Could you tell us a bit about your significant successes in your role?

Through my legal practice, I have been part of an energy sector that has evolved rapidly with the opening to private investment. I currently contribute to the growth and consolidation of the energy industry as a lawyer at MPC in Mexico. It has been a challenge and a responsibility to contribute good MPC practices to the Mexican hydrocarbon industry and navigate a relatively new regulatory framework with few precedents that consolidate it. Thanks to this experience, I have had the opportunity to forge a deep knowledge of Mexico’s oil and gas legislation.

The work I do as a lawyer for a company like MPC is exciting due to its significant presence in Mexico and because it participates directly and indirectly in the entire value chain of the petroleum products industry. This allows me to be not only in contact with legal issues but also technical and operational issues, knowledge of which I consider to be of great relevance to be able to perform my job better. Due to the above, my work focuses mainly on legal advice to MPC on all issues surrounding its operations in Mexico. This can range from drafting and negotiating contracts for the supply of gasoline and diesel, structuring different transactions, supporting regulatory and permitting issues, and advising on import, marketing and logistics matters.

I must also mention that the inclusion, promotion and positioning of women in leadership positions in the energy sector have been one of my personal goals throughout my career, and that is why I am proud to chair and founded the first international chapter of the organisation Women’s Energy Network – Mexico Chapter (WEN). I am convinced that there is an excellent opportunity for women to develop professionally in the energy sector with the support of a robust and international platform such as WEN.

In your opinion, what are the qualities and skills needed to form a strong legal team?

A strong legal team knows how to listen to different points of view from the diverse stakeholders within and outside the company and tries to understand where those points of view are coming from to achieve a win-win result for the company in compliance with the regulatory framework. A strong legal team knows how to portray its advice clearly, concisely, and understandable for non-lawyers to understand the message better. A strong legal team knows how to be assertive when the company requires its legal opinion and helps guide it to achieve its goals. A strong legal team knows how to stay calm and collected in times of emergency to support different areas in their decision-making processes.

What is the biggest risk to your industry, and how are you contributing to prepare your organisation for this?

The Mexican energy industry is a highly regulated industry that, compared to other countries, has a relatively new regulatory framework. As a result, it is my job to provide MPC with legal advice to help it navigate, understand and comply with its complex regulatory challenges, allowing it to continue growing and operating in Mexico. In working at MPC, I am helping to contribute good practices to the Mexican hydrocarbon industry.