The practice group at Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C. is equipped to advise domestic and international corporations in the manufacturing, automotive, financial services and real estate segments on M&A transactions, joint ventures and corporate governance mandates. Leadership is shared between Hugo Cuesta and Azucena Marín, both of whom divide their time between Guadalajara and Mexico City. Cuesta specialises in corporate governance and M&A; while Marín, for her part, majors on M&A, corporate restructurings, joint ventures, real estate transactions and antitrust matters. Guadalajara-based principal associate Rafael Sánchez supports the partners on joint ventures, foreign investment matters, spin-offs and liquidations. Associate Jesús Bueno, who is also based in Guadalajara, focuses on advising companies on corporate structuring and doing business in Mexico.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Work Department
Antitrust, Banking and Finance, Corporate M&A.
Position
Partner
Career
Azucena Marín is a partner at Cuesta Campos, leading the Corporate M&A, Banking and Finance, and Compliance teams of the firm. For over 22 years, Azucena has advised a variety of clients in Mexico, the US, Japan, and Europe on cross-border transactions, corporate structures, strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial agreements, and multimillion-dollar asset-based lending transactions. She has also participated in various financing projects involving the design, structuring, and negotiation of financing and collateral vehicles, including syndicated loans, investment schemes, pledges, mortgages, and trusts for payment, administration, and/or guarantees for financial institutions.
Furthermore, she provides advice on due diligence and compliance issues, including topics such as anticorruption, antitrust and competition law, privacy, money laundering, and corporate governance. She is especially active in the automotive, manufacturing, financial, pharmaceutical, real estate development, and alcoholic beverages industries.
Azucena is a professor of Competition Law at the Law School of the Universidad Panamericana and a member of the Academy of Commercial and Business Law at the same university. She is also the head of the Competition Law Committee of ANADE Jalisco and a member of the Antitrust Committees of the IBA (International Bar Association) and ABA (American Bar Association).
She is recognized by one of the leading legal directories, Chambers and Partners, where she is the only woman acknowledged at the national level in the Corporate sector.
Languages
Spanish, English.
Memberships
Member of the Board of Directors of the Guadalajara chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico and VP of the Board of the National Association of Corporate Lawyers in Jalisco (ANADE Jalisco), member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Best Corporate Practices Magazine since January, 2014 and Honorary Secretary of the David Gutiérrez Carvajal Foundation, a non profit organization that manages a nursing home.
She has been guest speaker at conferences organized by the Universidad Panamericana, the Guadalajara branch of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), Mexican Institute of Best Corporate Practices (IMMPC), Meritas Law Firms Association, the Mexican Bar Association (BMA), ANADE Jalisco and AMPI, a real estate agents association, on topics regarding legal due diligence, corporate governance, comparative law, international transactions and anti-corruption. Mrs. Marin completed a year-long project as participant in the Meritas Leadership Institute Class 2011-2012, about the benefits, security and ethical issues that law firms worldwide should consider when converting to the "cloud", named "Meritas in the Cloud: The Digital Law Office".She was professor of Corporate Governance and is currently professor of Competition Law and member of the Academy of Commercial and Business Law at the Law School (Facultad de Derecho) of the Universidad Panamericana in Guadalajara.
Education
Degrees
Universidad Panamericana (Campus Guadalajara). Law Degree, 1997
Universidad Panamericana (Campus Guadalajara). Specialization in Companies and Business Corporations, 2001
National Association of Corporate Lawyers (ANADE):
- Corporate and Business Law Course (Diploma 2006 and 2008),
- Real Estate Law Course (Diploma 2007)
- Course on Mediation and Negotiation (Diploma 2011).
- Seminars on Compliance, including Data Protection, Competition, Money- Laundering (Diplomas)
Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)
- Course on New Mexican Antitrust Law (Diploma), 2014
Mexico International Chamber of Commerce and Universidad Panamericana
- International Commercial Arbitration (Diploma)
Content supplied by Cuesta Campos y Asociados S.C.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Cuesta Campos combines strong local expertise with an international mindset, making them a standout partner for cross-border legal matters in Mexico. The team is highly responsive, commercially minded, and consistently delivers clear, practical advice.' 'Their collaborative approach and deep understanding of business needs set them apart from more traditional firms. We also appreciate their efficient use of technology and flexible billing, which enhance both transparency and value. Cuesta Campos is a trusted and forward-thinking legal partner.' 'Rafael Sánchez and Karla Hernández have both been outstanding. Rafael brings strong strategic insight and consistently delivers clear, business-focused guidance that helps us navigate complex matters with confidence. Karla stands out for her responsiveness, precision, and practical approach—always focused on moving things forward efficiently. Both are highly professional, easy to work with, and committed to providing real value. Their expertise and dedication make them truly stand out from competitors.'
Key clients
- Lovepac Canada Chandler Industries Desarrolladora Mexicana de Inmuebles DICCOM (now Alliant Power Mexico) Jabil Nature’s Touch Frozen Fruits Zoola Tech Perseus Maxxim Industries Group Ipco Mexico Gexcel International Mexico EP Minerals Samara Living
Work highlights
Advised Lovepac on the sale of its business in Canada and Mexico to Antalis, a French investment company based in Japan.