I explain Mexican law to people who didn't grow up with it.
I'm Javier Quezada, a litigation attorney based in Mérida, Yucatán. I've practiced law for 15 years, and about 90% of my work happens in court.
Why I work with foreign clients
Plenty of Mexican lawyers speak English. Far fewer speak legal English, and fewer still understand the system you come from.
That gap causes real damage, because the Mexican system is very different from the one you know. There are no jury trials here. And if you're detained, the first hours matter more than anything that comes later: within a couple of days you can be standing in front of a judge. A lawyer who translates the words but not the system leaves you agreeing to things you don't actually understand.
My job is to explain how your case works in Mexico, in terms that make sense to someone trained by a different system, so that the decisions stay yours.
What my practice looks like
I litigate. Property disputes, family matters that cross borders, and cases where a foreigner ends up on the wrong side of a Mexican authority. I also do the preventive work, such as due diligence before a purchase, because I've seen in court what happens when it's skipped.
- My office is in Mérida, but my cases aren't limited to Yucatán. I handle federal matters anywhere in Mexico and currently have open litigation in Mexico City, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
The kind of cases I take
A newborn with no birth certificate and a kidnapping accusation. A foreign parent came to me with a daughter born through surrogacy in Mexico. The child had no birth certificate, so she had no passport and the family could not leave the country. On top of that, the surrogate had accused them of kidnapping. There were no written contracts to rely on.
We filed an amparo, a constitutional action before a federal court, so the child could have a provisional birth certificate. We gathered evidence in Mexico City, where the pregnancy took place, to show that there had been no kidnapping and that the surrogate had no genetic link to the girl. Medical treatment records and witness testimony were enough to get the accusation dismissed. A second amparo then granted her a permanent birth certificate. She now lives in the United States with her parents.
A paid-off house with no deed. An American couple bought a house in Mérida. Three years later they had paid for the property, the fideicomiso and the closing costs in full, and still had no deed and no house. We filed a criminal complaint and a civil suit and brought public attention to the case. They got their deed and their house.
A beach house damaged by the construction next door. A Canadian resident had her beachfront property nearly destroyed when a condominium went up on the neighboring lot. The owners were prominent and well connected in the state. She tried to hire five lawyers and none of them returned her calls. We applied pressure, negotiated, and she was paid for the damage.
Details are omitted to protect my clients' identities. Every case is different, and these don't predict yours.
Training and credentials
Law degree, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (1999–2004)
Licensed to practice in Mexico: cédula profesional 6462824
Diplomas in Human Rights, Oral Commercial Litigation and Amparo Proceedings, from the Federal Judiciary's Casa de la Cultura Jurídica (since closed)
Languages: Spanish and English
How I work
You talk to me
I take the consultation and handle the case myself. My assistants help with follow-up: delivering documents and simple filings.
You get the bad news too
If your case is weak, or not worth what it would cost, I'll say so in the consultation.
Fees in writing
Before any work starts.
Updates without chasing
You hear from me when something happens.
What clients say
“…He is highly qualified, knowledgeable, professional, and reliable. He explained everything clearly and always made me feel confident that my case was in good hands.”
Sandra Kopp-Herrarte · Google review
“…Several other law firms stopped returning our calls once they learned who we would be up against. Javier treated our case with seriousness and respect from the very beginning, never backing down despite the circumstances…”
Daniel Powell · Google review
