Judith A. Wilson is a Partner in Bryan, Gonzalez Vargas & Gonzalez Baz, S.C., managing the firm’s Tijuana, Mexicali and San Diego offices. She has over 25 years of experience representing foreign and domestic companies, both public and private, when investing in Mexico. Her practice is focused on advising and representing clients on a variety of matters related to real estate, business development, hospitality, corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, foreign trade and investment. She has serviced the Mexican operations of the firm’s American, Asian and European clients and is a frequent speaker on matters of Mexican law.
Mrs. Wilson has assisted clients for decades in a wide variety of legal issues, which include the formation of partnerships and corporations, joint ventures, establishment of maquiladoras, energy projects, drafting of documents such as collective bargaining agreements, personnel policies, benefit plans, international contracts and settlement negotiations. She is also heavily involved in social and charitable endeavors, being an active member of numerous committees and charitable institutions pursuing a social impact. Judith A. Wilson has ample experience in commercial dealings and has counseled during negotiations involving foreign and domestic investors, acquisition of real estate for industrial and business projects, shareholder disputes and agreements, as well as public bidding procedures.
Mrs. Wilson has been a member of Bryan, Gonzalez Vargas & Gonzalez Baz since 1990, amounting to almost 30 years of experience advising clients of all industries and practices, making her a reference in the region for legal services. Her ability to establish professional relations has given clients the confidence they need and gives them unique assurance that their legal issues will be solved ethically and diligently.
+ Practice Areas
Real Estate Law
Hospitality
Resort Development
Government Affairs
Cross-border Transactions
Corporate Law
Mergers & Acquisitions
Foreign Investment & Customs
Foreign Trade
+ Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Customs Law
and Foreign Trade (2002)
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Postgraduate Certificate in Tax Law (1997)
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Postgraduate in Taxation Studies (1996)
Universidad Iberoamericana, Tijuana Extension
Bachelor of Laws (Summa Cum Laude, 1995 with highest honors for Academic Merit “Merito Academico”) Universidad Iberoamericana, Campus Tijuana
+Admissions
Mexico (1996)
+Languages
Spanish
English
+ Representative Transactions
- Represented Fortune 500 companies and publicly traded companies in establishing and developing business operations in Mexico.
- Acted as legal counsel to public and private U.S. companies involved in numerous industries, including manufacturing, real estate development, construction, retail, telecommunications, aerospace, aviation, oil and gas, healthcare, and tourism, among others.
- Successfully represented a major aviation company in its plan to expand operations in Baja California, which included supervision and coordination of real estate acquisitions, contract preparation and negotiation, due diligence, procurement of aviation and operation permits and licenses, implementation of corporate strategies and tax planning, among others.
- Acted as the lead counsel for one of the world’s leading companies in the aerospace industry in its pursuit to establish operations in Mexico, helping consolidate such company as one of the region’s most important sources of employment and investment.
- Prepared detailed and thorough legal opinion on a wide variety of subjects, including title opinions, litigation, condominium regime, land disputes, real estate due diligence, agrarian issued, land purchases, airport concessions, land use, concessions for communication services and fishing concessions, among many others.
- Successfully lead one of the world’s largest automotive companies in the establishment of its manufacturing operations in Baja California.
- Acted as liaison and lobbyist before all types of authorities and government agencies, especially at the Local and State level.
- Provided legal guidance and counsel for the development of major industrial, investment, retail and energy projects in different regions of Mexico for over 25 years.
- Has represented numerous foreign investors for more than 25 years in business ventures of all kind, including mergers & acquisitions, real estate development projects, corporate restructuring and project financing, among others.
- Successfully advised and represented a U.S. publicly traded gas and oil company in real estate transactions worth over $30 Million Dollars in the State of Baja California, which entailed extensive due diligence, settlement negotiations and preparation of legal opinions and options to purchase real estate.
- Representation of various U.S. oil companies in energy projects in Mexico, which required due diligence over real estate, resolution of ejido disputes and procurement of Federal Maritime Zone Concessions (ZOFEMAT).
- Participated in all legal matters pertaining to the acquisition of real estate worth $100 Million Dollars, including the negotiations and settlement of disputes with landowners, prepare option agreements, purchase agreements, amendments, termination agreements and title remedy procedures.
- Represented various U.S. companies and U.S. title insurance companies in real estate transactions, which included coordinating and overseeing due diligence processes, opinions over contracts, ejidos, real estate, land use, ZOFEMAT and various licensing matters.
- Diligently represented multiple joint venture groups over the years for the development of real estate projects in Baja California Sur in all transactions pertaining to the acquisition of real estate worth in excess of $50 Million Dollars, including airport concessions, negotiations with land owners, ejidos, preparation of settlements, guarantee agreements, coordination with government officials regarding permits and concessions.
- Acted as corporate counsel for a global electronic components company during the establishment of their business in Mexico, which included incorporation of subsidiaries, negotiation of leases and preparation of distribution and sale agreements.
- Provided legal counseling to a major Japanese electronics corporation in all matters related to their business ventures in Mexico.
- Supervised and coordinated our corporate and foreign investment teams in advising a multinational steel company seeking to establish operations in Mexico.
+ Professional Experience
- Partner in Bryan, Gonzalez Vargas & Gonzalez Baz, S.C. (since 1990).
- Professor of International Law, Universidad Xochicalco Tijuana Campus (1996 to 1999).
- Official Translator/Interpreter before the State of Baja California Supreme Court (1998 to 2005).
+ Professional Associations
- Member of the National Association of Corporate Counsel ANADE (Mexico).
- President of the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Chapter.
- Vice President of the ProMexico (Mexico Trade Development Council) Entrepreneurial Board in Los Angeles, California.
- Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Internal Law, Tijuana City Chapter.
- Past President of the AEM (Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos) San Diego Chapter.
- Former Secretary of the Board of Directors of the US-Mexico Bar Association.
- Secretary of the “Las Californias” Bi-National Board of the AEM.
- Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Baja California Medical Tourism Association.
- Board Member of the Foundation for the Children of the Californias.
- Board Member of the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce.
- Former Board Member of the Western Maquiladora Trade Association.
- Member of the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the International Bar Association
- Member of the American Bar Association, Section of International Law
- Member of the National Association of Corporate Attorneys ANADE (Mexico)
- Member of the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce
- LEAD San Diego IMPACT Class of 2014