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Thirty-four students from Mexico’s UP enhance legal training at second Cuatrecasas Legal Week
March 25, 2024
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SubscribeCuatrecasas has successfully closed the second Cuatrecasas Legal Week, a pioneering program aimed at postgraduate and final-year undergraduate law students from the most prestigious universities in Latin America. The program combines academic training in global and strategic legal matters, with the opportunity to learn firsthand about the firm’s legal practice model in a unique and innovative professional experience. The firm thus strengthens its collaboration with academic institutions that foster talent creation and recruitment.
This year’s Cuatrecasas Legal Week—held from March 18 to 22 at the firm’s Barcelona office—was attended by 34 law students from the Panamerican University of Mexico (UP), who were accompanied by professors and heads of the faculties of law from UP’s different campuses. During the five-day event, they participated in practical sessions led by lawyers from the firm. These sessions addressed the main issues of business law, highlighting the most cross-cutting aspects and those involving different jurisdictions. They also studied how new technologies are directly affecting the legal advisory needs of companies.
Of the highly topical subjects from the legal scene that were discussed, we highlight the following: cybersecurity and digital property; business technology and development; creating and investing in startups; competition regulation in the international market; ESG: a legal vision of sustainability; challenges of the new taxation; family businesses: the challenges of a global world; and international conflict management. The program was completed with sessions held in emblematic places of Barcelona, such as the one on philanthropy and patronage held at the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), and the one to do with sports law, at the RCD Espanyol de Barcelona Stadium.
Maribel Villaró, Cuatrecasas partner and the program manager, took stock of this year’s Legal Week: “The impact of new technologies and global presence on business law was the common denominator in all the sessions; the mobility component, both of people and companies, adds complexity to client advisory services as an increasing number of jurisdictions are involved.” She also highlighted how dynamic the sessions were: “The speakers presented very interactive sessions and the attendees raised a lot of questions, confirming the interest this program creates and its value for future lawyers.”
As regards the collaboration with Latin American universities, Villaró said: "The firm is steadfastly committed to excellence in client service and developing talent. In this spirit, we are working with leading academic institutions like the Panamerican University of Mexico. Our goal is to boost the firm in this type of agreements and partnerships. We are convinced that the Cuatrecasas Legal Week is a successful pioneering program that will be further consolidated with global vision, continuing to back shared talent and knowledge.”
María Fernanda González, head of undergraduate studies in law at the UP, emphasized how important the program is for improving the participants’ educational background: “The sessions enabled the students to learn about trends in European law through innovative content taught by the firm’s experts. The direct dialogue established between the speakers and students encouraged critical thinking and innovative ideas for professional development in their different responsibilities. It has been a very enriching experience for the students, many of whom would like to join a global law firm like Cuatrecasas, either in Mexico or Spain.”
Finally, Andrea Madrid, a university student participating in this year’s Legal Week, highlighted: “I thought it was an interesting experience; very formative and educational. I learned a lot about the legal field in different aspects and areas of the law, and also about the lifestyle and daily activities of the partners who gave the training sessions and how Cuatrecasas has grown. This experience has helped me to have a more global and European view of what law is about, and that will be an example for us in Mexico.”
In light of the success of the first two years of the program, Cuatrecasas is already working on next year’s program. The firm’s work to foster talent focuses on consolidating initiatives like this, which through partnerships with academic institutions are able to support the training and education of future generations of jurists.
March 25, 2024
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