Mexican Corporate Law, M&A, and Foreign Investment with Mónica Mora

Welcome to Studying Law Around the World. I'm Claudio Claus. In each episode, I talk with lawyers, law students, and professors from different parts of the world to talk about legal education, careers, and what the profession looks like in real life. We talk about the hard parts, the surprises, and the decisions that shaped their paths. Whether you're planning to study abroad, thinking about working in another legal system, or just curious about how law works around the world, this podcast is for you. Today I have the opportunity to interview Monica Moda. She's a lawyer with Bashan in Mexico. She is an associate in the firm in the corporate law area, in the Mexico City office, and her practice has been developed in the areas of corporate contracts, M and A, foreign investments and also real estate. Thank you so much for taking the time to be in the podcast today, Monica. I really appreciate it. Thank you for inviting me and hello everyone. Awesome, and just start your interview today. I'd love for you to introduce yourself to our. Guests, of course, my name is Monica Mora. I work in Basham Rinci Correa, which is a Mexican firm, is the old oldest firm in Mexico and I practice, as you already mentioned, M&A, corporate real estate and I am focused mainly in the luxury goods matters. So I'm glad to be here. Amazing. Once again, really appreciate you taking the time to join the podcast today and going on to learn a little bit more about your story. When I was preparing for this episode, I learned that you graduated with honors from Universidad Panamericana. Now you work at Bashan, one of Mexico's top firms. So I wanted to ask you if there was something that specifically drew you to specializing corporate and a law over any other practice area? Yeah, I, I started as a in-house attorney. So while I was working as an in house attorney, I have the opportunity to learn about a lot of areas of the law in Mexico. And also my first law clerk job was in litigation. So trying a little bit of all the areas of law, it cost my attention to you know, how corporate law and contracts, but the economy and how can you negotiate a lot and well, that's what drew my attention to that area specifically. Amazing. I'd love to tap into that. Since you just mentioned your in-house work. I, I actually did see that you spent nearly three years as an in house lawyer for Nike. So I'd, I'd love to hear a little more about how, how did that look like for you and also working at such a major transnational brand, if that changed their perspective and, and also if that in any way help you to understand the needs of your current corporate clients. Yes and but Nike was wasn't my first job as an in house attorney at first I starting Flextronics which is a factory manufacturing company based in Guadalajara, which is where where I am from. I was born and raised over there and I study over there. So my first job was in immigration matters. I didn't like it at all, but I know that there are a lot of people that like it because I think that it is mainly with it has to go with your personality. You know, you have to, to be passionate about what you're doing. In that time it, it was OK for me because I could study. Meanwhile, I was a lock clerk and then I had the opportunity to to join Nike as a in-house attorney and to support the legal director. And you know, Nike is a great company. I am really, really glad that I started over there. But at least generally, I think that if I have a size started in house attorney, I think that I lack a lot of expertise. While I was experiencing that those early years, you know, I was able to learn a lot about the company and learned a lot about the sports world, which was quite fun. But the truth is that one, while I was really young, I think that I hired a lot of attorneys to do this specific matters that I was that I was eager to do. So that's something that made me realize that I was not going to be a in-house attorney for all my life. So that's when I choose to change factory brats and then I join Avash Amber into Korea at 10 years ago. So, and I am here, I'm still here and I think that my, my career, my career path has been growing through the Hawaii ambition it. So I think that it was a good experience for me. I learned a lot how to deal with the client to, to understand the clients needs. But I think that nowadays and for the, the experiences that I wanted to have, maybe starting in a lot and a lot of learning the basics at first will be also a great idea. But I'm, I don't have any regrets. You know, I, I had a great time over there. I learned a lot of sports, law and retail. I, I was over there while the, the World Cup in Brazil had took place. So I learned a little bit of Portuguese over there and with some Olympic Games. So I think that those were some experiences that I wouldn't change, but maybe it cost me a little bit of hard work when I where I started a position in a firm like fashion. And that makes sense. Incredible. It's very interesting because most of the in-house counsel people that I have interviewed here in the podcast, most of the lawyers, they did have some firm experience and then transitioning entering house. So it's always interesting to see how careers can just take such different shapes and you can kind of build your own journey. And I and I love that you shared how that was for you. And I think that some, well, there's, it has to go with your personality. You know, for example, I have a friend, a close friend that, you know, she loves to be an in house attorney. She hates to be in a firm. And while I because later in my experience here in Bashan, I had two seconds, one in Mexican, which is a Mexican company with mines and a lot of banks and stuff like that, but a lot of businesses. And then I joined my pill as a as a legal director for four months. So it was different my experience starting in in a company and then when I, when I have a little bit more of experience to join those companies, it was different. But I think that it was great, you know, it was quite fun. You know, it was the time to be in Nike and I learned a lot. I, I have great friendships over there nowadays. Some of them are my clients. So I don't regret, but it's not the common path, you know. And when I joined Basham, it took me a lot of hard work to to recover the the specialization that I needed to succeed in the firm. 'S fantastic. No, very, very interesting to hear. And considering where you are in the world now practicing Mexico, I wanted to ask you just quickly, you know, there's a lot of very interesting things going on, a lot of foreign investment in Mexico. And I'm wondering what are some things that that come up for you as you know, challenges or questions that international clients will bring to you at this moment? We have, we have been facing a lot of amendments to law because we change from upright party to a left party. So nowadays some of those amendments are difficult to explain to our clients because we have to comply with law and some relations seems to be off to them or seems to be a little bit interested. For example, we just face a change in anti money laundry law in order to incorporate a Mexican entity or to do any kind of change in their corporate structure. And we have to provide a lot of information even though that in those countries is not allowed to provide that information and we have to ask for information of their spouses. So that's really hard to explain to the clients. Also some labour changes also trigger and makes our clients to question why we're asking for all of that information. But at the end we need to comply with law and it's hard to explain to them. But at the end they all of them comply. But it's a big challenge because it delay the arrival of some entities in Mexico and of course all the regulatory compliance that sometimes is scared to understand for example, in some local jurisdictions just such ask Internet roll. We have to comply with local and to federal laws, which is which seems kind of a lot for some of our clients. So it's hard to explain to them. But I think that due to the geographical conditions of Mexico, it's important and and with all the nurturing trend, I think that Mexico is an economy that it's really great to invest. So at the end it's some there those are some of our difficulties to nowadays are with new clients arriving to Mexico, Orchid purchasing some companies in Mexico lot we explaining them and with the the team of specialists that we have, we have success with that, but it's it's hard sometimes. Well, thank you so much for sharing. That's, that's always very interesting to know what's going on in different countries and what are, you know, the, the current challenges that the legal professionals are facing speaking about, you know, this international scenario and, and you know, the national component to it. I also know you're an active member of the International Bar Association and more specifically in the Young Lawyers Committee. I wanted you to ask you a little bit about the, the networking aspect at the, you know, the value you get from being a part of the IBA. How has this experience been for you? It's quite fun. I never thought that it would be so fun, but I am the Mexican, the Mexican representative of the German Lawyers Committee and I have been attending to the IBA for three years now. I started quite young, further the age of the persons who are attending. And I think that it's a really huge opportunity because I never thought the importance of producing your own work in the firm, you know, having a network that is willing to send you work and to trust in your work, it's something really valuable in your career path. You know, if you want to be a partner, I think that is something that you need to do. So the other day was statement into our webinar about Woman's in the rain makers and they said that prior to via partner, you need to do a lot of networking for for at least seven years and you know, and no one tells you that. So the thing here is that I think that it's a great opportunity. You make great friends, but also you learn a lot about of different jurisdictions and you start to positioning you in the firm as a person who can bring work to the firm, which is really important. They also can see how you work and how responsible you are. So if you, I don't know if we, we both work together with during the day, I have a conference in order to set up a panel or something like that. You can see my work and you can trust in me. So then if you have any, any in Mexico, you will share it with me. You know you will, you will refer clients and it's really important for your career path to have referrals. So for me, it has been a great experience. I am also part of the John called CEO of Latin America. And that it's funny because while I was preparing because we host 2 year, one year ago here in Mexico. I don't know if you attempt, but it was a great conference to attend. And you know, as I was a Mexican one, I organized a lot of events and met a lot of people and stuff like that and it drove me to know the right persons. And nowadays they, an association of international women's in law, choose me as their president in Mexico, which is a really big deal. So I think that it wouldn't be possible if I if I wasn't doing all of this work in the IBA and, you know, knowing the right people. And it's hard because I know that I don't know if this was your first conference or not, but for the for first timers, it's hard because you are a little bit lost. You know, we are young attorneys, but I am 36. I'm not so young anymore. But for this conference, we are the young ones. And The thing is that you start to, to, to be in the same events that the, the persons, the right persons and the persons with the right science that, that they can also mentor you. So I found a lot of mentors, women mentors, because here in Mexico is not, it's, it's not a lie to say that we don't have a lot of Mexican woman's attorneys to be partner in some friends and stuff like that. Even though in chambers, we are the country with less ranking woman. So it's, it's something that we need to take care of. And I think that in these kind of events I found the mentorship that I was trying to find. Fantastic. No, that's amazing. And I'm glad you brought up the, the IBA or for instance, it was actually my first international Bar Association conference this year in Toronto. Definitely couldn't miss it when you have it, you know, in in your hometown. So it was just an amazing conference. And as you said, there's so much going on. And then I think that this is something that everybody talks about you, you don't know really what the conference isn't you it's happening because there's a lot of the a lot of the firms are are making private events and then you just getting invitation if you know the right people and all of that. So I probably learned about it too late, unfortunately. But now I know for the upcoming years a little bit more of how the dynamic goes and how to make the most out of the conference. I think there is, there's a thing, there's like a benefit, but also a bedside period being hosted in your home city because you experienced it, right. So I'm sure it's a lot better when you get to go to someone else's city and then you actually take that time really off for that. So it's been interesting to navigate all of that. But I wanted to ask you, you know, specifically about the the Toronto conference now backing November 2025. Just for context, we're recording this podcast in January 2026. So I wanted to ask you, you know, was there any specific personal highlights that you took from the event? Was there, you know, take away that you brought back from the conference to your practice? Yeah, you know, all the AI components was like the main topic. I love it because you know, as we are reviewing which kind of AI to hire in the firm and you know all of these questions of how it will, because it is the gossip like AI will do all the junior associates work or the work. It is just great to see how other firms and other jurisdiction have navigated with these new topics. It also will highlight for me was the retreat that we have in Niagara Falls, which is a great opportunity to discuss with young attorneys how they are navigating to this path, You know, making friends. I think that is the base of what IBA's is made for. You know, maybe there's a lot of conference and everything, but I think that the, the human contact that you have in those conferences, the, and all the events and all the priorities and all the meetings and everything with the, the launches and everything makes you understand how other jurisdictions are dealing with the same challenges that you are dealing with. And maybe you didn't thought that a jurisdiction would be interested in your, in your country to invest or, and you convince them. And it's, and, and you learn because I'm the younger one of, or, or of our idea team. And it's a great experience to learn how the business is made by the, the senior partners that are attending. So for me, the highlight will be, of course, the networking and all the AI information that we take home and we are implementing right now. I think that it's great. And of course, you know, the, the, just the experience, I think that is worth it. It's really tired. All the times that I attend to the IBA, I just lost my voice. But at the end, I think that it's it's worth it. I totally understand that and I'm glad I I really got that privilege to attend this year. I'm looking forward to to attending in upcoming years as well. I hope to to be able to contribute even more in the upcoming additions for share. The success of the IBA is not just to attend to one event, it's to attend many years so you can can take care of the relationship that you are building. So the thing and my recommendation for you and your audience is that if you're planning to attend, try to attend as many ideas as possible. I know that sometimes it is hard because of the Yeah. And and of course, if you don't have your firm support as if I am as I have, sorry, I think that you have to choose maybe the local or the regional forums that are nearby and to attend, but always attend to the same events so you can cultivate your relationship with your fellows attorneys around the world. Very, very interesting. Thank you for sharing that. Something that I think we haven't mentioned yet, and it was very interesting as I learned about your profile, is that you also taught legal ethics. So I'd love to hear a little bit about this experience as a professor. And not only that, the main audience of the podcast here are early career professionals, law students just getting out of law school. And I wanted to ask you if there's, you know, a few things that maybe you've experienced yourself or you see associates that where you know, starting up their careering law juniors coming into the profession. Are there a few things be then skills or mindsets that you believe that are maybe lacking a little bit in the in this new generation coming in and that might be crucial for them to understand, develop and grow as they once you have a future in this profession? Solve skills are essential if you want to succeed as an attorney. Sometimes we think that if it's enough to prepare, in my case, preparing the best contract that you can do, but it wouldn't, it wouldn't. If you want to, to pursue a partner track, I think that it would. It would not be enough. You need to this to learn about soft skills. You need to learn how to negotiate. How to, for example, being as a woman in this kind of field, you need to, to learn how to navigate with machos, for example, right? So how can I answer to that to a person that is not willing to negotiate with me because I am a woman? Some things that no one, nobody tells you about that. And in my experience, it's great to have mentors In Mexico, we have a lot of mentorship programs. So if you have the chance that to, to get into one, I think that it would be great. But if not, you can ask a professor to, to provide some guidance and mentorship. And if you're in a firm, you need to have a sponsor and no one tells you that. So I think that it's crucial to have such soft skills and something that I learn about my students after COVID pandemics is that, you know, all these social media produced like, like a, a false dream of how you have to perform your, your career path. You know, maybe we can watch some junk attorneys or influencers to achieving great goals like having a Ferrari when they are 25. But I think that everything that is worth it takes a lot of effort. So nowadays, I think that the young, the younger generations want everything really fast and they need to learn to be patient because it's not something really, it is not easy to pursue your career part in a firm or the company or anything. You will have challenges and you will have consequences. Sometimes you will lose a job, sometimes you will someone else will climb faster than you are because another thing that is not in your, in your expertise, maybe they need a, a labour partner and journal of labour partners. So you're not going to be partners so fast. What, what I think that I would recommend them is to have patience and have a lot of effort and learn and, and, and to do something that makes them, makes them different for the rest of the competition because this profession is really competitive. So you have to have difference difference matters that make you shine. You know, for example, you can you can learn another language is not enough to learn English because you know, here in Mexico, all all the old city learn English And sometimes even though that that because all the gentrification and stuff like that, we have to learn English. But now you have to learn another language is recommendable. Then another suggestion would be to learn soft skills, as I already mentioned, and also to took care of their mental health and over themselves because my generation, millennials were known to like forgetting about ourselves and letting the work and everything else come first. But I think that that if you are not great in your mind or in your body, you're not going to be a great attorney. So that's some of our other of the tips that I will like to provide to junk attorneys and of course if they need some advice that you can provide my link need account or some on my e-mail and they can contact me directly. But I think that the best advice will be that. Thank you so much, Monica. It was a great opportunity to learn more about your background, learn more from your insights as well. Really wanted to thank you for taking the time to being in the podcast today and thank you all for tuning in. Thank you for inviting me and hope it was worth it. Help someone over there. And absolutely will.