José Antonio Casas > Galicia Abogados S.C. > Mexico City, Mexico > Lawyer Profile

Highlighted for its ‘significant commercial management capacity‘ and ‘ability to understand highly technical and complex matters‘, Galicia Abogados S.C.‘s arbitration practice has had a significant impact on the market since its establishment in 2015. In arbitrations against Mexican state-owned entities in the infrastructure, construction, and energy spaces, the firm has gained a strong hold, leading counsel in a number of significant cases. Practitioners have substantial experience in international and domestic arbitration, administered by a number of different arbitral institutions. Leadership of the practice group is split between Cecilia Azar, one of the country’s most sought-after arbitrators and expert in cases relating to energy, infrastructure and construction, as well as commercial mediations; and Rodrigo Zamora an equally renowned senior figure in multi-jurisdictional arbitration. At associate level, primary support is provided by seniors Santiago Oñate (construction, public works’ contracts and energy) and José Antonio Casas (construction, energy, hydrocarbons, real estate, finance and corporate disputes), who both undertake arbitration and commercial litigation with regard to their respective areas of expertise.

An integral component of the firm’s wider full-service offering, Galicia Abogados S.C. houses one of the Mexican market’s most well-rounded litigation departments, with a full spectrum offering that excels on numerous fronts, and fields specialist team for both administrative (and constitutional), and civil and commercial litigation. On the contentious administrative front, long-standing market presence Daniel Amézquita lead the sub-group; a highly-regarded figure, he frequently handles first-of-their-kind proceedings. Supported by senior associates Iván Valdespino, Gilda Velázquez and Diego Manzano (who specialises in energy-related cases), Amézquita leads on cases relating to some of the most widely discussed governmental reforms in recent years. A case in point is an ongoing case representing three important gasoline suppliers in amparo proceedings filed against two reforms to the country’s Hydrocarbons Law passed by the Federal Congress in May 2021 and which expressly aimed to reverse the constitutional energy reform of 2013. For civil and commercial litigation, Cecilia Azar and Rodrigo Zamora are the lead contacts, with the team handling significant and complext matters across the finance, banking, and oil-and-gas sectors, in recent years, along with class actions, and federal and state appellate cases. José Antonio Casas is the key senior associate name in a commercial and civil practice group that also has deep experience in post-closure transactional disputes. The practice additionally handles arbitration related (‘parallel’) litigation, while the broader firm’s capabilities also include specialised tax litigation. Since publication, Valdespino has been promoted to counsel – effective as of January 2025.