Q: In which areas does Saltiel Law Group specialize?
A: Saltiel Law Group is a full-service business law firm with two main practice groups. The first one is our commercial litigation department, which handles cases such as partnership disputes, investment or securities fraud, breach of contracts, and other business disputes. The second is our transactional department, which is further divided into four verticals: [1] general corporate, which manages contracts, trademarks, copyrights, labor law issues, and other corporate legal matters; [2] our M&A department, which focuses on all aspects of domestic and cross-border M&A transactions; [3] tax and estate planning department; and [4] our securities department,. This last one includes assisting venture capital and private equity firms in structuring investment funds and managing investor relations, as well as advising startups on capital-raising strategies, such as structuring investment rounds. Our legal departments are not only structured for efficiency, but for delivering high-impact solutions to investors, startups, and multinationals navigating complex cross-border transactions.
Q: What are your expectations for the M&A environment in both Mexico and the United States?
A: Over the past two years, M&A activity has been somewhat slow, primarily due to a lack of liquidity in the market. This is particularly evident among private equity and venture capital firms that are heavily invested already. In 2021 and early 2022, there was a surge in investment activity. Many high-net-worth individuals and institutions committed significant capital to venture capital and private equity funds, but they have yet to see substantial returns. As a result, there is already a considerable amount of capital locked into existing investments, leading to a slowdown in new deals. Several external factors, including economic and political conditions in different countries, have also contributed to this slowdown.
However, we expect to see increased activity in the second and third quarters of 2025, largely influenced by changes in the political and economic landscape. Companies are focusing on rapidly growing industries, such as AI and other disruptive technological products. While some capital is still available, investors and fund managers are becoming more judicious in selecting deals. Unlike 2021, when many deals were made with minimal due diligence, investors are making more thorough evaluations before making commitments. Valuations have also adjusted to more reasonable levels, and while we expect an increase in deal flow, it is unlikely to match the rapid pace seen in 2021.
While capital remains cautious, we see this period as an inflection point where smart capital is repositioning itself for long-term gains in high-growth sectors.
Q: In the United States, M&A growth declined by 7%, and in Mexico, it dropped by 10%. However, in Mexico, capital investment increased by 20%. What explains this trend of fewer transactions but larger investment amounts?
A: This trend can be attributed to a more selective approach to deal-making. Investors are prioritizing high-value deals that present strong long-term opportunities. This means that although the total number of transactions has declined, the overall investment volume has increased because the deals being executed are larger in scale.
Investors are placing greater emphasis on due diligence, valuations, and strategic industry selection. This aligns with the shift toward quality over quantity, where fewer but more significant deals are being pursued. This new cycle will reward firms that combine legal precision with sector-specific insight — something we’ve prioritized at Saltiel Law Group.
Q: Which industries are driving M&A activity in the United States and Mexico?
A: In the United States, particularly in South Florida, real estate is still “king.” But after that, the most active industries are fintech, healthtech, biotech, and logistics, as traditional processes are increasingly being digitized, creating opportunities for tech-driven efficiencies.
In Mexico, we are seeing increased activity in the biotech and green energy sectors. Another major trend is the tokenization and digitalization of real-world assets, including real estate. This technological evolution is transforming investment accessibility and efficiency in these markets.
Q: How does tokenization impact investment accessibility?
A: Tokenization is creating new opportunities for individual investors to participate in markets that were previously inaccessible to them. The key advantage of tokenization is that it allows the fractional ownership of assets, making investments more accessible to a broader range of investors or, as the phrase has been coined, “democratizing” investments. For example, in real estate, an individual who might not have US$500,000 to invest, or even something in the six figures, to purchase a property outright, could invest US$20,000, or even less, into a tokenized real estate fund and receive a proportional return. The market has now provided greater access to individuals who were previously discouraged from investing in that industry and promoted the circulation of excess capital at all levels.
Q: How is the macroeconomic environment expected to impact M&A activity, particularly with interest rates and other geoeconomic factors fluctuating in Mexico and the United States?
A: The market is paying attention to interest rates. In Mexico, interest rates have started to decline, whereas in the United States, uncertainty remains regarding whether rates will stabilize or increase due to inflation concerns.
With real estate values adjusting downward in a broad market outlook, there may be a push to lower interest rates to stimulate market activity. This could, in turn, drive more investment, or excess capital, into M&A and capital markets as borrowing conditions improve.
Overall, while economic uncertainties persist, strategic investors are navigating these fluctuations carefully, and we anticipate a measured but steady increase in M&A activity moving forward into Q2 and beyond.
Q: How is globalization affecting M&A, and how does Saltiel Law Group help clients navigate cross-border transactions?
A: Globalization has significantly expanded the geographic reach of M&A. Companies are increasingly looking beyond their home markets for growth opportunities, resulting in a surge of cross-border deals. Particularly, firms are seeking access to new customer bases, diversification of revenue streams, and entry into emerging markets with faster growth rates than mature economies.
As M&A activity crosses borders, deals must navigate different legal, tax, and regulatory regimes, such as antitrust approvals from multiple jurisdictions; national security reviews (especially in sectors like tech, healthcare, and energy); or local compliance issues (labor laws, environmental regulations, data privacy standards like GDPR). Therefore, as businesses become more globalized, regulatory frameworks are beginning to align across different jurisdictions to facilitate international transactions.
You also see that across other global industries like Tokenization, which is a prime example of how we cross multiple borders within a single transaction. For such transactions to function efficiently, countries need to reach a consensus on how digital assets are to be regulated. This is a trend that is already taking shape and will also be crucial for the future of M&A.
Since there are no single regulations, various considerations depend on the industry and the nature of the transaction. For example, a company in Mexico raising capital and structuring an investment vehicle in the United States must seek legal counsel or financial service providers who understand the US regulatory framework. Understanding where a transaction takes place and which regulatory framework governs it is fundamental.
At Saltiel Law Group, we do not just navigate international regulations — we help shape the legal strategies that define cross-border investment in the digital era.
Q: Given the complexities of international regulations, how do you ensure that you can provide clients with the best possible guidance?
A: The key is having the right partners. We collaborate with legal partners who specialize in specific jurisdictions. It is not just about working with a law firm; it is about working with a firm that is deeply involved in the regulatory landscape of the target country. For example, when structuring an investment vehicle in the United States that involves Mexican investors, we rely on Mexican legal experts to ensure compliance with local laws. This collaborative approach allows us to find the best legal solutions for our clients.
Q: What key partnerships has Saltiel Law Group recently established?
A: We recently became members of Ejaso, a Spanish law firm with which we have worked for over two and a half years. Through this partnership, we have now provided our mutual clients access to a network of over 300 attorneys and 14 offices across Spain, Portugal, and, now, Miami — Ejaso’s first US office. Our goal is to continue expanding this network across the Americas.
The benefit of this partnership is that when a transaction requires expertise from another jurisdiction, we do not need to search for an external partner mid-transaction. Instead, we can seamlessly involve an attorney from one of our offices, ensuring a more efficient and integrated approach. It also provides greater comfort to our global clients.
Q: What are Saltiel Law Group’s expansion plans for the medium and long term?
A: At Saltiel Law Group, we are expanding with purpose. We are bringing in lateral partners and senior attorneys to expand our service offerings and subject matter expertise. We recently added attorneys specializing in tax and corporate law, including a dedicated team for family offices or high-net-worth families. Family businesses operate differently from traditional corporations, so we are establishing a department that specifically caters to their needs and dynamics.
We also aim to expand our US footprint by opening offices in New York and Texas. Our Miami office hosts a team of 20, and our goal is to grow that number to about 80 members within the next 10 years. This will require significant infrastructure and strategic growth, but we are committed to the challenge.
But for us, growth is not just about headcount or geography — it is about becoming the go-to legal partner for cross-border investors and companies operating in dynamic sectors like fintech, healthtech, and tokenized assets. We’re not just building a law firm. We’re building the legal infrastructure for the next generation of global business.
Saltiel Law Group is a full-service business law firm based in South Florida with two main departments. The first focuses on commercial litigation, while the second manages transactional matters with a focus on M&A, securities, venture capital, tax, intellectual property, and labor law among other fields.
