The ‘multidisciplinary’ practice at Bello, Gallardo, Bonequi y García, S.C. is among the market leaders in the compliance space, and offers counsel on anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, data protection and general regulatory matters. Members of the ‘gender-diverse’ team are roundly praised for being ‘well-prepared’, ‘punctual, adaptable and attentive’, and having an ‘excellent professional manner’. Clients predominantly belong to the banking, finance and fintech sectors. At the helm of the practice are founding partner Miguel Gallardo Guerra, who has ‘broad experience’ in AML and fintech matters; data protection specialist Héctor Guzmán Rodríguez; and Javier Pérez Moreno, who was promoted to the partnership in February 2022 and advises companies in the fintech, banking, insurance, and health sectors on AML compliance. Like Moreno, senior associate Alejandra Lobato is certified as an AML expert by the National Banking and Securities Commission (NBSC); she leads on AML audits.

The team at Jones Day displays strong ‘attention to detail, availability and subject knowledge’ on the gamut of compliance matters, namely AML and anti-corruption, fraud prevention, cybersecurity and data protection, the design of compliance programmes and internal investigations. Recent work highlights include advising Oplay Digital Services, a SOFOM, on its fintech activities in Mexico, and verifying compliance with local regulations; and assisting the identity verification software operator Veriff with KYC requirements in Mexico and Latin America. Of counsel and practice head Guillermo E Larrea leads on compliance, anticorruption and AML mandates, and has particular expertise regarding digital compliance; he is also the current vice-president of the Compliance Managers Commission of the Mexico Chapter of the ICC. Associate Juan Carlos Quinzaños supports Larrea on key cases and has particular knowledge of cybercrime matters. Since publication, Larrea has been promoted to partner – effective as of Janauray 2024.

Von Wobeser y Sierra, SC continues to provide tier-leading counsel in the compliance space, with particular skill in anti-corruption matters. In addition, the practice’s expertise encompasses national and cross-border investigations, preventive advice, and criminal and civil litigation. A number of its attorneys are dual-qualified to practice law in both Mexico and New York, affording the bench a strong advantage in cross-border cases involving the United States. Team leader Diego Sierra is a standout leader in anticorruption matters; as well as remaining active on the firm’s most high-profile recent cases (such as TelevisaUnivision), he chairs the Anti-Corruption Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce Mexico. Partners Raymundo Soberanis and Pablo Fautsch undertake internal investigations, arbitration and litigation; while Enrique Riquelme - who was promoted to of counsel in January 2023 - is experienced in white-collar investigations and alternative dispute resolution methods. Since publication, the firm has further strengthened the practice with the hire of Ricardo Cacho - a former director general of procedural control at the Ministry of Finance (SHCP) - as counsel, effective March 2024.

The ‘experienced’ team at Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C. focuses its efforts on providing counsel regarding anticorruption and investigations, designing and implementing corporate compliance programmes, and preventing criminal corporate liability for clients. It is regularly instructed by multinationals from a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, energy, automotive and IT. Practice head Leonel Pereznieto is highly experienced at conducting compliance investigations, and is recognised for his ‘technical skill and good communication with clients’. ‘Experienced and skilled’ senior associate Santiago Acosta provides clients with preventative compliance counsel and assists on investigations; associate Ana Olivares, in turn, assists with the design of corporate compliance programmes. Following the September 2022 departure of counsel Eduardo Apáez, the practice was strengthened by the arrival of senior associate Iván Saavedra in January 2023.

Galicia Abogados S.C. offers clients ‘clear, timely and precise’ guidance on both day-to-day compliance matters (such as the design of corporate compliance policies), and transactional compliance services. As part of the firm’s regulatory practice group, the team cooperates closely with other partners whose expertise spans an array of sectors, namely banking, telecoms, pharmaceutical and transportation. The practice is headed up by an experienced trio: Carlos Chávez specialises in advising railroad, energy, and telecoms corporations on compliance matters; Christian Lippert has a background in M&A and compliance investigations; and Juan Carlos Burgos handles the design and implementation of internal compliance policies for local and multinational corporations. Counsel Gerardo Rodríguez focuses on competition and antitrust matters; while associate Marianela Romero supports on the design of internal compliance and training programmes. Associate Maite Celorio M is another name to note in the competition compliance space.

OCA Law Firm is a specialist seven-strong boutique that cover the gamut of compliance matters including tax compliance, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption, genera compliance and training, transnational and internal investigations, consumer and criminal litigation, corporate governance and whistleblowing. A renowned figure in the compliance arena, Luis F Ortiz (who is also known for his solid tax expertise), spearheads the team which also includes four experienced and sector-specialised off counsel. On the white-collar front, the practice maintains a partnership with APM Abogados (which opened its doors back in 2018), a criminal defence boutique led by Arturo Palafox. Both firms have been jointly retained to perform risk assessments focused on financial matters and potential tax fraud allegations.

White & Case S.C.'s compliance practice is lauded by clients for the ‘exceptional quality’ of its counsel on regulatory compliance and anti-money laundering matters. In addition, it offers litigation and guidance on investigations to an array of major local and international financial institutions, routinely advising on complex cross-border matters. Longstanding clients include Morgan Stanley and domestic FMCG giant, Oxxo. María Teresa Fernández Labardini co-heads the practice and is an authority on regulatory, anti-corruption, fintech and corporate matters; she demonstrates ‘experience, skill and attention to detail’. Co-leading the team alongside her are: Juan Antonio Martín, who provides specialist fintech and payment systems' experience; and Enrique Espejel, who specialises in white-collar investigations and litigation. The expertise of Andrés Mosqueira and Carlos Mainero lies in financial regulatory guidance. Rebeca García López focuses on the financial sector, and was promoted to local partner in January 2023. The practice has also demonstrates strong growth, with the recent hires of ‘team player’ and partner, Eduardo Flores Herrera; and of counsel Eduardo Apáez - in July and September 2022, respectively - from Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, S.C..

Basham, Ringe y Correa, S.C.’s practice advises on compliance and anticorruption strategies, as well as conducting internal investigations and training on behalf of local and multinational companies from a range of industries - including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, logistics and transportation. Four partners co-lead the practice: Gilberto Valle is an experienced litigator with additional experience in anticorruption audits; Francisco Tiburcio is a specialist in white-collar crime matters; and Alejandro Catalá and José Massas complete the senior team. Associate Erick Gustavo Soto Ceballos supports from the Querétaro office and is active on investigations and litigation. Counsel Rodolfo Barreda and partner Jorge Medina left the practice in November and December 2022 respectively.

The team at Chávez Vargas Minutti Abogados offers clients guidance on legal and regulatory compliance, process mapping, risk management and antibribery training. Highlighted as being ‘adaptable’ and ‘client-focused’, it is particular strong at advising institutional investors in Mexico (such as AFORES), many of whom look to the firm for compliance counsel. Recent work highlights include acting as independent compliance officer for public and private trusts such as AYLLUPI, LOCK3PI and OAKPI; and advising 414 Capital on ethics and transparency best practices. The practice is led by partners Jose Antonio Chavez Vargas and Brian Minutti Aguirre, boh of whom are experienced in financial transactions. Associate Vanessa Cruz serves as an independent compliance officer in public and private trusts and brings additional expertise regarding public securities' offerings to the table.

The practice group at Gonzalez Calvillo handles all aspects of labour compliance, AML and antibribery matters, offering support with baseline analysis, prevention and corrective strategies, national and international investigations, and litigation. Its diverse client base operates in the comms, energy, transportation, tech and hospitality sectors. Two partners co-lead the team: Luis Mancera De Arrigunaga, who specialises in anticorruption, AML and tax-compliance; and Luis Enrique Cervantes Estevez, who leads on investigations. Juan Carlos Peraza is experienced at implementing compliance programmes; with senior associate María Paula Boustani also consistently active on core cases, designing codes of conduct and handling internal investigations. Former associate Victor Nakakawa Trejo left the firm in May 2023. Since publication, the firm has announced an agreement to merge into Spain's Pérez-Llorca, effective as of April 2024.

The practice at Greenberg Traurig, S.C. handles anticorruption, AML, regulatory and antifraud-related matters, and assists companies from varied backgrounds such as aviation, oil and gas, food and drink, manufacturing, pharma and telecommunications. The firm’s global presence in the United States, Europe and Asia affords it a large professional network and international expertise. Practice co-head Victor Manuel Frías advises on corporate governance and internal investigations; alongside him, Pedro Reséndez carries out internal investigations and directs the design and implementation of compliance programmes. Associate Hector D. Sanchez Fernandez specialises in regulatory and compliance matters relating to energy, consumer protection, gaming and advertising. Since publication, Hector D Sanchez Fernandez left the firm.

Acting for clients from a range of sectors - including manufacturing, construction, healthcare and energy - the compliance practice at Hogan Lovells advises on corporate compliance policies (and ensuring their alignment with Mexico’s National Anticorruption System regulations), conducts internal investigations, and provides compliance-regulations training sessions. Key contacts include Carlos Miranda, who undertakes anti-corruption compliance due diligence and is experienced in corporate, M&A, insurance, infrastructure and energy law; and corporate and finance expert Juan Francisco Torres Landa, who has advised national and multinational companies on matters of compliance, white-collar crime and investigations. Veteran disputes and anti-corruption practitioner Luis Enrique Graham and corporate law-focused Federico de Noriega Olea provide additional depth to the bench’s skillset.

The ‘uniquely client-focused team’ at dynamic boutique LEC, Litigio Estratégico y Compliance, S.C. is a strong choice for compliance matters. It sets itself apart for its ‘experience, dedication, skill and objectivity’ in handling forensic investigations and providing counsel on anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and corruption and data protection; and as a result, is routinely instructed by multinationals - particularly from the energy, real estate, luxury goods and finance sectors. Founding partner Daniela Ortega Sosa has extensive experience in finance and the management of regulatory risks; Luis Dantón Martínez Corres specialises in anticorruption and investigations, and advises on litigation strategies; José Antonio Coto García advises financial institutions, fintechs and corporations on anti-bribery and corruption, and obtained a new AML certificate issued by the Financial Intelligence Unit in 2023.

The team at Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes S.C. ‘stands out from the competition’ for its ‘deep knowledge’ of compliance issues and regulations. Its practice covers two branches – the design and implementation of corporate compliance programmes, and defence and litigation on behalf of corporations and directors. Gabriel Calvillo - a former head of the environmental crimes unit of the Attorney General’s Office - steers the practice, and is experienced in litigation and compliance risk analysis. Associate Adriana Morales Figueroa counsels local and international companies on the application of AML regulations. Partner Pilar Mata retired in April 2022.

The expertise of the practice group at Nader, Hayaux y Goebel, SC encompasses compliance due diligence, AML, anticorruption and data protection work. Clients include tech, FMCG and automotive giants, Microsoft, Unilever and Toyota. Alejandro Mendiola Díaz co-leads the group and specialises in antitrust and anticorruption matters, in addition to compliance programs and investigations; alongside him, Luciano Pérez Gómez majors in AML and data protection work. Working between the firm’s Mexico City and London offices, experienced insurance partner Yves Hayaux-du-Tilly also assists on compliance matters; while associate Enrique Salcedo provides valued support on regulatory and privacy-related matters. Associates Juan Pablo Sainz and Cecilia Serrano Hernández departed in April and May 2022, respectively.

The practice group at Sánchez Devanny advises corporate clients on internal investigations and regulatory audits, undertakes compliance risk assessments, and offers counsel on local and international anti-money laundering regulations. Despite the departure of former Monterrey-based department lead Humberto Morales-Barron in April 2023, the practice continues to count on the capabilities of two practice heads based in Querétaro: Daniel Maldonado-Alcantara, who has extensive experience in complex automotive and retail sector compliance investigations, and José Alberto Campos Vargas, who regularly advises clients from the healthcare, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage sectors on import-export operations. Senior associates Oscar Quiroz and Alberto Lascurain also left the group in April 2023.

The compliance group at Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C. is focused primarily  on data privacy matters, AML and fraud prevention. It also stands out for its aptitude at handling investigations, with particular strength advising clients involved in pharmaceuticals and life sciences. The firm has a strong domestic network with a presence in CDMX, Ciudad Juárez, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Tijuana, and the compliance team counts a number of lawyers dual-qualified in Mexico and the US among its ranks. Reynaldo Vizcarra-Mendez coordinates the group, along with Jonathan Adams, who focuses on internal investigations and white-collar crime. Senior associate Claudia Aguilar joined in September 2022; partners Deyanira Flores-Rodriguez  and Héctor Díaz left the firm in October and November 2022.

The compliance department at Chevez Ruiz Zamarripa, highlighted for ‘fostering a relationship of trust’ with the client, assists in developing and optimizing corporate compliance programmes, with a special focus on AML regulations. Its operations are characterised by a two-stage process: the practice first conducts due diligence to ensure compliance with AML regulations, and then enacts policy changes as needed. Four partners co-head the team: César de la Parra focuses on administrative litigation; Daniel de la Parra supports clients with guidance on audits; Diego Marván (promoted to partner in January 2023), specialises in administrative litigation and AML compliance; and Jorge Luis Díaz, at the Monterrey office, who completes the leadership team. Alfredo Soto and Carlos Hutchinson assist at associate level.