Overview
Manuel Rajunov provides cross-border tax and transactional counsel to US and non-US multinational entities, with a particular focus on inbound and outbound Latin American investment strategies. This includes Israel-based companies on their investments in Latin America, and Latin American-based entities on their foreign investments. Manuel also counsels clients on real estate investments, structured finance transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.
Manuel serves as co-head of the Latin America practice.
Results
Tax
- Served as lead tax counsel to a US-based real estate developer on its investments in Mexico and Argentina*
- Served as lead tax counsel on the proposed management buy-out of regional media conglomerate in Latin America*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a Spain-based, multi-national gaming systems and equipment manufacturer in the reorganization of its Latin American operations*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a Mexican casino operator on the proposed acquisition of a major competitor*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a Colombian family office in the structuring of a private equity fund*
- Served as lead tax counsel to Mexican sponsor in the formation of a real estate investment fund*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a Chilean family office in the structuring of its regional investments*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a US-based real estate investment fund on its investments in Latin America*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a US-based hedge fund in structuring lending transactions in Mexico*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a major original auto parts manufacturer, in the reorganization of its North and Central American manufacturing platform*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a Mexican industrial conglomerate in the negotiation of several joint ventures with US based automotive and technology companies*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a joint venture between a US real estate investment fund and a Mexican operator, in the creation of a platform to invest in Mexican real estate projects*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a special purpose acquisition companies (“SPAC”) in its proposed acquisition of a Mexican target
- Served as lead tax counsel to a Mexican gaming company in its proposed merger with a US-based SPAC*
- Served as lead tax counsel to a consumer electronic products manufacturer in the reorganization of its Mexican operations*
- Served as lead counsel for a European-based automotive part manufacturer in the tax reorganization of their Mexican operations*
- Served as lead Mexican counsel to a power generation systems manufacturer, in the implementation of global tax strategies*
- Served as lead Mexican tax advisor on multiple global transactions with an aggregate value of $50 billion*
- Served as lead tax adviser to a US-based investment group in the development of a US$100 million exclusive luxury vacation housing community in Los Cabos, Mexico*
- Served as lead counsel to a US based REIT in the restructuring of its Mexican portfolio to allow tax savings in excess of US $80 million*
- Served as lead tax, legal and operational adviser to a major US-based buyout fund in the migration to Mexico of the manufacturing operations of several holdings*
- Served as lead counsel and tax adviser to several foreign-based family-owned or majority controlled companies regarding the establishment, operation, expansion and divestiture of their Mexican operations in the manufacturing and distribution, real estate, services and retail industries*
Mergers and Acquisitions
- Represented a European gaming company in the acquisition of businesses in Mexico, Peru and Panama*
- Represented a Japanese consumer electronics products company in multiple acquisitions and divestitures in North America*
- Represented a US-based cloud-based software company in the acquisition of an R&D center in Colombia*
- Represented an Israel-based energy technology company on the acquisition of a Mexican target*
- Represented a Mexican automotive company in the acquisition of several businesses in the United States*
- Represented a US-based consumer household products manufacturer in the acquisition of a distribution company in Mexico, in a transaction valued at $50 million*
- Represented a Canadian real estate brokerage company in expansion into Mexico by acquiring a local real estate company*
- Represented a US-based real estate investment fund in the acquisition, reorganization and divestment of its Mexican real property portfolio with a net asset value average of $850 million*
- Represented a US-based developer in the divestment of its Mexican portfolio in a transaction valued at $350 million*
- Served as co-counsel to a major US conglomerate in the acquisition of majority stake in the automotive battery division of one of the largest diversified industrial groups in Mexico*
Real Estate and Development
- Served as lead counsel to a Bogota-based real estate investment fund in the negotiation of development joint-ventures in Peru and Chile*
- Served as co-counsel to a US-based real estate investment fund in the proposed acquisition of a Latin American based REIT*
- Served as lead counsel to a US-based time-share operator on the acquisition of a property portfolio in Mexico
- Served as lead counsel to a US-based real estate investment fund in the divestiture of its interests in multiple development joint-ventures in Mexico*
- Served as co-counsel to the investment group that developed the Rosewood properties in San Miguel Allende, Mexico and Punta Mita, Mexico*
- Served as co-counsel to the investment group developing a 500-room resotrt in Cancún, Mexico*
- Served as co-counsel of the investment group that developed a major resort located in Baja California*
- Served as lead or co-counsel to several US-based real estate investors in the development of housing communities and resorts in Mexico, with a combined investment of US $300 million*
- Represented the real estate division of a major oil company in the purchase and development of a housing joint venture in Mexico*
- Represented a US based investment fund in the management of commercial real estate in Mexico*
- Served as lead or co-counsel to several US-based real estate investors in the development of three industrial parks in Mexico, with a combined investment of US$200 million*
- Served as lead Mexican counsel to an Israel-based defense contractor in a public bid process with the Mexican Department of National Defense*
Financing
- Served as lead Mexican counsel to a US-based private equity fund on the financing of a Mexican telecommunications provider*
- Served as counsel to a multi-national gaming company in the financing of its global operations*
- Served as counsel to a US-based insurance company in the structuring of its Mexican lending platform*
- Served as counsel to a Mexican gaming operator in the negotiation of financing terms for a proposed acquisition valued at $320 million*
- Served as counsel to several US-based real estate investment funds and investment trusts in the financing of real property portfolios in Mexico*
Intellectual Property
- Served as lead Mexican counsel to a US-based software company in the reorganization of their global intellectual property holdings*
- Served as lead Mexican counsel to an Israel-based software company in a licensing transaction with a Mexican casino operator*
Operations
- Represented a US-based worldwide refrigeration company in the establishment of Mexican manufacturing operations for three divisions and the operations of a joint venture with a Mexican-based conglomerate*
- Served as lead Mexican counsel to several Israel-based technology companies on all business aspects of their operations in Mexico*
- Served as co-counsel to three major Fortune 500 US-based automotive suppliers in the establishment of their Mexican operations with a combined investment in excess of US$350 million*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott
Recognitions
- Chambers USA, Tax, 2022 to 2023
- The Legal 500
- Private Practice Powerlist, 2018 to 2019
- US Taxes – Non-Contentious, 2018
- The Best Lawyers in America, Tax Law, Dallas, 2019–2024
- Chambers USA, Real Estate, 2017
- Latinvex, Top 100 Lawyers, 2020 to 2023
- Corporate/M&A
- Tax
Community
- Mexican Bar Association, member
- American Bar Association, member
- International Fiscal Association, member
- International Bar Association, member
- Dallas Council of Foreign Relations, member
- American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)
- Dallas Executive Committee, chair, 2018 to 2010
- National Council, member, 2011 to present
- Dallas Political Committee, chair, 2015 to 2018
- Leadership Institute, alumnus class of 2019
- Wexner Heritage Program, fellow
- Jewish Rock Radio, Board of Trustees, member
Credentials
Education
Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico, JD, 1995
Instituto Mexico, BA, 1990
Admissions
Mexico
Registered Foreign Legal Consultant (Texas)
Languages
English
Spanish
Hebrew