Open To Work
Xavier Antonio de la Garza
Ciudad de Mexico
Summary
Professional General Counsel with 30 years of experience in advising oil and gas company leaders and decision-makers on important legal matters. Accomplished in project management, leadership and team collaboration. Innovative in creatively solving problems while adhering to company values, policies and procedures.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Practitioner
Hegewisch Law Firm
01.1990 - 1991
- Drafted legal documents, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
- Assisted attorneys in trial preparation by organizing evidence and exhibits.
- Conducted legal research to support case preparation and strategy development.
General Counsel
LUKOIL Upstream México
04.2018 - Current
- Corporate legal advisor in Stockholders' Meetings, Boards of Directors, drafting of Powers of Attorney, incorporation of companies and subsidiaries of the Group;
- Provide legal services to the upstream business in Mexico, including support for negotiation of commercial contracts and agreements, joint venture support, internal governance and regulatory compliance;
- Legal Review and sanction of contracts, such as: exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons, works, goods and rendering of services, assignment agreements, etc.;
- Legal representative in those legal acts that the company executes;
- Drafting, negotiating and approving current contracts in operational activity;
- Response to requests of functional departments/top managers regarding ongoing issues with respect to the PSCs;
- Attend procedures before the Mexican Institute of Social Security, National Institute of Migration, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Economy, National Commission of Hydrocarbons.
- Led legal strategy for upstream operations, ensuring compliance with local and international regulations.
- Advised on contractual negotiations, minimizing risks while maximizing profitability and operational efficiency.
- Oversaw litigation management, developing strategies to protect corporate interests and prevent legal disputes.
- Collaborated with executive leadership to align legal initiatives with business objectives and growth strategies.
- Engaged with external counsel to optimize resource allocation and improve service quality in legal matters.
Legal Manager of Project Structuring and International Support
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Company Overview: Mexican Oil and Gas Company
- Provided legal advice in the design, coordination, implementation and execution of projects and business models of exploration and extraction, and industrial transformation;
- Revised and negotiated legal instruments in relation to the corporate acts of the Subsidiaries Productive Companies, as well as of associations or alliances;
- Advised in the identification, instrumentation and development of new international contracting schemes, related to projects and business models of exploration and extraction, and industrial transformation.
Legal Manager of International Affairs
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2012 - 01.2015
- Company Overview: Mexican Oil and Gas Company
- Attended and resolved legal consultations of nature in international matters of the oil industry;
- Represented Pemex in the Transpacific Association Agreement (TPP) negotiations;
- Advised the administrative units of PEMEX and Subsidiary Entities in international legal matters;
- Represented Pemex before various international organizations;
- Provided legal advice in the negotiation of international treaties;
- Negotiated and issued legal opinion on contracts, agreements, and other legal instruments of an international nature;
- Supervised international litigation and arbitration.
Legal Advisor to the General Counsel on International Affairs
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2006 - 01.2012
- Reviewed and sanctioned international legal instruments;
- Drafted and negotiated international conventions and treaties on maritime, international transport of hydrocarbons and transboundary reservoirs;
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop strategies for mitigating legal risks.
- Researched and analyzed legislation affecting industry, ensuring company adherence to changes.
- Monitored litigation and international arbitration matters and supervised the services provided by law firms abroad;
- Designed the strategy for the internationalization of exploration and production activities;
- Provided legal advice to subsidiaries (PMI, PPI, KOT, PASCO, MGI).
Legal Manager for Pemex Exploration and Production
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2005 - 01.2006
- Designed model contracts for deep waters projects in coordination with local and international law firms;
- Represented the organization in negotiations with external parties, achieving favorable terms in agreements.
- Attended and resolved legal consultations regarding exploration, production and procurement;
- Established new modalities for retaining law firms’s services;
- Attended procurement and works committees.
Legal Manager for Pemex Petroquímica
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Participated in the merger project of the Subsidiary Companies of Pemex Petroquímica;
- Provided legal advice in the development of the Fenix Project;
- Advised to Pemex Petroquímica, in the legal review of contracts for the execution of the works of the Clorados III Plant, in Pajaritos;
- Legal review of service and works contracts and agreements.
Head of the International Affairs Unit
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.1994 - 01.2004
- Company Overview: Mexican Oil and Gas Company
- Corporate advised to the subsidiary company Integrated Trade Systems, Inc.
- Sanction of preparatory contracts for the acquisition of goods and services of foreign origin.
- Designed of financial legal schemes: Master Trust and Pidirregas.
- Coordinated and monitored litigation and international arbitration matters;
- Represented Pemex in international forums (IMO, ILO, WTO, FIDAC).
Legal Advisor
Pemex Representation Office in Houston, Texas
01.1993 - 01.1994
- Elaborated and revised supply framework contracts
- Attended international consultations and supervised international litigation;
- Negotiated international contracts.
International Lawyer
Haynes and Boone law firm in Dallas, Texas
01.1992 - 01.1993
- Designed the partnership scheme between Shell and PMI (Deer Park Refinery).
- Fostered relationships with foreign counsel to streamline legal operations across multiple countries.
- Drafted and reviewed contracts to mitigate risks associated with international transactions.
Education
Law degree - Law
National Autonomous University of Mexico-UNAM
Mexico City, Mexico06-1990
Master in Law (LLM) - Oil And Gas
University of Houston Law Center
Houston Texas05-1994
Skills
- Legal competency/expertise/knowledge of oil and gas laws and regulations
- Ability to work independently and in groups
- Strategic/creative thinking
- Research skills
- Inspires confidence
- Seeks feedback/responsive to feedback
- Leadership
- Negotiation skills
Affiliations
- Member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN).
- Academia Mexicana de Derecho Energético.
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, London, England.
Languages
Spanish
English Proficiency
hobbies
Travel to new countries
Work Preference
Job Search Status
Open to workWork Type
Full TimeSalary Range
$150000/yr - $300000/yrTimeline
General Counsel
LUKOIL Upstream México
04.2018 - Current
Legal Manager of Project Structuring and International Support
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2015 - 01.2016
Legal Manager of International Affairs
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2012 - 01.2015
Legal Advisor to the General Counsel on International Affairs
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2006 - 01.2012
Legal Manager for Pemex Exploration and Production
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2005 - 01.2006
Legal Manager for Pemex Petroquímica
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.2004 - 01.2005
Head of the International Affairs Unit
Petróleos Mexicanos
01.1994 - 01.2004
Legal Advisor
Pemex Representation Office in Houston, Texas
01.1993 - 01.1994
International Lawyer
Haynes and Boone law firm in Dallas, Texas
01.1992 - 01.1993
Practitioner
Hegewisch Law Firm
01.1990 - 1991
Law degree - Law
National Autonomous University of Mexico-UNAM
Master in Law (LLM) - Oil And Gas
University of Houston Law Center