Manuel Vera
Counsel, Foreign Legal Consultant
Alicia Morrow
713.223.2300 x2766
Manuel Vera is a Mexican licensed attorney with more than 12 years of experience. He represents U.S. investors in the acquisition of companies and assets in Mexico, and represents their interests in cross-border project finance transactions and joint ventures. He also provides legal counsel to U.S.-based financial service institutions, energy companies and investment firms doing business in Mexico. Mr. Vera’s practice focuses on Mexican and international corporate and commercial law, particularly foreign investment, project finance, banking, energy, real estate transactions, labor, tax and regulatory issues affecting Mexican companies.
Mr. Vera represents a number of significant, global Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 corporations. For several years, he acted as the lead outside counsel for the Mexican financial division of two major U.S. corporations, and their numerous subsidiaries in the incorporation of their financial groups in Mexico.
Representative Matters
Representation of Kinder Morgan in connection with its cross-border natural gas pipeline and ownership of related assets for the transportation of gas in Mexico, including ongoing corporate work, regulation, tax, finance and labor issues and the execution of several contracts related with its operation in Mexico, 2003 to date.
Representation of four Mexican subsidiaries of W-H Energy Services Inc. in connection with their formation and operations in Mexico. Ongoing representation of such Mexican subsidiaries, August 2004 to date.
Representation of a major interest reseller of consumer goods in connection with its formation and structuring of an entity and business structure for Mexico and ongoing representation of the Mexican subsidiary, May 2003 to date.
Representation of the Sterling Group in the acquisition of the global fabrics business of BP Amoco, October to December 2004.
Ongoing representation of Propex Fabrics Inc. with its two Mexican subsidiaries, 2004 to date.
Representation of Credit Lyonnais (Caylon) in connection with a $150,000,000 credit agreement granted to a Mexican borrower and secured by five Mexican entities, March 2004; assistance with three amendments and restatements of such credit agreement, August 2004, April 2005, and June 2006, respectively.
Representation of Calpine Corporation with the development, construction and operation of a 525 MW power plant in Mexico for the Comisión Federal de Electricidad, October 2003 to February 2004, and assistance with the sale of Calpine's interest in such power plant, January to April 2006.
Representation of American Electric Power Company with the sale of its interest in a power generation plant in Mexico, 2004 to February 2006.
Assistance CITGO Petroleum Corporation with the administration of several litigation procedures in Mexico, June to December 2004.
Representation of Societe Generale in connection with a $120,000,000 revolving credit agreement, October to December 2003.
Assistance to Steag Power LLC with operations in Mexico, September 2003.
Representation of a Fortune 100 refining company in connection with the structuring of a cross-border pipeline and storage facility into Mexico for LPG, March 2003.
Representation of Cates Control Systems Inc. with the formation and operation of a Mexican subsidiary, March to July 2000.
Preparation of certain agreements for the installation and operation of a gas plant in Mexico, 2000.
Representation of Azurix, a water services company, in connection with the acquisition and construction of water treatment plants in Toluca and Leon, Mexico, August 1999 to February 2000.
Representation of Texas Petrochemicals LP with certain activities in Mexico, November 1998 to October 1999.
Representation of Benchmark Electronics Inc. with the acquisition of assets in Mexico, July 1999.
Representation of a bank's investment in a U.S. Company in connection with ownership of a Mexican maquiladora company in Merida, Mexico, October 1998 – February 1999.
Representation of Itochu Project Management Corporation with the potential acquisition of shares of a Mexican entity, August 1998.
Representation of a U.S. Transportation company with the acquisition of shares of a Mexican transportation services company, June 1998.
Publications and Speeches
"Renewable energy in Mexico: Opportunity for Mutual Benefit," Houston Business Journal,September 8-14, 2006.
Education
J.D., with honors, Universidad Panamericana, 1994
Bar Admissions
Licensed in Mexico only
Affiliations
Mexican Bar Association
State Bar of Texas, Foreign Legal Consultant