Leading global law firm Baker McKenzie recently announced several major hires. These hires will expand the firm to Monterrey, Johannesburg, and Palo Alto.
Monterrey
Hugo Lopez Miranda has joined the firm’s International Commercial Practice as a Partner in Monterrey. And Hugo’s arrival further expands the firm’s nearshoring capabilities in the region.
Hugo has 15+ years of experience practicing international trade law, focusing on taxation and customs-related litigation matters. And he has extensive experience advising companies on corporate governance and compliance matters related to their cross-border business, including support for companies nearshoring their operations to Mexico. Hugo represents multinational clients across a number of industries, including manufacturing and transportation.
Hugo’s hiring closely follows the arrival of Tax Partner Nadja Ruiz in the Firm’s Mexico City office. And Nadja joined Baker McKenzie from a Big Four accounting firm and is a former senior member of the SAT.
Baker McKenzie’s International Commercial & Trade lawyers help clients navigate the complex challenges of sourcing, manufacturing, distributing and selling products and services across the globe. And with the largest integrated global practice of its kind, the team works across borders and practice areas to advise multinational companies on customs and trade regulation, tax compliance, commercial agreements, trade-related enforcement actions, IP enforcement, consumer protection laws, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws.
Hugo received his bachelor’s degree in law from the Universidad La Salle, his diploma in tax law from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and a master’s degree in tax law from the Universidad Panamericana. And he is admitted to practice law in Mexico. Hugo is fluent in English and Spanish.
Johannesburg
Baker McKenzie announced the further expansion of its global Disputes practice with the addition of Michelle Porter-Wright and Rebecca Thomson, who will join the Firm’s Johannesburg office as partners on 9 September 2024 from A&O Shearman. And Tiffany Gray will also join the Johannesburg office as Director Designate from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, effective September 1. And these hires are part of the Firm’s strategy to grow its Dispute Resolution capabilities, in line with clients’ increasingly complex needs in key African markets. Michelle, Rebecca and Tiffany’s expertise will further enhance Baker McKenzie’s global international arbitration, investigations and commercial litigation offering.
Michelle Porter-Wright was a partner at Baker McKenzie until 2017 and has been a director at A&O Shearman since 2017. And Michelle specializes in international arbitration and construction dispute resolution, with a focus on complex, technical disputes. She worked on some of the world’s largest projects and disputes and is widely recognized as a leader in her field by both South African and international legal directories and publications.
Rebecca Thomson is a highly experienced disputes lawyer with a primary focus on investigations, compliance and ethics work. And she also has extensive commercial litigation experience, with a specific focus on banking and financial services-related litigation. Rebecca Thomson is dual qualified in South Africa and England & Wales. Prior to joining A&O Shearman in 2020, she practiced at Norton Rose Fulbright, Deloitte South Africa (in-house) and Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.
Tiffany Gray joins the firm from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. And she has experience in corporate and commercial litigation, arbitration, public law and regulatory advisory work. Tiffany’s experience also includes advising clients on cross-border disputes within Southern Africa. Her sector expertise spans mining and energy, oil and gas, health and pharmaceutical, and public law.
With over 1,000 disputes lawyers across 60+ jurisdictions, the firm leverages its vast litigation, arbitration, and investigations expertise to provide comprehensive legal solutions.
Palo Alto
Baker McKenzie announced that Colleen Lee has joined the firm’s Palo Alto office. Colleen’s arrival continues the growth of Baker McKenzie’s global transactional team – which has seen the addition of over 20 partners in key business markets since the start of 2024. And she joins from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
Colleen focuses her practice on M&A, VC, and startup investments, spin-offs, carve-outs, and other corporate matters. And she represents public and private buyers, sellers and target companies, and private equity firms in a variety of US and cross-border acquisitions and dispositions, restructurings, and minority strategic investments. She has an extensive deal sheet, including several tech sector public company mergers and acquisitions and other multibillion dollar transactions.
Colleen joins Baker McKenzie’s California Transactional Group which comprises over 50 lawyers, making it among the largest transactional legal teams in California. And the team advises on some of the most transformative deals on the West Coast and around the globe. With 1,300 M&A lawyers worldwide, Baker McKenzie has the broadest M&A footprint of any law firm, providing clients with unmatched experience on complex transactions and cross-border deals.
Along with Colleen, Baker McKenzie recently welcomed Eric Schwartzman in San Francisco, a 17-strong first-rate transactional team in Los Angeles, Daniel Dehghanian in Dusseldorf, Tobias Knapp in New York, and Colin Bowes-Carlson in Chicago.
Colleen received her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and her JD from New York University School of Law, where she worked on the New York University Law Review. And Colleen is admitted to practice in both California and New York.
KEY QUOTES (MONTERREY):
“Hugo will be a tremendous asset for our clients, especially as many of them have started or are looking to start nearshoring to Mexico. We continue to see growing demand, specifically in Monterrey, as North America-based businesses realize the financial and logistical advantages of operating closer to home amidst growing geopolitical risk. Hugo’s expertise is also critical as we see increased audits and inspections of these operations by the Mexican Tax Revenue Service (SAT).”
- Pepe Larroque, National Managing Partner in Mexico
“As organizations seek to limit their exposure to supply chain disruptions, Monterrey has become a key market for companies looking to establish or expand operations in Mexico. Hugo’s skillset, which mixes local knowledge of Mexican law with expertise in global taxation and customs issues, perfectly matches our clients’ growing needs around setup and investment in Mexico. We are delighted to have him onboard.”
- Adriana Ibarra-Fernandez, partner and leader of the firm’s International Trade Practice in Mexico
“I am thrilled to join Baker McKenzie’s leading international trade practice. I look forward to serving our clients by contributing my knowledge of the legal and business landscape in Mexico while leveraging the capabilities of the Firm’s expansive global platform.”
- Hugo Lopez Miranda
KEY QUOTES (JOHANNESBURG):
“We’re excited to bring this highly regarded team on board. Michelle, Rebecca and Tiffany will all significantly enhance our ability to provide expert dispute resolution advice and innovative solutions to our clients. This triple hire also underscores our continued commitment to adding top talent to our Johannesburg office, following recent additions to our Banking & Finance practice.”
- Lerisha Naidu, Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie Johannesburg
“The addition of Michelle, Rebecca, and Tiffany to our Johannesburg office is another key milestone in our strategic efforts to deepen our disputes capabilities in key markets for our clients. Their combined expertise across international arbitration, investigations and commercial litigation will be invaluable to our clients with complex needs in key African markets.”
- Steve Abraham, London-based Partner and Baker McKenzie’s EMEA Head of Dispute Resolution
“I am thrilled to rejoin Baker McKenzie and leverage the Firm’s unparalleled global platform to deliver exceptional results for our clients. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Johannesburg and beyond to help our clients navigate their most complex arbitrations and construction disputes.”
- Michelle Porter-Wright
“Joining Baker McKenzie is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a dynamic and forward-thinking team. I am excited to bring my extensive experience in investigations and financial industry-focused litigation to the Firm, and to help to drive growth and innovation in these in-demand areas.”
- Rebecca Thomson
“I am delighted to join Baker McKenzie, where I can leverage my expertise in commercial dispute resolution and regulatory advisory services together with the firm’s global network to grow our international disputes practice. I look forward to the opportunities ahead and I am eager to collaborate with my talented colleagues to make significant contributions to our global success. Looking forward to this journey!”
- Tiffany Gray
KEY QUOTES (PALO ALTO):
“Having collaborated with Colleen for years, I’ve witnessed firsthand her remarkable skill and dedication to client service. She stands out as a generational talent and has played pivotal role in some of the most significant tech M&A transactions. Our group has grown into a leader in this area, representing some of the most influential names in tech. With Colleen augmenting our ranks, we are poised to enhance our leadership position and ability to deliver the best for clients.”
- Leif King, Head of the Firm’s Transactional Practice Group in California
“Colleen has extensive experience working on multibillion dollar deals for public companies, which will be a tremendous asset to the group as the pent-up demand for deal activity continues to materialize. We are all excited to have her onboard.”
- Baker McKenzie North America Transactional Practice Chair Alan Zoccolillo
“In today’s M&A market, success hinges on navigating complex transactions and fostering innovation to achieve strategic goals and create lasting value. Clients turn to Baker McKenzie because of our experience handling sophisticated deals, and adding a highly skilled and engaged partner such as Colleen will add further depth to our existing bench.”
- Jannan Crozier, Chair of the firm’s Global M&A Practice
“Baker McKenzie is one of the only truly global law firms that has established a robust tech M&A practice in California. I am excited about the opportunity to practice with this elite group, and to bring the resources of the global firm to bear for my clients.”
- Colleen Lee
