Summary
Beatriz Leycegui Gardoqui has over 25 years of experience in international trade matters in the private, public and academic sectors.
Beatriz is a partner at SAI Law & Economics, an economics, legal and investment banking consulting firm, which she rejoined in 2013 as Head of SAI’s International Trade Law Practice Group. Position she previously held in the firm from 1999 to 2006. Beatriz’ work focuses on advising on World Trade Organization obligations and dispute settlement, free trade agreements, investment, customs and trade remedy cases, regulatory and public policy issues; to domestic and international companies, as well as federal, state and foreign governments.
Beatriz served as Undersecretary for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Economy of Mexico between 2006 and 2011. In that capacity, she was in charge Mexico’s international trading relationships, international trade negotiations and litigation and Mexico's representation before economic and trade international forums and organizations (WTO, APEC, OECD and ALADI).
Beatriz’ public sector experience also includes serving as the Director of Legal Analysis for the office tasked with negotiating NAFTA at the Ministry of Economy between 1990 and 1992, and several positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1990) and the Ministry of the Interior (1983-1988).
Beatriz has also worked as a professor and researcher at the ITAM between 2011-2012 and 1993-1999, where she published the book Reflections on Mexico’s International Trade Policy - 2006-2012. During her first tenure at the ITAM, she directed the training programs for NAFTA panelists, was the Academic Director of the North American Committee and coordinated and coauthored Trading Punches: Trade Remedy Law and Disputes under NAFTA and Natural Partners? - Five Years of NAFTA. In addition, she has published several articles and research papers.
Beatriz graduated as a lawyer from the Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico City and holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in New York.
Beatriz is part of the World Trade Organization’s indicative list of panelists and serves as panelist and arbitrator. She is founding member and part of the Governing Board of the Mexican Council on Foreign Affairs.