CANNIZZO

Managing Partner: Roberto Cannizzo

Senior Partners: Carlo Cannizzo, Stefano Amato, Marco Cannizzo, Mauricio Moreno, Enrique García

Number of partners: 6

Number of lawyers: 30

Firm Overview:

Cannizzo is one of the most experienced real estate and corporate full service firm in Mexico. It offers a wide range of legal services to its domestic and international clients, with attorneys who are either from or have studied in Mexico, the US and Europe and are specialised in multijurisdictional business and transactional matters.

The firm has over 40 years’ experience regarding the legal, economic and cultural realities existing in the countries in which its clients operate and this knowledge has proven very useful in assisting Mexican and non-Mexican clients with the prevention and resolution of legal matters involving Mexico.

Main Areas of Practice:

Real Estate:

Cannizzo offers assistance in all aspects of real estate law and has substantial experience in negotiating, structuring and implementing real property acquisitions, sales, exchanges, financing, fund formation, joint venture and leasing as well as in handling all development activities necessary to the completion of all kinds of real estate projects. Cannizzo’s real estate practice includes projects involving housing, commercial, office, hotel, industrial, mega developments, golf and marinas. The firm provides integrated real estate counsel, which addresses tax, construction, environmental and regulatory considerations. Some relevant transactions include: the acquisition of Bosque Real (the largest luxury housing and golf course development within the Mexico City area); and Cinemex expansion which comprised more than 40 movie theater.

Hospitality:

Cannizzo has been one of the pioneers and more active firms in the hospitality and tourism sector. The firm provides advice related to the development of tourist complexes, the development and management of hotels, financing thereof, the structuring of tourist mega-resorts, golf and beach clubs, condominiums, time share, fractional, branded residences and marinas. Some of Cannizzo’s work include the structuring of mega developments such as Playacar, Marina Ixtapa, Marina Vallarta, Marina San Carlos; representing banks such as Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas in their hospitality investments in Mexico; land acquisition, construction, sale & acquisition of more than 100 hotels; working with US fund that acquired in the past 5 years more than 20 hotel properties on the Mexican coast. Cannizzo has the priviledge of collaborating with leading companies in the sector such as: Marriott, Posadas, Auberge, Thayer, Four Seasons, Morgans, Hilton, Fairmont, Wyndham, Barceló, AMR, Occidental, RLH Properties (Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Fairmont, One & Only Mandarina, Rosewood), among many others. The firm has also worked with government entities such as FONATUR, and with associations such as Amdetur.

Oil & Gas:

An important part of the firms work relates to the oil and natural gas pipeline projects, where Cannizzo’s team has worked with clients in JVs and EPC contracts linked to more than 5,000km pipelines built, such as the Sierra Madre Pipeline 800 kms, Sasabe Pipeline 505 Kms, Chihuahua Pipeline 505 Kms, El Encino Pipeline 414 Kms, Los Ramones Pipeline 185 Kms, among many others.

M&A, Business & Corporate Practice:

Cannizzo represents its clients in all aspects of commercial and corporate law, with broad experience in areas relating to securities, acquisitions, divestitures, agency and franchise arrangements, trusts and economic competition legislation. It provides assistance in all types of matters, from the routine ones to the most complex transactions and in areas including, among others: the creation of corporate structures, the incorporation of companies and Mexican branches of foreign companies; the negotiation of shareholders’ agreements; the appointment and hiring of officers and directors; assistance and representation in cases involving conflicts among shareholders; the acquisition of assets; public and private share offerings. The firm has broad experience in mergers, acquisitions and divestitures that include regulated industries. Its multidisciplinary team ensures that all aspects in a transaction are taken care. Some of its clients in this area include Ermenegildo Zegna, Assicurazioni Generali, Pirelli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana.

Banking, Securities, Financing, Insurance & Pension Funds:

Cannizzo represents foreign banks and financial institutions, private investor groups seeking to enter or expand their presence in the Mexican financial services market, as well as other organisations and individuals with interest in the finance industry. The firm assists clients in structuring and carrying out public offerings, mortgage and non-mortgage financing, certificates of participation.

Cannizzo has broad experience in all matters related to the representation of domestic and international insurance companies and assists clients with matters relating to complex compliance and M&A. Some of its latest M&A transactions include the sale of Afore, Seguros and Pensiones Banorte Generali. Some of its members act in the board of directors of insurance and other financial entities. Representative clients in this area: Assicurazioni Generali, Banorte Generali, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, First American Title Insurance, San Paolo IMI and UBP.

Other Areas of Practice:

Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Construction and Infrastructure, Agrarian, Labour and Employment, Fintech, GDPR, ESG, Antitrust, Domestic and International Public Bidding, Technology and Intellectual Property, Tax, among others.

LANGUAGES: Spanish, English and Italian.

CLIENTS Cannizzo’s client base is 80% international and 20% national.