Manuel Mansilla Moya

10/03/2026

In July 2025, Mexico enacted one of the most significant reforms to its competition law framework since the constitutional overhaul of 2013.

The reform to the Federal Economic Competition Law (Ley Federal de Competencia Económica, or LFCE), published on July 16, 2025, introduces institutional, procedural, and substantive changes that directly affect how companies operate, structure transactions, and manage regulatory risk in Mexico.

Much of the public discussion has focused on the creation of a new competition authority: the National Antitrust Commission (Comisión Nacional Antimonopolio, or CNA).

However, for many companies another change may prove equally — if not more — important in practice:

The possibility of obtaining official certification of corporate competition compliance programs.

UPLAW Insight:

The most innovative element of the reform is the introduction of certified competition compliance programs. Under the new framework, companies may request certification of internal compliance systems designed to prevent antitrust violations. These certifications are valid for three years and may be considered a mitigating factor in enforcement proceedings.

Read More

Read the full analysis →

Reform of Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Law: What Companies Need to Know

https://www.uplaw.com.mx/post/reform-of-mexico-s-federal-economic-competition-law-what-companies-need-to-know

For companies operating in Mexico, the reform highlights a broader regulatory trend: competition compliance is shifting from a reactive exercise to a preventive one.

Organizations that proactively assess antitrust risk, train employees, and implement structured compliance programs will be better positioned to navigate this evolving enforcement landscape

If your company operates in Mexico or interacts with competitors, suppliers, or public procurement processes, this is the right time to evaluate whether your current compliance framework is sufficient under the new rules.

An initial assessment with our firm can help determine your level of exposure, identify potential competition law risks, and evaluate whether implementing — or certifying — a compliance program would be advisable. Request it here: www.uplaw.com.mx

03/03/2026

Do You Really Need a Mexican Entity to Do Business in Mexico?

Entering the Mexican market does not always begin with incorporation.

Often, it begins with a contract. A distributor. A pilot client. A warehouse agreement. A remote sales hire.

At that point, the question becomes direct:

Do you need a Mexican entity to do business in Mexico?

Not always.

But if your activities create a permanent establishment in Mexico, involve hiring employees locally, require regulatory permits, or expose the parent company to direct liability, operating without a Mexican subsidiary may generate structural tax and risk consequences.

UPLAW Insight:

Incorporating in Mexico is not merely an administrative step. It is a structural decision that defines tax exposure, labor liability, regulatory compliance, investment readiness, and exit flexibility. Entering the market without a structured assessment often creates avoidable contingencies.

Read More

Read the full analysis →

https://www.uplaw.com.mx/post/do-you-really-need-a-mexican-entity-to-do-business-in-mexico

If your company is evaluating operating in Mexico through cross-border activity, a branch, or a subsidiary, a structured legal analysis can identify risk before resources are committed. Aligning legal architecture with business ex*****on from the outset protects long-term growth.

If you are facing this decision, it is worth addressing it before expansion makes restructuring necessary.

An initial assessment with our firm can determine whether incorporation is required — or whether alternative structures may remain viable. Request it here: www.uplaw.com.mx

03/03/2026

¿Se Necesita una Entidad Mexicana para Hacer Negocios en México?

Entrar al mercado mexicano no siempre comienza con la constitución de una sociedad.

Muchas veces comienza con un contrato. Un distribuidor. Un cliente piloto. Un contrato de almacén. Un vendedor remoto.

En ese momento, la pregunta se vuelve directa:

¿Se necesita una entidad mexicana para hacer negocios en México?

No siempre.

Pero si sus actividades generan un establecimiento permanente en México, implican contratar empleados localmente, requieren permisos regulatorios o exponen a la empresa matriz a responsabilidad directa, operar sin una subsidiaria mexicana puede generar consecuencias fiscales y de riesgo estructural.

UPLAW Insight:

Constituir en México no es un un trámite administrativo, sino que se trata de una decisión cuya estructuración define la exposición fiscal, la responsabilidad laboral, el cumplimiento regulatorio, las posibilidades de inversión y la flexibilidad para una eventual salida. Ingresar sin una evaluación estructural suele generar contingencias evitables.

Leer más

Lea el análisis completo →

https://www.uplaw.com.mx/post/se-necesita-una-entidad-mexicana-para-hacer-negocios-en-mexico

Si su empresa está valorando operar en México mediante actividad transfronteriza, una sucursal o una subsidiaria, un análisis jurídico estructurado permite identificar riesgos antes de comprometer recursos. Alinear la arquitectura legal con la ejecución empresarial desde el inicio protege el crecimiento de la empresa.

Si enfrenta esta decisión, vale la pena abordarla antes de que la expansión haga necesaria una reestructuración.

Una evaluación inicial con nuestra firma puede determinar si la constitución es necesaria, o si otras estructuras pueden ser viables. Solicítela aquí: www.uplaw.com.mx/inicio

24/02/2026

“Let’s just test the market in Mexico.”

It sounds cautious. Legally, it often isn’t.

Under Mexican law, there is no informal “testing phase.” Tax and labor exposure is triggered by the functions performed in Mexico — not by whether you’ve incorporated.

If you’re hiring, storing inventory, selling cross-border, or manufacturing, the key question is:

Are you testing — or already operating?

I break this down in the full article below. 👇
https://www.uplaw.com.mx/post/the-legal-reality-of-testing-the-market-in-mexico

17/02/2026

Entering Mexico is not legally complex.

But entering Mexico without a clear structural strategy is expensive.

Over the years, I’ve seen the same pattern:
Companies focus on market opportunity, speed, and commercial rollout — while legal decisions are treated as administrative steps.

They are not.

Most of the problems we see are not the result of bad faith or regulatory hostility. They are the result of early decisions made without fully translating legal design into business consequences.

Mexico remains one of the most dynamic markets in the region.

But sustainable growth here requires structure, not improvisation.

If you’re evaluating expansion into Mexico, this is worth reading.

https://www.uplaw.com.mx/post/common-legal-mistakes-companies-make-before-entering-mexico

10/02/2026

📌 Thinking about investing in Mexico? Don’t underestimate legal risk.

Mexico is a dynamic market with strong growth potential — but legal risk isn’t something to shrug off as “just part of doing business.” What many investors miss is that most legal exposure doesn’t hit you at the start — it quietly accumulates and only shows up when it matters most: during financing rounds, strategic transactions, partner disputes, or compliance reviews.

If you’re considering investment in Mexico, this is a must-read:

https://www.uplaw.com.mx/post/understanding-legal-risk-before-investing-in-mexico

03/02/2026

Mexico is often labeled a “low-regulation” jurisdiction.

That assumption causes more problems than almost any other.

In reality, Mexico is a highly regulated and highly formal system where enforcement is uneven, discretionary, and frequently retrospective. Issues rarely appear immediately—they surface years later, when companies scale, seek VAT refunds, raise capital, or prepare for due diligence.

The real risk isn’t fines.

It’s regulatory incoherence becoming visible at the worst possible time.

I wrote this article to explain:

• Why compliance in Mexico is cumulative

• Why early decisions are harder to fix later

• Why legal strategy is about defensibility, not paperwork

If you operate or plan to operate in Mexico, this perspective matters.

Read the full article here: https://www.uplaw.com.mx/post/why-mexico-is-not-a-low-regulation-jurisdiction-and-why-that-matters

1. The Decision That Gets Locked InRecent enforcement trends confirm what many operating companies are now experiencing firsthand: A company enters Mexico with confidence.The market is compelling. Talent is available. Costs appear competitive. Advisors explain that regulation exists, but enforcement...

27/01/2026

La mayoría de las empresas no se expande a México por comodidad.
Lo hace porque el negocio lo exige.

Un cliente solicita nearshoring. La concentración de la cadena de suministro se vuelve un tema de consejo. Los costos o los tiempos dejan de funcionar en otros mercados. México aparece como el siguiente paso lógico.

En ese momento, la conversación suele centrarse en la velocidad:
qué tan rápido constituirse, contratar y comenzar a operar.

Lo que con frecuencia se deja para después es la pregunta más compleja:
si la estructura legal podrá sostener el negocio cuando lleguen el crecimiento, las auditorías o una transacción.

Desde nuestra experiencia en UPLAW, México no es una jurisdicción de alto riesgo.
Pero sí es poco tolerante con decisiones legales postergadas.

La mayoría de los riesgos legales en México no surge de malas decisiones,
sino de decisiones tomadas demasiado tarde.

Si México está en tu hoja de ruta, conviene abordarlo como una decisión legal estratégica, no solo como un paso operativo.

https://www.uplaw.com.mx/post/es-mexico-el-mercado-adecuado-para-tu-empresa-un-marco-legal-de-decision

09/01/2026

Un mensaje en Facebook se perdió en una carpeta oculta durante semanas. Al abrirlo, se revela una situación compleja en España. El problema es que no soy abogado de migración en España, ni manejo las leyes españolas, ni estoy autorizado para litigar allí.

08/01/2026

Un español buscó incansablemente en Facebook una guía para migrar a México y obtener la nacionalidad. Tras semanas, encontró nuestra publicación en un grupo y nos contactó. ¡La perseverancia siempre da sus frutos!

07/01/2026

La nacionalidad española denegada a un joven por solicitarla fuera de plazo. Un golpe duro para él y sus padres, quienes veían en España un futuro académico. Sus planes se desmoronan.

06/01/2026

Nuestro cliente tardó más de un año en obtener la nacionalidad española en 2010. Fue un trámite largo, lento y burocrático. Ahora, él puede transmitir la nacionalidad a sus hijos menores de edad.