IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

White & Case, which opened its Mexico City office in 1991, distinguishes itself from most of the country's firms by its New York roots, and sheer size - its M&A team practices in 25 countries around the world. The firm has over 50 lawyers in its offices in Mexico City and Monterrey.

In March 2011, the firm increased its M&A capabilities with the addition of partner Jorge de la Garza to its Monterrey office from Thompson & Knight. De la Garza brings his longstanding relationships with the Monterrey business community to his domestic and cross-border M&A work.

In January 2011, the firm acted for Mexican chemical producer Mexichem in its $300 million acquisition of the AlphaGary plastic compounding business division of the US-based Rockwood Holdings. AlphaGary manufactures specialty plastic compounds that are used for wires and cables, as well as medical uses. The acquisition will facilitate Mexichem's diversification and its use of new technologies in its Latin American markets.

Described by one rival as "great global brand", White & Case is a major player in international energy, infrastructure and project and asset finance. The firm closed $39.5 billion of global project finance transactions in 2010. A competitor says, "They do a tremendous amount of work in emerging markets", and a client remarks, "You get consistency in service if you go to London, New York, Washington or Tokyo."

The firm has an expansive international client base including Hess, Banco Santander, Nuclear Innovation North America, BBVA, and Mizuho Corporate Bank. In April 2011, it boosted its US-based practice by recruiting Elena Millerman, formerly of Debevoise & Plimpton, to its New York office.

"I really appreciate the communication," says one client. "They explain things very clearly in business language, not in legal language, which means a lot. They are also really good at coming to the point and being concise. I enjoy them and have a good working collegial relationship with them, based on mutual respect."

White & Case represented a consortium known as the LBJ Infrastructure Group in a deal which financed improvements to 17 miles of the LBJ Freeway in Texas. The transaction, totalling over $1.4 billion, closed in June 2010 and was the largest-ever private activity bond for a public-private partnership (PPP) deal. It involved a $615 million offering of tax-exempt private activity bonds and the closing of a $850 million loan from the US Department of Transportation.

In April 2011, the firm represented Citigroup Global Markets and Santander Investment Securities as lead arrangers in the $575 million financing of the Alpha Star offshore oil drilling rig. The rig is one of the world's most technologically advanced and is designed to exploit pre-salt deposits in Brazil as part of the Petrobras effort. The transaction involved 14 lenders and parties, and legal issues in Brazil, the UK, the British Virgin Islands, the Netherlands, Panama and the US.