Cristina Massa

About

Cristina is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. She is specialized in Antitrust and Competition matters and has 20 years of experience in Mexico and abroad, both in the public and private sectors, in areas ranging from corporate transactions and capital markets, to economic and administrative law.

Counsels and represents in competition matters major companies and investment funds, with a presence in Mexico, particularly in highly regulated sectors (telecom, energy, financial services). Her experience includes handling merger control procedures, design and implementation of strategy, compliance, protocols and competence training, and advice and representation of clients in investigation proceedings before competition agencies: unlawful concentrations, absolute monopolistic practices -within and outside the immunity programme-, relative monopolistic practices, and barriers to competition and free competition.

“Highly recommended by clients, who highlight ‘her vast experience and knowledge in competition matters.” Chambers and Partners

She is a former Commissioner of the Mexican Antitrust Commission and held other high-ranking positions as a public official in Mexico at the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Economy. She also worked in private practice abroad (Cleary Gottlieb, in their New York and Hong Kong offices) and in Mexico at Protego (Evercore Partners).

Cristina has obtained in-depth understanding of competition and antitrust matters affecting private companies after having handled and decided cases as a regulator, participated in the design and implementation of public policies as a public servant and having had direct experience in local and multi-jurisdictional transactional transactions.

Relevant clients include Google, IFM, KIO Networks, Macquarie, Mastercard, Nike, Rappi and Ontex-Mabesa.

She is also deeply involved in diversity and inclusion initiatives, both within the firm and in external domestic and international organizations that promote professional advancement of women: International Women’s Forum, 50/50 Women on Boards, Women Corporate Directors, The 30% Club, Abogadas MX and Voz Experta.

Cristina is admitted to practice law in Mexico and New York.

Experience

Gaslamp
Atlas Holdings LLC, in the acquisition of the Mexican Entities of LSC Communications, Inc., a global leader in the business of printing magazines, catalogues, books, direct mail products and in the manufacture of various office supplies, stemming from LSC’s voluntary bankruptcy proceeding before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
Rappi, in its strategic alliance agreement with Grupo Financiero Banorte by which both companies will become 50% owners of a newly created company that will offer digital financial services to Rappi’s clients in its initial phase
Bunzl, in the US$70 million acquisition of a 75.1% of participation in six companies in Mexico and one in the United States
Pattern, in the sale of its remaining 50 % stake in a joint venture to EXI, a renewable energy generation company
DuPont in the US$130 billion global merger with The Dow Chemical Company
DuPont in its US$1.3 billion sale of crop protection assets to FMC in exchange of the transfer of FMC’s health nutrition business
Macquarie Capital and Techint, as sponsors, in the highly complex US$1.2 billion acquisition, development and project financing of the landmark 907MW Norte III power plant in Mexico, which will generate power for the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission pursuant to a 25-year PPA. This transaction was named LATAM Power Deal of the Year by Project Finance International (Thompson Reuters); Latin American Power & Overall Deal of the Year by IJ Global (Euromoney), Project Finance Deal of the Year by Latin Lawyer and Best Power Financing Deal by Latin Finance in the Project & Infrastructure Finance Awards 2018
IFM Investors in the US$2.6 billion global acquisition of OHL’s infrastructure concessions subsidiary
IFM Investors with OHL Concesiones in the launching of the US$1 billion Public Offer in the Mexican Stock Exchange to acquire 100% of OHL México public shares
Allergan plc, in the US$40.5 billion sale of its generics business, to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd
IFM Investors in the acquisition of a 24.99% stake in Organización de Proyectos de Infraestructura, a wholly owned subsidiary of OHL México, for approximately US$600 million. OPI owns Concesionaria Mexiquense, the holder of the Circuito Exterior Mexiquense 110 km toll-road in the State of Mexico
SixSigma Networks México (KIO Networks) in the US$450 million acquisition of 100% of the capital stock of MetroNet, positioning KIO Networks as the preeminent infrastructure IT service provider in Mexico. First transaction requiring antitrust regulatory approval both from the Mexican Antitrust Commission (COFECE) and the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT)
Rotoplas, a major water solution publicly traded Mexican company, in the US$100 million acquisition of Soluciones y Tratamiento Ecológico, S.A. de C.V., (SYTESA), a water treatment plant business
Strategic antitrust advice to large companies and organizations such as 3M, American Airlines, Amports, CANIPEC, Cementos Chihuahua, Gentera, Global Via, Google, Hidrosina, HBO, Mastercard, Nike, Red Bull, Rotoplas and Prysmian.

Areas of Practice

Antitrust

Awards & Recognitions

Gender Diversity Lawyer of the Year, Chambers Diversity & Inclusion 2019

Competition/Antitrust ranked lawyer, Chambers and Partners

Antitrust leading lawyer, The Legal 500

Recognized lawyer in Antitrust & Competition, Latin Lawyer 250

Competition/Antitrust, Expert in the field, Who’s Who Legal

Investigations, Expert in the field, Who’s Who Legal

Competition / Antitrust recognized lawyer, Best Lawyers

Energy recognized lawyer, Best Lawyers

Woman in Antitrust 2016, Global Competition Review, a Law Business Review publication

Academia

Since 2003, she has regularly taught courses both at undergrad and graduate levels related to her areas of expertise at the ITAM, CIDE and IPADE

She participates on a yearly basis since 2013, as a mergers expert speaker in the Competition Seminar organized by the Supreme Court of Justice, the Mexican Antitrust Commission (COFECE), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Universidad Panamericana.

She regularly participates as a mentor in the Mentoring Programme of Abogadas MX and Women In Antritrust.

Education

Master of Laws (LL.M.), Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States – Fulbright Scholar

Law degree with honors (J.D.equivalent), Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), Mexico City, Mexico

Memberships

New York Bar (1st Department)

American Bar Association (ABA)

International Chamber of Commerce, Antitrust Section

Advisory Board of the Interdisciplinary Regulation and Antitrust Program (Programa Interdisciplinario de Regulación y Competencia Económica – PIRCE), a competition and regulation think tank

National Corporate Counsel Association (Asociación Nacional de Abogados de Empresa, Colegio de Abogados – ANADE)

International Women’s Forum (Mexico Chapter), member

50/50 Women on Boards, member and part of executive committee

Women Corporate Directors

The 30% Club, member and part of the Best practices committee

Abogadas MX

Voz Experta

Founder and leader of the #NoParamos collective, a group of women in leadership positions to promote equal treatment and career opportunities for women.

Publications & Collaborations

Doing Business Guide 2019, Mexico Chapter published by Chambers and Partners
Speaker in Competition Seminars organized by the Supreme Court of Justice, the Mexican Antitrust Commission (COFECE), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Universidad Panamericana
She is often invited to participate as speaker in local and international forums, as expert in her fields of practice

Languages

Spanish – English