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 Derek Woodhouse
Senior Partner

Derek Woodhouse

Head of Energy &Climate Change

Languages
  • Spanish
  • English

Derek is a Mexican lawyer specialized in energy, infrastructure and public private partnerships (PPP). He started his professional career in 1992 as part of the Mexican Federal Government, where he spent 2 years in the Energy Ministry and 6 in the newly created Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE). He became the Deputy General Director of Legal Affairs at CRE and then Chief of the Power Restructuring Unit, working on the legal and regulatory reforms that allowed private participation in the Mexican natural gas and power sectors throughout the 90s.

In 2000 he was recruited by CMS in London, where he advised governments, banks and private companies on the design, financing and development of energy and infrastructure projects in Europe, Asia and America, including the adoption in Mexico of the UK’s PFI in 2004 know as the PPS program.

He came back to Mexico City in 2005 to head the infrastructure practice of a New York based law firm. In 2009 he founded Woodhouse Lorente Ludlow SC, which is now part of CMS, and has been advising the Mexican Federal Government on power and PPP reforms and on pathfinder projects including the first wave of PPS, the Federal Prison Program, the electricity reform of 2013/2014 and the Mayan Train. He has also been advising sponsors, lenders, contractors and project companies in relation to infrastructure projects typically funded on a project finance basis in a variety of sectors including power, roads, health, transportation, education, custodial and national defence.

Relevant experience

  • Mexican Energy Ministry (SENER) on the implementation of the power sector reform of 2013-2015, entailing the creation of a new wholesale electricity market, the restructuring of the Federal Electricity Commission, and the drafting of the new electricity market rules including the Market Bases and the first 17 Manuals.
  • Mexican System and Market Operator (CEANCE)  on the implementation of the first long term auctions for electricity coverage agreements, which attracted an investment of 9 billion US in renewable projects, and the drafting of a Manual for energy storage systems meant to become part of the market rules.
  • EDF Renewable, Zuma Energía, Saavi Energía, Mitsui & Co. Power Americas, Grupo México, Macquarie, Caisse de Depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), CKD Infraestructura México (CKD IM), PepsiCo, Walmart, Suburbia et al on power sector regulations, power purchase agreements, electricity coverage agreements, project financing and project acquisition.
  • Mexican National Fund for Tourism (FONATUR)  on the design and implementation of the Mayan Train project, including the design and award of the contract for the acquisition of rolling stock, railway systems, workshops and garages, and the design and award of the contract for the operation and administration of the Mayan Train.
  • Mexican Wind Power Association, Mexican Solar Power Association, Zuma Energía, FRV, Enel, Grupo Peñoles, CDPQ, CKD IM et al on the analysis and preparation of a legal strategy to combat the amendments to existing regulations for clean energy certificates, issued by CRE in 2019.
  • Mexican Wind Power Association, Mexican Solar Power Association, Zuma Energía, FRV, Enel, Grupo Peñoles, CDPQ, CKD IM et al on the analysis and preparation of a legal strategy to combat the modifications to the existing regulations for wheeling charges for self supply legacy projects issued by CRE in 2020.
  • Walmart, Troy Energía, XiiX Energy, Solar Century, Aleph Capital, Ammper Energía, Thermion, Energía del Pilar, Banverde Solar, CDPQ, CKD IM et al. on the analysis and preparation of a legal strategy to combat the Reliability Policy issued by SENER in 2020, as well as the amendments to the Electricity Industry Law approved by Congress in 2020.
  • FONATUR  on the design and implementation of a national program (FONATUR SOLAR) for developing solar and energy storage projects in land owned by FONATUR throughout Mexico in order to generate and sell electricity products and ancillary services and use the revenue to acquire electricity products and ancillary services required for the operation of the Mayan Train.

Awards & Rankings

  • The Legal 500, Latin America, Mexico, Energy and Natural Resources, Leading Individual, 2017 - 2023.
  • The Legal 500, Latin America, Mexico, Projects and Infrastructure, Recommended Lawyer, 2023.
  • Chambers and Partners, Global, Energy & Natural Resources, 2019 - 2023.
  • Chambers and Partners, Latin America, Mexico, Energy & Natural Resources, 2017 - 2023.
  • IFLR1000, Highly Regarded, Mexico, Banking and Finance, Project Development and Project Finance, 2022.

Education

  • Harvard University, Center for International Development, International Program on Privatization, Regulations and Corporate Governance, Postgraduate Studies, Boston, 1999.
  • George Washington University, International Law Institute, Introduction to the United States Legal System, Postgraduate Studies, Washington D.C.,1997.
  • Escuela Libre de Derecho, Law Degree (J.D.), Mexico City, 1996.