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Santiago Marván Urquiza

Santiago Marván Urquiza

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Marván, González Graf y González Larrazolo, S.C. (MGGL)

Marván, González Graf y González Larrazolo, S.C. (MGGL)

Mexico

1

Labour and employment

Marván, González Graf y González Larrazolo, S.C. (MGGL) is a top choice labour boutique for multinational companies navigating corporate reorganisations. The firm advises on labour best practices for restructurings, new business lines, and projects by foreign investors in Mexico. On the contentious side, the team is adept at handling union negotiations and lawsuits concerning profit-sharing rights. Recent standout work includes advising Atento México on remediation measures following a rapid response labour mechanism petition involving both the US and Mexican governments. Héctor González Graf advises leading names in the insurance, financial services and retail sectors on the labour aspects of M&A and restructurings and high-stakes disputes. He co-leads the group with Santiago Marván Urquiza, a reputable litigator who represents blue-chip corporate clients and financial institutions, and Nelson Guerrero Robles, who specialises in litigious matters spanning wrongful termination, profit-sharing and executive compensation. The team has a deep bench of junior partners, with Emilio Israel Garzón Juárez being the key labour adviser to the pharmaceutical and health industry, and Cristian Jésus Lamas Peregrina, noted for his expertise in labour consulting and litigation in the automotive sector. José Genaro Pérez Velázquez is an up-and-coming partner running affairs in the Guadalajara office, while Oscar Bojorge was promoted to partner in January 2024. Paulina Mendietta is a notable senior associate whose practice is focused on labour inspections, audits and the prevention of employment litigation. Since publication, Mendietta and Luis Abraham Flores (individual and collective labour relations) have been raised to the partnership - with effect from January 2026.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Phone
+52 55 5340 6840
Email
[email protected]
Profile
mggl.com.mx

Profile

Work Department
Labour and employment law specialist, with focus on transactional work, labour consulting and dispute resolution.
Position

Santiago Marván is a senior partner of Marván, González Graf y González Larrazolo, and is widely recognised as one of Mexico’s leading labour and employment specialists.

His practice covers a wide range of areas, including transactional work, labour consulting and dispute resolution. His strong litigation and analytical skills enable him to attract blue-chip corporate clients and prominent financial institutions, for whom he regularly acts as lead counsel in business-critical labour & employment matters. He is also a preferred partner for market-leading corporate law firms in Mexico City, whom he frequently advises on the labour aspects of high-end M&A and corporate restructurings.

Santiago has over 35 years of experience advising companies on their most complex and challenging labour law issues, particularly in the financial services, industrial manufacturing, retail and consumer goods sectors.

Career

Santiago is listed as ‘Leading Lawyer’ by Legal500, that ranks the firm in Tier 1, commenting: “All partners and lawyers are very professional and available in the care of labour matters with extensive experience in the sector”. He consistently receives outstanding client feedback. Chambers & Partners recently stated: “Whenever he handles a matter, he does so by proposing excellent strategies and alternatives”.

Since 2019, he is recognized by BestLawyers as one of the best lawyers in Mexico for work in Labor and Employment Law, and was, in 2021, recognized by Leaders League as a Leading lawyer in the Labor & Employment area.

Santiago participated as co-author of the book “Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos Comentada”, coordinated by the Minister of the Supreme Justice Court, Lic. José Ramón Cossío; this in commemoration of the Constitution’s 100th anniversary.

He lectured at ITAM as Professor of the Collective Bargaining module, and he currently teaches Labor Procedural Law at Universidad Panamericana.

Languages
English and Spanish
Education

Santiago graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana with Honors, and obtained a LL.M. from Harvard Law School. He also concluded the Executive Management Program (AD2) at IPADE Business School.

Content supplied by Marván, González Graf y González Larrazolo, S.C. (MGGL)

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘It's a top law firm specialising in labour law. They have managed to grow significantly and stabilise in a rapidly changing market.'

    ‘The firm has professionals who understand their clients' needs well. It's a very solid team, well-led by the partners. They care about their clients and their issues and strive to provide outstanding service.'

    ‘The lawyers are interested in getting you answers. Their knowledge of labour and industry issues.'

    'It stands out for its specialisation in the pharmaceutical industry, its focus on customised solutions and its capacity for innovation. In-house lawyers should value its technical expertise, responsiveness and collaborative approach. Compared to other firms, this practice excels in technology, diversity and innovative billing models, establishing itself as an ideal strategic partner for the company.' 'They are interested in providing you with answers, not just racking up minutes on the phone to add to your bill. Their expertise in employment issues and the sector.' 'They have extensive knowledge of our company and good ethical practices, and their recommendations are in line with our values. Excellent customer service and up to date on the latest issues.' 'Knowledge of exceptions in contract terminations, implementation of new regulations, and employment risks. They compare favourably with teams from other firms in terms of their availability, flexibility and service attitude.' 'Nelson Guerrero is not only an experienced solicitor, but also has a keen sensitivity for delicate cases and for finding the middle ground between supporting the client and their employees.'

Key clients

  • Wal-Mart de Mexico HSBC Essity Johnson & Johnson Mead Johnson (Reckitt Benckiser) Levi Strauss Mexico Signify (Phillips) Agarmex BBVA Mexico Banamex Atento PayClip Xerox

Work highlights

Represented Atento Mexico in the rapid response mechanism (RRM) case and Dispute Settlement Panel under the USMCA Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, Canada and the United States.