{"id":224722,"date":"2025-08-07T17:05:24","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T17:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/events\/?page_id=224722"},"modified":"2025-09-09T15:27:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T15:27:09","slug":"speakers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/events\/gc-summit-mexico-2025\/speakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Speakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Wendy Alcala, vice president, legal compliance and government affairs, Nestl\u00e9 Mexico<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wendy Alcal\u00e1 is vice president of legal compliance and government affairs at Nestl\u00e9 Group in Mexico, the company\u2019s fourth most important market globally.<\/p>\n

She began her career in private practice in Mexico and later worked at a law firm in Washington, D.C. In 1998, she joined Nestl\u00e9 Mexico\u2019s 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 Nestl\u00e9 Spain, where she led global negotiations for European markets. Subsequently, from the company\u2019s global headquarters in Switzerland, she oversaw mergers and acquisitions (M&A) operations for Latin America.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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, Expansi\u00f3n CNN, Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Foro Jur\u00eddico, and the Latin American Women Lawyer Awards, among others.<\/p>\n

Outside of work, Wendy enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog Max, and attending concerts.<\/p>\n

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V\u00edctor Manuel Fr\u00edas <\/strong>Garc\u00e9s, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig<\/strong><\/p>\n

Victor Manuel Fr\u00edas focuses his practice on the representation of national and foreign companies doing business in Mexico. He has been recognized as one of Mexico\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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. Fr\u00edas has had significant transactional involvement in numerous industries, including health care, technology, retail, food and agriculture.<\/p>\n

Victor Manuel is also co-coordinator of GT Mexico City\u2019s 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\u2019s compliance and regulatory affairs practice. Victor Manuel has been a university-level contracts professor for over 15 years.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Victor Manuel is a founding partner and leader of the Pro bono practice in the Mexico City office.<\/p>\n

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Miguel Flores Bern\u00e9s, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig<\/strong><\/p>\n

Miguel Flores Bern\u00e9s 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.<\/p>\n

He has assisted clients in the competition clearance of transactions by the Mexican competition authorities, such as the Federal Competition Commission (Comisi\u00f3n Federal de Competencia Econ\u00f3mica – 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.<\/p>\n

Miguel\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Luis Miguel Ram\u00edrez Ruggeberg, managing partner, LHO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luis Miguel Ram\u00edrez 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s first ecozone. His rare ability to connect global legal frameworks with the realities on the ground\u2014from EU directives to union negotiations in remote regions\u2014positions him as a strategic bridge between regulatory ambition and business resilience.<\/p>\n

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Adri\u00e1n Ulises Salazar Montesinos, partner, criminal & compliance practice, LHO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adri\u00e1n Salazar Montesinos is one of Mexico\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Adri\u00e1n 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\u2014all while promoting a model of justice rooted in ethics, transparency, and resilience.<\/p>\n

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Jos\u00e9 Alberto S\u00e1nchez, partner, Ferran Mart\u00ednez Abogados<\/strong><\/p>\n

Partner at Ferran Mart\u00ednez Abogados.<\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 Alberto S\u00e1nchez Medina holds a Law degree from Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master\u2019s in Anti-Corruption from Universidad Panamericana.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Additionally, he provides counsel on collective bargaining negotiations with unions, delivering practical and effective solutions to resolve labor disputes.<\/p>\n

His professional practice also encompasses drafting internal labor regulations, managing plant closures, handling high-risk employment terminations, and offering training on regulatory compliance.<\/p>\n

In the academic arena, Jos\u00e9 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Education: Bachelor\u2019s in Law, Universidad Iberoamericana, Master\u2019s in Anti-Corruption, Universidad Panamericana.<\/p>\n

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Carlos Ferran Mart\u00ednez Carrillo, partner, Ferran Mart\u00ednez Abogados<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carlos Ferran Mart\u00ednez 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.<\/p>\n

In 2019, he founded Ferran Mart\u00ednez Abogados, a boutique law firm that has become a benchmark in regulatory compliance and labour risk mitigation in Mexico.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Ximena Aguirre, expert counsel, LA region, Dow<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ximena Aguirre has worked at Dow Qu\u00edmica Mexicana for more than 7 years, and is currently an Expert Counsel.<\/p>\n

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 M\u00e9xico, 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 M\u00e9xico and then continued to oversee just the M\u00e9xico part. She is passionate for inclusion and diversity and is an active member of the employee resource groups.<\/p>\n

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, Garc\u00eda-Cu\u00e9llar, Aiza y Enriquez.<\/p>\n

Ximena lives in Mexico City.<\/p>\n

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Paulina Trujillo, legal director, Volvo Cars Mexico, LATAM Importers<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am the Legal Director for Volvo Cars Mexico and LATAM Importers.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Jos\u00e9 Manuel Haro Zepeda, head of the investigative authority, COFECE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 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).<\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 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.<\/p>\n

In academia, he teaches Econometrics and Mathematics at the Faculty of Economics at UNAM.<\/p>\n

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Diana Pineda, partner, Sainz Abogados<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

She has lectured on enery and civil law at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.<\/p>\n

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Mario E. Juarez, partner, Sainz Abogados<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mario Ju\u00e1rez 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Diego Hernandez Schmidt, chief counsel, ECA LNG\/ Energ\u00eda Costa Azul \/ Sempra Infrastructure<\/strong>
\nDiego serves as Chief Counsel for the ECA LNG Projects. In such\u00a0endeavors, Diego is currently leading the efforts on the coordination,\u00a0implementation, negotiation, and monitoring of legal matters related to\u00a0the ECA LNG Project, in order to support business unit\u2019s objectives.<\/p>\n

Prior to joining the Sempra family, Diego spent +10 years in \u201cBig Law\u201d in the\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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Paulina Beck Maga\u00f1a, energy & infrastructure attorney, head of legal, Energ\u00eda Real<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paulina Beck Maga\u00f1a is General Counsel at Energ\u00eda 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.<\/p>\n

Prior to joining Energ\u00eda 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.<\/p>\n

She holds a Law degree from Universidad An\u00e1huac, graduating cum laude, and is currently pursuing a Master\u2019s degree in Energy Management and Renewable Energy Sources at Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey.<\/p>\n

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Bernardo Canales, founding partner, Canales\u00ae<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bernardo Canales is the founding partner of Canales\u00ae 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.<\/p>\n

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Emilio S\u00e1enz, senior partner, Canales\u00ae<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emilio S\u00e1enz is a Senior Partner at Canales\u00ae 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<\/p>\n

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Luis V\u00e1zquez, tax partner, Cuatrecasas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luis V\u00e1zquez 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.<\/p>\n

Prior to joining Cuatrecasas, he gained valuable expertise at leading law firms in Mexico.<\/p>\n

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Elsa Ortega, partner, partner, dispute resolution practice, Creel, Garc\u00eda-Cu\u00e9llar, Aiza y Enr\u00edquez<\/strong><\/p>\n

Elsa Ortega has more than twenty years of experience in large and complex cases of international commercial arbitration, both ad hoc and administered under the arbitration rules of several arbitral institutions, such as the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the National Chamber of Commerce of Mexico City\u2019s Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CANACO), the Arbitration Center of Mexico (CAM), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).<\/p>\n

She has acted as party counsel, arbitrator and chair of arbitral tribunals in numerous cases, domestic and international, pertaining to different transactions, such as sale of goods, mergers and acquisitions, disputes among shareholders, and claims under construction, distribution and procurement agreements, among others, involving important Mexican and international companies and investors. She has represented clients in arbitrations related to various industries and sectors including automotive, transport, mining, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, electricity and finance. Her experience also includes providing advice in matters of investor-State arbitration.
\nMs. Ortega is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. For several years now, she has been recognized in Chambers Latin America Guide, Chambers Global and WWL Mexico: Arbitration.<\/p>\n

Ms. Ortega has been appointed by the Mexican government to be part of the Advisory Committee on Private Commercial Disputes of the USMCA. She is vice president of the Instituto Mexicano de Arbitraje (IMA) for the term 2023-2024, vice president of the Arbitration & ADR Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce Mexico (ICC Mexico) for the term 2023-2025 and is part of the ICDR International Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators. Likewise, she teaches ADR in the Private Law LL.M. Program of the School of Law of the Universidad An\u00e1huac M\u00e9xico. She co-authored the book Ley Mexicana de Arbitraje en Materia Comercial and is a regular speaker on arbitration and dispute resolution at various seminars and specialized meetings both in Mexico and abroad.<\/p>\n

Ms. Ortega was born in Mexico City. She graduated with honors from the Escuela Libre de Derecho in 1996 and obtained an LL.M. in European Legal Studies from the College of Europe in Brugge, Belgium in 1998, and a Diploma on International Trade Negotiations from El Colegio de M\u00e9xico in 2021.
\nHer native language is Spanish and is fluent in English and French.<\/p>\n

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Javier Curiel, partner, dispute resolution practice, Creel, Garc\u00eda-Cu\u00e9llar, Aiza y Enr\u00edquez<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr. Curiel has extensive experience in advising and representing clients in complex disputes, with a particular focus on banking, finance, insurance, telecommunications, aviation and real estate. In addition, he specializes in insolvency proceedings and restructurings. He regularly advises banks, insurance companies and pension funds in matters related to their financial operations.<\/p>\n

Mr. Curiel also specializes in corporate law, which allows him to offer sophisticated advice in a variety of commercial and financial disputes. In addition, in commercial arbitration he has represented clients in complex global disputes.<\/p>\n

In the academic field, he has been a professor of law at Universidad Iberoamericana and Universidad Anahuac and has participated as a lecturer in the graduate program of Universidad Panamericana.
\nMr. Curiel obtained his law degree (JD), summa cum laude, from Universidad Iberoamericana in 1987, and his Master Degree in Comparative Law from New York University Law School in 1988.<\/p>\n

His native language is Spanish, and he is proficient in English.<\/p>\n

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Alejandro de Iturbide, general counsel, secretary of the board of directors, Volaris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alejandro de Iturbide is the General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Directors at Volaris, where he leads the legal strategy of one of Mexico\u2019s leading airlines. With over 30 years of experience, he has held senior legal and compliance roles in major global institutions across the financial, corporate, and industrial sectors.<\/p>\n

He has previously served as General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Directors at Grupo Financiero Citibanamex, where he oversaw all legal operations. He also held leadership roles at General Electric and Barclays Capital, with responsibilities covering Mexico, Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean. His work has included legal oversight in areas such as consumer and corporate banking, compliance, aviation, energy, healthcare, and business solutions.<\/p>\n

Mr. de Iturbide is recognized for his deep legal expertise, particularly in corporate and banking law, and for his pragmatic approach in highly regulated industries.<\/p>\n

Mr. de Iturbide holds a law degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and has completed postgraduate studies at the Univesity of Notre Dame (LLM), Instituto Tecnol\u00f3gico Aut\u00f3nomo de M\u00e9xico (ITAM), and Harvard University.<\/p>\n

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Diana Rodriguez, general counsel, VP legal & compliance, Linde<\/strong><\/p>\n

Diana Rodriguez is the General Counsel, VP Legal & Compliance of Linde in Mexico and North Latam. She has over 25 years of experience in corporate and contractual law, with a career spanning various industries, including entertainment, energy, and petrochemicals.<\/p>\n

Throughout her career, Ms. Rodr\u00edguez has been involved in a wide range of legal areas, including corporate and contract law, legal consulting, contract negotiation, coordination of specialized law firms, litigation matters, and corporate advisory.<\/p>\n

She previously led the legal department at Grupo Cinemex and, during a professional hiatus, provided legal counsel to companies in the film industry. She has also served as General Counsel, Corporate Governance and Sustainability Director at Braskem Idesa, a prominent company in the petrochemical sector.<\/p>\n

Ms. Rodr\u00edguez holds a law degree from the Instituto Tecnol\u00f3gico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente (ITESO). She earned a Master\u2019s Degree in Business Administration for Experienced Executives from IPADE Business School, and has completed postgraduate studies in Business at Berkley University in California, Contracts at Universidad Iberoamericana, as well as in Corporate Law at the Instituto Tecnol\u00f3gico Aut\u00f3nomo de M\u00e9xico (ITAM), among others.<\/p>\n

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Mariano Riva Palacio, corporate counsel, Mexico, Prologis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mariano Riva Palacio is Vice President, Corporate Counsel for Mexico at Prologis, a global leader in logistics real estate solutions. With a legal career that began in 2005, Mr. Riva Palacio brings nearly two decades of experience in corporate law, project finance, and real estate, complemented by a deep understanding of supply chain and operational matters.<\/p>\n

Before joining Prologis in 2016, he held senior in-house roles at Grupo GICSA and Jinko Solar, gaining valuable experience across the real estate development and energy sectors. He is widely recognized for his strategic thinking, strong business acumen, and ability to drive results from external legal teams.<\/p>\n

Mr. Riva Palacio holds a law degree from Universidad Panamericana, where he also completed postgraduate studies in Civil and Commercial Procedural Law, and a Master\u2019s Degree in Business Law. Additionally, he completed a diploma in Energy Law at Escuela Libre de Derecho.<\/p>\n

He currently serves as a member of the Legal Committee of AMEFIBRA, the Mexican Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts.<\/p>\n

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Pablo Z\u00e1rate, senior managing director, FTI Consulting (Houston, TX)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr. Z\u00e1rate founded FTI\u2019s 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 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

Before joining FTI Consulting in Washington D.C. in 2014, Mr. Z\u00e1rate 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.<\/p>\n

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Miguel \u00c1ngel Ortiz, partner, Cuatrecasas
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Miguel \u00c1ngel brings over 15 years of distinguished expertise in administrative, civil, commercial, and insolvency litigation, with a proven track record in complex dispute resolution.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Miguel \u00c1ngel has developed a strong specialization in the construction, regulatory, and logistics sectors.<\/p>\n

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Alfredo Bolio Garc\u00eda, legal manager, Reckitt<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

I lead legal strategies to protect intangible assets and ensure regulatory compliance.<\/p>\n

I have managed trademark portfolios across Mexico and Latin America, achieving recognition for well-known marks before the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI).<\/p>\n

I actively contribute to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives, supporting compliance and the advancement of sustainable business practices.<\/p>\n

My approach focuses on innovative legal solutions that enhance brand reputation and drive growth, aligned with regulatory frameworks such as NOM-051.<\/p>\n

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Carlos Ortiz Mena, former GC Fresnillo PLC, currently operating an independent strategic legal practice<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the course of more than 33 years, Carlos has held several prominent leadership positions, including:<\/p>\n

Deputy Legal Director at the Public Credit General Directorate, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, Government of Mexico<\/p>\n

International Legal Director at Bancomer (now BBVA)<\/p>\n

Senior Counsel at Procter & Gamble Mexico and Central America<\/p>\n

For the past 22 years, he was part of Grupo BAL, a prestigious and diversified Mexican business conglomerate. Within the group, for the last 15 years, he served as Head of Legal at Fresnillo plc, the only Mexican company listed on the London Stock Exchange (FTSE 100 index), and a leading global producer of gold and the world\u2019s largest silver producer.<\/p>\n

In August 2023, Carlos retired from Fresnillo plc to focus on providing independent legal consultancy services, specialising in international business and corporate governance.<\/p>\n

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Jimena Aranza Zubiaga Garza, legal counsel, Carbon Trust M\u00e9xico \/ LHO Counsel<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jimena Aranza Zubiaga Garza is a bilingual attorney distinguished for her ability to combine technical precision with a forward-looking, sustainability-driven vision. Specialising in corporate, fintech, energy, infrastructure, labor, and tax law, she has built a career defined by her capacity to translate complex regulatory frameworks into pragmatic legal solutions aligned with business strategy.<\/p>\n

She currently serves as Legal Counsel for Carbon Trust Mexico under an LHO secondment arrangement, acting as the organization\u2019s lead legal advisor on energy transition and sustainability projects. In this role, she has elevated LHO\u2019s Legal Foresight vision to a higher standard of execution, ensuring that every contract, compliance strategy, and corporate negotiation results in tangible impact, legal certainty, and business resilience.<\/p>\n

As Counsel at LHO, Jimena has advised international companies such as Iberdrola, Prodiel, PowerChina, Longi, and DiDi, leading corporate structuring, due diligence, and high-level negotiations. She has crafted sustainable governance frameworks for multiple Mexican entities, consolidated strategic alliances in emerging sectors, and redefined compliance protocols that strengthen both institutional trust and operational efficiency.<\/p>\n

Her dual trajectory\u2014as an in-house advisor to a global organisation and as senior counsel at a pioneering law firm in sustainable law\u2014positions her as one of the rising strategic voices at the intersection of regulation, sustainability, and business.<\/p>\n

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Alejandra Palacios, Cuatrecasas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Alejandra Palacios, specialises in market regulation and economic competition, has built a distinguished career combining leadership in both national and international spheres. Before joining Cuatrecasas, she chaired COFECE, the Mexican antitrust agency, for eight years, becoming the first woman to lead the institution.<\/p>\n

Alejandra served as ICN Vice President, OECD Board Member, and holds strategic roles in Grupo Alfa, GAP, BBVA M\u00e9xico, Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey, and Pacific Council.<\/p>\n

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Carolina Le\u00f3n, partner, Pellerano & Herrera<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carolina Le\u00f3n joined the firm in 2006 and became a Partner in 2019. With over 20 years of professional experience, she leads the firm\u2019s Energy and Telecommunications practices and serves as a member of the Governance, Strategy, and Business Committees.<\/p>\n

Her expertise spans key areas such as foreign investment, corporate law, regulation, corporate governance, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, labor law, free zones, and distribution, agency, and franchise relations.<\/p>\n

She stands out for her involvement in highly complex transactions, including acquisitions, corporate sales, and structured financing. Carolina has provided counsel on high-impact projects such as securing concessions for mining and renewable energy initiatives, as well as on multilateral financing in the infrastructure and telecommunications sectors. Her role as local counsel in significant cross-border operations underscores her reputation as an expert in highly regulated markets.<\/p>\n

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Eduardo Menchaca, chief counsel, ethics and compliance leader, Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eduardo Menchaca has legal experience of over 20 years in the global distribution of products, software, and supplies in the consumer and medical industries.
\nHe has expertise in the American, Canadian, Asian, European, and Latin American markets. He has been involved with Tecnol\u00f3gico de Monterrey for more than 5 years, leading the legal, fiscal, and real estate team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wendy Alcala, vice president, legal compliance and government affairs, Nestl\u00e9 Mexico Wendy Alcal\u00e1 is vice president of legal compliance and government affairs at Nestl\u00e9 Group in Mexico, the company\u2019s 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, … <\/p>\n

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