Pérez-Llorca continues to advance in the development of its Ibero-American legal platform with the creation of an Iberia-Latam team based in Mexico, designed to strengthen the firm’s capabilities in the face of the growing volume of operations and mandates it manages between both regions.
This team will enhance the advisory services for matters originating in Iberia and Europe destined for Mexico and Latin America and, conversely, support from Mexico to Mexican corporate clients and family offices that already rely on Pérez-Llorca for their operations in Iberia and other European markets.
To lead the Iberia-Latam team, Alfredo Lafita, Corporate/M&A partner, will relocate from Madrid to Mexico City as Senior Vice President for Iberia-Latam. Lafita has extensive experience in M&A, private equity, capital markets, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings, and has advised multinational companies on some of their most significant corporate transactions. Joining Lafita in relocating to Mexico City will be Gonzalo Sánchez-Quiñones, recently appointed Corporate/M&A partner, with over 11 years of experience in the Madrid office.
In addition to the two partners, six other Spanish lawyers specializing in areas such as Insurance, Corporate/M&A, Real Estate and International Litigation and Arbitration will also be part of the Iberia-Latam team to support the development and coordination of operations and matters that require multi-jurisdictional advice, joining the more than 200 people that the Firm has between Mexico City and Monterrey.
This initiative is part of Project Scala, through which Pérez-Llorca seeks to take advantage of the opportunities arising from its internationalization process, consolidate a fully integrated Ibero-American legal platform, strengthen coordination in advising multi-jurisdictional clients, and promote the mobility of partners and lawyers, as well as the development of international careers within the firm.
The initiative responds to the growing level of business integration between Mexico and Europe, reinforced in May 2016 with the signing of the Modernised Global Agreement between the European Union and Mexico and the Interim Trade Agreement, which establish a new framework for deepening trade and investment relations. Spain occupies a particularly relevant position in these flows: according to the latest data from Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, it was the second largest source of foreign direct investment in Mexico during the first half of 2016, second only to the United States, with $4.954 billion, representing 14.2% of the total received. Conversely, ICEX ranks Mexico as the sixth largest investor in Spain and the third largest from outside the European Union, behind only the United States and the United Kingdom.
“The business relationship between Mexico and Europe is at a particularly important juncture. European companies have a very strong presence in Mexico, and at the same time, we are seeing a growing interest from Mexican groups in Spain and other European markets. Pérez-Llorca’s Iberia-Latam team strengthens the firm’s capabilities on both sides of the Atlantic, responds to the increasing volume of work between the two regions, and connects our teams and expertise even more directly to support clients from the very place where they make and execute their investment decisions,” said Alfredo Lafita.
Pedro Pérez-Llorca, managing partner of the firm, will return to Madrid at the end of 2026 as planned, after completing a year-long period of working from Mexico City. He will remain closely involved with the Mexican practice from Madrid, with occasional stays in Mexico. Pérez-Llorca stated, “In addition to being a very positive life experience, my year in Mexico has allowed me to see firsthand the enormous potential of the Mexican market, the challenges and plans of our clients, and the immense talent of our local firm. I am very proud of our team in Mexico and all they are achieving.”
Beyond the appointment of Lafita as Senior Vice President Iberia-Latam, the firm’s governance structure remains unchanged, still articulated by the International Partnership Board, Pedro Pérez-Llorca as managing partner, Julio Lujambio as executive partner and Iván Delgado as international executive partner, along with the country chairs of each country: Jorge Mondragón in Mexico, Mauricio Piñeros in Colombia and Luis Miranda in Peru.
