The ‘truly exceptional’ team at Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C. operates from offices in Mexico City, León and Guadalajara, and regularly assists domestic and international companies with complex corporate transactions, as well as providing day-to-day corporate advice and regulatory counsel. A recent work highlight saw the group advise Sun Gro Horticulture on its acquisition of Pelemix Mexico, and the practice’s client base also often features corporations in the food and tech segments. Leadership is shared between name partner Hugo Cuesta, whose practice takes in corporate governance and M&A; and Azucena Marin, who specialises in corporate restructuring, strategic acquisitions, joint ventures and asset-based lending. Senior principal associate Rafael Sánchez provides assistance on a range of matters including company incorporations, contractual negotiations and due diligence.
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Work Department
Antitrust, Banking and Finance, Corporate M&A.
Position
Partner at Cuesta Campos
Some of the representative matters undertaken by Mrs. Marin are the following: Joint venture transaction under a global cooperation agreement in the automotive industry between Daimler and Nissan; Joint venture transaction between Hyatt hotel operator and a leading real estate developer for a residential, hotel and retail development; Representation of a worldwide leading contract electronics manufacturer on the due diligence and acquisition of various industrial plants, as part of global merger transactions; Restructuring of a real estate development for the construction of yacht marina and sale of a residential golf course and touristic resort of 1,235 acres; Structuring of diverse security devices, including pledges, mortgages, syndicated credits and guarantee trusts for major loan transactions by leading foreign financing entities and banks; Legal advice on master plan regulations and CC&R’s for a high-class golf course and real estate development of 443 acres; Negotiation of a hotel management agreement and ancillary documents for a luxury-class hotel in a golf, marina & beach resort; Advice on regulatory compliance and negotiation of agreements for renewable energy projects; Legal restructure of industrial properties for pharmaceutical operations, among other key M&A, financial, foreign investment and real estate transactions.
Career
Azucena Marín joined Cuesta Campos in 1999. Her practice is focused in mergers and acquisitions, financial and real estate transactions. Her other areas of expertise include foreign investment, competition law and corporate governance. For over 17 years, she has counseled multinational corporations in business start-ups, corporate restructuring, strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, asset based lending, among other key transactions, giving advice on compliance issues involving topics such as anticorruption, competition, money laundering.
She has participated in industrial, residential, commercial and touristic projects, including strategic acquisitions, real estate trusts, sale/lease-backs, built-to suit leases, hotel management, condominium structuring, development & construction agreements, mortgages, easements, title insurance, financial structures, estate planning.
Key clients / industries: electronic manufacturing, automotive assembly, automotive supply, banking and financial, pharmaceutical, real estate development, sportswear, cookware, production of alcoholic beverages, industrial logistic services.
Languages
Spanish, English.
Memberships
Member of the Board of Directors of the Guadalajara chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico and VP of the Board of the National Association of Corporate Lawyers in Jalisco (ANADE Jalisco), member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Best Corporate Practices Magazine since January, 2014 and Honorary Secretary of the David Gutiérrez Carvajal Foundation, a non profit organization that manages a nursing home.
She has been guest speaker at conferences organized by the Universidad Panamericana, the Guadalajara branch of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Mexican Institute of Best Corporate Practices (IMMPC), Meritas Law Firms Association, the Mexican Bar Association (BMA), ANADE Jalisco and AMPI, a real estate agents association, on topics regarding legal due diligence, corporate governance, comparative law, international transactions and anti-corruption. Mrs. Marin completed a year-long project as participant in the Meritas Leadership Institute Class 2011-2012, about the benefits, security and ethical issues that law firms worldwide should consider when converting to the "cloud", named "Meritas in the Cloud: The Digital Law Office".She was professor of Corporate Governance and is currently professor of Competition Law and member of the Academy of Commercial and Business Law at the Law School (Facultad de Derecho) of the Universidad Panamericana in Guadalajara.
Education
Degrees
Universidad Panamericana (Campus Guadalajara). Law Degree, 1997
Universidad Panamericana (Campus Guadalajara). Specialization in Companies and Business Corporations, 2001
National Association of Corporate Lawyers (ANADE):
- Corporate and Business Law Course (Diploma 2006 and 2008),
- Real Estate Law Course (Diploma 2007)
- Course on Mediation and Negotiation (Diploma 2011).
- Seminars on Compliance, including Data Protection, Competition, Money- Laundering (Diplomas)
Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)
- Course on New Mexican Antitrust Law (Diploma), 2014
Mexico International Chamber of Commerce and Universidad Panamericana
- International Commercial Arbitration (Diploma)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The corporate practice at Cuesta Campos is excellent. Their team provided invaluable assistance from the initial incorporation of our subsidiary all the way through ongoing operational support.'
- 'The Cuesta Campos corporate team proved to be extremely proactive, skilfully guiding us through our expansion into the new Mexican market. They ensured comprehensive corporate, employment, and tax compliance, allowing us to focus on growing our business with confidence. Their attentive service and deep expertise made a vital difference in navigating the complexities of entering this market successfully.'
- 'The attorneys at Cuesta Campos are truly exceptional - their legal prowess is matched by a rare combination of astute business judgment, creative thinking, and uncompromising dedication to clients. What differentiates them is their talent for going beyond just legal advice to provide strategic counselling tailored to our specific business needs and objectives. They take the time to deeply understand our company, our industry landscape, and our key priorities.'
- 'Karla Hernández and Gerardo Valencia have been indispensable advisors on our most critical legal issues and transactions. They consistently demonstrate remarkable attention to detail, tireless commitment, and a knack for distilling complex legal concepts into clear actionable guidance.'
Key clients
- Pretium Packaging
- Terlato Wine Group
- Sun Gro Horticulture
- Lovepac Canada
- Zoola Tech
- Perseus
- Industry Products
- Jabil
- SPG
Work highlights
Assisted Terlato with conducting due diligence regarding the target assets of RIAZUL.
Advised Lovepac Group with due diligence prior to its sale.