The newest step in the expansion of Hogan Lovells in Latin America is a merger with Mexican firm Barrera Siqueiros & Torres Landa. When the merger becomes effective on August 1, 2014, Hogan Lovells will operate in Mexico City and Monterrey as Hogan Lovells BSTL. The combined entity will have a partnership of 16, specialising in corporate, commercial, disputes, energy, real estate, telecoms and media, and transport work.
In a release, Hogan Lovells mentioned plans to seize upon the potential for investors and companies in a range of industries seeking to capitalize on the current environment, following last year’s sweeping structural reforms in the country.
“Hogan Lovells understands the potential Mexico offers for our global clients and knows it is important to have full service capabilities on the ground in this region,” Hogan Lovells CEO Steve Immelt said. “Barrera Siqueiros & Torres Landa is a firm with 65 years of history sharing our values, quality, and international outlook, making them the perfect addition to our leading Latin America practice.”
In the past year, Hogan Lovells advised the Mexican government in the establishment a multi-satellite offering for both national security and social infrastructure communications, and acted as counsel to Euler Hermes in the establishment of its joint venture with MAPFRE, which integrated the two companies’ trade-related credit insurance activities in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Spain and now functions under the brand Solunion. The firm also represented Playa Hotels & Resorts in 11 interrelated transactions leading to the client’s ownership of an integrated portfolio of 13 resorts and a scalable management company, as well as a strategic alliance with Hyatt.
Hogan Lovells has been expanding in Latin America for many months prior to the latest merger. In February 2014, the firm announced the opening of an office in São Paulo, complementing its presence in Rio de Janeiro, where the firm opened a bureau in 2013. The São Paulo branch operates as a foreign legal consultancy, offering international legal capabilities to Brazilian and non-Brazilian companies and financial institutions that are entering or already doing business throughout Brazil and the rest of Latin America, as well as Brazilian companies pursuing opportunities abroad. The São Paulo team is led by capital markets specialist Isabel Costa Carvalho, formerly of Clifford Chance.
In addition to Mexico City, Rio de Janiero, and São Paulo Hogan Lovells has offices in Houston, Miami, and Caracas.