James E. Ritch
Practice Areas
Languages
- English
- Spanish
James E. Ritch joined the firm in 1992 and has been counsel since 2016.
He advises Mexican and international clients on their operations in Mexico. His practice has evolved with the sophistication of the market, covering the financial sector, mergers and acquisitions, including the energy sector, and private equity. He has extensive experience in antitrust, with a focus on merger control and regulatory investigations. James has also actively advised investment funds and contributed to the development of the private equity industry in Mexico.
James gained international experience as a foreign associate at Debevoise & Plimpton in New York. He is a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and actively participates in social responsibility initiatives, working with civil society and promoting the solidarity economy.
Relevant Experience
- Represents companies active in the Mexican natural gas, hydrocarbons and renewable energy markets (such as Engie, Glencore and Orsted) in connection with Mexican Competition Law.
- Represented Linzor Capital Partners in its investments in the Mexican universities UTEL and Universidad Insurgentes, handling their merger control process before the Federal Economic Competition Commission.
- Represented UBS in the sale of its Mexican banking subsidiary to Grupo Financiero Afirme, handling its merger control process before the Federal Economic Competition Commission.
- Represented Walton Street Mexico in its Mexican real estate and hotel investments, handling their merger control processes before the Federal Economic Competition Commission.
- Represented Australis Partners Fund in its investment in Grupo Vitalmex, a leading Mexican medical service provider, handling its merger control process before the Federal Economic Competition Commission.
- Represented a leading global provider of financial information services in the investigation by the Federal Economic Competition Commission of the market of intermediation of Mexican governmental debt securities.
- Represented Nexxus Capital in its investments in the cement pumping business and in the Mexican real estate market, handling its merger control processes before the Federal Economic Competition Commission.
- Represented ACON Investments in the sale of its investment in Betterware, which is engaged in the sale of products by catalog, handling its merger control process before the Federal Economic Competition Commission.
- Represented Linzor Capital Partners in its investments in the Mexican market of financing of transportation equipment, handling its merger control process with the Federal Economic Competition Commission.
- Represents various actors in the Mexican market of commercialization of diesel and gasoline, in connection with Mexican Competition Law.
Awards and Recognitions
- Ranked, Chambers Latam, Competition and Antitrust, 2025.
- "Recommended", Legal 500, Competition and Antitrust, 2025.
Education
- Diploma in Economic Competition, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, Mexico City, 2017.
- Systemic Design and Thinking, Capra Institute, Berkeley, 2016.
- Studies in Documentary Arts, Center for Documentary Arts, Duke University, Durham, 2013.
- Visiting scholar, Duke University School of Law, Durham, 2012.
- Studies of Philosophy, Universidad Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 1996.
- Master of Laws (LL.M), Duke University, Durham, 1990.
- Orientation in the US Legal System, Georgetown Law Center, Washington, D.C., 1990.
- Lawyer, Escuela Libre de Derecho, Mexico City, 1988.