Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that corporate finance partner Guillermo Uribe Lara has joined the firm’s Mexico City office along with his team, which includes associates  Adrian Gay Lasa, Jorge Gonzalez, Mirna Ordaz and paralegal Santiago Soldevilla. The group of attorneys previously practiced with DLA Piper.

Holland & Knight’s Mexico City office was established in August 2013 and now includes 16 attorneys primarily focused on corporate finance, energy, project finance, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and private equity.

“Guillermo is highly regarded in the legal community and an excellent addition to the firm’s growing Mexico Practice,” said Boris Otto, executive partner of Holland & Knight’s Mexico City office. “Guillermo’s experience with capital markets, and in  particular with Mexican REITs (Fibras), will be extremely valuable to clients as the Mexican real estate market continues to mature and influence capital markets.”

“The firm is committed to building one of the strongest and most diverse Latin America practices of any U.S. law firm,” said Roberto Pupo, chair of Holland & Knight’s Latin America Practice Group. “Guillermo’s arrival further strengthens our group and complements the recent addition of Stephen Double in New York and J.C. Ferrer in Miami.”

Mr. Uribe advises clients on matters related to banking and securities law, national and international capital markets, securities offerings, structured finance, syndicated loans and matters related to the compliance and surveillance of the Mexican securities market. His real estate practice includes the representation of Mexican REITs with respect to IPOs, a number of follow-on deals, debt capital markets transactions and related real estate portfolio acquisitions.  His experience includes the representation of national and foreign banks, REITs, brokerage firms, rating agencies, local governments and monoliners in the negotiation, structure and implementation of traditional and structured loans and securities placements, including the national and foreign securitization of several assets.

Mr. Uribe previously served as director of corporation finance and director of market surveillance of the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV). As director of market surveillance, he participated in the development and modification of the regulations for the securities market and in the design of the Mexican Derivatives Exchange (MexDer). As director of corporation finance, he was in charge of the authorization and registration of Mexican securities and the corresponding IPO’s and securitizations. In addition, Mr. Uribe participated in the drafting of the regulation for securities issuers and in the Securities Market Law.

“I’ve enjoyed a close relationship with this talented group of attorneys over the years and I’m honored to be joining them at Holland & Knight,” said Mr. Uribe. “This will be a great opportunity to boost the firm´s potential and commitment in Latin America, especially in Mexico.”

Mr. Uribe is recognized as a leading attorney in his field by Chambers Latin America, Legal 500 Latin America and The International Who’s Who of Capital Markets Lawyers.

About Holland & Knight’s Latin America Practice Group: Holland & Knight has one of the largest and most diverse Latin American practices among U.S. law firms. The Latin America Practice Group includes more than 80 attorneys with in-depth experience in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity and financing transactions, and business disputes in and involving Latin America in commercial centers throughout the world.

About Holland & Knight LLP:  Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers in 18 U.S. offices as well as Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Bogotá and Mexico City. The firm is among the largest U.S.-based law firms, providing representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location. www.hklaw.com