Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C.

Global firm Baker McKenzie Abogados, S.C. pulls no punches when it comes to its life sciences offering in Mexico, fielding a ‘well-developed practice' consisting of 14 partners (drawn from a diverse range of practice groups), plus a further four associates and two senior technical experts, thereby allowing the firm to put together teams with capability in the distinct segments of the sector. Practice head Christian Lopez-Silva is a recognised and dedicated specialist whose practice takes in  both advisory and regulatory healthcare and life sciences matters, associated IP and IT&C matters, life sciences transactions, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotech, product liability and recall, and public law and regulatory disputes. He is flanked - as necessary - by a further five key partners: foreign trade and customs specialist José Hoyos-Robles; head of the firm's technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) industry practice group in Mexico, privacy specialist Carlos Vela-Treviño; IP specialist Marina Hurtado-Cruz - who has particular expertise regarding health, advertising and consumer law and whose practice also takes in administrative litigation; Guadalajara-based Fernando Robles, also an IP specialist (particularly as regards litigation and enforcement), who in addition has a niche specialism as regards the beverage and alcoholic drinks sector; and Roberto Cardona, a tax specialist and head of the firm's public and administrative law practice in Mexico. At associate level, following the March 2022 departure of senior David Campos, the firm hired Carla Calderón -also as a senior- in November 2022; a dedicated specialist whose practice encompasses life sciences regulation, pharmaceutical law and biotechnology matters, she arrived at the firm after almost a decade as chief legal officer at government contractor EXIMCO, where she gained considerable experience in administrative law. The group's caseload indicates ongoing consolidation of the practice offering, particularly as regards regulatory litigation (notably, for a number of medical device companies), private health service matters (for regional private hospitals such as Puerta de Hierro and Christus Muggerza), digital health, public acquisitions and patent linkage (for clients such as Glaxo Smith Kline, Biogen and Procter & Gamble). Since publication, Lopez-Silva has left the firm (effective as of June 2024), with Calderón stepping up to replace him as practice head.