Chambers and Partners recently published the official schedule of submissions for the Latin America 2027 edition. This announcement brings with it significant changes that will have important strategic implications for law firms operating in Mexico.

Advance planning will be essential to achieve optimal positioning in the directory, considering that several areas have been redefined or separated into new categories.

Why is this new calendar relevant?

The 2027 edition includes important structural changes in several key areas such as Data Protection and Banking & Finance, in addition to specific separations in Energy & Natural Resources practices. These adjustments imply opportunities to position yourself better in specific rankings, provided that submissions are properly structured.

Schedule to apply to the official Chambers and Partners for Mexico:

2025

September

• Compliance: until September 4, 2025
• International Trade/WTO: until September 4, 2025
• Projects: up to September 4, 2025
• Life Sciences: until September 26, 2025
• Competition/Antitrust: until 26 September 2025

Octubre

• Corporate/M&A: until October 20, 2025
• Energy & Natural Resources: Mining: until October 20, 2025
• Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas: until 20 October 2025
• Energy & Natural Resources: Power: until October 20, 2025

Noviembre

• Labour & Employment: until 17 November 2025

2026

Enero

• Corporate/Commercial: Monterrey: until January 5, 2026
• Data Protection (new area): until January 5, 2026
• Dispute Resolution: Monterrey: until January 5, 2026
• General Business Law: Guadalajara: until January 5, 2026
• General Business Law: Queretaro: until January 5, 2026
• Intellectual Property: until January 5, 2026
• Environment: until 26 January 2026
• Insurance: until January 26, 2026
• Tax: Controversy: until January 26, 2026
• Tax: Non-Contentious: until 26 January 2026

February

• Banking & Finance: until 23 February 2026
• Banking & Finance: Regulatory (new separation): until 23 February 2026
• Dispute Resolution: Arbitration: until 23 February 2026
• Dispute Resolution: Civil & Commercial Litigation: until 23 February 2026
• Dispute Resolution: White-Collar Crime: Until February 23, 2026
• Real Estate: until 23 February 2026

March

• Aviation: until 23 March 2026
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring: until 23 March 2026
• Capital Markets: Until 23 March 2026
• Public Law: until 23 March 2026

New practice areas and key changes at Chambers Latin America 2027

Chambers and Partners not only updated the delivery dates for the Latin America 2027 edition, but it also introduced significant adjustments to the structure of practice areas that directly impact the way in which firms should approach their submissions. These changes respond to the evolution of the legal market and to the need for greater precision in positioning by specialty.

1. Data Protection, now with its own identity

One of the most prominent movements is the creation of the independent category of Data Protection, which until now was integrated into the TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunications) section.

With this separation, Chambers recognizes the maturity and growing specialization of this practice, especially in markets such as Mexico, where data protection, regulatory compliance and cybersecurity have become strategic priorities for companies and institutions.

What does this change entail?

For firms with robust experience in:

• Privacy and protection of personal data
  
  
• International data transfers
  
  
• Compliance Audits (LOPD, GDPR, etc.)
  
  
• Cybersecurity consulting
  
  
• Litigation or proceedings before the INAI
  
  

... this new category represents a concrete opportunity to make their capabilities visible without being overshadowed by broader technology practices.

It also involves a strategic decision: Is it appropriate to present the practice in TMT, Data Protection or both? In many cases, it will be key to differentiate teams, customers and issues to maximize positioning in each category.

2. Banking & Finance is divided into two fronts

Another key structural modification for this edition is the formal separation of the practice of Banking & Finance in two different categories:

• Banking & Finance
  For transactional matters such as syndicated loans, structured finance, debt issues or financial restructurings.
  
  
• Banking & Finance: Regulatory
  For issues related to licensing, regulatory compliance, banking regulation, fintech, relations with authorities such as the CNBV or Banxico, and the development of regulated financial products.
  
  

Why is it important?

For years, many firms with strong regulatory capabilities were obscured by submissions more focused on transactional operations. With this new classification, regulatory practices can finally be highlighted separately, allowing better visibility before Chambers and differentiation from firms that focus exclusively on traditional corporate or financial banking.

This change also poses an operational requirement: signatures must reorganize their submission, separating cases, teams and clients according to the approach of each category. For those who lead in both areas, it's an excellent opportunity to demonstrate comprehensive coverage; for those who specialize, it's time to position themselves as references in their niche.

3. Energy and Natural Resources: A More Detailed Map

The area of Energy & Natural Resources, traditionally grouped into a single category, has been restructured by Chambers into three independent divisions to more precisely reflect the specialization of the market:

• Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas
  
  
• Energy & Natural Resources: Power
  
  
• Energy & Natural Resources: Mining
  
  

What changes with this division?

Until now, many Mexican firms submitted a single submission that included electric energy, upstream/downstream and mining projects indistinctly. This new structure requires Rethink the positioning strategy, correctly segmenting teams, relevant cases and technical leadership by subindustry.

This represents a key opportunity for firms that:

• They specialize only in mining or electrical energy (renewable or conventional)
  
  
• They have a solid oil & gas portfolio, but no presence in the other subsectors
  
  
• They seek to position themselves in Chambers without directly competing with dominant multiservice firms
  
  

In addition, the finer classification allows Chambers to more clearly assess the technical depth of each firm in its specific field, which can translate into better rankings — if the submission is properly structured.

4. Other key changes for Mexico in terms of changes to Chambers and Partners' submissions

In addition to the new divisions and independent areas, Chambers continues to refine the way in which it analyzes the Mexican market. Here are some of the additional changes worth considering:

• Dispute Resolution expands with more precise subcategories, such as White-Collar Crime (financial crimes), which is already active. This allows better visibility for firms with experience in economic criminal litigation or sanctioning compliance.
  
  
• If Consolidate regional areas, such as:
  
  
  • Corporate/Commercial: Monterrey
    
    
  • General Business Law: Guadalajara
    
    
  • General Business Law: Queretaro
    
    
• This regional approach reinforces the relevance of firms with a local presence or domain, opening up positioning opportunities beyond Mexico City.
  
  
• The area of Projects It is maintained as an independent category with regard to practices such as Banking & Finance or Energy, and has a Early deadline: September 4, 2025. It is essential to anticipate this practice, especially for firms that work on APPs, social or energy infrastructure and project financing.
  
  

What should law firms do now?

The new Chambers Latin America 2027 scheme does not only involve administrative changes. Suppose a strategic redefinition of how information is presented, leadership is structured and differentiating capacities are positioned of each firm.

Key recommendations:

• Review the portfolio of previous submissions, identifying practices that now have their own space or more competitive categories.
  
  
• Restructure cases and teams by specific area. Copy-pasting general submissions will no longer suffice.
  
  
• Plan ahead. Several deadlines are in September and October 2025, which means having drafts ready before closing the second quarter.
  
  

This update doesn't just require greater technical precision. Also It opens new doors for firms that were previously invisible under broad or unspecific categories.

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