Spain’s Cuatrecasas pushes LatAm platform with partner hires in Peru and Mexico

Spanish law firm Cuatrecasas has hired one partner in Mexico and another in Peru as it continues to build out its platform in Latin America. 

Diego Carrión has joined the Barcelona-based firm’s M&A practice in Lima from Peruvian law firm Hernandez & Cia., while Juan David Mina has moved over to the firm’s tax practice in Mexico City. Mina was previously a partner at KPMG and left the company in April, according to his Linkedin profile. 

Carrión, who spent two decades at Hernandez & Cia., specialises in advising companies and investment funds on corporate, private equity and M&A matters. 

Cuatrecasas’ Lima managing director Aldo Reggiardo described Carrión as “undoubtedly one of the best M&A lawyers of his generation in Peru”. 

“Diego joining us is a response to the office’s growth since its opening in the market just over three years ago, and is aligned with the firm’s aim to become one of the leading firms in Peru and in Latin America,” he added. 

Carrión’s arrival brings the partner headcount of Cuatrecasas’ Lima office to seven amid a wider team of 21 lawyers, as listed on the firm’s website. 

Over in Mexico City, tax expert Mina is set to join the office’s 30-lawyer team as its sixth partner. His practice focuses on the tax aspects of complex cross border transactions, structuring investments, financing and M&A across the private equity, finance, fintech and real estate sectors. 

Prior to his stint at KPMG, Mina spent seven years as an associate at Mexico City-based firm Creel García-Cuéllar Aiza y Enríquez. 

In a joint statement, Mexico City partners Marco Antonio de la Peña, Santiago Ferrer and León López said: “We are sure [Mina] will help position Cuatrecasas as one of the most reputed firms for the tax structuring of transactions and for managing private wealth in Mexico and in Latin America. In this context, Juan David’s profile and experience, with an education in law and in accounting, ensure the best results in tax consultancy for our clients.” 

Cuatrecasas opened the office in Mexico City back in 2016 as its first base in Latin America and has subsequently set up shop in Chile and Colombia as well as Peru. 

The firm’s growing LatAm platform contributed to its strong financial performance in 2021, which saw it report an 11% increase in revenue to hit €350m after a challenging 2020 when revenue dipped 0.3% to €315.3m. 

Other international law firms moving to grow their LatAm presence recently include US firm Holland & Knight, which since the start of the year has added tax and capital markets partners to its office in Bogotá, Colombia and hired a six-strong capital markets team from DLA Piper in Mexico City led by partner Xavier Mangino.  

DLA Piper boosted its own corporate, finance, litigation and tax offering in Mexico City in January with the arrival of a six-partner team from White & Case.