CARLOS DEL RÍO S. IS A PARTNER IN THE MEXICO CITY OFFICE AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FIRM. HIS PRACTICE FOCUSES ON M&A, PRIVATE EQUITY AND REAL ESTATE. HE ALSO LEADS THE FIRM’S CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PRO BONO PROGRAM. With over 25 years of experience, Carlos advises multinational corporations, investors, and national and international sponsors in a wide range of transactions, including acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, and divestitures in Mexico, covering multiple sectors and industries. His clients include Blackstone, L’Oréal, Henkel, Aspen Aerogels, Johnson & Johnson, Apex Tool Group, Playtech, and Archroma. He is particularly noted for his extensive experience in advising Japanese clients on investments, divestitures, and asset restructuring in Mexico, including Daiichi Sankyo and Aspirant Group. Recently, he represented Highlander Partners and Benestar Brands in their merger with Palmex Alimentos, and advised on Mill Point Capital’s acquisition of Fomento Económico Mexicano’s commercial refrigeration businesses. Carlos has represented pension funds, private equity, and other investors in their real estate projects across various asset classes during development, construction, and management processes, including establishing their national or international operations in Mexico. Carlos is a member of the Mexican Bar Association, the International Bar Association, was president and is a member of the Board of the Mexican Pro Bono Center, and a member of the Lawyers Council for Civil and Economic Rights at the Vance Center for International Justice. He also actively participates with Appleseed Mexico and in forums and conferences in Mexico and abroad. Over the last decade, he has been consistently recognized by Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Best Lawyers, and Latin Lawyer 250. Carlos worked as a foreign associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York (2001-2002) and at Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira, S.L.P. in Madrid (2003-2005). He earned his law degree from Universidad Anáhuac (1998) and obtained an LL.M. from Northwestern University along with a Business Administration Certificate from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management (2001). His native language is Spanish, and he is fluent in English.