HISTORY

Goodrich, Riquelme y Asociados is one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious law firms in Mexico City. From its inception to the present, the firm has specialized in representing companies doing business in Mexico in all legal aspects at every level. The vast majority of its clients are outstanding companies, many of which are in the"Fortune 500" category.

Although it does not practice criminal law, it can refer clients to specialists in the area. With the exception of Immigration Law, Estate Planning and Wills, the firm does not practice personal or family law.

Aside from providing our corporate clients with complete legal services, we also help them achieve their business objectives in today's growing globalized business world and within the parameters of the various new multilateral and bilateral trade and investment agreements such as NAFTA, WTO, MEUFTA, Mercosur and others.

As Mexico has grown, so has our firm: Immediately after World War II, Mexico began a dramatic industrialization. As a consequence, we grew substantially by handling the rising tide of direct foreign joint ventures in Mexico before and after the 1973 law governing --and restricting-- direct foreign control of business. In the 1950's and 1960's, the firm helped usher Mexico first into the edge of turbo propeller airplanes and later into the jet age by orchestrating the sale of aircraft to Mexican airlines.

After a period of heightened government intervention in and regulation of business, the past few years have seen the simultaneous liberalization of restriction of foreign investment, the ongoing privatization of industry and democratization of the political system. We represent clients who are taking advantage of both of these trends to make new or expand existing investment in Mexico. As Mexican business becomes an integral part of the globalized economy, we represent clients in a wide variety of fields.

Today the firm has a professional and administrative staff of over 200. As creative problems solvers, we help our clients address their changing needs so they can prosper in the Mexican business environment, which itself is continually changing. Our headquarters are next to the Mexican Stock Exchange (the Bolsa) and is surrounded by several 5-star hotels in the heart of Mexico City, the center of the political, financial and comercial life of Mexico with many industrial centers nearby. Altough we have moved to a new building, we still have a fine view of the impressive Independence Monument from our new offices.

The firm has earned the high regard of officials at all levels in the Mexican government, as well as the Mexican bars and lawyers’ associations. In fact, our partners are routinely asked by government officials to comment on proposed legislation.

While Goodrich, Riquelme has a prominent standing in the Mexican legal community, we have had a strong international orientation since our founding. Indeed, a number of our attorneys have lived, trained an are qualified to practice law in other countries. Thus, as interpreters, moderators and arbiters, we are able to assist foreign businesses to better understand "doing business in Mexico," as well as help Mexican business people and government officials comprehend and evaluate the foreigner's objectives.

To complement our Mexico City operation, the firm has offices in Paris and actively participates in both an international association and an international organization of independent worldwide law firms.

We take pride in the role our firm has played in Mexico's past -- and look forward to being part of the country's dynamic future into the 21st Century.