Profile
José Raz Guzmán is Co-Chair of the firm's Latin America Practice and Co-Managing Shareholder of the Mexico City office. He focuses his practice on financial and M&A transactions. He works with issuers, underwriters, and investors in public and private offerings of sophisticated investment vehicles including equity, debt, structured instruments, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), and securitizations.
As part of his corporate governance practice, José advises boards of directors, special committees, and executive management regarding their fiduciary duties and corporate governance best practices.
José is recognized by international legal publications as a top-tier attorney in Mexico in capital markets and banking and finance.
Concentrations
- Banking and finance
- Capital markets
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Corporate governance
- Private equity
Capabilities
Experience
- Representation of Procaps Group, as borrower, in connection with a US$485 million credit facility granted by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Bancolombia (Panamá), Banco Davivienda, Banco BTG Pactual, Banco de Crédito del Perú, and Global Bank Corporation, as lenders, where BOFA Securities acted as joint lead arranger and bookrunner and The Bank of New York Mellon acted as administrative agent and collateral agent, for the potential acquisition of Grupo Somar, Perrigo Mexico, and Perrigo Brasil.
- Representation of a syndicate of banks in a MXN$11,000 million refinancing credit facility granted to an international pharmaceutical company secured by real estate properties and trademarks.
- Acted as counsel to Gramercy in a US$360 million loan granted to Grupo Salud Auna México for the acquisition of Mexican health care group Organización Clínica América (OCA) and its respective subsidiaries. OCA operates three of the most important hospitals, representing the largest infrastructure footprint in Monterrey’s health care market, with approximately 35% market share based on number of beds.
- Representation of Betterware, as borrower, in connection with an MXN$4,498,695,000.00 credit facility granted by HSBC México, Banamex, BBVA México, Banco del Bajío, Bancoppel, Scotiabank, as lenders, Banamex as structuring and sustainability agent, HSBC México as structuring agent, and HSBC Bank USA as administrative agent, for the acquisition of JAFRA Cosmetics.
- Representation of Instituto del Fondo Nacional de la Vivienda para los Trabajadores (INFONAVIT, the Mexican national housing agency) and Concentradora Hipotecaria (FHipo), manager of the first Mexican mortgage real estate investment trust, in a joint mortgage loan securitization for a total of MXN$4,230 million.
- Representation of Concentradora Hipotecaria (FHipo), manager of the first Mexican mortgage real estate investment trust, in a mortgage loan securitization for a total of MXN$3,362.8 million. This is the first securitization of its kind, including in a single issuing trust mortgage loans portfolios of the largest mortgages originators in Mexico, INFONAVIT (the National Workers’ Housing Institute Fund) and FOVISSSTE (Housing Fund of the Institute of Social Security and Social Services for State Employees).
- Acted as counsel to Banco Mercantil del Norte (Banorte) in the amendment of an MXN$2 billion loan granted to the mortgage trust FHIPO for the acquisition and origination of mortgage loans portfolios. The amendment contemplates the use of the funds to purchase loans originated by INFONAVIT or other privately owned loan originators.
- Advised Banco Santander México, Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero Santander México, as agent, lead arranger and lender, HSBC México, Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero HSBC, as lead arranger and lender, in connection with an MXN$2 billion secured credit facility to Grupo Gigante Inmobiliario and other subsidiaries acting as joint obligors. This facility is secured by two security trusts, which together have 20 shopping centers in 10 different states in Mexico.
- Representation of Planigrupo in several refinancing facilities granted by BBVA México, Metlife and Institución de Banca Múltiple. The facilities are secured by collateral over a portfolio of 10 properties and the revenue from the leasing of commercial space.
- Representation of BBVA Bancomer, Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, Banco del Bajío, Institución de Banca Múltiple, Banco Monex, Institución de Banca Múltiple, Monex Grupo Financiero, and Banco Regional de Monterrey, Institución de Banca Múltiple, Banregio Grupo Financiero in an MXN$1.1 billion syndicated loan facility to a leading real estate development company in Mexico.
- Represented Planigrupo Latam, a Mexico-based company primarily engaged in the real estate sector with respect to the separation of the CKD fund established in 2012 of MXN$4,000 million.
- Representation of BNP Paribas, Morgan Stanley, BBVA, JP Morgan, BofA Securities as underwriters in the offering by América Móvil, of US$1 billion 2.875% senior notes due 2030. The offering was a SEC-registered takedown, and the notes will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
- Representation of Grupo Financiero Santander México, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer and Grupo Financiero Banorte as lead underwriters in connection with the US$350 million initial public offering of the Mexican REIT established by Grupo Sordo Madaleno, a leading commercial property developer and operator in Mexico.
- Representation of the lead underwriters, Banco Santander, BBVA Mexico and Banorte, in connection with the initial public offering (IPO) of Fibra SOMA, the Mexican REIT established by Grupo Sordo Madaleno, a leading commercial property developer and operator in Mexico. It is the first REIT to be listed in Mexico’s Institutional Stock Exchange (BIVA).
- Representation of Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Barclays and Merrill Lynch as intermediaries in the dual-tranche offering by América Móvil of US$1 billion 3.625% senior notes due 2029 and US$1.25 billion 4.375% senior notes due 2049. Both offerings were SEC-registered takedowns, and the notes were listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
- Representation of the group of initial purchasers and underwrites (Barclays Bank PLC, Merrill Lynch International, J.P. Morgan Securities plc, UBS AG London Branch, Banco Santander, S.A., UniCredit Bank AG) in the offering by América Móvil of €1,000,000,000 0.750% senior notes due 2027. The offering is a SEC-registered takedown, and the notes were listed on the official list of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange for trading on the Euro MTF Market.
- Representation of Evercore, Banorte, and BTG as joint bookrunners in the RLH Properties initial public offering. RLH is the first small-cap company to go public as SAB, listing approximately 86 million shares equivalent to more than 30% of its capital stock.
- Representation of ION Financiera in the establishment of a Mexican commercial paper program for a total of MXN$200 million and their first debt issuance in the Mexican Stock Exchange.
- Representation of the several underwriters in the purchase of €850,000,000 1.500% senior notes due 2024 and €650,000,000 2.125% senior notes due 2028 offering by América Móvil.
- Representation of the shareholders of DocSolutions de México, in connection with the sale of a 49% interest in the company and its affiliated entities to ProActive Capital. The main challenges of this transaction have been the corporate restructuring of the target group required for implementation of the acquisition and the negotiation with the buyer of its minority protections and rights.
- Representation of Gramercy in the financing of US$350 million granted to Auna Salud to complete the acquisition of 100% ownership stake of USD700 million in Organización Clínica América, (OCA), a leading health care group in Monterrey, Mexico. OCA operates three hospitals representing the largest infrastructure footprint in Monterrey’s health care market, with approximately 35% market share based on number of beds.
- Representation of Betterware in the acquisition of the Mexican cosmetics company JAFRA, including its U.S. and local operations for US$255 million in debt financing. In March 2020, the company merged with DD3 Capital Partners, a publicly traded SPAC.
- Representation of DD3 Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded SPAC, in its business combination with Betterware.
- Representation of a renowned Mexican lubricant and automotive fluid manufacturer in a joint venture with a British oil company for the distribution and sale of products in Mexico.
- Representation of Colombian group Keralty in the negotiation and drafting of a joint venture agreement with French insurance group AXA Seguros, for the development of a health clinic network to provide primary care services to policy holders in Mexico and improve the quality, geographical coverage, and cost thereof.
- Representation of a gaming industry company in the acquisition of the gaming unit of a large Mexican mass media conglomerate.
- Representation of an Israel-based pharmaceutical company in its US$2.3 billion acquisition of a Latin American drugmaker, along with a portfolio of products and companies, intellectual property, assets, and pharmaceutical patents in Latin America and Europe.
- Representation of Advent International in the investment in a Mexican financial group holding company.
- Representation of a seller constituency in the sale of the exclusive importer and distributor of high-end luxury automobiles in Mexico.
- Representation of a Mexican insurance and bonding broker in the sale of a majority stake to a corporate conglomerate in the insurance sector.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Chambers Global and Chambers Latin America
- Banking & Finance (Mexico), 2015-2025
- Capital Markets (Mexico), 2015-2025
- "Eminent Practitioners," 2025
- Corporate/M&A (Mexico), 2015-2025
- Listed, The Legal 500 Latin America Guide, 2021-2025
- Latin America: International
- Corporate and M&A, 2022 and 2025
- Banking and Finance, 2021-2022
- Capital Markets, 2021-2022
- Latin America: Mexico
- Banking and Finance, 2022-2025
- Capital Markets, 2022-2025
- Corporate and M&A, 2021-2025
- “Leading Individual” in Banking and Finance, 2023-2024
- Latin America: International
- Named, Client Service All Star, BTI Client Service All-Stars Report, 2022
- Listed, Latin America Corporate Counsel Association, LACCA Approved, 2021-2025
- Capital Markets, 2021-2024
- Corporate M&A, 2021-2023 and 2025
- Listed, IFLR1000, “Highly Regarded” in Capital Markets: Structured Finance and Securitisation, Private Equity, and M&A, 2019-2024
- Listed, Best Lawyers Mexico, 2008-2025
- Aviation Law
- Banking and Finance Law, “Lawyer of the Year 2018”
- Capital Markets Law, “Lawyer of the Year 2017, 2019”
- Corporate and M&A Law
- Financial Institutions, “Lawyer of the Year 2021”
- Real Estate Law, “Lawyer of the Year 2015”
- Structured Finance Law, “Lawyer of the Year 2012, 2016”
- Selected, Latin Lawyer, “Latin Lawyer 250 - Practice Recognition”
- Banking & Finance, 2020-2025
- Corporate/ M&A, 2022-2025
Credentials
Education
- LL.M., University of Virginia School of Law, 1988
- J.D., Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Law School, 1987
Admissions
- Mexico
Languages
- Spanish, Native
- English, Fluent
- French, Fluent