Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster ranked in Legal 500 (2021)

2020-10-07

Dear client and friend,

After 5 years of being consecutively ranked on the top categories of diverse prestigious rankings due to our regional leadership in Guadalajara (Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers), this year our firm has extended its recognition by increasing its presence in the prominent Legal 500 ranking in three categories at a national level:

1) International Trade and Customs (Band 3 and ‘Leading Individuals’);

2) Energy & Natural Resources (Band 3 and ‘Rising Stars’; and

3) Projects & Infrastructure (Band 3 and ‘Rising Stars’).

In this edition our firm has been ranked above and along some of the larger and longer-established national and international firms in Mexico.

The publication describes our practices as follow:

International Trade

“Operating from offices in Mexico City and Veracruz, as well as its Guadalajara (Jalisco) base, Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster has a full service IT&C practice led by a sector veteran Edmundo Elías Fernández, who has over 30 years’ experience covering the spectrum of customs and international trade matters. The seven-strong team handles FTAs, import/export issues, audits, regulation and compliance, as well as all associated litigation. Arbitration focused partner Ruben Darío Gómez handles international trade proceedings and litigation; and the team was further strengthened with the arrival of tax and customs litigation-focused associate Pablo Licéaga from KPMG in January 2020. Recent matters include advising on procedures before PRODECON in relation to General Administration of Foreign Trade Operation’s audits; verification of origin audits; Administrative Procedure in Customs Matters (PAMA) investigations and audits; revocation recourses; VAT-on-imports controversies and general customs and tariff advisory, among other matters. The team also handles the implementation of trade and customs compliance programs in relation to clients’ supply chains.”

Edmundo Elías Fernandez is also recognized as a ‘Leading Individual’ in this category.

Energy and Natural Resources

“With offices in Mexico City and Veracruz as well as its Guadalajara (Jalisco) headquarters, the 50-strong Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster has a strong -although not exclusive- focus on the projects and energy sectors. Flexible fee structures and appropriate staffing levels have aided the firm’s competitiveness, as has its practice of incorporating technicians and engineers into its teams as required. The 14-strong energy and infrastructure practice focuses on infrastructure projects, electricity market operations, PPPs, power generation, pipeline and gas transportation projects, as well as dispute resolution across the energy and construction sectors, environmental matters, and mining and petrochemicals. Name partner and practice co-head Alejandro Ripoll Gonzalez has focused on the structuring, bidding, financing, execution and purchase/sale of large-scale energy and infrastructure projects since 2008; he co-leads the group with senior associate Guadalupe Esparza Sanchez, whose practice is centered on energy law, infrastructure and project finance. Esparza also has experience in the structuring and implementation of PPPs and public-works projects, and particular expertise in relation to the electricity subsector, be it generation, transmission or distribution, as well as matters related to the wholesale electricity market. Additional key support comes from former practice head, now of counsel Enrique Uruñuela López, who in addition to his time in private practice, can draw on his time in house, including as GC of Grupo Dragon — the energy division of Grupo Salinas. Specialist associate Diego Alvarez Ampudia is also noted.”

Projects & Infrastructure

“The Guadalajara-based Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster, which also has offices in Mexico City and Veracruz, is a 40-strong firm with a particular focus on the projects and energy sectors. On the projects side, the 14-strong practice group focuses on power generation, and pipeline and gas transportation projects, as well as infrastructure more broadly and associated dispute resolution matters (primarily arbitration where Ruben Darío Gómez is the senior figure of note). The team also handles environmental law, mining and petrochemicals matters. Name partner and practice co-head Alejandro Ripoll Gonzalez focuses on bidding and concession processes, and the structuring, financing and development of energy and infrastructure projects. Fellow co-head, senior associate Guadalupe Esparza Sanchez, specializes in energy, infrastructure and project finance — including contractual matters for the construction, operation and maintenance of ports, roads and highways. Additional support comes from former practice head (now of counsel) Enrique Uruñuela López, who has extensive in-house projects experience; and associate Diego Alvarez Ampudia, whose practice also takes in arbitral matters.”

Lupita Esparza Sanchez –recently promoted to partner and leader of these last two practices in our Mexico City office– has also been included in the ‘Rising Stars’ lists of both Energy & Natural Resources and Projects & Infrastructure categories.

Additionally, our clients have provided the following Testimonies of our services in these categories:

‘The team is very knowledgeable in all areas relevant to our [infrastructure] business. Not only energy, environmental and construction regulations, but also law areas directly involved with our industry. For example, public contracts, project finance, labor, social security, immigration, foreign trade, tax, corporate, real estate, among others. This allows us to have one complete solution on a cost and time efficient basis. Additionally, they understand in practice our industry. They are not only at the desk, but also at the project site learning our challenges and proposing positive solutions. This helps us move faster in our risk analysis and project development. RRS has helped us, as international company, adapt faster to the Mexican market.‘

‘We have worked with Alejandro Ripoll since 2011. He has helped the company merge our culture and way of doing business with industry practices and regulations in Mexico and other Latin American countries. In addition to his knowledge in the legal field, what we value most is his involvement in achieving the company’s goals, and helping us as executives to deliver results to our shareholders. He cares about us and this makes us feel he is part of our team. Alejandro Ripoll and his team deliver 24/7. We have taken Alejandro and his team to help us in projects outside Mexico, like Honduras, Cuba, Costa Rica and Perú. In addition to his legal expertise that allows us to understand and mitigate industry and country risks, Alejandro brings to our table project opportunities to consider. Senior Associate Lupita Esparza makes a good match with Alejandro. Together they align interests and complement each other very well to deliver results.‘

 
This is a noteworthy achievement for our team, and only one of many steps we will continue to take to consolidate RRS as one of Mexico’s leading firms.

We wish to sincerely thank you (our clients and peers) for your favorable comments and for trusting us with your most important legal affairs. We also wish to take this opportunity to re-affirm our commitment to continue improving the quality, efficiency and added value of the services we provide to you.

With warm regards,

Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster

https://www.legal500.com/c/mexico/international-trade-and-customs/#ranking-position-3

https://www.legal500.com/c/mexico/projects-and-infrastructure/#ranking-position-3

https://www.legal500.com/c/mexico/energy-and-natural-resources/#ranking-position-3

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