About

Having recently reaffirmed its commitment to producing a significant portion of their wide range of automobiles within Mexico, General Motors’ future in the country is assured for the near future at least. Perhaps this is unsurprising, as GM has a long history in the region, with its first Mexican production facility being opened in 1981 and five major facilities currently manufacturing their range of vehicles. The company’s operations in the country stretch back even further, dating to 1935, and the company now employs 15,000 individuals in Mexico, making it a major contributor to the local economy. Despite this, the prevailing political climate that exists in the wake of the 2016 US Presidential election, means GM’s Mexican legal team faces a changing environment, with risk management and contingency planning assuming a greater role than previously. Iliana Martinez, general counsel for GM Mexico, has vast experience of GM’s operation, having been with them since 1995, with her promotion to general counsel being finalised in 2004. Martinez has spearheaded an entirely new compliance culture within the legal team during her period at the helm, with integrity placed at the centre of all of these efforts. The team has also made major strides towards achieving a greater synergy between legal and business work, with this being particularly evident during their oversight and implementation of new company facilities within Mexico.