Speakers
Wendy Alcala, vice president legal, compliance, corporate affairs and ESG, Nestlé Mexico
Wendy Alcalá is Vice President of Legal, Compliance, and Corporate Affairs at Nestlé Group in Mexico, the company’s fourth most important market globally.
She began her career in private practice in Mexico and later worked at a law firm in Washington, D.C. In 1998, she joined Nestlé Mexico’s legal department. Since then, she has held strategic positions both in the region and abroad: in 2003, she was promoted to Regional Counsel for Latin America, later relocating to Nestlé Spain, where she led global negotiations for European markets. Subsequently, from the company’s global headquarters in Switzerland, she oversaw mergers and acquisitions (M&A) operations for Latin America.
Wendy is a graduate of the Escuela Libre de Derecho and has furthered her education at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the International Law Institute, IESE Business School, and London Business School.
She is an active voice in national and international forums, regularly speaking and participating on panels covering topics such as human rights, anti-corruption, sustainability, diversity, and corporate integrity. Her leadership has been recognised by organisations and publications including Forbes, Expansión CNN, Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Foro Jurídico, and the Latin American Women Lawyer Awards, among others.
Outside of work, Wendy enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog Max, and attending concerts.
Víctor Manuel Frías Garcés, shareholder, GT Law
Victor Manuel Frías focuses his practice on the representation of national and foreign companies doing business in Mexico. He has been recognized as one of Mexico’s leading lawyers in corporate and commercial law, primarily in mergers and acquisitions, and is currently co-coordinator of this practice for the Mexico City office.
Victor Manuel is an experienced attorney in corporate matters, drafting and negotiation of contracts, and regulatory issues of various kinds. In 2017, he closed the largest acquisition in Mexico for over $2.3 billion. As part of his career, he has represented buyers and sellers in a large number of acquisitions and joint venture projects, as well as advised clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including corporate governance and regulatory compliance. Mr. Frías has had significant transactional involvement in numerous industries, including health care, technology, retail, food and agriculture.
Victor Manuel is also co-coordinator of GT Mexico City’s antitrust practice and has been recognized for years as one of the most important lawyers in Mexico in this area. For almost 30 years he has represented clients in numerous investigations and merger notifications. Additionally, he has participated in numerous internal investigations on anti-corruption, antitrust, and data privacy issues, among others, and is co-coordinator of GT Mexico City’s compliance and regulatory affairs practice. Victor Manuel has been a university-level contracts professor for over 15 years.
As part of his international experience, he worked as a foreign associate in Washington, D.C., at one of the most important firms in competition matters in the world.
Victor Manuel is a founding partner and leader of the Pro bono practice in the Mexico City office.
Miguel Flores Bernés, shareholder, GT Law
Miguel Flores Bernés focuses his practice on antitrust and competition issues, assisting domestic and international clients in investigation proceedings relating to alleged anticompetitive conduct, concentrations, and defense strategies before specialized antitrust courts.
He has assisted clients in the competition clearance of transactions by the Mexican competition authorities, such as the Federal Competition Commission (Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica – COFECE) and Federal Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Federal de las Telecomunicaciones – IFT). Likewise, he represents economic agents in i) proceedings for the investigation of alleged anticompetitive conduct (cartels, abuse of dominance, and unlawful concentrations), including fine reduction programs (leniency and early closure of a probe with commitments); and ii) proceedings related to barriers to competition, essential inputs, and declarations of lack of effective competition.
Miguel’s experience also encompasses the development and implementation of defense strategies before specialized competition courts, and compliance advice to mitigate and prevent risks of violating competition law, including internal investigations for companies in various industries including transportation, health, energy, specialized services, manufacturing, financial services, and agriculture, among others.
Prior to joining the firm, he was a commissioner in the Federal Competition Commission (2006-2013), and before that, he acted as economic legal advisor in the office of the President of Mexico.
Previously, he focused his practice in the cost-benefit analysis of economic regulation at the Mexican Ministry of Economy. He also acquired deep experience in negotiation and international affairs by being part of the group of lawyers that negotiated free trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties with the European Union, Japan, Singapore, Israel, Chile, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Iceland, Sweden, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland, and in different international organizations such as the World Trade Organization and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Luis Miguel Ramírez Ruggeberg, managing partner, LHO
Luis Miguel Ramírez Ruggeberg is a globally trained attorney with studies at Harvard, IE, and William & Mary, and the visionary Managing Partner of LHO, a law firm recognized by Legal500 for pioneering sustainable and tech-enabled legal services. He has spearheaded complex energy, infrastructure, and environmental projects across four continents, combining legal precision with a deep understanding of social and regulatory ecosystems.
As a Legal 500 Green Ambassador in Mexico, Luis Miguel is a vocal advocate for ethical business and climate-aligned compliance. He chairs the Legal Group and serves as Vice President of the Infrastructure Group at the British Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, while also acting as Secretary of the Sustainability Commission at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. In 2025, he was awarded the Environmental Merit Award by the Congress of Morelos for his leadership in Mexico’s first ecozone. His rare ability to connect global legal frameworks with the realities on the ground—from EU directives to union negotiations in remote regions—positions him as a strategic bridge between regulatory ambition and business resilience.
Adrián Ulises Salazar Montesinos, partner, criminal & compliance practice, LHO
Adrián Salazar Montesinos is one of Mexico’s most respected legal minds in corporate criminal law and compliance strategy. With over 20 years of frontline experience, he has built a career advising Fortune 500 companies and defending against high-stakes legal exposure in a shifting criminal and regulatory landscape. He holds a law degree from UNAM, postgraduate studies in Adversarial Criminal Law, Corporate Responsibility, and Compliance, and is certified as a Lead Auditor under ISO 37301 and ISO 37001 by AENOR, distinguishing him as one of the few Mexican practitioners integrating global compliance standards with legal defense.
Adrián has advised global players such as Citigroup, Procter & Gamble, Iberdrola, Acciona, and Banamex, providing legal strategies that blend courtroom expertise with corporate governance insight. A natural educator, he has been a guest lecturer at INACIPE, Universidad Panamericana, and La Salle, and a sought-after speaker at forums hosted by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Mexico. At LHO, he leads the Criminal and Compliance Practice, helping companies navigate the growing weight of corporate criminal liability, anti-bribery enforcement, and extraterritorial legal pressure—all while promoting a model of justice rooted in ethics, transparency, and resilience.
José Alberto Sánchez, partner, Ferran Martínez Abogados
Partner at Ferran Martínez Abogados.
José Alberto Sánchez Medina holds a Law degree from Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master’s in Anti-Corruption from Universidad Panamericana.
He has extensive experience advising and representing both national and international companies in labor matters, with a focus on consulting, litigation, and addressing labor inspections conducted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.
Additionally, he provides counsel on collective bargaining negotiations with unions, delivering practical and effective solutions to resolve labor disputes.
His professional practice also encompasses drafting internal labor regulations, managing plant closures, handling high-risk employment terminations, and offering training on regulatory compliance.
In the academic arena, José Alberto teaches Collective Labor Law at Universidad Panamericana and has been actively involved in training judges across various states in Mexico on the implementation of the 2019 labor reform. He has also taught labor law courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels at prestigious institutions.
He has contributed as an author and editor to numerous books, articles, and academic essays on labor law, solidifying his standing as a leading authority in the field.
Education: Bachelor’s in Law, Universidad Iberoamericana, Master’s in Anti-Corruption, Universidad Panamericana.
Carlos Ferran Martínez Carrillo, partner, Ferran Martínez Abogados
Carlos Ferran Martínez Carrillo is a distinguished lawyer and a leading figure in the field of employment law, recognised for his expertise in providing strategic advice to both national and international companies.
In 2019, he founded Ferran Martínez Abogados, a boutique law firm that has become a benchmark in regulatory compliance and labour risk mitigation in Mexico.
Throughout his career, Carlos has advised multinational companies on critical areas such as complex litigation, workforce restructuring, collective bargaining, and regulatory compliance. His preventative approach and ability to handle high-risk situations have earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts in the field.
Carlos graduated with honours from Universidad Iberoamericana. He went on to become the first lawyer in the history of the Escuela Libre de Derecho to obtain a Master’s degree in Employment Law, and later earned a Doctorate in Law from the same institution. His academic contributions include serving as a guest lecturer at various universities and as a columnist for El Economista. He is also co-author of key legal texts and currently serves as President of the National Compliance Commission (CONACOM). He has trained labour judges in several Mexican states, playing a pivotal role in the implementation of the 2019 labour reform.
He is co-author and editor of several major works in the field of labour law, including Visiones del Nuevo Derecho Laboral, Derechos Laborales Fundamentales, and Ley Federal del Trabajo Comentada. In addition to presiding over CONACOM, he also leads the Labour Law Commission at the Illustrious and National Bar Association of Mexico.
His leadership and excellence have been recognised by leading international legal rankings such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, Leaders League, and Latin Lawyer, positioning him as one of the most influential figures in employment law in Mexico.
Ximena Aguirre, expert counsel, LA region, Dow
Ximena Aguirre has worked at Dow Química Mexicana for more than 7 years, and is currently an Expert Counsel.
Ximena manages the Legal team in Mexico and Andean Regions and is part of the North Leadership Team. She is responsible for litigation (civil, criminal, labor), commercial law, corporate governance, advice on international trade, ethics & compliance (anti-bribery, Fraud, internal investigations), regulatory and environmental matters (for two plants in México, and oversee of the Colombia operation too). Last year she led for some time the sale of the laminated adhesives business which had plants in India, Italy, US and México and then continued to oversee just the México part. She is passionate for inclusion and diversity and is an active member of the employee resource groups.
Prior to working at Dow, Ximena worked 6 years as a Legal Manager in Monsanto overseeing commercial, regulatory, litigation, environmental, antitrust and other matters. She studied Law in the Universidad Iberoamericana, and holds a Master in Science in Environmental Policy and Regulation by the London School of Economics. She also worked as an Environmental lawyer in Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enriquez.
Ximena lives in Mexico City.
Paulina Trujillo, legal director, Volvo Cars Mexico, LATAM Importers
I am the Legal Director for Volvo Cars Mexico and LATAM Importers.
I hold a law degree from the Faculty of Law at UNAM, a specialisation in Amparo from Universidad Panamericana, an LLM from The George Washington University, and an MBA from IPADE Business School. I have 15 years of professional experience, starting out at law firms and later moving into in-house legal roles. I currently serve as the Legal Director for Volvo Cars Mexico and LATAM Importers.
José Manuel Haro Zepeda, head of the investigative authority, COFECE
José Manuel holds a degree in Economics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and a Master’s degree in Economics from the Centre for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE). He has experience in the fields of competition economics, econometrics, industrial organisation, and the energy sector. He is currently serving as Head of the Investigative Authority at the Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece).
José Manuel Haro joined the now-defunct Federal Competition Commission in 2010 and has held various positions since then. Additionally, he served as Director General of Markets in the Liquefied Gas Unit at the Energy Regulatory Commission.
In academia, he teaches Econometrics and Mathematics at the Faculty of Economics at UNAM.
Diana Pineda, partner, Sainz Abogados
Diana Pineda Esteban brings extensive experience in projects, infrastructure and energy, covering the full spectrum from project development to dispute resolution. She specializes in advising both national and international clients on structuring and negotiating complex, multijurisdictional projects, from pipelines, terminals, toll-roads, to import and export of commodities such as LNG.
Diana represents clients in administrative litigation involving energy regulation and regulatory acts in national and international arbitration proceedings. She also serves as an arbitrator in high-stakes disputes, particularly in the energy infrastructure sectors.
Before joining Sainz, Diana was as a partner at another prominent law firm in Mexico City. She also served as the General Counsel of Silver Fuels, Inc. and Silver Fuels, LLC, a trading firm with operations in Houston and Mexico City. Earlier in her career, she spent over five years handling comercial, administrative, and constitutional litigation and dispute resolution. Diana was also a Legal Researcher at the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment in New York, focusing on sustainable foreign investment.
She has lectured on enery and civil law at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.
Mario E. Juarez, partner, Sainz Abogados
Mario Juárez is partner at the Firm with extensive experience in banking and finance, including project, structured and corporate finance, as well as capital markets, M&A, and regulatory matters. He regularly advises both, domestic and international financial institutions, development banks and corporate clients.
Mario has held key positions in top-tier law firms and international financial institutions, which has allowed him to develop a solid track record in structuring complex cross-border transactions.
Diego Hernandez Schmidt, chief counsel, ECA LNG/ Energía Costa Azul / Sempra Infrastructure
Diego serves as Chief Counsel for the ECA LNG Projects. In such endeavors, Diego is currently leading the efforts on the coordination, implementation, negotiation, and monitoring of legal matters related to the ECA LNG Project, in order to support business unit’s objectives.
Prior to joining the Sempra family, Diego spent +10 years in “Big Law” in the US (Ny and Texas) and Mexico. His practice focused mainly on representing sponsors, multilateral and bilateral agencies, commercial bank lenders, and project developers in cross border and domestic project financings, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, tax equity financing and structured finance transactions, across several energy sub-sectors including, renewable projects, LNG, Geothermal and fuel cell storage.
Paulina Beck Magaña, energy & infrastructure attorney, head of legal, Energía Real
Paulina Beck Magaña is General Counsel at Energía Real, a leading company in distributed generation and qualified supply in Mexico. She has over 12 years of experience in the energy sector, infrastructure, and financing, with a specialised focus on renewable energies, particularly solar energy projects, storage, and new business lines in the Wholesale Electricity Market.
Prior to joining Energía Real, she worked at prestigious law firms such as Von Wobeser y Sierra, Santamarina & Steta, and Garrigues, where she was involved in financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, as well as regulatory advice for investments in the electricity sector.
She holds a Law degree from Universidad Anáhuac, graduating cum laude, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Energy Management and Renewable Energy Sources at Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Bernardo Canales, founding partner, Canales®
Bernardo Canales is the founding partner of Canales® and has more than 25 years of experience in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, banking, project finance, private equity, and aviation law. Beyond his legal expertise, he is widely recognized for his talent as a negotiator and his keen business acumen, qualities that have positioned him as a trusted advisor to leading companies and investors. He also serves on the boards of several national and international corporations and investment funds.
Emilio Sáenz, senior partner, Canales®
Emilio Sáenz is a Senior Partner at Canales® with a distinguished track record advising on complex international mergers and acquisitions. He is widely recognized for his expertise in the energy and power industries, where he has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to leading companies and investors. His broad connections and deep sector knowledge make him a key figure in high-level negotiations and cross-border transactions
Luis Vázquez, tax partner, Cuatrecasas
Luis Vázquez specializes in Corporate Taxation, international taxation, and transfer pricing for intercompany transactions of multinational corporations, particularly from a tax litigation focus. He has extensive experience in key sectors such as mining, payment services, infrastructure, oil & gas, and land transport.
Prior to joining Cuatrecasas, he gained valuable expertise at leading law firms 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
Pablo Zárate, senior managing director, FTI Consulting (Houston, TX)
Mr. Zárate founded FTI’s Strategic Communications practice in Mexico a decade ago. As country head, he has built and overseen a multidisciplinary team of practitioners advising leading Latin American groups, multinational companies, and investment firms in the development and execution of stakeholder analysis, de-risking and engagement strategies facing critical milestones – from market entry and M&A to commercial and investment disputes. His practice focuses on energy, infrastructure, and industrials. He writes the Beyond Cantarell weekly column at El Economista, focusing on analysis of the intersection of energy policy and politics in Mexico.
Before joining FTI Consulting in Washington D.C. in 2014, Mr. Zárate served as a government official, advising two secretaries of energy, and as a political consultant, advising governments and incumbents at the municipal and state level in Mexico on communications.
Miguel Ángel Ortiz, partner, Cuatrecasas
Miguel Ángel brings over 15 years of distinguished expertise in administrative, civil, commercial, and insolvency litigation, with a proven track record in complex dispute resolution.
He has held key positions within Mexico’s federal public sector, contributing to institutions tied to the energy, infrastructure, and international trade industries. His public sector roles have provided him with in-depth insights into regulatory frameworks, policy implementation, and sector-specific compliance.
Additionally, Miguel Ángel has developed a strong specialization in the construction, regulatory, and logistics sectors.
Alfredo Bolio García, legal manager, Reckitt
Legal Lead for the Nutrition, Health & Hygiene business unit at Reckitt, covering Mexico and Central America, with over 15 years of experience in corporate law, intellectual property, consumer protection, and advertising regulation.
I lead legal strategies to protect intangible assets and ensure regulatory compliance.
I have managed trademark portfolios across Mexico and Latin America, achieving recognition for well-known marks before the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI).
I actively contribute to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives, supporting compliance and the advancement of sustainable business practices.
My approach focuses on innovative legal solutions that enhance brand reputation and drive growth, aligned with regulatory frameworks such as NOM-051.