Biography: Oil and Gas

Mr Francisco Valdes is partner heading Cervantes Sainz, SC energy practice, former Executive Secretary of the Mexican Regulatory Energy Commission (CRE). He provides advice in the areas of natural gas, LPG, LNG, storage, oil, electricity and petrochemical, and represents national and international clients in all kinds of regulatory matters and in the development of infrastructure projects. Mr Valdes also heads the firm's public works and procurement practice.

Mr Valdes holds a law degree from the University of Monterrey, and has postgraduate studies in constitutional and administrative law from the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM). Mr Valdes has also studies in international and Comparative Law as well as in business law. Mr Valdes has taught Constitutional and Labor Law at the Universidad Anahuac.

  His professional trajectory includes 10 years of experience as a public servant in legal services occupying various positions such as Attorney of the Legal Services Office of the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS); Chief of the Unit of Legal Services of the National Fund for Worker's Housing Institute in the State of Mexico (INFONAVIT); and Regional Director of the Central-South Region of the Toll Roads and Federal Bridges Department (CAPUFE).

  In the private sector, Mr Valdes has been an associate lawyer of Jauregui, Navarrete, SC, working mainly in areas related with energy (Gas, Electricity and Petrochemical). Mr Valdes is an active member of the Mexican Bar Association since 1997 and the 'National Bar Association of Companies' (ANADE).