Squire Patton Boggs partners Alvaro J. Mestre and Paul A. O’Hop have been named by The Legal 500 in its US/Mexico Private Practice Powerlist for the third consecutive year. This distinction identifies key US individual practitioners who have developed a strong reputation for their high-profile work and engagement in the Mexican market.
In selecting the Private Practice Powerlist, The Legal 500’s team of researchers collected unsolicited recommendations and opinions from law firm partners and in-house counsel, as well as analyzed the candidates’ career trajectories and level of engagement in the Mexican market.
Serving as chair of the firm’s Mexico Desk, Mr. Mestre specializes in the development of infrastructure projects, with a sector focus on the energy industry and a regional focus on the Americas, particularly in Mexico. For more than two decades, Mr. Mestre has represented public and private sector clients with the structuring, development, construction, financing, operation, maintenance and ownership of numerous infrastructure projects within Mexico, with particular emphasis on the natural gas pipeline and power generation sectors. His most recent Mexican transactions include both solar and wind power generation projects. An integral part of Mr. Mestre’s practice also involves supporting his clients with the acquisition and divestiture of infrastructure projects and assets, as well as advising clients on various FCPA compliance issues.
With more than 30 years of experience working on major transactions in Latin America, Mr. O’Hop has represented large US, European and Latin American companies in the development of major infrastructure throughout Latin America, including power generation projects using both conventional and renewable resources, as well as natural gas pipeline, processing, storage and other infrastructure projects. In Mexico, he has represented clients in connection with several first-ever transactions and Deals of the Year, including the first independent power project (IPP) in Mexico, the first Mexican natural gas pipeline joint venture between Pemex Gas and a private sector company, and a 1,000 km natural gas pipeline project, transporting US natural gas to central Mexico. More recently, he has been involved in the development of renewable energy projects in Mexico. Mr. O’Hop was also the founder of the firm’s renewable energy team and served as the head of the firm’s Latin America Practice from 2008 to 2014.