Summary: Francisco Mendez, a renowned attorney in the oil and gas industry, has joined Mayer Brown in its Houston office.
Mayer Brown is pleased to announce that Francisco Mendez has joined the firm as a partner in its Global Energy practice at its Houston location. Mendez served as in-house counsel at ExxonMobil Corporation for Latin America for twenty years. Recently, he advised the company on the opening of the oil and gas industry in Mexico to the private sector.
Kevin Sheridan Jr. also recently joined the firm in its New York office.
Now that Mendez has joined the firm as a partner, the firm is making progress as a market leader in reforming Mexico’s energy industry. Mayer Brown plans to open an office in Mexico City that, subject to approval, will focus on representing clients that are operating and investing in the oil, gas, and power industries in the country.
Dallas Parker, a partner in the Houston office and the leader of the firm’s Mexico Energy Reform Initiative, said, “For the first time in 75 years, Mexico’s oil and gas sector is open to private investment. Francisco will bolster Mayer Brown’s ability to advise oil and gas and energy services companies from around the world who are seeking guidance on how to invest in this new market. In addition, if we are successful in securing regulatory approval to open a new office in Mexico City, we will look to Francisco to play a key role in our continued focus on Mexico as part of our established team of international energy lawyers who are knowledge leaders in Mexico oil, gas and power matters.”
Kwon Lee joined the firm as a partner in its real estate division in New York.
During his tenure at ExxonMobil, Mendez advised on many upstream and downstream Latin American projects. He has gained a wealth of experience in negotiating and drafting oil and gas contracts. Mendez was also a part of the formation of the Mexican Hydrocarbons Association, the first association of its kind in Mexico. Mendez also has experience in handling oil, gas, and power industry issues in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Uruguay.
Of his new position, Mendez said, “Mayer Brown’s global presence and strong experience in handling significant oil, gas and power matters provide an impressive platform for me to advise companies looking to invest in Mexico, one of the world’s leading resource countries for oil and gas. I look forward to working with colleagues across various practices and jurisdictions.”
In September, the firm hired the ERISA lawyer of the year.
The partner-in-charge of the Houston office, Neil Wasserstrom, said, “The opening of the energy industry in Mexico presents significant synergies between Mexico and Houston, the global hub for the oil and gas business. Francisco’s arrival accelerates the continued growth of Mayer Brown’s Global Energy practice and is a testament to our efforts to expand the firm’s capabilities to better serve clients on oil, gas and power matters in Mexico.”
Mendez graduated from Panamerican University’s School of Law in Mexico City and is licensed to practice law in Mexico.
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