Illegal trafficking of animals is becoming a growing issue in global trade

Efforts by the Obama administration in recent months to focus on illegal trafficking of wildlife and related activities undermining wildlife conservation have not received widespread attention. But that could change in the near future. The under-the-radar nature of the issue may help explain why only a dozen people attended a…

Aug 7, 2014 11:16 PM CDT

Seized cellphones led to capture of ‘most wanted’ Mexican drug trafficker, authorities say

The U.S. will seek extradition of the claimed leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, who was captured over the weekend sleeping in a condo in a Mexican beach resort town in an early-morning raid backed by the American government. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, 56, said to be the “most wanted”…

Feb 24, 2014 6:30 PM CST

Trial begins for lawyer accused of conspiring to launder up to $600M for Mexican drug cartel

A prominent Texas lawyer met with the ex-wife of a former president of Mexico and discussed a scheme in which he would launder as much as $600 million for a drug cartel, a federal prosecutor said Monday as the case went to trial in El Paso. But a lawyer for…

Oct 23, 2013 3:55 PM CDT

ABA, IABA pledge cooperation on issues involving human trafficking, rule of law

The American Bar Association and the Inter-American Bar Association have agreed to work together on issues involving human trafficking, the globalization of the legal profession and funding for judicial systems in the Americas. Leaders of the two organizations signed a memo of understanding (PDF) to that effect Friday in Paraguay.…

Jun 21, 2013 8:49 PM CDT

Wal-Mart Says Retailer Is Investigating Possible Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Issues in Mexico

Responding to a New York Times report earlier this week about a claimed pattern of bribe-paying by a Mexican subsidiary, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it has been looking into the alleged incidents discussed by the newspaper as part of an internal investigation of potential Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues that…

Dec 19, 2012 4:52 PM CST

NY Times Says It Pursued Internal Probe Dropped by Wal-Mart, Describes Claimed Bribes in Mexico

When a lawyer for the Mexican subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. allegedly told executives at the retail giant’s Arkansas headquarters that managers across the border routinely resorted to bribery to avoid zoning, environmental and permitting regulations when building new stores, an internal investigation ensued. But it was also shut down…

Dec 18, 2012 10:18 PM CST

Michoacan Judge Accused of Releasing Drug Cartel Suspects Fired

Efrain Cazares, a federal judge for the Mexico state of Michoacan accused of improperly releasing drug cartel suspects, was fired Wednesday, the Associated Press reports. Mexico’s Federal Judiciary Council did not give specifics, according to the AP, but stated that Cazares was removed from the bench for “serious offenses in…

Oct 25, 2012 5:33 PM CDT

Potential Cover-up Liability in Wal-Mart FCPA Case Could Dwarf Mexican Bribery Claims, Experts Say

Allegations that bribery by the Wal-Mart Stores Inc.subsidiary in Mexico may have violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act look “quite ordinary,” a law professor says. But a claimed cover-up by company officials is a different story, he and other experts tell the Guardian. “The question now is who knew what…

Apr 23, 2012 7:33 PM CDT

Entire Thompson & Knight Team Joins DLA Piper for Valentine’s Day Launch in Mexico City

The entire Mexico City office of Thompson & Knight has jumped ship to join DLA Piper, which opened a new office there today. Two of the four partners making the move, Manuel Rajunov, a tax practitioner, and corporate partner Carlos Valencia, a telecom and technology specialist, will head the new…

Feb 14, 2012 5:59 PM CST

US Citizen Drug Cartel Assassin, 15, Is Convicted in Mexico, Gets 3 Years

A 15-year-old United States citizen who admittedly killed four people by slitting their throats has been convicted in a Mexican court of torturing and beheading four people and kidnapping another three individuals. Convicted of aggravated homicide today in the slayings, Edgar Jimenez Lugo, who is also known as “El Ponchis,”…

Jul 26, 2011 11:04 PM CDT

High Court Asked to Stay Execution of Mexican National

Lawyers for a Mexican national on Texas’ death row petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court today for a stay of the inmate’s scheduled July 7 execution. The petition (PDF) has the backing of the Mexican government, which is expected to file an amicus brief in the case later today calling on…

Jun 28, 2011 5:52 PM CDT

Milbank Corporate & Securities Leader Takes Team to Dewey, Where He Will Head Latin America Practice

The head of the Latin America practice group at Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy is taking a team of lawyers to Dewey & LeBoeuf, where he will serve in a similar leadership role. Michael Fitzgerald, who also chaired the global securities and global corporate groups at his now-former firm, is…

Jun 14, 2011 7:32 PM CDT

Judge Order May Remove Acclaimed Film on Mexico’s Flawed Justice System from Mexican Theaters

A critically lauded documentary on Mexico’s corrupt justice system may be pulled from theaters after a federal judge received a complaint from a disgruntled witness who appears in the film. Presumed Guilty, which tells the story of an innocent man who is found guilty of murder twice, is facing legal…

Mar 8, 2011 7:21 PM CST

Thomson Reuters Rolls Out ‘Mexican Legal Dictionary’ App

Mar 1, 2011 10:40 AM CST

US Citizen, 14, Charged in Mexico as Alleged Drug Cartel Assassin, Could Get 3 Years in Prison

A 14-year-old United States citizen has been charged with homicide by Mexican prosecutors for allegedly serving as an assassin for a drug cartel. The teen, who is identified only as Edgar, was born in San Diego but was reared in Mexico by his grandmother. He is accused of calmly telling…

Feb 10, 2011 9:03 PM CST