Vázquez Tercero & Zepeda

Managing Partners: Adrián B Vázquez

Senior Partner: Eduardo Zepeda

Number of partners: 5

Number of other lawyers: 7

Non legal (trade) professionals: 8

Firm Overview:

Founded in 1967, the firm became Vázquez Tercero & Zepeda (VTZ) in 2011 after it incorporated its Guadalajara office. During the following years, the firm established a correspondent office in Monterrey and opened its own offices in Reynosa, Tijuana and León.

For the past 40 years, the firm has been at the forefront of matters related to WTO, USMCA, trade remedies, origin verification, IMMEX customs, regulatory and trade-related tax planning and litigation. The firm maintains a specialised and reduced boutique-like, practice that allows it to better address the specific needs of their clients, including foreign and domestic clients and governments. Since 2024, the firm opened a full Corporate Law, Competition and Compliance Practice by bringing Chambers-ranked individual Ivan Szymanski to the firm.

The firm is best known for its antidumping, trade policy and customs practices, and has actively participated in the most important trade investigations and policy development for the past 30 years, including acting as counsel in over 50% of all trade remedies investigations to date, the development of the IMMEX legal framework and tax and security certification. Most importantly, partners provide a joint approach to matters submitted to the firm, where the experiences of all parties are placed at the client’s disposal.

Main Areas of Practice:

WTO/International Trade

Customs/IMMEX/Tax & Security Certification

Corporate and M&A

Competition Law

Compliance and Internal Investigations

Trade Related Tax Planning & Litigation

Export Controls, Sanctions & Security/Regulatory

WTO/NAFTA/International Trade:

VTZ provides advisory and representation services on international trade negotiations, interpretation of trade agreements and acts as counsel to parties and Governments regarding trade remedy investigations (i.e., antidumping, subsidies and safeguards) and alternative dispute settlement mechanisms pursuant to USMCA and WTO Panels. The firm has participated in nearly one-third of all Mexican trade actions including the most important trade disputes, thereby rendering it as an indisputable leader in the field.

Customs/IMMEX/Tax & Security Certification:

VTZ represents importers and exporters in customs procedures, including audits, origin verifications, administrative challenges and compliance. The firm is retained by general and corporate firms in connection with due diligence customs compliance, especially in connection with maquiladora operations. The firm also advices in the intricacies of tax related matters in IMMEX operations and supply chain security programs, i.e. maquiladora.

Export Controls & Economic Sanctions:

VTZ offers advice with regard to operations governed by the Mexican Export Controls Directive as well as the four major regimes (Wassenaar, NSG, AG and MTCR). The firm represents clients before the relevant authorities and, when necessary, defends their interests. VTZ has participated in domestic and international fora; some in conjunction with the Mexican authorities.

Trade Related Tax Planning & Litigation:

Given the tax implications of most international trade operations, VTZ advises its clients in the planning and execution phases of tax planning. When necessary, relevant governmental determinations and penalties are contested.

Languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese.

Clients:

The firm has clients in the following sectors:

Steel and steel products, machinery and equipment, chemicals and minerals, electric and electronic appliances and components, ceramic and porcelain products, oil and petrochemicals, kitchenware and household appliances, textile and garments, children and infant products, food and food supplements, and consumer products.

CONTACTS:

WTO/NAFTA /International Trade: Adrián B Vázquez

Customs/IMMEX/Tax & Security Certification: Eduardo Zepeda, Adrian B Vazquez

Export Controls & Economic Sanctions/Regulatory: Adrian B Vazquez

Trade Related Tax Planning & Litigation: Eduardo González