Practice Areas
Miguel Gallardo Guerra is a founding partner of bgbg, a prominent Mexican law firm recognized for delivering strategic, business-oriented legal services across key sectors of the economy. As head of the firm’s Banking, Finance, Fintech, and Compliance practices, Miguel has built a distinguished track record advising leading financial institutions, fintech innovators, and corporate clients on complex regulatory and transactional matters in Mexico’s rapidly evolving financial sector.
Banking and Financial Regulation
Miguel possesses deep knowledge of Mexico’s financial regulatory framework and advises a wide range of domestic and international financial institutions, including banks, investment firms, fintech entities, insurance companies, and multiple purposes non-banking financial institutions. His legal counsel covers both transactional and regulatory aspects, positioning him as a trusted advisor to clients navigating Mexico’s financial services landscape.
He regularly supports clients with:
(i) Authorization processes before the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV) and other financial regulators.
(i) Structuring and launching regulated financial products and services.
(iii) Ongoing regulatory compliance with Mexican financial laws and international standards.
(iv) Financial entity governance, reporting, and risk management obligations.
(v) Legal audits, internal investigations, and regulatory inspections.
Miguel is particularly adept at assisting foreign financial institutions entering the Mexican market, offering tailored legal strategies that align with local compliance expectations while accommodating global policies and standards.
Finance and Lending Transactions.
In the area of finance and lending, Miguel represents borrowers, lenders, and investors in a variety of structured finance transactions, including syndicated loans, secured lending, cross-border financings, and project finance. His experience includes negotiating complex loan agreements, security packages, and intercreditor arrangements in both domestic and international contexts.
He advises on:
(i) Corporate finance and acquisition finance.
(ii) Secured and unsecured credit facilities.
(iii) Real estate and infrastructure financing.
(iv) Regulatory limitations on foreign investment and capital movement.
(v) Structuring collateral and enforcement strategies in Mexico.
Miguel brings a pragmatic approach to every transaction, balancing legal precision with commercial viability. His work is marked by close attention to detail, strong negotiation skills, and deep awareness of regulatory risks and compliance issues.
Fintech and Innovation
Miguel is widely recognized as a pioneer in Mexico’s fintech legal landscape. He advises technology-driven financial institutions and startups on the regulatory implications of their business models and supports them in navigating the authorization process under Mexico’s Fintech Law (Ley para Regular las Instituciones de Tecnología Financiera).
His fintech advisory services include:
(i) Licensing of Electronic Payment Fund Institutions (IFPEs) and Crowdfunding Institutions (IFCs).
(ii) AML compliance, cybersecurity, and KYC protocols tailored to fintech platforms.
(iii) Structuring digital financial services, neobanks, and embedded finance solutions.
(iv) Cross-border data protection and regulatory alignment for global fintech players.
(v) Partnership agreements with banks and financial institutions.
Miguel’s strength lies in his ability to bridge the gap between regulation and innovation. He helps fintech companies operate within legal boundaries while remaining agile and competitive in a fast-changing marketplace. His role as legal counsel often extends from initial regulatory analysis to full-scale operational launch and expansion.
Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
As head of the firm’s Compliance and AML practice, Miguel is a leading expert in helping companies meet their regulatory obligations and minimize legal risk. He provides strategic legal advice on the development and implementation of internal compliance programs for regulated and non-regulated entities alike.
His services include:
(i) Design and implementation of risk-based compliance and AML programs.
(ii) Advisory on obligations under the Federal Law for the Prevention and Identification of Operations with Illicit Resources (LFPIORPI).
(iii) Compliance with reporting requirements before the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF).
(iv) Internal investigations and remediation plans for compliance breaches.
(v) Compliance training for corporate personnel and governance bodies.
(vi) Drafting codes of conduct, internal policies, and whistleblowing protocols.
Miguel also works with clients on global compliance alignment, ensuring that Mexican subsidiaries or branches of multinational companies uphold both local and international standards, including FATF recommendations, U.S. FCPA, and EU AML directives.
His client base spans financial services, real estate, retail, telecommunications, and other sectors where regulatory scrutiny is increasing and compliance programs are essential to sustainable operations.
Cross-Practice Integration and Strategic Advisory
What distinguishes Miguel is his ability to integrate banking, finance, fintech, and compliance expertise into a holistic legal strategy. He frequently advises on transactions and projects that require interdisciplinary legal skills, such as:
(i) Launching digital wallets and cross-border remittance services.
(ii) Structuring capital markets deals with embedded compliance frameworks.
(iii) Advising on payment infrastructure partnerships between traditional banks and fintechs.
(iv) Conducting regulatory due diligence for fintech M&A and joint ventures.
International Perspective and Client-Centered Approach
With strong command of both Mexican law and international financial regulations, Miguel frequently represents multinational companies, global financial institutions, and cross-border investors. He is fluent in English and Spanish, and his practice regularly involves coordination with foreign counsel, multinational compliance teams, and international regulators.
Clients praise Miguel for his responsiveness, strategic mindset, and ability to explain complex legal and regulatory issues in clear, actionable terms. His focus on long-term relationships and practical solutions has earned him a reputation as a trusted legal partner to clients navigating regulatory change, market entry, and financial innovation.
Career
Miguel Gallardo Guerra is a founding partner of bgbg, a leading Mexican law firm recognized for its innovative legal solutions and strong regulatory expertise. With over 25 years of professional experience, Miguel has built a distinguished legal career focused on banking and finance, fintech regulation, corporate law, regulatory compliance, and anti-money laundering (AML). His multifaceted expertise and strategic vision have positioned him as one of Mexico’s most respected legal advisors in the financial and technology sectors.
Miguel began his legal career shortly after obtaining his Law Degree from Universidad Iberoamericana, one of Mexico’s most prestigious institutions. He went on to earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Comparative Jurisprudence from the New York University School of Law in 2001. His graduate studies were supported by competitive scholarships from Fulbright, FUNED, CONACYT, and Universidad Iberoamericana, reflecting his academic excellence and early dedication to cross-border legal practice.
Following his time in New York, Miguel gained experience working in international legal environments and advising foreign investors and multinational companies entering the Mexican market. His early exposure to complex regulatory frameworks and international business structures laid the foundation for his later specialization in financial regulation, fintech, and compliance.
In 2005, Miguel co-founded bgbg, where he has since played a key role in shaping the firm’s practice areas, client service philosophy, and regulatory capabilities. Under his leadership, bgbg has become a go-to firm for clients operating in highly regulated sectors, including financial services, technology, telecommunications, and e-commerce.
Miguel leads the firm’s Banking, Finance, and Fintech Practice, providing legal and strategic counsel to both traditional financial institutions and emerging fintech companies. He is a recognized authority on the implementation of Mexico’s Fintech Law, having advised numerous clients on licensing, compliance, risk management, and product structuring under the supervision of the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV). His work bridges the gap between innovation and regulation, helping clients align technological advancement with legal certainty.
In addition to his transactional and regulatory work, Miguel heads the firm’s Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Practice, offering comprehensive services to national and international companies in developing, assessing, and strengthening internal compliance programs. He regularly assists clients with risk-based AML programs, UIF reporting, internal audits, and policy design aligned with Mexican law and international standards such as FATF recommendations.
Miguel is also a trusted advisor in corporate governance, and cross-border investments. His corporate law practice includes advising boards of directors, shareholders, and C-level executives on fiduciary responsibilities, legal risk, and strategic corporate matters.
In addition to his legal practice, Miguel is completing a Ph.D. in Law at Universidad Anáhuac México, with a dissertation focused on legal frameworks for the banking and fintech sectors. His academic engagement reinforces his ability to offer deeply informed legal guidance on emerging regulatory challenges.
Known for his integrity, strategic mindset, and client-centered approach, Miguel is a regular speaker at legal and business forums and contributes to thought leadership on issues ranging from fintech innovation to compliance reform. His bilingual fluency, international background, and commitment to excellence continue to make him a valuable legal partner for clients navigating Mexico’s evolving regulatory landscape.
