We provide legal counsel on international trade and customs matters to domestic and multinational companies across a wide range of sectors and industries, including the maquiladora, pharmaceutical, automotive, consumer products and information technology industries, among others.
Services
Our Firm has extensive experience handling matters related to international trade and customs, including customs compliance, international trade taxes, antidumping duties, import and export controls, free trade agreements, non-tariff regulations and restrictions, World Trade Organization matters, trade policies, among others.
As cross-border transactions between companies and individuals have increased over the years, the level of scrutiny regarding compliance with and enforcement of Mexican legislation related to international trade, customs and procedures concerning the origin of goods has also intensified.
In light of new policies implemented by the Mexican government and increased enforcement of customs regulations, we offer different approaches to provide the best possible counsel to our clients in international trade and customs matters, addressing the specific circumstances of each business while delivering added value through a practical perspective.
We advise our clients from a comprehensive, ethical, legal and practical perspective regarding complex decisions arising from their day-to-day operations.
An important factor that gives our team an advantage over competitors is our strong relationship and constant communication with government officials, which has enabled us to handle our clients’ matters in the most cost-efficient manner possible while avoiding unnecessary litigation whenever feasible.
Our partner Edmundo Elías-Fernández, together with his team, has advised several Fortune 10, Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in cross-border corporate, commercial, international trade, customs and anti-corruption matters. He has also represented these companies in matters related to preferential tariff treatment, customs compliance, government relations, tariff classification, customs valuation, rules of origin and non-tariff regulations and restrictions.
We advise our clients on various aspects of their international trade and customs operations, including:
- Compliance with customs and international trade obligations.
- Tariff classification.
- Customs valuation.
- Rules of origin.
- Non-tariff regulations and restrictions.
- Regulatory matters.
- Labeling and commercial information compliance.
- Internal customs compliance reviews.
- Duty deferral programs.
- Supply chain matters.
- VAT and excise tax certification.
- Authorized Economic Operator certification.
- Export controls.
- Customs compliance audits.
- Free Trade Agreements.
- Representation before authorities.
- Customs litigation.
Our specialist lawyers
Our team of lawyers is ready to help you understand how to apply these new rules to your company or investment project.
Practice Areas
- Antitrust & Competition
- Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Compliance & Anti-Money Laundering
- Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions
- Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency
- Cryptoassets & New Technologies
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Environmental
- ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance)
- Financial & Fintech
- Immigration & Nationality
- Infrastructure & Public Procurement
- Intellectual & Industrial Property
- International Trade & Customs
- Labor & Employment
- Litigation
- Privacy & Data Protection / Cybersecurity
- Real Estate & Urban Law
- Regulatory
- Social Security
- Tax (Advisory & Litigation)
Profile
Elías-Fernández, Edmundo
Perfil
Mr. Elías has 36 years of experience in the legal profession. His practice focuses on international trade and customs matters, commercial law, corporate law, corporate compliance (anti-corruption), and government affairs. Mr. Elías has extensive experience across various sectors and industries, including the maquiladora industry, pharmaceuticals, automotive, consumer products, information technology, among others.
He has advised and represented numerous companies (Fortune 10, 100, and 500) in corporate, foreign trade, and customs matters, as well as in international commercial and anti-corruption issues. Likewise, he has represented such companies in matters related to free trade agreements, duty deferral programs, customs compliance, representation before authorities, tariff classification, rules of origin, customs valuation, and non-tariff regulations, among others.
Mr. Elías is recognized by Chambers and Partners (Band 1 National and Global), The Legal 500 (Hall of Fame), Best Lawyers, and Who's Who Legal as a leading lawyer both nationally and globally.
Experiencia Profesional
Currently, Mr. Elías is the Head Partner of the Foreign Trade practice at Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster. From 2015 to 2018, Mr. Elías served as Managing Partner of the Guadalajara office of the international law firm Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton. Mr. Elías worked at Baker McKenzie from 1992 to 2014. Among other responsibilities, he served as Coordinator of the International Trade and Customs practice in Mexico and Latin America. He also served twice as Global Coordinator of the firm’s International Trade and Customs practice.
Previously, Mr. Elías was founding partner of Bufete Elías, S.C. (1989–1992), a firm focused on corporate and commercial matters; Estrategia Bursátil, S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa (1987), where he served as assistant to the Legal Department; and Gallástegui y Lozano, S.C. (1985–1986), where he worked as a law clerk.
Mr. Elías has held a customs broker license authorizing him to operate throughout Mexico since 1995.
He has served as a professor at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, and Tecnológico de Monterrey Guadalajara Campus. He currently teaches at the Law School of Universidad Panamericana (undergraduate and graduate programs) at its Aguascalientes, Mexico City, and Guadalajara campuses.
He has been a panelist and speaker at more than 100 seminars on foreign trade, customs, and foreign investment organized by distinguished organizations, including the World Trade Organization, World Customs Organization, International Fiscal Association, American Management Association, Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, the Mexican Ministry of Commerce and Industrial Development, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Confederación de Asociaciones de Agentes Aduanales de la República Mexicana, the Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados, and the Consejo Nacional de la Industria Maquiladora y Manufacturera de Exportación, among others.
Mr. Elías also served as Special Advisor and Co-Coordinator of private sector working groups during the modernization of United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement negotiations (NAFTA/USMCA).
- Co-author, NAFTA Handbook, CCH.
- Co-author, Mexican Tax Guide, CCH.
- Author of various essays and articles.
- Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados, currently Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Jalisco Chapter.
- American Bar Association.
- Academia Internacional de Derecho Aduanero (full member).
- Confederación de Asociaciones de Agentes Aduanales de la República Mexicana.
Formación Académica
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law – Master of Laws (LL.M.) with Honors.
Universidad Panamericana – Master’s Degree in Business Law with Honors.
IE Business School – CBA.
Universidad Panamericana – Doctoral Candidate in Law.
IPADE Business School – AD-2 Program (2005).
Management Executive Program, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.
Universidad Panamericana – Postgraduate Studies.
National Autonomous University of Mexico – Law Degree with Honors.
Centro Universitario México (C.U.M.) – High School Diploma.
Área de Práctica
Idiomas
Spanish, English
Certificaciones, Rankings, Publicaciones, Afiliaciones
Band 1 - Latin America Guide 2026, International Trade / WTO
Shortlisted - Lawyer of the year 2026, International Trade and Customs
- Corporate and Mergers Acquisitions Law
- International Trade and Finance Law
- Trade Law
Testimonios
Profile
Yáñez Vega, Mario Jorge
Perfil
Mr. Yáñez Vega has a diversified practice in the areas of corporate law, transactions, mergers and acquisitions, international trade, environmental and natural resources law, gaming and entertainment, immigration, and nationality matters. In the field of international trade, Jorge specializes in investigations and proceedings related to international trade practices, including dumping and subsidy matters. He also assists international companies in establishing maquiladora operations in Mexico.
With respect to his corporate practice, Jorge has advised multinational companies from various industries in the acquisition of shares and assets of Mexican companies, the negotiation of joint ventures, and, in general, the business operations and coordination of legal and commercial matters for his clients.
Jorge began his professional career in 1988 at Barrera, Siqueiros y Torres Landa (now Hogan Lovells), where he held positions as law clerk, associate, and partner beginning in 2000. In 2009, Jorge relocated from the Mexico City office of Barrera, Siqueiros y Torres Landa to its Monterrey office. After 35 years as part of the Barrera, Siqueiros y Torres Landa and later Hogan Lovells team, Jorge began a new stage in his career as a partner at Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster, joining the Corporate and International Trade teams.
Jorge earned his law degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico between 1986 and 1991. During the 1992–1993 academic year, he completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.) at Columbia University in New York City. From 1993 to 1994, Jorge worked as a foreign resident associate at Vial, Hamilton Koch & Knox in Dallas, Texas.
Experiencia Profesional
He has extensive experience in international trade practices, representing domestic and foreign industries in anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations involving imports into Mexico of products from industries such as beef, pork, poultry products, fertilizers and petrochemical derivatives, textiles for the automotive industry, steel products, among others.
He has participated in Binational Panel Reviews under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Jorge advises clients on various aspects of international trade and the establishment of maquiladora operations, including obtaining and operating IMMEX Programs.
He has advised American, Canadian, European, and Asian clients in the acquisition of companies and assets in Mexico, the negotiation of joint ventures, real estate transactions, and the establishment of operations in Mexico, among other matters, across various industrial and commercial sectors.
As the partner responsible for institutional relationships with numerous corporate clients (primarily international companies), he has overseen and coordinated the work of other practice groups for such clients.
He has represented clients in the renewable energy industry in the establishment of subsidiaries in Mexico, the acquisition of Mexican assets, and regulatory matters.
He has also advised financial institutions and foreign banks in project financing matters and in the granting and registration of security interests related to loans granted to Mexican companies.
Jorge has provided legal services to various industries — including pharmaceutical, auto parts, and renewable energy companies — regarding environmental regulations in Mexico, including audits and due diligence reviews.
He has represented clients in the hotel, entertainment, and gaming industries in establishing operations in Mexico, including compliance investigations, gaming permits, and the supply of gaming equipment to permit holders.
Additionally, he advises corporate clients on immigration and nationality matters concerning employees and personnel with frequent international mobility.
Formación Académica
Education:
- LL.M., Columbia University (New York), 1993.
- Law Degree, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 1991.
Affiliations:
- Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados.
- American Bar Association.
Área de Práctica
- Corporate / Mergers & Acquisitions
- Environmental
- ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance)
- Immigration & Nationality
- International Trade & Customs
- Real Estate & Urban Law
- Regulatory
Idiomas
Spanish, English.
Certificaciones, Rankings, Publicaciones, Afiliaciones
Corporate Governance