People / Alberto de la Peña

Biography

Alberto de la Peña is a trusted advisor to companies as they pursue their most significant international transactions and projects. He serves as the firmwide Chair of the Mexico Practice Group and Co-Chair of the International Practice Group. He also serves as Chair of the International Transactions Section of the firm and is a former member of the Board of Directors of Haynes Boone. He is licensed to practice law in Mexico, Texas and New York, with more than 30 years of experience advising companies doing business in Mexico and Latin America. His practice focuses on complex international business transactions and projects for both private and public companies, as well as large compliance matters and investigations.

Alberto is a transactional lawyer with an international litigation background. He has advised clients in complex projects and legal matters regarding Mexico and Latin America, including NAFTA/USMCA related matters, nearshoring, manufacturing, strategic M&A, secured transactions, international funds, energy and infrastructure, antitrust, compliance, FCPA,  internal investigations and fraud cases, real estate, aviation and transportation law, telecommunications, franchising and distribution, international litigation strategy, workouts and international law.

Alberto has received numerous awards and recognitions during his career, and has been ranked among the leading Corporate and M&A lawyers in Chambers Global and Latin Lawyer. He also has been recognized among the Top 100 Lawyers in Latin America and in the Best Lawyers in Mexico.

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  • Represented public and private companies in complex mergers and acquisitions in Mexico and Latin America.
  • Represented private investors in joint ventures and operations in Mexico.
  • Represented clients acquiring and selling commercial and industrial real estate in Mexico, including hospitality properties.
  • Represented clients in internal investigations, regulatory compliance, fraud cases and FCPA matters.
  • Represented franchisors in corporate transactional work, regulatory matters and litigation in Mexico.
  • Represented clients in contractual, transactional and regulatory work in the energy sector in Mexico.
  • Assisted a client in a multimillion-dollar joint venture in Mexico in the oil and gas sector.
  • Represented international airlines in Mexico and Latin America.
  • Represented Mexican, American and Canadian banks and companies in international financing, including lending to, and obtaining security interests in, Mexican companies and assets.
  • Represented a public and private telecommunications carrier in Mexico regulatory, compliance and transactional matters.
  • Represented a U.S. public company in the issuance of multi-million-dollar debt in connection with Mexican legal regulations and antitrust compliance.
  • Represented public and private companies in internal compliance matters.
  • Represented a U.S. public company in the acquisition and servicing of distressed loan portfolios in Mexico and Latin America.
  • Represented Mexican public and private companies with operations in the United States.
  • Represented U.S. public companies and the Mexican government in cross-border litigation matters.
  • Assisted an arbitrator in a NAFTA international arbitration regarding NAFTA regulations and commercial law.
  • University of Houston Center for U.S. and Mexican Law, U.S. Advisory Board Member
  • Mexican Bar
  • State Bar of Texas
  • New York State Bar
  • U.S. Mexico Bar Association - Former Board Member
  • Joint University of North Texas – Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México Program, Former Advisory Board Member
  • Recognized in Latinvex Top 100 Lawyers in Latin America, 2024
  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in Mexico, Woodward/White, Inc., 2019, 2023
  • Recognized as a Stand-out Lawyer, Acritas Stars, Acritas, 2018-2021
  • Latin Lawyer 250, Law Business Research Ltd. – Corporate/M&A, 2016, 2023-2025
  • Chambers Global, Chambers and Partners – Corporate/M&A: Mexico, 2013
  • Co-author of the “Fiduciary Duties. An analysis of their regulation in Mexico and the United States” chapter in the book entitled Selected Topics of Contemporaneous Securities Law, Editorial Porrua, Mexico.
  • "Will the USMCA Function Well Amid the Pandemic?" co-author, Latin America Advisor.
  • "Mexico's Energy Reform: Powering the Future," Rice University, Houston, Texas.
  • “Mexico Energy Sector” speaker at SMU Mission Foods Texas-Mexico Center Annual Symposium.
  • "Infrastructure and Project Finance: Trends and Challenges," moderator, U.S.-Mexico Bar Association Annual Meeting, Mexico City, Mexico.
  • "Trends in Cross-Border M&A Transactions," moderator, U.S.-Mexico Bar Association Annual Meeting, Mexico City, Mexico.
  • "Intellectual Property and Legal Compliance: Understanding the North American Free Trade Agreement," United States/Mexico Technology Summit, Dallas, Texas.
  • "Challenges and Opportunities of Acquiring and Selling Companies in Mexico and Latin America," Hispanic National Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • "NAFTA Investment Chapter and Dispute Resolution," SMU Dedman School of Law.
  • "NAFTA Investment Chapter and Dispute Resolution," St. Mary's School of Law.
  • "Foreign Corrupt Practices Act," U.S.-Mexico Bar Association.
  • "International Business Transactions," University of Texas at Dallas.
  • "Practical Considerations of Doing Business in Mexico," Abilene Bar Association; Beaumont Bar Association.
  • "Doing Business in Mexico," Hispanic National Bar Association.
  • "Legal Framework for Telecommunications in Mexico," North Texas Global Telecommunications Society.
  • "Free Trade Agreement Between Mexico and the European Union," SMU Law and Business Review of the Americas.
  • "Legal Framework of the Telecommunications in Mexico: Challenges and Perspectives," Texas Transnational Law Quarterly, Texas Bar Association.

Education

J.D., Escuela Libre de Derecho, 1994, with highest honors

LL.M., Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 2001

Languages

Spanish

Admissions

Mexico

New York

Texas