Meet the officer
Eduardo C Botello Adame is the Managing Partner of Santos Elizondo, a full-service firm based in Monterrey, Mexico. He joined the firm in 2005, became a partner in 2016 and has led it since 2023. Nicole Phillis, the North American Regional Forum’s Publications Officer, sat down with him for a conversation about running a law firm, why the IBA is worth the flights and what he does when he is not doing any of that
Released on Sep 21, 2026
Clean onboarding in an era of employee mobility: ten best practices to reduce trade secret and confidential information disputes in the United States
Employee mobility litigation has proliferated as employers compete for talent in increasingly fluid labour markets. At the same time, courts have become more skeptical of broad restraints on mobility, particularly in jurisdictions such as California. As a result, many employers are seeking out guidance on how to avoid mobility disputes before they even start. The following best practices can help organisations implement a defensible and ethical onboarding programme to prevent mobility disputes before they even arise.
Released on Sep 21, 2026
Join us in Copenhagen for NARF Programming
The IBA’s North American Regional Forum (NARF) will present a robust series of programmes at the 2026 International Bar Association Annual Conference in Copenhagen, exploring many of the most important developments affecting North American business, trade, governance, and the legal profession. From the future of the USMCA and regional trade integration to constitutional law, corporate risk management, and sustainability, NARF's programming will provide timely insights from leading practitioners, academics, business leaders, and public officials from across the US, Canada and Mexico.
Released on Sep 21, 2026
A message from the IBA North American Regional Forum Chair
It has been a fantastic year for the North American Regional Forum! Richard Singelton, IBA NARF Chair, invites members to join us for another exciting year of engagement, collaboration and thought leadership within the International Bar Association
Released on Sep 21, 2026
‘Economic reality’ check: worker classification issues in the US
In 2024, a federal judge in California observed that ‘[d]rawing the line between ‘employee’ and ‘independent contractor’ is a difficult task, with significant consequences for workers and businesses, that has long vexed courts and lawmakers across the country’. Labour and employment attorneys keeping pace with this ever-changing area of law may also count themselves among the vexed. To help explain why this area of law has frustrated so many for so long, this article provides an overview of the concept of worker classification, discusses its significance to various stakeholders and identifies several recent inflection points in the debate regarding independent contractor status in the US.
Released on Sep 21, 2026
Work permit exemptions for high skilled workers and researchers entering Canada on a short-term basis
Foreign nationals sometimes need to enter Canada on short notice, in order to perform gainful employment in Canada. In such cases, there may be insufficient time to apply for a formal work permit. Fortunately, it is possible for some foreign nationals to work in Canada for short periods of time, without the need for a formal work permit. This article explores the different employment laws and institutions surrounding these permits and how they effect foreign workers in Canada.
Released on Jun 8, 2026
Mexico’s judicial overhaul: implications for North American companies
Mexico has embarked on one of the most consequential constitutional transformations in its modern legal history. A sweeping judicial reform, enacted in September 2024 and now being implemented through 2025–2027, fundamentally restructures how judges are selected, how courts operate, and how constitutional protections function. For North American companies – particularly those operating under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) – this reform is not merely institutional. It has direct implications for dispute resolution, regulatory enforcement and the predictability of the rule of law in Mexico.
Released on Jun 8, 2026
Recent legislative amendments expand entitlement to Canadian citizenship by descent
Recent amendments to the Canadian Citizenship Act have significantly expanded the pool of foreign-born persons who may now have a claim to Canadian citizenship by descent. Anyone with an ancestor who was either born or naturalised in Canada may now have a claim to Canadian citizenship from birth if they can document the transmission of Canadian citizenship through multiple generations. This article will explore the history of amendments to Canadian citizenship, as well as the legal ramifications for the new amendment.
Released on Jun 8, 2026
When asylum confidentiality meets international police cooperation
International police cooperation is based on trust that participating states will act in good faith and that shared information will not be misused. US asylum law rests on a different assumption: contact with an asylum seeker’s home government can create danger. When these frameworks intersect, as they do in cases involving alerts issued by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), tensions arise that can expose asylum seekers and complicate adjudication, and which remain largely unaddressed in law or policy.
Released on Jun 8, 2026
Tracking FATF compliance in North America: Mexico, the US and Canada
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental standard setter created in 1989 to protect the international financial system from abuse. It develops global anti–money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing standards evaluates how well countries are implementing them and promotes cooperation among governments, supervisory bodies and the private sector. This article scrutinises the compliance amongst the countries of North America and their trajectories moving forward on their pathways.
Released on Apr 28, 2026
Liability and arbitration obligations of non-signatories to contracts
This article identifies and discusses circumstances under US law where a party may be held liable for breach − and be obligated to arbitrate claims − under a contract that it did not sign.
Released on Feb 10, 2026
Epic v Google: a major turning point in Big Tech regulation
This article analyses the Ninth Circuit’s July 31 2025 decision in Epic v Google and the Ninth Circuit’s willingness to bless forward-looking remedies in the regulation of Big Tech.
Released on Feb 10, 2026
Employment and diversity lawyers and the ‘S’ in ESG
This article intends to highlight the workplace issues that have emerged as a result of the growing ESG movement.
Released on Apr 20, 2023
The importance of the ESG movement to employment and diversity lawyers
The emergence of a powerful ESG movement, embracing so many causes and interested parties, requires more attention by employment and diversity lawyers with regard to monitoring compliance issues and to anticipate campaigns and complaints in advance.
Released on Oct 3, 2022
Comparative Corner: drone laws in Mexico, Canada and the United States
In this edition of the IBA North American Regional Forum Newsletter, three drone lawyers – Edmundo Olivares Dufoo of Flores, Olivares, Cobián Abogados y Consultores (Mexico), Zain Hemani of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt (Canada), and Michael J Lambert of Haynes and Boone (United States) – will provide a comparative overview of drone laws in Mexico, Canada and the US.
Released on Sep 13, 2022
Private equity: the rise of ESG considerations
This article discusses environmental, social and governance (ESG) and investment decision-making, the factors to be considered, and the key ESG considerations for private equity decision making.
Released on Sep 5, 2022
Letter from NARF Chair – September 2022
Released on Sep 5, 2022
Digital businesses and analogue challenges: start-up losses incurred in web-based businesses
The application of traditional tax rules is strained by the extension of internet technology to virtually every facet of business and our personal lives. In Kellett v Commissioner, the United States Tax Court updated traditional rules regarding the deductibility of start-up losses for a technology entrepreneur. This article explores how US tax rules are being adapted to 21st century businesses.
Released on Sep 5, 2022
Post-AK Futures: what lies ahead for hemp-derived psychoactive cannabinoid products?
This article summarises the Ninth Circuit’s recent decision in AK Futures and considers industry-wide impacts on the potential legalisation of delta-8 THC products derived from industrial hemp.
Released on Sep 5, 2022
Interview with Michael Maya – September 2022
Michael Maya has been the Director for IBA’s North America Office for almost ten years. In this interview he shares his insights on the future of the rule of law, why he is so passionate about it and how IBA members and the new generations can get more involved in promoting the rule of law. Michael also talks about the main contributions from the IBA to the legal community and some of the lessons he learned from Africa, among other fascinating views.
Released on Sep 5, 2022
North American Regional Forum – April 2022 – From the Chair
This is an introduction from the NARF’s Chair to the spring newsletter. It details upcoming programmes hosted by the NARF at the IBA 2022 Annual Conference.
Released on Apr 26, 2022
Comparative Corner: a discussion of pretrial discovery methods in Mexico, Canada and the United States
This article documents an informal discussion between three NARF members regarding the availability and scope of pretrial discovery in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Released on Apr 26, 2022
Financial services regulatory: consultations on climate-related risks
This article considers the changing regulatory landscape for financial institutions globally with respect to climate-related risks. It outlines the key takeaways from consultations both within Canada and internationally.
Released on Apr 22, 2022
Beware defaulting parties in arbitration proceedings
Arbitration is a widespread and common procedure for resolving disputes, but there is no procedural device in arbitration equivalent to a default judgment in a court of law. This article outlines the factors to be considered when arbitrating against a party who refuses to participate.
Released on Apr 22, 2022
The SEC’s tough stance on intermediary institutions: compliance and litigation risks
This article discusses the recent SEC case involving PwC and highlights the wider implications for intermediary institutions providing professional services in a tightened regulatory and enforcement regime in China’s banking and financial sector.
Released on Apr 22, 2022
Comparative observations on pilot licencing: Mexico, Canada and the United States
International private aviation flights, also known as general aviation, can be conducted with minimal additional licensing requirements. This offers more efficient business travel for clients with access to general aviation aircraft.
Released on Apr 22, 2022
Meet the officer: an interview with NARF’s Chair Kelli Sager
With over 35 years of experience, Kelli Sager has been recognised as one of the most influential attorneys in media law and has held leadership positions in virtually every media-related bar association. In this interview, Kelli shares how she built her impressive career and why she is so passionate about free speech and cameras in the court.
Released on Apr 20, 2022
The wild world of NFTs
This article provides a brief introduction to the concept of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and some of the challenges experienced in relation to these digital assets.
Released on Apr 20, 2022
Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program
This article outlines the eligibility requirements and types of approvals made under Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program.
Released on Apr 20, 2022
Mexican energy sector: a regulatory update
Mexico’s energy sector is undergoing regulatory changes and bracing for the Congressional discussion regarding constitutional changes that could have a major impact on the industry.
Released on Apr 20, 2022