Our firm has experience in not only dealing with the legal requirements set out by the foreign investment laws but we also provide ongoing consulting and ancillary services to our clients who are doing business in Mexico. Our staff includes some of the very few foreigners licensed to practice law in Mexico. We understand first-hand what it is to be a foreigner doing business in Mexico.
CORPORATE LAW
The practice of corporate law involves general corporate matters, such as the incorporation of companies, directors’ and shareholders’ rights, articles of association, board meetings, secretarial matters and the public listing or delisting of companies.
No two corporate transactions or deals are the same. The differences can depend upon several factors, such as the type of industry, whether it involves single or multi-market businesses, and the size of the companies involved.
Additional services include:
- Business Setup In Mexico
- Form and setup a non-profit organization in Mexico
How foreigners invest in Mexico
Mexico is broadly open to foreign capital: in most industries a foreigner can own 100% of a Mexican company, with no local partner required. The Foreign Investment Law (LIE) reserves a short list of activities and caps a few others — which is why the first step of any project is confirming that your intended activity is unrestricted, before money moves.
The second step is choosing the right vehicle. A Mexican corporation, a branch of your foreign company, a trust, or direct personal investment each carry different tax, liability and immigration consequences. The cheapest structure on day one is frequently the most expensive one by year three; we design for how you will actually operate, not just for the incorporation.
The restricted zone and regulated sectors
Real estate investment near the coast — including all of the Bahía de Banderas region — runs through its own set of rules: residential property through a bank trust (fideicomiso), and commercial projects typically through a Mexican entity. Certain sectors (energy, transport, media, among others) carry ownership limits or permit requirements. None of these are obstacles for a well-advised investor; all of them are traps for an unadvised one.
Compliance after the setup
Foreign-owned entities in Mexico carry ongoing duties: registration with the National Registry of Foreign Investment (RNIE) and its periodic reports, tax declarations, corporate book maintenance and, where applicable, immigration status for the owners who work in the business. We keep our clients' entities current so that a missed filing never becomes the reason a bank account is frozen or a deal falls through.
Our foreign investment services
- Feasibility and structure analysis under the Foreign Investment Law
- Incorporation of Mexican companies and non-profit organizations
- Bylaws, shareholder agreements, board and secretarial matters
- RNIE registration and periodic reporting
- Ongoing counsel for foreign-owned businesses operating in Mexico
Frequently Asked Questions
In most industries, yes — no Mexican partner is required. A few sectors carry restrictions or caps. Tell us what you plan to do and we will confirm exactly what structure fits your project.
A Mexican corporation, a trust, a branch, or direct personal investment — each has different tax, liability and immigration consequences. The right vehicle depends on what you are buying and how you plan to operate. This is precisely what the first consultation resolves.
No. Many of our clients own Mexican companies while living abroad. There are, however, practical requirements — legal representation, a tax domicile, compliance obligations — that need to be covered properly.
