Legal and compliance director (general counsel, secretary of the board and compliance officer) | Holcim México Operaciones
In-house counsel North Latin America division | Arcos Dorados
General counsel | Impulsora del Desarrollo y El Empleo en América Latina
General legal counsel | Iké Grupo Empresarial
General counsel | Grupo IGS
Enrique Aguilar Gálvez is the general counsel of Grupo IGS, a leading real estate fund manager in Mexico. Enrique obtained his law degree from Universidad Anáhuac in Mexico City, where...
General counsel and compliance officer | Grupo Rotoplas
Legal and regulatory corporate director | Financiera Independencia
General counsel, director of legal affairs | Grupo Lamosa
General counsel, ethics and compliance and data protection officer North Latin America | Capgemini
General counsel for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean | General Motors (Mexico)
Vice president legal and compliance, assistant general counsel | Element Fleet Management Corporation Mexico
Head of legal advisory, corporate matters and contracts | AXA Seguros
Gerente legal fiscal contencioso y regulatorio | FEMSA
Vice president for legal, government affairs and compliance Mexico and Northern Latin America | Continental Group Mexico
Directora de jurídico, cumplimiento y enlaces normativos | Grupo Coppel
Senior legal director | American tower Mexico
General counsel nutrition Latam, Mexico and CARICAM | Unilever de Mexico
Lawyer and legal counsel | Artha Capital and Frontier Industrial & Logistics Real Estate
Head of legal advisory, corporate matters and contracts | Flat.mx
Vice president legal and corporate affairs | Grupo Modelo
Generl counsel petcare and Royal Canin México | Mars Petcare
Chief legal officer and secretary of the board of directors | Grupo Herdez
Since 2014, Claudia has been the chief legal officer of Grupo Herdez, a leading company in the food sector with a broad commercial presence in Mexico and the United States....
General counsel | Kavak
Edgardo Mendoza is the general counsel of Kavak, before joining Kavak, Edgardo served as general counsel of AlphaCredit, and prior to joining AlphaCredit, he worked as head of corporate and...
General counsel, vice president regulatory and external affairs | AT&T Mexico
General counsel, secretary of the board and managing director – legal affairs | Grupo Financiero Banorte
General counsel and operations – legal, collections, HR, market intelligence, internal control, ESG | Acosta Verde
General counsel, company secretary and chief compliance officer | Grupo Bimbo
Vice president corporate counsel Mexico | Fibra Prologis
Legal manager and regional general counsel | Solistica
General counsel | Citibanamex
Natalia Aguirre was appointed general legal director of Grupo Financiero Citibanamex, effective July 1, 2021. In her role, Natalia is responsible for the appropriate strategy, management and supervision of all...
Vice president legal and compliance, corporate affairs | Nestlé
Researching this year’s edition of The Legal 500: GC Powerlist Mexico has been an honour and a privilege. It has been incredible to converse and gain insights into the world of work of the exceptionally talented and impressive in-house counsel featured in this list. Within the pages of this publication, we embark on an extensive exploration, delving deeply into the complex dynamics of legal innovation, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and emerging trends and opportunities within the Mexican legal landscape. Together, these components shape the evolving roles and responsibilities of in-house legal practitioners in Mexico.
Given the constantly evolving legal environment and the increasing array of challenges encountered by in-house lawyers in Mexico, we have taken the initiative to ask insightful questions and invite shortlisted lawyers to offer their distinctive insights and expertise. In doing so, we aim to shed light on their key challenges, strengths, and promising prospects.
Mexico-based in-house lawyers with whom I have had the privilege of engaging have invariably played pivotal roles in navigating significant transactions, negotiations, and legal endeavours that have profoundly impacted Mexico’s growth and propelled their organisations onto the global stage. Their distinguishing attributes extend beyond mere legal prowess and extraordinary talent, encompassing qualities such as collaborative teamwork, pioneering innovation, business acumen, adept risk management, and a profound sense of empathy.
A recurring theme that has surfaced in our research is the proactive stance taken by Mexico’s in-house counsel. They are actively sowing the seeds for a brighter tomorrow, one anchored in the core tenets of sustainability, ESG considerations, diversity and inclusion, and the integration of technological advancements to bolster operational efficiency. Jose Lechuga, general counsel Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean at General Motors Mexico, said: ‘I firmly believe in the importance of recognising that diversity of thoughts and perspectives. It enriches us as human beings, strengthens our work environment and favours the success of the company. In this sense, and as part of our culture, in each staff meeting, a member of the legal team shares a moment of inclusion (it can be a video, article or anecdote) to increase the awareness of diversity and inclusion in each of the team members’. Jose’s words echoed Paola Patricia Valencia Hidalgo, legal director at Fibra Soma: ‘In the team, there is no distinction of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic capacity or any other, which may result in a disparity outside their professional capacity and skills. Each team member, from their knowledge and acquired experience, teaches the others, and every opinion is equally valuable; everyone complements each other’.
Within the contents of this publication, the wise advice of in-house lawyers shines brightly, illuminating the path for their peers. Their perspectives underscore the fundamental value of possessing strong foundational legal competencies and an intimate grasp of industry-specific intricacies.
In conclusion, I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every in-house lawyer who has contributed to the making of the GC Powerlist: Mexico 2023. I take immense pride in presenting this list, which showcases Mexico’s most innovative, dedicated, and brilliant in-house counsel.
Sara Maggi| Deputy Editor The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Series
Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez is honored to sponsor this edition of The Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Mexico. We have sponsored this prestigious event for six years, and we are privileged to do so again.
Over the years we have witnessed first-hand the positive energy that is a generated in a room where the leading General Counsel in Mexico meet to exchange views, experiences and insight, and we are convinced the 2023 Edition will not be the exception.
As appears to be the norm, we meet at a time of great challenges for Mexico. The state of global geopolitics presents unique opportunities and risks for Mexico and the North American Region. Despite the enormous positive effects of “Near or Ally Shoring”, which have undoubtedly fostered investment and industrial development around the country, the upcoming Presidential elections in Mexico and US will inevitably give rise to volatility that will challenge the ordinary course of business. Without question, the outcome of the 2024 elections will greatly define the speed, scale and breadth of Mexico’s progress and developments for decades to come.
With this backdrop, our profession, both from the in-house and the law firm perspective continues to undergo profound changes, including the advent of Artificial Intelligence tools that are already having an impact on the provision of legal advice and solutions. The need for the legal profession to accept and strategize around technology in the legal industry has never been more pressing. At Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez we believe that when it comes to technology within our industry the future is now, and embracing innovative ways of providing legal advice and servicing clients are key. The faster we acknowledge and adapt to this reality, the brighter the future.
Despite what we consider to be a positive moment in the legal marketplace, as we remarked in our message to the GC Powerlist in 2017, basic Rule of Law remains one of the greatest challenges confronting the legal profession in Mexico. For decades, deficient rule of law and corruption have plagued our country, severely burdening further development and shared prosperity for all in Mexico. Notwithstanding the many positive developments in Mexico´s substantive laws, despite the prevailing political discourse, as a country we continue to suffer from vast corruption and a deficient and ill-prepared justice system. On this issue, which is really our community’s “core issue,” we must double-down on our efforts. With this in mind, we invite all of you to use this The Legal 500 GC Powerlist summit, as an opportunity to discuss how we can all work collaboratively towards the development of a better and more transparent and equitable justice system, and towards the eradication of corruption. By making the Rule of Law a shared and foremost goal of the legal profession, and a cornerstone of Mexico´s development, what is already a promising future for the country will improve exponentially.
Sincerely,
Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez
Legal 500 hosted the Green Forum Singapore 2025 at Allen & Gledhill’s offices on the 30th level of One Marina Boulevard, offering panoramic views across the Singapore Strait. The event brought together leading general counsel, sustainability experts, and legal practitioners from across Southeast Asia for an afternoon of insight and discussion on the fast-evolving ESG landscape.
As sustainability remains a defining challenge for global business, the Green Forum served as an essential platform for exploring how corporate legal teams can navigate emerging environmental, social, and governance risks while helping shape long-term responsible growth.
Opening remarks were delivered by Joe Boswell, Global Editor of The Legal 500’s GC Powerlist series, who highlighted the increasingly strategic role of in-house counsel in guiding organisations through the sustainability transition. He was followed by Jerry Koh, Managing Partner at Allen & Gledhill, who reflected on Singapore’s leadership in driving ESG progress across Southeast Asia and the importance of collaboration between the legal profession and industry in delivering meaningful change. He also spoke about the firm’s long-term commitment to sustainability. This extends to personal exertions by himself and the other staff at A&G, who recently engaged in rubbish-cleaning efforts in Singapore’s waterways.
The first panel, The Impact of Technology and AI on ESG: Considerations and Challenges, examined how rapid technological advancements are reshaping sustainability priorities. Moderated by Tham Kok Leong, Head of Technology & Corporate Intellectual Property Practice at Allen & Gledhill, the session featured Sophie Lim, Co-Head of ESG & Public Policy Practice at Allen & Gledhill; Doris Chen, Head of Legal, APAC at dsm-firmenich; and Richard Koh, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Asia, Enterprise Partner Solutions. Together they discussed the ethical and regulatory implications of AI adoption, the importance of governance and transparency, and how legal teams can leverage technology to drive sustainable value creation.
The second session, Sustainable Finance and Green Capital Markets: The Legal Counsel’s Role, turned to the evolving role of lawyers in guiding businesses through sustainability-related financial frameworks. Moderated by Elsa Chen, Co-Head of ESG & Public Policy Practice and Regional Co-Head of Competition & Foreign Investment Review Practice at Allen & Gledhill, panellists Mushtaq Kapasi, Managing Director and Chief Representative, Asia-Pacific, International Capital Market Association; Ong Kangxin, Partner at Allen & Gledhill; and Bridget Burns, Capital Markets Counsel at Wells Fargo explored Singapore’s pioneering Singapore-Asia Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance (SAT) and its implications for disclosure, risk management, and investor confidence.
The event closed with remarks from Elsa Chen, followed by networking drinks and canapés overlooking the Singapore Strait. It was the perfect way to end a successful and engaging afternoon that reaffirmed the legal community’s pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable and transparent business landscape.