Profile
Gabriela Palomino is a member of Greenberg Traurig’s Mexico City office and focuses her practice on real estate law and infrastructure projects. She has participated in several M&A transactions, representing leading companies, sponsors, investors, private equity funds and CKDs in a variety of infrastructure sectors, including toll roads, electric and renewal energy projects, hydraulic infrastructure and natural gas pipelines. Within these transactions, she has been responsible for legal due diligence as well as drafting and negotiation of a variety of contracts and the procurement of regulatory authorizations, including antitrust clearance and consent/authorization solicitation before the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SCT) and the energy regulatory commission.
Gabriela has also advised several multinational companies on their participation as members of consortiums in public biddings sponsored by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) for the construction and operation of several gas-fired combined-cycle power plants to be installed in the north of Mexico and Pacific Coast. In addition, she has represented institutional investors, real estate investment funds and private equity firms as well as developers in all aspects of commercial, residential, retail and industrial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, leases, development, construction and creation of joint ventures.
Capabilities
Experience
- Representation of Mexico Infrastructure Partners in a seller-financed acquisition, through the issuing trust which issued the infrastructure bonds (CKDs) listed in the Mexican Stock Exchange under ticker symbol “EXICK14,”(EXI), of an indirect participation of 16.25% in Energía Mayakán, S. de R.L. de C.V., the entity which currently operates a 775-kilometer natural gas pipeline that runs from Tabasco to Yucatan (the “Project”). Our engagement included drafting and negotiating the deal documents (under New York and Mexican Law), conduct due diligence for the Project and the SPVs, setting up EXI’s corporate structure for the purchase and obtaining the regulatory authorizations (COFECE and CFE).
- Representation of COVIMSA, S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Empresas ICA, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV:ICA) (NYSE:ICA) in the negotiation and documentation of a MXN$750 million convertible loan, where the parties have previously agreed to the equity stake to be acquired, with CKD Fomento a la Energía e Infraestructura de México (EXI), through the EXICK Trust, to provide the resources required for the completion of the Palmillas-Apaseo El Grande tollroad in the states of Queretaro and Guanajuato. Autovía Queretaro, S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of COVIMSA, holds the 30-year concession to construct, operate, exploit, preserve, and maintain the highway. The conversion into equity is subject to regulatory approval from the Mexican Antitrust Commission and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
- Adviser to Engie (formerly GDF Suez) and Mitsubishi as participants in the bid tender for the construction and operation of several gas-fired combined power plants in the north of Mexico and Pacific Coast under IPP scheme sponsored by CFE for 25-year contracts.
- Adviser to Engie (formerly GDF Suez) and Sojitz as participants in the bid tender for the construction and operation of gas-fired combined power plants in the north of Mexico under IPP scheme sponsored by CFE for a 25-year contract.
- Representation of The Related Group in the negotiation and execution of diverse joint ventures with partners in the residential and retail real estate industry.
- Representation of AIG Global Real Estate in the negotiation and execution of a joint venture with a partner in the industrial real estate industry and the acquisitions and operations under said joint venture.
- Representation of Prudential Real Estate Investors in the negotiation and execution of a joint venture with American Industries.
- Representation of Calzada Capital Partners in the negotiation and execution of a co-investment agreement with a Mexican developer whereby Calzada will invest US$100 million in the development of multi-family projects in Mexico.
- Representation of Alignmex Real Estate Capital in the formation of its real estate investment and asset management platform that will invest in residential, industrial and commercial real estate throughout Mexico.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Chambers Latin America, “Up and Coming,” Projects - Mexico, 2024
- Listed, Chambers Global, "Up and Coming," Projects, 2024
- Listed, The Legal 500 Mexico Awards, Rising Star - Projects, 2023
- Team Member, Chambers USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, 2017, 2022
- Listed, The Legal 500 Latin America, “Latin America: Mexico,” 2021-2024
- Rising Stars - Projects and Infrastructure, 2022-2023
- Corporate and M&A, 2022-2024
- Capital Markets, 2021, 2023-2024
- Banking and Finance, 2023-2024
- Projects and Infrastructure, 2021 and 2024
- “Rising Stars,” 2024
- Team Member, a Law360 “Real Estate Practice Group of the Year,” 2015 and 2022
Credentials
-
LL.M., Harvard Law School
- Member, Harvard Environmental Law Review
- Law Degree, Universidad de Monterrey
- Mexico
- Spanish, Native
- English, Fluent