Profile
Elías-Fernández, Edmundo
Perfil
Mr. Elías has 36 years of experience in the legal profession. His practice focuses on international trade and customs matters, commercial law, corporate law, corporate compliance (anti-corruption), and government affairs. Mr. Elías has extensive experience across various sectors and industries, including the maquiladora industry, pharmaceuticals, automotive, consumer products, information technology, among others.
He has advised and represented numerous companies (Fortune 10, 100, and 500) in corporate, foreign trade, and customs matters, as well as in international commercial and anti-corruption issues. Likewise, he has represented such companies in matters related to free trade agreements, duty deferral programs, customs compliance, representation before authorities, tariff classification, rules of origin, customs valuation, and non-tariff regulations, among others.
Mr. Elías is recognized by Chambers and Partners (Band 1 National and Global), The Legal 500 (Hall of Fame), Best Lawyers, and Who's Who Legal as a leading lawyer both nationally and globally.
Experiencia Profesional
Currently, Mr. Elías is the Head Partner of the Foreign Trade practice at Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster. From 2015 to 2018, Mr. Elías served as Managing Partner of the Guadalajara office of the international law firm Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton. Mr. Elías worked at Baker McKenzie from 1992 to 2014. Among other responsibilities, he served as Coordinator of the International Trade and Customs practice in Mexico and Latin America. He also served twice as Global Coordinator of the firm’s International Trade and Customs practice.
Previously, Mr. Elías was founding partner of Bufete Elías, S.C. (1989–1992), a firm focused on corporate and commercial matters; Estrategia Bursátil, S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa (1987), where he served as assistant to the Legal Department; and Gallástegui y Lozano, S.C. (1985–1986), where he worked as a law clerk.
Mr. Elías has held a customs broker license authorizing him to operate throughout Mexico since 1995.
He has served as a professor at National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez, and Tecnológico de Monterrey Guadalajara Campus. He currently teaches at the Law School of Universidad Panamericana (undergraduate and graduate programs) at its Aguascalientes, Mexico City, and Guadalajara campuses.
He has been a panelist and speaker at more than 100 seminars on foreign trade, customs, and foreign investment organized by distinguished organizations, including the World Trade Organization, World Customs Organization, International Fiscal Association, American Management Association, Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, the Mexican Ministry of Commerce and Industrial Development, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Confederación de Asociaciones de Agentes Aduanales de la República Mexicana, the Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados, and the Consejo Nacional de la Industria Maquiladora y Manufacturera de Exportación, among others.
Mr. Elías also served as Special Advisor and Co-Coordinator of private sector working groups during the modernization of United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement negotiations (NAFTA/USMCA).
- Co-author, NAFTA Handbook, CCH.
- Co-author, Mexican Tax Guide, CCH.
- Author of various essays and articles.
- Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados, currently Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Jalisco Chapter.
- American Bar Association.
- Academia Internacional de Derecho Aduanero (full member).
- Confederación de Asociaciones de Agentes Aduanales de la República Mexicana.
Formación Académica
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law – Master of Laws (LL.M.) with Honors.
Universidad Panamericana – Master’s Degree in Business Law with Honors.
IE Business School – CBA.
Universidad Panamericana – Doctoral Candidate in Law.
IPADE Business School – AD-2 Program (2005).
Management Executive Program, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.
Universidad Panamericana – Postgraduate Studies.
National Autonomous University of Mexico – Law Degree with Honors.
Centro Universitario México (C.U.M.) – High School Diploma.
Área de Práctica
Idiomas
Spanish, English
Certificaciones, Rankings, Publicaciones, Afiliaciones
Band 1 - Latin America Guide 2026, International Trade / WTO
Shortlisted - Lawyer of the year 2026, International Trade and Customs
- Corporate and Mergers Acquisitions Law
- International Trade and Finance Law
- Trade Law
Testimonios
Profile
Esparza Sánchez, Guadalupe
Perfil
With more than 14 years of professional experience, Guadalupe has focused her practice on energy law, infrastructure, and project finance.
In the energy sector, Guadalupe specializes in the electricity industry, advising all types of market participants, including domestic clients (both private entities and government agencies) and international companies in all types of projects, including successful participation in Long-Term Auctions; accreditation and operation of Market Participants; obtaining all types of permits related to the electricity market; advising legacy projects in their migration to the new regulatory framework; structuring, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance; and the sale and acquisition of all types of power generation projects.
Given the current political environment, Guadalupe has assisted numerous clients in designing innovative structures to commercialize or consume electricity despite the reluctance of national authorities, implementing schemes to execute isolated supply projects and third-party sales, as well as litigation strategies to obtain favorable responses from authorities in cases of inaction or unfounded denials. In this regard, Lupita has led the preparation of several risk analysis reports and mitigation strategies related to electricity regulation.
Guadalupe has also advised clients in various disputes arising from the electricity sector, primarily resolved through international commercial arbitration.
Lupita is considered an expert in the regulatory framework applicable to the electricity industry and has been individually recognized as a “Rising Star” and subsequently as a “Next Generation Partner” in the Energy and Natural Resources category by The Legal 500 (2022 and 2023). More recently, she was also recognized in the “Up and Coming” partners category by Chambers and Partners Latin America 2024.
She regularly collaborates by writing articles for the Energy and Natural Resources Newsletter of International Law Office.
Experiencia Profesional
Risk Assessment Report for Power Plant Acquisition
Preparation of a regulatory risk assessment report and potential mitigation strategies in connection with the potential acquisition of two combined-cycle power plants (with a combined capacity exceeding 270 MW). One of the plants operated under the “Isolated Supply” scheme, with plans for future expansion and interconnection, while the other imported all of its electricity under a legacy import permit granted pursuant to the Public Electricity Service Law, requiring migration in the coming years.
The report addressed, among other matters: risks related to compliance with isolated supply requirements; risks arising from future interconnection; risks depending on the outcome of constitutional injunctions (amparos) filed against new regulations; and risks associated with migrating the legacy permit to the Wholesale Electricity Market (MEM).
Due Diligence for Acquisition of a Generation Project Portfolio
Ongoing legal, regulatory, and real estate due diligence processes concerning electricity generation projects in connection with the potential acquisition of a project portfolio at various stages of development, including a project in partnership with the Comisión Federal de Electricidad through an unsolicited proposal for the construction and commissioning of a wind power plant in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Load Aggregation and Registration of Municipality as Qualified User
Advised a municipality in aggregating loads associated with public street lighting in order to obtain accreditation as a Qualified User and secure electricity supply agreements at more competitive prices.
Municipal Water Agencies
Advised municipal water agencies in a northern Mexican state in aggregating loads associated with water pumps, obtaining accreditation as Qualified Users, and carrying out procurement procedures for qualified suppliers in order to achieve significant savings in electricity consumption.
Sonora Industrial Parks
Advised one of the leading industrial park groups in northern Mexico on electricity-related projects, including: construction of substations and transmission and distribution lines; implementation of third-party sales schemes without permits from the Comisión Reguladora de Energía; development of distributed generation projects; and planning for a future utility-scale solar photovoltaic plant.
Formación Académica
Guadalupe Esparza Sánchez earned her law degree from Universidad Panamericana and a Master’s Degree in Business Law from the same institution. She also holds postgraduate studies in Obligations, Contracts, and Corporate Law; Business Law from the Universidad Autónoma de México; and Energy Law from the Escuela Libre de Derecho.
Área de Práctica
Idiomas
Spanish, English
Certificaciones, Rankings, Publicaciones, Afiliaciones
Band 4 - Projects
Band 4 - Projects
Profile
Escobedo Chaires, Diego
Perfil
Diego Escobedo holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Universidad Panamericana. He joined RRS Abogados in 2014 as part of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team at our Guadalajara office.
Experiencia Profesional
His practice focuses on civil, commercial, and constitutional litigation, advising clients on disputes related to private rights and obligations, commercial transactions, and business relationships, as well as on matters involving the interpretation and application of constitutional law.
He has experience in preventing and resolving conflicts through both judicial and extrajudicial mechanisms.
Formación Académica
- Bachelor of Laws, Universidad Panamericana (2018).
Professional Affiliations:
- Barra Mexicana Colegio de Abogados, A.C. — Member of the Commercial Law Committee.
Área de Práctica
Idiomas
Spanish, English
Profile
Escutia Mendiola, Rosa Isela
Perfil
Rosa Isela holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Azteca in Guadalajara. She has also supplemented her professional training with various continuing education courses, including “How to Effectively Serve Customers” and “Telemarketing,” offered by the Chamber of the Furniture Industry, as well as “International Payment Methods,” offered by the National Bank for Foreign Trade (BANCOMEXT).
She has over fifteen years of professional experience in administration, having worked with major companies in the furniture, real estate, and automotive sectors. Throughout her career, she has held positions related to administrative management, customer service, sales, after-sales service, credit, and collections, as well as various administrative and operational support roles. She has also participated in projects related to the export sector.
Rosa Isela joined the Firm in 2021 as part of the Corporate & Business, Tax & Foreign Trade, and Labor & Social Security teams at our Guadalajara offices, providing support as an Administrative Assistant.
Idiomas
Spanish, English
Profile
Espíritu Reyes, Natalia
Perfil
Natalia earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from the University Center for Health Sciences (CUCS) in 2024. Throughout her career, she has combined her expertise in personalized care with experience in administrative roles and customer service.
Experiencia Profesional
She began her professional career in 2018 in the reception and customer service department at Megacable. She later worked at the Kipper agency, where she was involved in recruitment, selection, training, and customer service, as well as administrative tasks, from 2021 to 2023.
She joined RRS Abogados in 2023 in the reception department and is currently part of the Coordination and Internal Organization team, providing support for the firm’s operations and administrative management.
Idiomas
Spanish