Overview
Roberto Arena is a trusted advisor, assisting clients with navigating their business critical corporate/M&A transactions and international tax matters. He is a partner in the firm’s Taxation and Transactions practice groups and managing partner for the Mexico City office, where he represents clients in the energy, financial services, insurance, and manufacturing sectors. As a recognized international tax attorney, clients seek Roberto’s wide-ranging insights and experience with the structuring and planning of tax-efficient structures. Roberto also advises public companies and multinationals engaged in large-scale and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, business transactions and regulatory matters, antitrust issues, government relations, international tax planning and inbound and outbound international business transactions. Roberto also oversees commercial litigation and labor and employment matters on behalf of his clients, working closely with other members of the Mexico City office to achieve this.
Representing clients across the full spectrum of the energy sector, Roberto advises clients on tax, corporate/M&A, and procurement law, among others. He represents national and international energy companies, financial institutions, developers, and sponsors in their transactions and dispute matters, including, but not limited to, setting up tax efficient structures and operations, cross-border investments, navigating the procurement process as it relates to government entities, and tax disputes. Clients rely on his strategic, 360-degree perspective for guidance on major investment reforms taking place in Mexican energy sector.
Roberto is a founding partner of the Latin American Network, a group of leading independent law firms representing regional and global businesses seeking to invest and expand in the region and beyond. As part of our Latin America Team, Roberto assists Latin American companies looking to invest and set up operations in Mexico, primarily in the Manufacturing, Innovative Technology, Transportation, Energy, and Health Care & Life Sciences sectors. He works closely with local counsel in the region to assist Mexican entities as they seek cross-border, regional expansion into Latin America, and providing full-service capabilities for global and regional entities on their multijurisdictional matters.
Professional Affiliations
- Member, International Bar Association
- Member, Illustrious and National Lawyers’ Association
- Director and External Advisor, Insurance Companies in the Sectors of Life and Damages
- Director, Energy Companies
- Member, Judicial Process Board, Consejo de Procesos Judiciales for the Reforma Newspaper (one of the most recognized newspapers in Mexico)
- Former Professor, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (one of the most recognized law schools in Mexico)
- General Theory of Fiscal Law (Derecho Fiscal I)
- Mexican Income Tax for Individuals and Corporations (Derecho Fiscal II)
Honors & Awards
- Recognized, The Best Lawyers in Mexico, (2018-2022)
- Project Finance and Development (2020)
- Recognized, Chambers Latin America: Latin America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
- Tax (Mexico) (2011-2024)
- Recognized, Chambers Global
- Tax (Mexico) (2011-2023)
- Recognized, The Legal 500 Latin America
- Corporate / Mergers and Acquisitions (2013)
- Tax (2012, 2013, 2017)
- Real Estate (2012)
- Recognized, Finance Monthly Global Award Winner
- Transfer Pricing Lawyer of the Year - Mexico (2017)
- Recognized, Leading Lawyer, IFLR1000: Mexico
- Corporate and Commercial (2013, 2015)
- Disputes (2013, 2015)
- Energy and Infrastructure (2018)
- Mergers and Acquisitions (2018)
- Restructuring and Insolvency (2013, 2015, 2018)
- Tax (2013, 2015)
Education
- Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (J.D., with honors, 1985)
- Advanced Studies, Latin American Literature, Universidad Iberoamericana (1982-1985)
- Advanced Studies, Tax, Universidad Panamericana
Languages
- Spanish, Native
- English, Fluent