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Leading law firm Von Wobeser y Sierra announced the creation of a new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practice group to provide integrated legal services. The initiative is a response to a growing demand in evolving global markets such as Mexico, where ESG-based issues continue to gather more attention.

Von Wobeser y Sierra, S.C. announces the creation of its ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) practice group to provide our clients legal advice on their risks and opportunities in an evolving business environment through an experienced and multidisciplinary team. Von Wobeser is one of the first Mexican law firms to launch a fully integrated practice group to provide legal services with an ESG perspective.

 Over the last few days two bills were presented to extend deadlines in order to facilitate complying with the new obligations in labor, social security and tax matters with respect to the subcontracting reform published in the Federal Official Gazette (DOF) on April 23, 2021 (Reform).

Yesterday a decree was published in the Federal Official Gazette issued by the President of the Republic which creates the National Customs Agency of Mexico as an administrative body of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) and independent from the Tax Administration Service (SAT).

On June 11, 2021, the Seventh Resolution of Amendments to the General Foreign Trade Rules (“Seventh Amendment”) was published in the Federal Official Gazette. This Seventh Amendment included a restriction on the granting or extension of authorizations for the entry or exit of certain types of hydrocarbons from Mexican territory through places different from a customs precinct, in order to establish that they may only be granted to productive companies of the State (e.g. Pemex) and their subsidiaries.

Mexico’s largest brewer Grupo Modelo has enlisted local law firm Von Wobeser y Sierra SC to form a joint venture with Canadian software company VSBLTY and Mexican marketing company Retailigent to develop and install a digital in-store media network.

On June 30, 2021, the Federal Ministry of Energy (“SENER”) announced the new Program for the Development of the National Electricity System 2021-2035 (“PRODESEN”).

In mid-June, Pablo Jiménez Zorrilla joined Von Wobeser y Sierra as a partner in the corporate and M&A practice, where he is co-leader with Luis Burgueño, also a partner of the Mexican law firm. In an interview with LexLatin, the firm informed that one of Jiménez Zorrilla’s initial projects on the strategic front is to launch the ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance or ESG) practice group, in close coordination with other partners.

On June 3, 2021, the Federal Executive branch published in the Federal Official Gazette the DECREE enacting the Law for the Transparency, Prevention and Combat of Improper Practices in Advertising Contracts (the “Law”), which introduces relevant changes that impact the advertising industry in Mexico. The Law becomes effective on September 3, 2021, and is applicable to all acts, contracts, agreements, or procedures entered into between two or more of the economic agents referred to in the Law (media agencies, advertisers, and media), if an advertiser is resident in Mexico and the advertisement is disseminated in Mexico.

Pablo Jiménez Zorrilla officially joins Von Wobeser, taking the firm’s partner count to 18. He will co-head the corporate and M&A practice alongside partner Luis Burgueño. Law firm founder and member of the executive committee, Claus von Wobeser says Jiménez’s incorporation will add significant value both to the firm and its clients.

Von Wobeser y Sierra, S.C. is pleased to announce that Pablo Jiménez Zorrilla has joined the firm as a partner.

On May 26, 2021, the notice was published in the Federal Official Gazette (“DOF”) informing the public of the suspension of all effects and consequences resulting from article 57 of the Hydrocarbons Act (the “Act”), as well as transitory articles four and six of the “Decree amending various provisions of the Hydrocarbons Act”, published on May 4, 2021 in the DOF.

Following the Reform regulating subcontracting, published on April 23, today the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (Ministry) published in the Federal Official Gazette the directive containing provisions for registering individuals or entities that provide specialized services or execute specialized works and that, for that purpose, provide or make available their own workers in benefit of another, guidelines which will enter into force tomorrow.

On March 4, 2021, “Decree reforming the Hydrocarbons Act” was published in the Federal Official Gazette.

On April 24th the Federal Electricity Commission (“CFE”) issued four international public bids for the construction of combined cycle power plants in several States of Mexico (the “Bids”).

Today, in the evening edition of the Official Federal Gazette, the decree was published amending provisions of the Federal Labor Act; the Social Security Act, the National Workers Housing Fund Institute Act; the Federal Tax Code; the Income Tax Act; and the Value Added Tax Act, regarding Labor Subcontracting.

On April 16, 2021, the Mexican Executive Branch published in the Official Federal Gazette the DECREE amending various provisions of the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Act (the “Decree”), charging the Federal Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones) (“IFT”) with incorporating, into its current Public Telecommunications Registry, a new National Registry of Mobile Phone Users (the “National Registry”).

We previously informed you of the approval of the reform bill to regulate subcontracting in the Chamber of Deputies. Following up on this, we are informing you that today it was approved in the Chamber of Senators. This means that the reform has been fully approved, and that it will enter into force with its publication in the Official Federal Gazette (DOF), probably May 1 or before.