Cecilia Azar Manzur

Practice Areas

Cecilia co-leads the Arbitral Litigation area. Her practice focuses on conducting arbitration proceedings from the perspective of a party’s attorney. She also serves as an arbitrator, mediator and expert in Mexican law for national and international commercial disputes.

She joined Galicia as a partner, focusing her practice on complex domestic and international commercial disputes. She has developed extensive experience, particularly in cases related to energy, infrastructure and shareholder conflicts. Among her clients are national and foreign companies that have entered into agreements related to energy or construction and infrastructure matters. Her recent cases involve complex disputes arising from PPA and public/private work agreements.

Career

Cecilia is recognized for her expertise and record of accomplishment in complex, arbitration-related judicial proceedings before Mexican courts, such as enforcement of awards and interim measures, among others. In close collaboration with other practice areas of the Firm, she advises clients in Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) matters, specifically by analyzing investment protection provisions in Investment Treaties to which Mexico is party.

Cecilia is recognized as an expert and leading lawyer by renowned international publications, such as Chambers Latin American Guide and Chambers Global Guide, in the practice of Dispute Resolution: Arbitration. Since 2021, she is part of the Most in Demand Arbitrators list of said guide, being the first woman to join it. She is also considered a leader in her practice by The Legal 500 Latin American Guide. Leaders League and Latin Lawyer recognize her as a leader in the national and international legal market because of her experience and recognition by her clients.

Professional Memberships

Currently, Cecilia is President of the Mexican Institute of Mediation (IMM). She is on Mexico’s list of conciliators in ICSID proceedings and is Vice-Chair of the Arbitration & ADR Commission of the ICC. Recently, she was appointed as Co-chair of the ICC Advanced Arbitration Academy for Latin America, whose purpose is to train and guide 40 selected candidates as arbitrators with a particular focus on ICC Arbitration Rules. In addition, she is a member of the Steering Committee of the Latin America Working Group created by the IBA Arbitration Committee. Previously, she served as President of the Mexican Arbitration Institute (IMA), Secretary General and Counsel of the Mexican Arbitration Center (CAM), Vice-president of Mexico’s ICC Arbitration Commission and a consultant for Mexico’s Mediation Project sponsored by the American Bar Association and USAID.

Clients

Client Quotes:

"Working with Cecilia Azar Manzur is a great experience; her level of sophistication and depth of knowledge in arbitral proceedings are noteworthy."

"Cecilia Azar Manzur is a conscientious, analytical and confident lawyer who shows great performances as an arbitrator."

"Cecilia Azar Manzur has a noteworthy hybrid practice, and does a great job as an arbitrator."

"She understands our business needs, and tackles all our requests promptly."