Miguel Gallardo Guerra

Practice Areas

At the law firm bgbg, partner Miguel Gallardo Guerra leads one of Mexico’s most dynamic and forward-looking practices in FinTech, banking, finance, payment services and regulatory compliance, including 18 partners and 121 people. His work stands at the intersection of innovation and financial regulation, advising leading global and domestic institutions on complex licensing, structuring and operational matters under Mexican law. Miguel is widely recognized for his strategic counsel to payment service providers, digital wallets, crypto-asset platforms, lending institutions, SOFOMES, SOFIPOS, and cross-border financial operators, consistently guiding clients through evolving regulatory frameworks with clarity and precision. His practice combines deep technical knowledge with a practical, business-oriented approach, allowing clients to launch and scale highly regulated products in Mexico while meeting the highest standards of compliance (including AML/CTF, data protection, and operational risk obligations). Whether supporting market-entry strategies, structuring financial products, advising on authorization processes before the CNBV or Banco de México, or designing robust compliance programs, Miguel offers a comprehensive and trusted legal perspective that positions BGBG as a leading firm for sophisticated financial innovation in Mexico.

Career

He has built a distinguished career as one of Mexico’s leading lawyers in FinTech, banking, finance and regulatory compliance, consistently advising top-tier financial institutions, global payment companies and innovative technology firms. With extensive experience before the CNBV, Banco de México, CONDUSEF and the UIF, Miguel is known for navigating complex regulatory environments and structuring sophisticated financial products with precision and strategic insight. Over the past years, he has played a key role in the legal and regulatory development of Mexico’s digital finance ecosystem, guiding clients through authorization processes, cross-border regulatory alignment, operational risk management and AML/CTF compliance. His work also extends to industry thought leadership: Miguel serves as Latin American Regional Forum Liaison Officer of the Banking Law Committee at the International Bar Association (IBA). His combination of technical rigor, international perspective and a pragmatic, client-centered approach has positioned him as a trusted advisor for high-impact financial and technological projects in Mexico and abroad.

Professional Memberships

In addition to his transactional and regulatory work, he maintains an active presence in influential legal and financial associations, strengthening his global perspective and contributing to the development of industry standards. Miguel also participates in specialized forums on FinTech, payment systems, AML/CTF regulation and corporate governance, regularly engaging with regulators, industry leaders and academic institutions. His involvement in these professional organizations enhances his ability to anticipate regulatory trends, incorporate global best practices into local advisory work and represent Mexico’s evolving financial ecosystem on the international stage.

Publications

He is also an active contributor to the academic and professional literature on digital finance, regulatory compliance and financial innovation. He is a co-author of the book “Control and Ownership of Digital Assets”, published by Mohr Siebeck, which examines emerging legal frameworks for blockchain-based assets and distributed control structures. His publications extend to articles, commentary and thought-leadership pieces addressing FinTech regulation, payment services, AML/CTF compliance and the digital transformation of financial institutions, many of which appear in specialized legal forums and international platforms.

Personal

He was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Married and deeply rooted in his origins, Miguel embraces a distinctly human approach to life and work, prioritizing integrity, empathy and clear communication in every engagement. He is committed to building long-term business and personal relationships, fostering trust with clients, colleagues and international partners.

Clients

Throughout his career, he has advised a wide spectrum of leading financial institutions, insurers, FinTech companies and payment service providers, reflecting the breadth and sophistication of his practice. His client portfolio includes global banks such as Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Santander, Credit Suisse, Scotiabank, Volkswagen Bank, and major domestic institutions including CitiBanamex, Banorte, Bancoppel, Bankaool and Openbank México. Miguel also counsels innovative digital finance and payments market leaders, among them Mercado Libre (IFPE), Nubank, Bybit, Coinbase, KLAR, Littlepay, SDMX Superdigital (IFPE), Pluxee México (IFPE) and Atman Pay. His experience further extends to advising major insurance groups such as AXA Seguros, Qualitas, AIG, MetLife and Everest, as well as global investment and asset management firms like BlackRock México and LGT Capital Partners.

Industry Sector Expertise

He brings a uniquely integrated sector expertise across the full spectrum of Mexico’s financial and digital economy. His practice spans traditional banking, digital finance, insurance, capital markets, payment systems, and cutting-edge FinTech models, allowing him to advise clients with a deep understanding of how regulatory, technological and commercial dynamics converge in each segment. Miguel has developed specialized proficiency in the structuring and operation of electronic payment institutions, digital wallets, cross-border remittance platforms, alternative lenders, embedded finance models, and insurance-technology ecosystems, enabling him to anticipate regulatory trends and deliver solutions that support innovation without compromising compliance. His multidisciplinary insight allows him to provide clients with a comprehensive, strategic and forward-looking perspective on Mexico’s evolving financial landscape.

Languages Spoken

He works seamlessly across jurisdictions thanks to his multilingual capabilities and formal translation credentials. He is fluent in Spanish and English, enabling him to support international clients with clarity and precision. Miguel is also a court-certified translator, a distinction that allows him to provide officially recognized translations for legal, regulatory and financial documents. This expertise strengthens his advisory practice by ensuring that complex contracts, compliance frameworks, cross-border filings and financial instruments are translated with technical accuracy and full legal validity. His combined legal and linguistic skills position him as a trusted partner for clients requiring high-level legal and financial translation services in Mexico and abroad.

Education

Work Highlights

He has led high-impact mandates across the banking, financial, FinTech and regulatory landscape in Mexico. He has advised global financial institutions on market-entry strategies, including the structuring and authorization of electronic payment institutions (IFPEs), digital wallets and cross-border payment solutions. Miguel has played a central role in guiding major international players, such as digital banks, payment processors, crypto-asset exchanges and investment firms, through complex regulatory processes before the CNBV, Banco de México and the UIF, ensuring full compliance with AML/CTF, operational risk and consumer-protection requirements. His work also includes designing and implementing comprehensive compliance programs for financial groups, supporting acquisitions and restructurings of regulated entities, advising on innovative financial products and tokenization models, and resolving high-stakes regulatory investigations involving financial institutions and payment companies.