Norton Rose Fulbright advises Bancomext on landmark US$168 million financing

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright represented Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior (Bancomext), Mexico's development bank, on a US$168 million financing for Mexican exploration and production company Consorcio Petrolero 5M del Golfo.

The financing will support the operation of two Mixed Contracts entered into with Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). Introduced in 2025 under Mexico's Hydrocarbons Sector Law, the Mixed Contracts scheme is designed to facilitate private investment in strategic oil and gas projects through partnerships with PEMEX. The transaction represents the first financing granted to an operator under the new framework.

"The financing marks an important milestone in the implementation of Mexico's evolving hydrocarbons regulatory framework," said César Fernández, who led Norton Rose Fulbright's representation. "We are pleased to have advised Bancomext on the first transaction of its kind, supporting investment in the development and operation of strategic oil and gas assets."

Norton Rose Fulbright's team was led by César Fernández and Itzell Mendez and included Felipe Creus (Mexico City).

The firm's projects practice is one of the largest of its kind, with more than 350 lawyers across 50 offices acting on some of the most innovative, complex and challenging projects in the world. Norton Rose Fulbright was ranked as a top four global project finance legal advisor by volume for 2025, with deals valued at more than US$90 billion in aggregate (IJGlobal, 2026).