Profile
Rodrigo Vazquez del Mercado-Rivera focuses his practice on global energy and infrastructure matters, with an emphasis on oil and gas (upstream, midstream, and downstream), electricity (conventional and renewable), administrative law, government procurement, dispute resolution, corporate law, and mergers and acquisitions.
Rodrigo has worked on many energy and infrastructure projects in Mexico, the United States, and Latin America. He represents clients in oil and gas and electricity matters in transactions among private parties and before governmental entities such as the Ministry of Energy (SENER), PEMEX (Mexican National Oil Company), the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH), the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), the National Center for Natural Gas Control (CENAGAS), the National Center for Energy Control (CENACE), and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).
Rodrigo has deep experience working on oil and gas exploration and production projects, including bid procedures, host government contracts, joint operating agreements, and supply agreements, as well as in drafting regulations for governmental entities. Likewise, Rodrigo has broad experience in the oil products and natural gas midstream sector, leading the negotiations of many storage (marine and inland terminals) and transportation (pipeline and truck/rail) projects, and in relevant transactions related to the commercialization and supply of crude oil, fuels, and natural gas. In addition, Rodrigo has relevant experience in electricity generation (conventional and renewable), supply, and transmission projects and provides legal advice to domestic and international clients in related activities.
Rodrigo holds an LL.M. in Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Law from the University of Houston in Texas. He is admitted to practice law in Mexico and in Texas.
Rodrigo served as foreign legal consultant in Greenberg Traurig’s Houston office, where he strengthened his international experience, participating in numerous transactions in different jurisdictions in the region.
Concentrations
- Oil and gas
- Electricity
- Infrastructure
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Government procurement
- International transactions
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented refined products companies in the drafting and negotiation of oil products storage (marine and inland) and pipeline transportation agreements, including the terms and conditions for the provision of such services.
- Represented several refined products companies in the drafting and negotiation of fuel supply agreements.
- Represented refined products companies in obtaining permits for the import, export, and commercialization of oil products and crude oil.
- Represented several refined products companies in the drafting and negotiation of truck transportation agreements.
- Represented an international oil company in the drafting, negotiation, and execution of crude oil purchase agreements and in the financing of the operations of a company awarded with an E&P agreement, as well as in the negotiation and execution of a security package (trust agreements and pledges) to secure such financing.
- Represented a Mexican oil and gas company in the acquisition of two companies awarded with an exploration and production integrated contract (CIEP) in Chicontepec.
- Represented a Mexican subsidiary of a U.S. energy company in several public tenders issued by the CFE for transportation of natural gas in Mexico.
- Represented a Mexican subsidiary of a U.S. oil and gas company in bidding processes issued by the CNH in connection with the award of exploration and production contracts in Mexico.
- Represented the CNH in the drafting of regulations for oil and gas wells to be drilled in Mexico as part of the implementation of the 2013-2014 Energy Reform.
- Represented a consortium formed by U.S., Colombian, and Mexican companies in a bidding process issued by Pemex for the award of CIEPs in Chicontepec.
- Represented companies in the bidding processes issued by Pemex for the award of CIEPs in southern and northern Mexico.
- Represented U.S. sellers in the sale of a natural gas distribution company.
- Represented an oil field services company in several joint ventures in connection with the negotiation and execution of oil and gas contracts.
- Represented a natural gas company in matters regarding a bid process issued by Pemex Gas and Basic Petrochemicals for the construction of a natural gas transportation pipeline and the provision of transportation services (Los Ramones II).
- Represented a company in the supply of subsea equipment to Pemex Exploration and Production for an important gas field.
- Represented a natural gas distribution company for more than five years in regulatory matters, including in the negotiation and execution of hedging, transportation, gas purchase, capacity reservation, distribution, interconnection, and construction agreements with Pemex Gas and Basic Petrochemicals and other third parties.
- Represented a natural gas distribution company in several administrative litigations to obtain reimbursement of funds (principal, inflation, and interest) from the collection of a letter of credit by the Mexican government.
- Represented a natural gas company in an arbitration proceeding before the CRE.
- Represented a U.S. company to annul the administrative rescission process in a procurement contract to supply equipment to Pemex Petrochemicals.
- Represented a Canadian company in connection with underground waste storage in salt domes.
- Represented an oil field services company in an arbitration process before the ICC in connection with the breach of a contract.
- Represented a company regarding the importation of electricity from the United States into Mexico.
- Represented a Mexican subsidiary of a U.S. company in the drafting of wind power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the supply of electricity to the client facilities in Mexico.
- Represented a subsidiary of a U.S. company in the drafting of a PPA for the generation of solar electricity in Nicaragua.
- Represented an international consortium in the public bid issued by SENER and CFE for the design, development, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of transmission line projects in Mexico.
- Represented a Mexican subsidiary of an international power generation company in the auctions launched by CENACE regarding its participation in the new wholesale market implemented under the electricity reform for long term supply contracts.
- Represented a Mexican infrastructure investment fund in the due diligence process for the acquisition of a cogeneration power plant located in eastern Mexico.
- Represented buyers in the purchase of a company to develop a wind power project in Oaxaca.
- Represented a Spanish company in corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and agrarian matters for the development of a wind power project in the state of Oaxaca.
Some of the above representations were handled by Mr. Vázquez del Mercado prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, S.C.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Chambers Global and Chambers Latin America, “Associates to Watch,” 2021-2025
- Listed, Best Lawyers, “Best Lawyers in Mexico™,” Natural Resources Law, 2023-2025
- Listed, The Legal 500 Latin America Guide, 2012-2015, 2021-2025
- “Leading Associates; Recommended Lawyer,” Energy and Natural Resources, 2025
- “Rising Star: Latin America: Mexico – Energy and Natural Resources,” 2012-2015, 2021-2024
Credentials
- LL.M., Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Law, University of Houston, 2016
- Postgraduate Studies, Energy Law, Escuela Libre de Derecho, Mexico City, D.F., Mexico, 2012
- Postgraduate Studies, Government Procurement, Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México, 2009
- Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico, 2007
- Texas
- Mexico
- Spanish, Native
- English, Fluent