Team size: Six
Major legal advisers: Paul Hastings, Milbank, Mijares Angoitia Cortes y Fuentes, Ritch Müeller

Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?

We have implemented an internal process in which almost all legal matters or services are provided internally and only large transactions, that can be classified as capital expenditures, receive advice from external law firms, thus reducing operational costs and expenses. We have also implemented guidelines and procedures, supported by a technological tool, to follow up and monitor the different internal and external requests made as a solution for continuous improvement and reduction of service times.

What are some of the main trends impacting the industry sector you work in in Mexico?

Undoubtedly, the nearshoring phenomenon has generated changes and opportunities in the real estate sector. The redistribution of supply chains has caused new companies to relocate to northern Mexico, particularly in the state of Nuevo León, where our corporate offices are located. These new businesses now include the incursion of companies from countries with which there was little relationship in Mexico in the past. This is increasing the demand for land and industrial buildings and raising occupancy rates to very high levels.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?

Our company has achieved remarkable progress in addressing sustainability concerns over the past four years. We have adhered to initiatives like PRI, GRESB, and science-based targets, while also following frameworks such as SASB and GRI.

Every year, we respond in S&P’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), and we have been recognised as a Green Lease Leader (Gold), holding the distinction of being the only Mexican lessor to achieve this recognition. Among Mexican Fibras (REITs), we have obtained the first-place position for the second year running in terms of corporate governance criteria within the economic dimension. We have designed and adopted numerous sustainability policies, launched various environmental initiatives, and established several social programs.

In my case, I was the precursor and initiator of the ESG program in the company, and now we have an area and staff specifically dedicated to sustainability. As general counsel, much of the implementation of sustainability initiatives must be reviewed and validated by the legal department, including the development of various policies and issues related to corporate governance.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?

We have instructed HR, that from the beginning of the recruitment process, that candidates should be sought without distinction of gender. In practice, two of our legal department employees are women and receive the same salary and benefits as male employees. We are currently in the process of hiring additional personnel and we will seek to increase the representation of women and eventually promote them to management positions in order to have greater diversity in our decision-making process.