Agenda

10.30am – 11.00am Registration

11.00am – 11.10am Opening Remarks

    • Margherita Birri, research editor, Legal 500

11.10am – 12.00pm The Future of Competition Regulation in Mexico: Navigating a Shifting Landscape

In light of the recent dismantling of Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) and other autonomous regulatory bodies, the country’s evolving regulatory environment presents a unique moment for reflection. This session will explore the future of competition oversight in Mexico, examining how new legal frameworks and emerging policy trends may shape competitive dynamics both within the domestic market and on the international stage.

    • Wendy Alcala, VicePresident Legal, Compliance, Corporate Affairs and ESG, Nestle Mexico
    • Víctor Manuel Frías Garcés, shareholder, GT Law
    • Miguel Flores Bernés, shareholder, GT Law
    • José Manuel Haro Zepeda, head of the investigative authority, COFECE

12.00pm – 12.50pm Mexico’s Judicial Reform and Dispute Resolution Alternatives

Amid ongoing discussions around the judicial reform, this high-stakes session focuses on the practical implications for companies, investors, and legal certainty. Top legal experts will offer valuable insights into the potential impacts — from changes in judicial processes to the effects on contracts, dispute resolution, including alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration, mediation, and commercial predictability. For in-house counsel, this is more than a legal topic — it’s a strategic priority. As the legal landscape evolves, the role of corporate legal teams as risk managers and ethical stewards is more important than ever. This session is a call to action: Understand the changes, stay ahead of the curve, anticipate challenges, and help protect the legal foundations of business in Mexico

    • Elsa Ortega, partner, dispute resolution practice, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez
    • Javier Curiel, partner, dispute resolution practice, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez
    • Alejandro de Iturbide, general counsel, Volaris
    • Diana Rodriguez, general counsel, Linde
    • Mariano Riva Palacio, general counsel, Prologis

12.50pm – 1.20pm Lunch

1.20pm – 2.10pm Energy Transition and Legal Certainty: What Lies Ahead for Investors in Mexico?

Mexico’s sweeping 2025 energy reforms have comprehensively restructured the sector, centralizing control under state entities and favoring their participation across the value chain. With regulatory shifts, the world’s different views as to the transition towards cleaner, more sustainable energy sources and a renewed interest in fracking, investors face rising uncertainty across regional power generation and hydrocarbons. This panel will explore legal, policy, and commercial impacts alongside financial risks, capital access, and funding models in a state-led market. Experts will assess what’s needed to attract long-term investment in Mexico’s evolving energy landscape.

    • Diana Pineda, partner, Sainz Abogados
    • Mario E. Juarez, partner, Sainz Abogados
    • Diego Hernandez Schmidt, chief counsel, ECA LNG/ Energía Costa Azul / Sempra Infrastructure
    • Paulina Beck Magaña, energy & infrastructure attorney, head of legal, Energía Real
    • Pablo Zárate, senior managing director, FTI Consulting (Houston, TX)

2.10pm – 3.00pm Parallel Tracks in the Judiciary Reform: ADR Strategies for Resolving Tax and Administrative Disputes

As Mexico accelerates its judicial reform implementation which increases the existing risk of litigation, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms—such as mediation, arbitration, and conciliation—are becoming increasingly pivotal in all types of controversies, including in the case of tax and administrative matters. Designed to alleviate court back-log while providing efficient outcomes, administrative ADR will become an attractive option for risk-averse clients. This session will examine the new legal framework, recent advancements, and practical dynamics in implementing ADR, highlighting the opportunities and challenges for practitioners, businesses, and institutions. With reforms unfolding across multiple fronts, ADR emerges as a vital tool in Mexico’s pursuit of efficiency, and access to justice. Join us for an engaging discussion and take away critical insights to navigate this shifting terrain with clarity and strategic focus.

    • Luis Vázquez, tax partner, Cuatrecasas
    • Miguel Ángel Ortiz, partner Cuatrecasas

3.00pm – 3.20pm Coffee Break

3.20pm – 4.10pm Navigating Criminal and Sustainable Compliance: Extraterritorial Pressures, Social Justice, and Resilient Business Strategy in Mexico

This panel investigates how Mexican companies are navigating the complex intersection of criminal liability, sustainable business practices, and shifting demands for social justice in a globalised regulatory environment. As international standards on anti-corruption, environmental responsibility, and human rights increasingly inform both domestic legislation and corporate expectations, Mexican firms are under growing pressure to align with compliance frameworks that extend beyond national borders.

Panelists will explore how extraterritorial laws—whether through trade agreements, transnational litigation, or international soft law—are influencing compliance strategies in Mexico. Additionally, the discussion will address how socially-driven justice movements and stakeholder activism are shaping corporate accountability and ethical governance. Special emphasis will be placed on how businesses build resilience amid regulatory complexity, public scrutiny, and socio-political demands. This session offers insights into the legal, ethical, and strategic tools needed for companies in Mexico to meet evolving compliance expectations while contributing to broader goals of social and environmental justice.

    • Luis Miguel Ramírez Ruggeberg, managing partner, LHO
    • Adrián Ulises Salazar Montesinos, partner, criminal & compliance practice, LHO
    • Alfredo Bolio García, legal manager, Reckitt

4.10pm – 5.00pm Reduction of Work Shift- The new employment challenge

In recent years, the global debate over work-life balance, productivity, and employment rights has intensified. Mexico now stands at the forefront of this transformation with its proposal to reduce the standard workweek from 48 to 40 hours. This panel will critically examine the implications of this proposed shift, offering a multi-dimensional exploration of the social, economic, and legislative impacts that such a reform would entail.

The discussion will begin by situating Mexico’s current labor law within a historical and international context. Article 123 of the Mexican Constitution currently enshrines a 48-hour workweek, but the government under President Claudia Sheinbaum has initiated a legislative push to revise this, introducing a phased transition toward a 40-hour model by 2030. The proposed reform, which promises no reduction in wages, requires a constitutional amendment and is currently the subject of intense political negotiation and public consultation. This panel aims to present a balanced, evidence-based assessment of the reform’s feasibility, its likely outcomes, and the strategies that stakeholders must adopt to ensure that Mexico’s labor evolution is both sustainable and inclusive

    • José Alberto Sánchez, partner, Ferran Martínez Abogados
    • Carlos Ferran Martínez Carrillo, partner, Ferran Martínez Abogados
    • Ximena Aguirre, expert counsel, LA region, Dow
    • Paulina Trujillo, legal director, Volvo Cars Mexico, LATAM Importers

5.00pm – 5.25pm Monterrey in the spotlight

This engaging fireside chat will explore Monterrey’s rise as a powerhouse of innovation, investment, and talent. From its dynamic entrepreneurial scene to its growing global influence, we’ll uncover what makes this northern city one of Mexico’s most exciting hubs for business and creativity. This deep dive into Monterrey—told by the voices shaping it—promises to inspire and spark new ideas.

    • Bernardo Canales, founding partner, Canales®
    • Emilio Sáenz, senior partner, Canales®

5.25pm – 5.50pm Dominican Republic in the spotlight

As one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic economies, the Dominican Republic continues to attract attention for its steady growth, investment opportunities, and evolving legal and regulatory landscape. This fireside chat will explore the country’s current position on the regional and global stage, highlighting key developments across sectors such as infrastructure, energy, finance, and foreign investment.

With insights from legal, business, and public sector leaders, the discussion will delve into the challenges and opportunities facing the Dominican Republic as it strengthens its institutional frameworks and seeks to enhance investor confidence. Join us for a timely conversation on what’s driving the country’s momentum—and what’s next for one of Latin America’s most promising markets.

5.50pm – 6.00pm Closing Remarks

6.00pm – 7.00pm Drinks and Canapes