Norton Rose Fulbright expands projects and energy team in Mexico City

Norton Rose Fulbright today expanded its projects and energy capabilities in Mexico City with the addition of international partner César Fernández, senior counsel Liliana Anzaldua and associate Angélica Alvarez.

Fernández and Anzaldua come from Mexican state-owned oil company Pemex, while Alvarez comes from Hogan Lovells. Fernández served as legal vice president for projects and businesses for Pemex, and Anzaldua was commercial vice president for the company’s logistics division.

At Pemex, Fernández oversaw a team that provided legal guidance for implementing the comprehensive energy reforms, passed in Mexico in 2013–2014, that radically transformed the country’s hydrocarbon and electricity industries and opened up private investment opportunities.

Anzaldua’s Pemex duties included overseeing legal, regulatory and commercial matters related mainly to midstream and downstream activities, including investment agreements, regulatory compliance and hydrocarbons storage, transportation and logistics.

Willie Wood, Norton Rose Fulbright’s US Head of Energy who leads the firm’s Latin American practice, said:

“We are thrilled to add César, Liliana and Angélica to our impressive team of energy and projects lawyers in Mexico City. They possess experience in an area that is critical to Mexico’s economy, and we will continue to expand these capabilities to meet our clients’ needs.”

Hernán González Estrada, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Mexico City Partner-in-Charge, commented:

“Having held key in-house and government positions, this team joins us with invaluable knowledge of the oil and gas industry in Mexico. Without a doubt, we now have one of the best oil and gas practices in the country.”

Fernández, who served as head legal compliance officer at Petrofac in Mexico before joining Pemex, said:

“We are delighted to join Norton Rose Fulbright’s growing team in Mexico City. The firm offers a remarkable global energy and projects platform, and they are getting tremendous traction in Mexico. The office’s aggressive expansion will benefit our clients tremendously. Joining Norton Rose Fulbright is, by far, the best option for us.”

Fernández earned his law degree at the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City and a master of laws degree at University College London.

Anzaldua received her JD at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México in Mexico City and a master of laws degree at Universidad Panamericana. Alvarez earned her law degree from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and a master of laws degree in oil and gas law at the University of Aberdeen.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s Mexico City office is an integral part of its multidisciplinary, cross-border Latin America practice. The team is comprised of bilingual lawyers who are multicultural in their legal training and who have a deep understanding of the legal intricacies of conducting business throughout the region.