Francisco Fuentes Ostos

Founding Partner since 1994


Phone: +52 (55) 5201-7400
Mail: ffuentes@macf.com.mx

vCard Download PDF
  • Overview
  • Media

Francisco Fuentes Ostos

Founding Partner since 1994


Francisco has broad experience in antitrust, mergers & acquisitions, and telecommunications. His practice focuses on merger analysis and review, antitrust litigation, and counseling work.

Francisco has been involved in several antitrust filings made before the Mexican antitrust authorities (IFETEL and COFECE), in national and international review proceedings derived from mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other transactions, as well as in administrative proceedings regarding the investigation of anticompetitive conducts (both absolute and relative monopolistic practices).

His expertise also includes developing and implementing antitrust compliance programs and in acting in telecommunications regulatory matters.

Likewise, he has significant experience with domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. He regularly advises buyers, sellers, and investors in complex merger and acquisition transactions.

Awards & Recognitions

  • Chambers and Partners, Corporate/M&A
  • Legal 500, Corporate/M&A and Antitrust
Nombre imagen SEO

   January 11th, 2023

Update of the Unit of Measurement and Update (Unidad de Medida y Actualización) and Concentration Amounts 2023

On January 10, 2023, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (the “INEGI”) published in the Federal Official Gazette an update of the Mexican Unit of Measurement and Update (“UMA”):

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos

Nombre imagen SEO

   October 21st, 2022

Awards and Recognitions | Legal 500 Latin America 2023

We have been recognized again by Legal 500 as a leading law firm in Mexico.

Professional Related: Aisha Calderón , Alejandro Díaz , Carlos Jiménez , Carlos Orcí , Enrique Ramírez , Everardo J. Espino , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Francisco Glennie , Horacio M. de Uriarte , Lorenza Langarica , Manuel Echave , Martín Sánchez , Nora Morales , Patricio Trad , Patrick Meshoulam , Paula Pérez , Ricardo Maldonado

Nombre imagen SEO

   October 12th, 2022

Mexican Antitrust Investigations into APP-Stores

On October 7, 2022, the Investigative Authority[1] of the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (“IFETEL”) published in the Official Federal Gazette (the “Gazette”) the opening of an investigation for possible relative monopolistic practices (i.e., vertical restraints) in the mobile device’s app stores and related markets within Mexico (“IFETEL’s Investigation”), due to a claim filed by an undisclosed party. IFETEL’s Investigation was launched on September 29, 2022. 
[1] The Division within IFETEL in charged of opening and carrying the investigations followed pursuant to the Federal Economic Competition Law (the “FECL”) in the telecommunication and broadcasting sectors, which can lead to the opening of a procedure carried in IFETEL and are ruled by IFETEL’s Plenum.  

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Patricio Rivas

Nombre imagen SEO

   August 3rd, 2022

COFECE imposes, once again, fines for failure to notify a merger.

The Federal Economic Competition Commission (“COFECE” or the “Commission”) imposes, once again, fines for failure to notify a merger.

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos

Nombre imagen SEO

   June 29th, 2022

COFECE starts a competition/antitrust study in the digital financial services market and related markets.

On June 22, 2022, the Federal Economic Competition Commission ("COFECE") published a the beginning of a study of the digital financial services market and related markets in Mexico (the "Study") by means of which it will analyze the structure, operation, and regulatory framework of the aforementioned services, as well as the possibility of issuing recommendations to the sector's governmental agencies to improve their operation.

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos

Nombre imagen SEO
Nombre imagen SEO

   March 8th, 2022

MACF represented the FMF in the first no-poach agreement case in Mexico.

Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C. (“MACF”) represented the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación, AC (the “FMF”) and several soccer clubs in the investigation and proceeding instituted by the Federal Economic Competition Commission (Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica) (“COFECE”) in the market for the signing of professional soccer players, dealing with no-poach agreements between competitors.

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos

Nombre imagen SEO
Nombre imagen SEO

   January 11th, 2022

Update of the Unit of Measurement and Update (Unidad de Medida y Actualización) and Concentration Amounts

Yesterday, January 10, 2022, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (the “INEGI”) published in the Federal Official Gazette an update of the Mexican Unit of Measurement and Update (“UMA”): 

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO

   October 21st, 2021

Awards Legal 500 - Latin America 2022

This year our firm was recognized as a leading law firm in Mexico by the publication Legal 500. We invite you to learn more about our recognized practice areas.  

Professional Related: Aisha Calderón , Carlos Jiménez , Carlos Orcí , Enrique Ramírez , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Francisco Glennie , Manuel Echave , Martín Sánchez , Nora Morales , Pablo Mijares , Patrick Meshoulam , Paula Pérez , Pilar Mata , Ricardo Maldonado

Nombre imagen SEO

   October 1st, 2021

Recognition - Latin Lawyer Elite Firm 2021

We invite you to read more about our recognition in the category "Transactional Excellence from full-service team" by the publication Latin Lawyer.  

Professional Related: Carlos Jiménez , Carlos Orcí , Claudio Jiménez de León , Enrique Ramírez , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Francisco Glennie , Francisco Ibáñez , Horacio M. de Uriarte , Ignacio Armida , Lorenza Langarica , Manuel Echave , Manuel Tamez , Nora Morales , Pablo Mijares , Patricio Trad , Patrick Meshoulam , Pilar Mata , Ricardo Maldonado

Nombre imagen SEO

   September 1st, 2021

COFECE issues Emergency Regulatory Provisions for the processing and ruling of complaints regarding the Advertising Law

On August 31, 2021, in view of the enactment of the Law for Transparency, Prevention, and Combat of Unfair Practices in Advertising Contracts (the “Advertising Law”), the Plenum of the Federal Economic Competition Commission (“COFECE”) issued Emergency Regulatory Provisions to provide legal certainty to the process of complaints that may be filed for the possible violations to the Advertising Law.  

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO
Nombre imagen SEO

   August 2nd, 2021

Ministry of Energy issues Guideline urging the CRE to set methodology for maximum LP gas prices

On July 28, 2021, the “Emergency Guideline for the Welfare of the LP Gas Consumer” (the “Guideline”) was published in the Mexican Official Gazette (“DOF”), as per its initials in Spanish), by which the Ministry of Energy urges the Energy Regulatory Commission (“CRE”), as per its initials in Spanish) to establish a methodology to set maximum prices for the final consumer of LP gas within a maximum period of three days, which would be in effect for six months from the date of its publication in the DOF.

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Horacio M. de Uriarte , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO

   June 2nd, 2021

COFECE initiates Investigation in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Distribution Market

On May 31, 2021, the Federal Economic Competition Commission (“COFECE”) published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (“DOF”) the extract from the initiation of an investigation to determine the existence of effective competition conditions in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (“LP Gas”) distribution market (the “Relevant Market”).

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO

   February 12th, 2021

COFECE issues new Guidelines for the Immunity and Penalty Reduction Program

Learn about the publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation of the Immunity and Sanction Reduction Program Guide issued by COFECE, which is intended to be a tool for economic agents interested in receiving the benefits of the Program. 

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO

   December 10th, 2020

COFECE issues new Guidelines for Exchange of Information between Economic Agents

Considering that pursuant to the Federal Economic Competition Law (the “Law”), the Federal Economic Competition Commission (“COFECE”) must review its guidelines every five years, on November 24, 2020, COFECE issued a new Guidelines regarding Exchange of Information between Economic Agents (the “Guidelines”), which replaces the once issued in 2015 (the “Previous Guidelines”).

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO
Nombre imagen SEO
Nombre imagen SEO

   July 3rd, 2020

IFT: Suspension of procedural periods and resume of work activities

The Federal Institute of Telecommunications:Extends the suspension of procedural periods indefinitely; and  Resume activities through remote working as a preventive measure in covid-19 crisis.

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO
Nombre imagen SEO
Nombre imagen SEO

   May 12th, 2020

COFECE issues opinion on the competition implication of the Resolution of measures for COVID-19 issued by CENACE

On May 7, 2020, the Federal Economic Competition Commission (“COFECE”) issued an opinion (the “Opinion”) on the “Resolution to Ensure the Efficiency, Quality, Reliability, Continuity and Safety of the National Electricity Grid, due to the recognition of the SARS-CoV2 virus (COVID-19) epidemic disease” (the "Resolution") issued by National Centre of Energy Control (“CENACE”), regarding certain provisions of it that could hinder competition in the electricity market.

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO
Nombre imagen SEO
Nombre imagen SEO

   April 23rd, 2020

Emergency regulatory provisions for electronic notifications

Under the health emergency derived from the SARS-CoV2 virus, the Federal Economic Competition Commission (“COFECE”) issued the Regulatory Provisions for the execution of personal notifications through email (the “Emergency Regulations”), which will be effective as of today.

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO

   April 6th, 2020

The Federal Institute of Telecommunications extends the suspend time periods

I. MEASURES ADOPTED A In light of the current COVID-19 international crisis, to reduce the risk of spreading the virus Federal Telecommunications Institute (“IFT”) has decided to extend the time period and labor suspension previously established from April 2 to 30, 2020. 

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO

   March 24th, 2020

COFECE and IFT suspend time periods in certain proceedings

In light of the current COVID-19 international crisis, and for the purpose of reducing the risk of spreading the virus, both COFECE and IFT have decided that, from March 23 to April 17, 2020, the running all time periods in proceedings being processed by these authorities will be suspended. However, for the purpose of containing the economic impact of these measures on the country’s economy and the sectors they regulate, both bodies have excluded the following proceedings from the suspension and these may be processed electronically.

Professional Related: Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO

   March 12th, 2020

Publication DR Immunity Program

COFECE issued the Regulatory Provisions of the Immunity and Sanctions Reduction Program and the repeal of certain articles of the Federal Economic Competition Law. This program is available to economic agents who recognize their participation in the performance of absolute monopolistic practices.

Professional Related: Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Nombre imagen SEO

   September 26th, 2019

COFECE ISSUES REGULATIONS for the qualification of information derived from legal counsel provided to economic agents

On September 30th, 2019, the Regulatory Regulations for the qualification of information derived from legal counsel provided to economic agents (the “Regulations”) issued by the Federal Economic Competition Commission (“COFECE”) came into full force and effect.

Professional Related: Carlos Orcí , Elian Ávila , Francisco Fuentes Ostos , Pilar Mata

Education

  • Master of Laws, LL.M, University of Cambridge, 1992
  • Law Degree, Escuela Libre de Derecho, 1990

Languages

  • Spanish
  • English

Experience

  • Foreign Associate, Clifford Chance, New York, 1992-1993