Greenberg Traurig’s global Labor & Employment Practice announces its expansion to the firm’s Mexico City office with the addition of eight attorneys. Led by Shareholder Leslie Palma, a highly ranked labor and benefits attorney, and Of Counsel Marité Villanueva, who has in-house experience and over 12 years of experience in labor consulting and litigation. The team reflects the firm’s strategy to support the legal employment and labor needs of its international clients.
“Adding Leslie, Marité and six associate attorneys to our Mexico City office is exciting for the firm as we continue to implement our plan to expand the firm’s global labor and employment capabilities. Their hire undoubtedly broadens Greenberg Traurig’s ability to serve our clients with high level employment concerns in Mexico, Latin America and beyond.”
Jim Boudreau and Naomi Beer, co-chairs of Greenberg Traurig’s Labor & Employment practice, in a joint statement.
Palma and the six associates joined from the Mexico office of an international law firm. Villanueva joined from an in-house legal department at an investment fund focused on higher education.
Palma brings more than 20 years of experience focused on advising leading international and Mexican corporate clients on employment issues, including individual and collective bargaining matters, executive compensation, labor management relations, workforce reductions and other employee changes. Palma’s legal work has earned her many accolades, most recently, she was recognized by the 2022, 2021, and 2020 editions of Best Lawyers in Mexico and the 2021, 2020, and 2019 300: Líderes Mas Influyentes de México, Líderes Mexicanos.
Villanueva’s experience as a former in-house counsel in charge of Human Resources and Labor Matters gives her a unique perspective on the employment needs and concerns of corporate clients that will better inform her counseling and advice. She has assisted corporate teams in managing strategic layoffs, lawsuits, contingency plans to prevent labor liabilities, and union negotiations. She has also helped analyze employee structures to create workplace efficiencies in mergers & acquisitions projects and helped employers design human resources processes.
Associates Karla Alejandra Peña Copka, Alma Isabel Díaz Cano, Jorge Arturo Andazola Martínez, Claudia Elsa Gonzalez Ramirez, Victor Adrián Reyes Tafoya, and José Alberto Ortiz Pérez round out the firm’s Mexico City labor and employment practice team.
The addition of the Labor and Employment team in Mexico City comes at a time when the labor market in Mexico has weathered disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as recent amendments to federal labor laws. The team’s capabilities include strategic counseling on all matters concerning the labor and employment laws and regulations, as well as individual and collective litigation.