Dallas-based Gardere Wynne Sewell has expanded in Mexico City by acquiring the five-lawyer commercial arbitration and litigation boutique Bufete Hernandez Romo.

The move means Gardere now has 22 lawyers in Mexico City.

Miguel Angel Hernandez Romo Valencia joined Gardere as a partner. His father, Miguel Angel Hernandez Romo, joined as of counsel, and Jorge Enrique Hernandez Marin joined as a senior litigation associate. Also, Carlos Gerardo Barojas Flores and Laura Jimenez-O'Farrill Gutierrez de Velasco joined as associates.

Partner Hernandez Romo, now head of the litigation section in Mexico City, said he and the other lawyers were attracted to Gardere's long tenure in Mexico, stretching back to 1992.

“They have been here for a long time. All of the connections they have with Texas, it was pretty much a no-brainer move to do something different,” Hernandez Romo said.

He said his father, who joined as of counsel, founded Bufete Hernandez about 45 years ago with Hernandez Romo's late uncle, so it's a big, but exciting change for the lawyers. Hernandez Romo said Gardere lawyers approached him 12 years ago, but talks did not get serious until recently.

“I was again contacted about four years ago, and we were not ready and … the market was not ready,” he said. “Then the last time I was approached was on the first day of January of this year.”

Hernandez Romo said his clients include the American British Cowdray Medical Center and Baxter Healthcare. The firm's clients are in the health care, manufacturing and transportation industries.

Roberto Arena Reyes Retana, managing partner of the Mexico City office, said Bufete Hernandez was a prestigious commercial litigation boutique. By adding its lawyers, Gardere transforms its ability to provide top-notch commercial litigation service in Mexico, he said.

“We are very excited to have them with us,” he said.

The five Bufete Hernandez attorneys joined the firm on Sept. 1, but the firm only announced the move this week. Gardere's other offices are in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Denver.

Earlier this year, Gardere picked up five international trade laterals in Mexico City.