Cecilia Azar

Partner, Galicia Abogados

Cecilia Azar is co-leader of the arbitration area and a lawyer specialised in mediation and judicial proceedings relating to alternative dispute resolution.

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 concerning energy, infrastructure, construction and commercial mediations.

Clients include national and foreign companies that have entered into agreements regarding energy or construction and infrastructure matters. Her recent cases involve complex disputes arising from power purchase agreements and public and private work agreements, distribution agreements, technology transfer and international sales.

Cecilia is recognised for her expertise and record of accomplishment in complex judicial proceedings relating to arbitration before Mexican courts. She advises clients in investor-state dispute settlement matters, specifically by analysing investment protection provisions in treaties to which Mexico is party.

She is president of the Mexican Institute of Mediation. She is on Mexico’s list of conciliators in ICSID proceedings and is a member of the International Arbitration Court of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Recently, Cecilia was appointed by the ICC as co-chair of the ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy for Latin America. In addition, as of November 2022, she is a member of the Steering Committee of the Latin America Working Group created by the International Bar Association Arbitration Committee.

Cecilia is recognised as Band 2 in the 2023 Chambers Latin America guide in the dispute resolution: arbitration practice. Since 2021, she is part of Chambers’ Most in Demand Arbitrators list, being the first woman to ranked on the list. She is also considered by the 2023 The Legal 500 Latin America guide as a leader in her practice. Cecilia is also recognised as expert by Leaders League and Latin Lawyer for her experience and recognition by clients.