CANNIZZO

Managing Partner: Roberto Cannizzo

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

Number of partners: 6

Number of lawyers: 20

Firm Overview: 

Cannizzo, Ortiz y Asociados, S.C. distinguishes itself as 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 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. Some transactions include: the acquisition of Bosque Real (the largest luxury housing and golf course development within the Mexico City area); the sale of Malecón Américas (one of the largest shopping, hotel and condominium projects built in the latest years); the acquisition of Puerto Cancún (the largest development inside Cancún); and Cinemex expansion which comprised more than 40 movie theater complexes.

Hospitality: 

Cannizzo has been one of the pioneers and more active firms in the hospitality and tourism sector and its work includes all services relating 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 and marinas. As a pioneer firm it has been very active in matters relating to timeshare, fractional and multi property and has represented companies such as RCI. 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 and sale of hotels such as the Four Seasons and JW Marriot in Mexico City and Fiesta Americana Coral Beach in Cancun; more than 50 hotel acquisitions; working with US fund that acquired in the past 5 years more than 20 hotel properties on the Mexican coast; working with hotel operating companies and hotel owners in all activities relating to licensing, franchising, operating, management, M&A, including transactions involving Marriott, Posadas, Auberge, Thayer, Four Seasons, Morgans, Hilton, Fairmont, Wyndham, Barceló, AMR, Occidental, etc. 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 such as Sasabe Pipeline 505 Kms, El Oro Pipeline 320 Kms, Chihuahua Pipeline 505 Kms, El Encino Pipeline 414 Kms, Los Ramones Pipeline 185 Kms, among 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 Buzzi Unicem, Ermenegildo Zegna, Assicurazioni Generali, Harris Corporation, Lexmark, 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. It assists clients in structuring and carrying out public offerings, mortgage and non-mortgage financing, certificates of participation.

The firm has broad experience in all matters related to the representation of domestic and international insurance companies and assists its clients with matters relating to complex compliance and M&A. Cannizzo’s team has worked with foreign reinsurance and insurance companies, in M&A transactions involving the purchase and sale of domestic insurance companies and joint ventures with financial groups. Some of its latest M&A transactions in the sector 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. Some of its clients in this area include Assicurazioni Generali, Banorte Generali, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse, First American Title Insurance, San Paolo IMI and UBP.

Other Areas of Practice: 

Antitrust, tax, domestic and international public bidding, construction and infrastructure, agrarian, labour and employment, fintech, technology and intellectual property, among others.

LANGUAGES: Spanish, English and Italian.

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