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Greenberg Traurig expanded its Latin America practice by adding a shareholder and four associates to its Mexico City office as a growing number of independent firms in the region seek global partners.

Rodrigo Orozco Waters, founder of Orozco Waters Abogados, joins the Greenberg Traurig corporate group as a shareholder. He brings with him four associates: Víctor Felipe Callarisa Rivera, Alfonso Malagón Lozano, Edgar Fernando Orozco Ceballos and José Manuel López Castro.

The additions expand Greenberg Traurig's project finance capabilities as the Mexican government is slashing the federal budget and pushing ahead on ambitious infrastructure projects, such as a train through the Yucatán Peninsula. Public-private partnerships could fill some of the anticipated financing gap.

"Rodrigo and his team bring a track record of experience in the areas of public-private partnerships and government financing that will be an asset to our clients," said José Raz Guzmán, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig's Latin America practice and managing shareholder of the Mexico City office.

Orozco Waters will represent Greenberg Traurig clients in public and private infrastructure and financing projects, as well as foreign investment transactions in Mexico's infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, financial and commercial sectors.

In the past, he has represented the Mexican government in the securitization of funds and assets through the Mexican Stock Exchange as well as in the issuance of catastrophe bonds through the World Bank. He also advised Mexico City on the structuring of the first green bonds issued by a Latin American city in 2016.

Orozco Waters regularly advises state and municipal governments in their financing transactions and has been involved in many of the largest state-debt restructurings and refinancings in Mexico, having advised commercial and development banks and states. He also has broad experience in mergers and acquisitions transactions involving the financial sector and other regulated industries.

He holds a master's in law from Columbia University and a law degree from the Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico City. He is admitted to practice in Mexico and New York.

Orozco Waters is one of a growing number of independents in Latin America opting for tie-ups with global firms to expand their reach with multinational clients.

"The reputation of Greenberg Traurig's Latin America practice has always been recognized throughout the region for its ability to structure highly complex cross-border and in-country transactions," Orozco Waters said.

Juan Manuel González Bernal, who leads the project finance and infrastructure practice at Greenberg Traurig's Mexico City office, said the hirings will expand an already strong group.

"Clients today are looking for experience in the regulatory and transactional areas, and by adding attorneys like Rodrigo, we will continue to provide the type of client-focused service companies expect from Greenberg Traurig," said González Bernal, who is a founding member of the Mexico City office.

The recruits come within months of high-level defections from the Greenberg Traurig Latin America group's Miami office. Morrison & Foerster launched a Latin America practice there in June by poaching four corporate and cross-border partners from Greenberg Traurig.

In the wake of those departures, Greenberg Traurig announced the elevation of Mexico City managing partner Raz Guzmán and Marc Rossell, capital markets lead in New York, to co-chair the firm's Latin America practice. The team has nearly 100 lawyers spread across 41 offices.

The Mexico City office, with 60 bilingual attorneys, is a cornerstone of the practice. The firm established its Latin America practice more than 40 years ago, drawing on its Miami roots to hire Cuban-American lawyers capable of serving the region.