Pérez-Llorca lands in Mexico with the integration of González Calvillo

April 15, 2024

Pérez-Llorca today announced the integration of Mexican law firm González Calvillo, a move that confirms the elite Spanish firm’s ambitious plans in Latin America.

Following the integration with González Calvillo, Pérez-Llorca’s initial platform in Mexico will have approximately 100 lawyers and approximately 160 professionals in its Mexico City headquarters and Monterrey office.

The partners of González Calvillo will become partners of Pérez-Llorca and the agreement is structured as a full legal and economic integration.

The transaction is the first step in an ambitious project aimed at providing optimal service to clients on both sides of the Atlantic, including US companies, large multinationals and financial sponsors.

Pérez-Llorca and González Calvillo are widely recognised in their markets and are endorsed by international directories such as Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Latin Lawyer 250 Elite, which highlight both firms and their professionals in the highest positions of their rankings.

The aim of the project is to create the first law firm in Mexico, with a reference position in major transactions, financing and cross-border litigation, with the creation of a development committee involving the partners in Mexico and a major investment and growth strategy in that country. The aim is to serve both sides of the Atlantic, US companies, large multinationals and financial sponsors, to participate in the flow of investment into Mexico from the US, Canada and the rest of Latin America, and between Mexico and the Iberian Peninsula, and to continue to develop local client relationships in these two markets.

The firm intends to play an important and constructive role in the future of the Mexican legal market, in the study and development of Mexican law, and to contribute to the society and institutions of this country through pro bono work and contributions to projects of national interest.

The agreement is expected to be ratified by the boards and partners of both firms in the second quarter of 2024, and the relevant government approvals are expected to be obtained during the same period.

Pedro Pérez-Llorca, Managing Partner of Pérez-Llorca, said: "I am very pleased to announce the integration of González Calvillo into Pérez-Llorca. Mexico and Spain, in that order, are the two largest Spanish-speaking economies, very connected to the United States and the European Union, and increasingly interdependent. This operation and the growth we will achieve in Mexico will allow us to serve our clients with excellence in both markets and continue to offer our teams international career development opportunities".

Enrique González Calvillo, founding partner of González Calvillo, commented: "For González Calvillo, this is an important opportunity to consolidate our presence in Spain and Europe in general, while allowing us to offer our US and Latin American referral firms our support and representation, which was previously limited to projects and dispute resolution in Mexico. I believe that our integration with Pérez-Llorca will mark a milestone, a before and after, in the legal profession in our country".

International project
In January 2024, Pérez-Llorca appointed Iván Delgado as International Executive Partner with the mandate to lead and manage the firm’s international strategy. With the integration of González Calvillo, Pérez-Llorca takes a fundamental first step in its plans to establish itself in Mexico.

In less than a year, the firm has opened an office in Lisbon with more than 25 professionals with full transactional capacity and is now opening up to the Mexican market, the leading economy in the Hispanic world and a critical node in transatlantic investment flows. From its offices in Barcelona, Brussels, Mexico City, Lisbon, Madrid and Monterrey, the firm will offer its global clients the most comprehensive and high quality legal services in Mexican, Spanish, Portuguese and European law. Pérez-Llorca also has offices in London, New York and Singapore, the world’s three most important financial centres, from where it maintains close relationships with international clients and law firms.

In total, Pérez-Llorca will have 9 offices in Europe, America and Asia and almost 800 professionals.

In the words of Delgado: "With the integration of González Calvillo, Pérez-Llorca will become the partner of reference for US, European and Asian companies that require a high level of transactional, litigation or regulatory legal advice, and the firm to entrust with their most complex matters in the Iberian Peninsula and Mexico".

González Calvillo is an elite firm with a presence in major Mexican, cross-border and international transactions and matters. With this integration, the Mexican firm will be able to consolidate and significantly expand its service offering and professional base, as well as consolidate its position in the industry, which it has maintained for years as an important benchmark in the Mexican legal market.

Rodrigo Rojas, partner at González Calvillo and member of the firm’s Management Committee, concludes that "the integration will significantly consolidate and expand our practice. This agreement allows us to continue to provide the first-class service for which we are recognised in the Mexican and international markets, but it also expands the horizon of possibilities for our clients and our team in an accelerated, solid and sustainable manner".

perezllorca.com