Cecilia Azar Manzur

Practice Areas

Cecilia is a lawyer specialized in arbitration, mediation and judicial procedures related to alternative means of dispute resolution with more than 25 years of experience.

She joined Galicia as a partner in 2018, where she focuses her practice on complex domestic and international commercial disputes. Acting as arbitrator, counsel, mediator or expert in Mexican law, she has developed a broad experience, particularly in cases related to the energy, infrastructure, construction and commercial mediations.

Among its clients are national and foreign companies that have entered into agreements related to energy or construction and infrastructure matters. Her recent cases involve complex disputes arising from PPA and public and private work agreements. She has participated in matters related to distribution agreements, technology transfer and international sales.

Cecilia is recognized for her expertise and record of accomplishment in complex judicial proceedings related to arbitration before Mexican courts, such as set aside and enforcement of awards, interim measures, amongst others. In close collaboration with other practice areas of the Firm, she advises clients in Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) matters, specifically by analyzing investment protection provisions in Investment Treaties to which Mexico is party.

She teaches arbitration and mediation in undergraduate and graduate courses at UNAM, ITAM and CIDE.

From 2019 to 2021, Cecilia served as president of the Mexican Institute of Arbitration (Instituto Mexicano de Arbitraje) (IMA). She is currently vice-president of the Arbitration Commission of the ICC Mexico. She is on Mexico’s list of conciliators in ICSID proceedings and is a member of the International Arbitration Court of the ICC. Previously, she served as Secretary General and Counsel of the Mexican Arbitration Center (CAM). She also served as a consultant for the Mediation Project in Mexico sponsored by the American Bar Association and USAID.

She regularly publishes and speaks on alternative dispute resolution.

She is praised in Chambers and Partners for her “analytical skills” and being a "global leader". In 2021, due to her trajectory, her name was incorporated to the list of Most in Demand Arbitrators as Band 1 expert by Chambers and Partners. Cecilia is the first Mexican woman to be ranked in this category.