Grupo Idesa is one of the largest business groups in Mexico and produces, distributes, markets, and sells various petrochemical and chemical products in the country through four segments: petrochemicals, dstribution, logistics, and applications. General counsel for this major organisation is Karla Baez Elizondo. Baez joined the Group in 2015 after obtaining 11 years of private practice experience at law firms Galicia y Robles (2004-2007) and Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes (2008-2015).

Since moving in-house to join Idesa, she has assisted the Group on an internal labour restructuring of the petrochemical division involving the transfer of 500 employees. Another feature of her tenure was working on the bidding process of the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH) for the exploration of oil and gas blocks and with potential new projects that will develop business diversity within the company. ‘The aforementioned deals have enriched my professional career due to their complexity and the challenge of leading on them’, Baez says. She is also commended for having set up the legal department and ensuring it is proactive in reducing any kind of litigation, making transactions between the Group’s companies more efficient and ensuring they comply with all regulatory requirements.

‘The legal department is now involved in all strategic transactions of the company and has an important role on its business decisions’, she says adding, ‘the legal department has played an important role in facing the challenges and adversities suffered by the company during the last two years’. Baez graduated from Universidad Anáhuac del Sur in 2003, has a Master’s degree from Northwestern University in the United States and holds a tax graduate diploma from Universidad Iberoamericana.