Cristina L. Sánchez Vebber

Cristina has more than 35 years of experience serving clients and 28 years in the legal industry, with a focus on corporate-transactional matters and legal strategy related to business investments in Mexico. Her experience includes restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, establishment and exit of operations in Mexico, as well as advising clients on the social aspects of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters, particularly in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

During the first 10 years of her professional career in the hospitality sector, she focused on promoting and attracting potential clients for the hotels where she worked. As Corporate Sales Director, she developed the consortium sales area, which resulted in a significant increase in sales volume.

Cristina provides guidance and legal advice to foreign entities regarding the Mexican market, primarily in the creation and implementation of strategies to establish and restructure their operations in Mexico from a comprehensive legal perspective. Her work includes coordinating various areas, such as tax, labor, foreign trade, environmental, real estate, and intellectual property, among others.

She also advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, and day-to-day operations, including, when necessary, the closure of operations in Mexico. Additionally, she assists clients in coordinating their operations in other jurisdictions and provides advice on antitrust matters.

Cristina created and developed the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee at Sánchez-DeVanny Eseverri, S.C., which she chaired. From that position, she led the implementation of DEI-related actions that generated a positive impact both within the organization and externally. She is also an active member of AbogadasMX, an organization through which she has participated in projects such as the one promoted by UN Women to create Minimum Standards for Inclusion and Diversity within law firms in Mexico. Her participation in these projects has enabled her to provide legal guidance on DEI matters, both internally and to clients, supporting the design and implementation of inclusion and diversity strategies within companies.

She also formed the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Group at Sánchez-DeVanny Eseverri, S.C., participating in advising clients on the social aspect of ESG, particularly on the impact of DEI.

Cristina has represented Sánchez-DeVanny Eseverri, S.C. in the SCG Legal group since 2006, an international network of law firms recognized by Chambers & Partners Global as the best legal network in the world. She was a member of the Board of Directors of that organization from 2017 to 2022, where she worked on initiatives to strengthen female leadership within member firms, as well as on the management and execution of the organization’s strategic actions.

Currently, she actively participates as a member of the Advisory Board and Executive Committee of a foundation focused on education, where she also serves as Vice-Coordinator of the Corporate Governance Committee.

Professional Summary

With over 35 years of professional experience and more than 28 years in the legal industry, Cristina specializes in corporate-transactional law, business investments, and strategic legal advisory within Mexico. Her expertise encompasses cross-border investments, M&A, restructurings, spin-offs, and the establishment and exit of operations. She has a proven track record advising clients on complex projects across various industries, including transportation, automotive, construction, healthcare, and financial services.

Key Experience & Achievements

Investment & Business Strategy and Setup in Mexico: 

• Advised on strategy for Mexico operations as well as establishing and restructuring operations for foreign companies across many sectors, including automotive, manufacturing, medical devices, financial services, consumer products, beauty products, confection, water supply and cleaning, cell phones, systems & technology, security and prisons, chemical, real estate.
• Provided strategic counsel on establishing manufacturing plants, import/export activities, asset sale and purchase, and day-to-day operational legal matters.
• Advised food flavoring company on establishing manufacturing plant on the coast of Mexico.
• Established a prepaid card operation in Mexico, providing strategic guidance on setup, contractual arrangements, antitrust compliance, and successful closure of the operation
• Strategy for the creation of medical device and medical analysis operations in Mexico, including legal setup, import/export of machinery and equipment, and commercial sale in Mexico.

Government Contracts & Public Works: 

• Represented an international security company in the award of a government contract for the construction and management of prisons, including personnel training, operational compliance, and eventual exit from Mexico.
• Represented an international railroad company in Mexico in participating in a public bid for a railroad concession, setting up operations, obtaining and managing the concession, advising on ongoing rail operations, and facilitating exit strategies, including concession release.
• Represented international oil and& gas companies in Mexico in participation in several public bids for oil extraction in Mexican waters including the awarding of such contracts and on-going operations.

Corporate Restructuring & M&A: 

• Advised and carried out multiple M&A transactions, asset purchases and sales, import/export of machinery, and complex asset recovery, across many sectors, including rail, automotive, manufacturing, medical devices, financial services, consumer products, beauty products, confection, water supply and cleaning, cell phones, systems & technology, security and prisons, chemical, housing.
• Managed the reorganization of an automotive company, including growth initiatives, setting up new operations, and ongoing legal advice.
• Advised food flavoring company on acquiring a private port to establishing manufacturing plant on the coast of Mexico.
• Advised and carried out in Mexico restructurings for multinational conglomerate corporation that invents and manufactures a wide range of technologies, software and products for various industries.

Antitrust:

• Advised several companies from different sectors on concentration filings for M&A and restructurings
• Advised companies on whistle blowing and immunity procedure in Mexico
• Advised companies on information sharing between competitors for M&A transactions and industry chambers and committees.
• Advised companies on participating with authorities in cartel investigations
• Advise companies on providing industry knowledge to authorities during cartel investigations

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI): 

Founded and chaired the DEI Committee at Sánchez-DeVanny Eseverri, S.C. (now Garrigues), championing inclusive policies internally and advising clients on DEI strategy development.
Active member of AbogadasMX, contributing to projects like the UN Women standards for inclusion and diversity within Mexican law firms.

Professional Affiliations & Contributions: 

Represented Sánchez-DeVanny Eseverri, S.C. in the SCG Legal network since 2006, serving on the Board of Directors (2017-2022) to promote female leadership and strategic growth initiatives.
Women Presidents Organization (WPO) 2017-2022
Participates actively on the advisory board and executive committee of an education non-profit organization, serving also Vice-Coordinator of the Corporate Governance Committee.
Abogadas Mx
American Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Additional Skills & Competencies 

Cross-border legal strategy and compliance

Coordination across tax, labor, environmental, real estate, and antitrust

Strategic & Leadership Initiatives

Direction and Management initiatives relating to diversity and sustainability

Multilingual communication and international negotiations