Lawyer, Chambers and Partners, IJGlobal, IFLR1000 and The Legal 500, among others, recognize us as undisputed leaders in the energy sector in Mexico.
The infrastructure sector has been a strategic area for the Firm since its inception more than 28 years ago.
Our Firm has a vast experience in the development and financing of infrastructure projects. Our participation as legal counsel extends to virtually all areas of infrastructure development, including roads, bridges and tunnels, public transport systems, airports, ports, water treatment plants, water supply systems, prisons, hospitals, and other essential facilities for the development of our country’s economic activity.
Our infrastructure team represents all participants in infrastructure projects: sponsors, project companies, Financial institutions, private equity funds, multilateral agencies, governmental entities, export credit agencies, insurers, developers, and contractors.
We have advised governmental entities in the design of bidding guidelines, its instrumentation, negotiation and drafting of the project agreements, as well as during all the bidding process and until the award of the concession titles. On the other side, we have represented companies during the bidding processes, as well as in the daily aspects of the operation of projects.
Our infrastructure team offers a pragmatic and commercial approach. We are used to work hand in hand with other strategic practice groups, such as our market-leading environmental, administrative litigation, arbitration and tax teams, in order to provide our clients an integrated and comprehensive service, and a full understanding of the different risks and structural aspects to consider when implementing sophisticated project development and financings.
Few firms can match Galicia’s market-leading position in infrastructure matters.
