A heavyweight of the Mexican competition law market, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. regularly acts as lead counsel to multinationals needing advice in this area, supporting clients in investigations by Cofece, as well as having a substantial share of the merger control filing market. The department’s slate of work covers the spectrum of matters, from pre-merger filings, compliance and administrative procedures, to investigations, amparo cases, jurisdictional conflicts and leniency applications. Antitrust and competition specialist Luis Gerardo García Santos Coy founded the firm’s practice in this area and continues to be a key figure, co-leading the department with Carlos Mena, who excels in investigations and other contentious matters in the competition law space. Mauricio Serralde‘s individual practice ranges across the full breadth of the sector, while younger partner Jorge Kargl is praised by clients for his creative solutions and is the name to note for any work involving competion issues in the TMT sectors and matters before the IFT. Constitutional litigation specialist Sara Gutiérrez plays a notable role in contentious antitrust matters. The firm can draw on its deep associate pool to assist across the full range of competition work.

Equipped with 'perfect knowledge of the subject', the 'excellent' competition and antitrust practice group at Galicia Abogados S.C. is a pillar of its top-level offering across regulatory law, and supports major business - both foreign and domestic - in their highest value and most complex transactions in the Mexican market. Composed of practitioners with both longstanding expertise in competition law and dedicated practices therein, as well as those with standout strengths in some of Mexico’s key business sectors, the team is equipped to handle the most challenging of matters in the Mexican regulatory landscape. Services include challenged M&A transactions, cartel investigations, leniency applications, complaints before Cofece, and day-to-day antitrust and competition law issues. Christian Lippert (complex M&A clearance, cartel investigations and abuse of market dominance) and Carlos Chávez (complex M&A clearance and representation before competition authorities) co-lead the department; both are renowned figures in this field. Juan Carlos Burgos represents the next generation of the firm’s leaders in this practice area, along with Gerardo Rodríguez, who has advanced his practice in antitrust investigations of late. Key associate support is provided by Daniella Ramírez and Maite Celorio.

Greenberg Traurig, S.C. remains one of the best choices for contentious competition law matters in Mexico, excelling in litigation and investigations across a diverse range of industries. Clients appreciate the wide-ranging experience of the team, with practice head Miguel Flores Bernés (international economic law, competition and telecoms) drawing on his time working at Cofece to provide a 'comprehensive and complete vision of what “the other side” thinks'. Fellow practice co-head Victor Manuel Frías focuses on corporate M&A, competition and antitrust, and technology law. Away from its stellar contentious offering the practice is equally robust when it comes to competition advisory and merger control filings, recently acting on merger issues in the retail, agribusiness, hospitality and private equity sectors. Three key associates provide primary support: Abel Rivera Pedroza, who regularly represents clients before Cofece and the Federal Telecommunications Institute; Rocío Olea Salgado, who has strength in competition-related compliance matters; and Valery García Zavala, who has a broad antitrust practice, both contentious and non-contentious.

Standing out for its 'technical level and its knowledge of competition law', Hogan Lovells has a robust offering in antitrust and competition law, regularly assisting with merger control for major international M&A, as well as with investigations carried out by Cofece. On the merger control side, the department has assisted clients from a variety of sectors in recent major transactions, including the energy market, representing BNP Paribas in an auto-finance acquisition, and acting for Assa Abloy on its $4.3bn acquisition of Spectrum Brands Home. As regards investigations, the team’s recent slate of work has included matters relating to cartels as well as abuse of dominant position. At the helm of the practice, Omar Guerrero draws client recognition as 'an expert in economic competition issues' and -as a dispute resolution specialist- focuses primarily on the contentious side of competition law. Fellow parctice co-head Ricardo Pons is quite simply one of the market’s best-recognised figures for merger control. Younger partner Alan Ramirez Casazza is a name for the future in investigations of both cartel and abuse of dominance, as well as for antitrust litigation; while at senior associate level, Martín Michaus-Fernández has a similar contentious focus and can also draw on experience working in the US.

'A reference in the field of economic competition', SAI Derecho & Economía S.C has a robust offering across competition and antitrust matters that includes representation in complex contentious matters, as well as merger control for high-profile transactions. Its broad practice also covers investigations concerning potential monopolies, applications to the immunity program, and comprehensive regulatory advice. Veteran practitioner and a reference point in the market, Lucía Ojeda is accomplished at handling investigations carried out by the regulator, while also advising on domestic merger control proceedings. She co-leads the department with José Ángel Santiago, an expert litigator who is the go-to contact for disputes with Cofece. Luis Alberto Ibarra Pardo joined the firm as a partner in September 2023, from an in-house role; while Ximena Ángeles rejoined as a senior associate level after some 15 years away from the firm. Felipe García Cuevas, Ernesto Álvarez Castillo and Bruno Puerto Salazar are further key senior associate contacts.

As one of the foremost dispute resolution firms in Mexico, Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC has the requisite skills for contentious work in the antitrust arena, acting in a large share of the market’s investigations, as well as supporting clients in litigation. Film distribution, manufacturing, and social media are among the varied industries in which the firm has represented clients under scrutiny by COFECE, while finance clients frequently instruct the firm for merger control matters. Fernando Carreño is the practice head and one of Mexico’s go-to advisors for investigations by the competition authority. Further experience is provided by Sergio López, who draws on two decades' experience in the area, including working in a number of senior roles at the competition authority. Promoted to counsel in January 2024, Michel Llorens is one of the firm’s most active counsel for complex merger control matters. He joins fellow counsel César Martínez, who has amassed considerable experience acting for domestic and international clients. Senior associate Mónica Cabeza de Vaca is also a key member of the practice group.

With a breadth of practice that encompasses every aspect of competition and antitrust law, the team at Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C. is a key component of the firm’s wider offering in transactional matters. The practice group is a strong choice for merger control filings for major and complex deals across a variety of industries, but also acts in litigation and other dispute resolution against Cofece, as well as representing clients in investigations by the authority. Francisco Fuentes has a focus on merger analysis and review, along with antitrust litigation; he co-leads the practice group with younger partner Carlos Orcí, whose maintains a dedicated antitrust and competition law practice. Experienced associate Patricio Rivas is well versed in supporting the practice heads in cases before Cofece or the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT).

Clients of Valdés Abascal Abogados, S.C.‘s specialist competition and antitrust practice appreciate the group for its ‘exceptional mastery of the subject and outstanding skills in the sector‘. The team has longstanding experience across the Mexican market in this area, representing high-profile companies in investigations by Cofece, and in competition law litigation, as well as being day-to-day counsel to a number of leaders in their respective markets. Following the departure of previous co-leader of the practice Fabiola Quezada, who moved in house in July 2023, the group is co-led by Rafael Valdés and Enrique de la Peña.

The ‘young but very competent‘ competition law team at White & Case S.C. is appreciated for its ‘industry knowledge and business focus‘. Transactional matters coming under scrutiny from Cofece are the standout strength of the team, which has recently assisted clients with energy sector M&A, and a commercial alliance in the aviation sector. Cofece anti-trust investigations are also handled by the department, with experienced practice head Henri Capin Gally equally well-equipped to handle advice on transactions and sector investigations. Constitutional and administrative disputes are the focus of Fernando García Gómez‘s practice, while Román González -who was promoted to international partner in Octoer 2024- advises on the competition aspects of projects in both the public and private sectors, be they transactional or ajudicatory.

Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C. attracts a broad multinational client base for its services in competition and antitrust law, fielding a team that is well versed in some of the highest profile merger control filings in the market. Its offering in investigations, particularly those looking at cartel activity, also stands out. Head of the practice group in Mexico City, Raymundo Enriquez is an expert across foreign trade matters and is a reliable counsel to foreign clients on dealings with Cofece. Younger partner Luis Amado is an additional antitrust expert in the team, while impressive associate Alina de la Luz draws on professional experience at the competition authority to bolster the firm’s assistance with investigations.

A client base that includes major multinational heavyweights drawn from a range of industries looks to the competition and antitrust group at Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C. for advice on pre-merger and merger control approvals for expansions in the Mexican market. The team also assists with sectorial investigations. Amílcar Peredo has extensive experience across all areas of antitrust law and oversees the practice in conjunction with corporate transactional specialist Jesús Colunga. Senior associate Guadalupe Jiménez, who can draw on three years experience at Cofece, brings further depth to the practice group.

Underpinned by its ‘extraordinary strategic capacity in litigation‘, the competition and antitrust practice at DLA Piper Mexico excels on the contentious side of the practice, while also maintaining a robust offering in merger control filing and other transactional issues. Litigator Antonio Cárdenas spearheads the disputes and investigations side of the practice and is recommended by clients as ‘one of the great strategists in administrative litigation‘. Fellow practice co-head Jorge Benejam is a corporate and M&A expert who has notable familiarity with technical and regulatory rules in the life-sciences, telecoms and technology sectors; he also has particular expertise in identifying and analysing potential antitrust risks for M&A transactions. Associate Regina Esparza supports the practice heads across the full spectrum of matters handled by the department.

Jones Day's Mexico City office plays a key role as part of the firm’s global offering to multinationals in merger control matters. Practice head and of counsel Gabriel Altamirano takes the lead role in such matters, frequently collaborating with fellow competition law experts in the firm’s teams in other jurisdictions. In domestic merger control, the practice has recently acted for the Mexican Ministry of Defense (via Grupo Aeroportuario, Ferroviario, de Servicios Auxiliares y Conexos, Olmeca-Maya-Mexica - GAFSACOMM) on the merger of various airport holding companies. Altimarino is also lead counsel on domestic contentious-administrative matters, with experience in cases before Cofece in a variety of industries.

With the departure of former practice head Cristina Massa in April 2024, the legacy González Calvillo team the merged in Pérez-Llorca in July 2024 is now led by counsel Patricio Martínez Osorio, who had previously overseen the merger control procedure-side of the practice. The team remains a strong choice for the design and implementation of strategies in relation to competition law regulations and Martínez Osorio has associate level support from senior Gustavo Alonso González del Castillo and junior Michelle Posada, who both have past professional experience at Cofece.

Ritch, Mueller y Nicolau, S.C. maintains a robust offering to companies seeking advice on their dealings with Cofece and the IFT, be it in merger control filings or representation in investigations into a clients' respective industry sectors. The competition and antitrust department is overseen by transactional specialist Octavio Olivo Villa and competition and M&A counsel James Ritch, the latter a long-time specialist in anti-trust and competition matters. Further experience is provided by senior associate Marta Loubet, who focuses on the energy, transport, financial services, consumer goods and TMT sectors and has a dedicated competition and antitrust practice; and intermediates Julia Fuentes and Montserrat Quintana.

Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC is a strong choice for cartel investigations and has a history acting across a broad range of industries therein. Practice head Alejandro Mendiola is an expert in such cases, with recent highlights including support to clients in the finance, insurance and healthcare industries. The practice also has capabilities in transactional competition law matters and day-to-day advisory in the field. Of counsel Gabriel González Aragón is an additional antitrust expert to note; moreover, the team was further strengthened in June 2023 with the addition of senior associate Sandra Portillo from Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC.

Vicente Grau heads the antitrust and competition law offering at Santamarina y Steta, which handles the full range of merger control and pre-merger filings. The team also advises on the potential antitrust repercussions of corporate governance changes, and is equipped to support clients in sectorial investigations by Cofece, as well as cartel investigations. Grau is assisted by associate Yakov Kobets, but saw the departure of former senior Ivan Szymanski in December 2023.

Jáuregui y Del Valle, S.C.'s strength in competition and antitrust law is underpinned by its broad knowledge of regulatory law in Mexico. It is experienced in antitrust risk assessment for companies in a range of corporate matters, and also has capability in investigations brought by Cofece. The team is led David Hurtado, who has considerable experience across international trade, economic competition and administrative law. Associate Julia García De Acevedo assists with the full spectrum of competition and antitrust matters.