Overview

As one of the founding partners of and the senior lawyer in Littler’s Mexico operations, Mónica Schiaffino has continued to serve global as well as domestic employers throughout Mexico and Latin America. For more than 20 years, Mónica has been an acknowledged leader in the field. She is regularly recognized by international publications including Best Lawyers, Who’s Who Legal (including as a “thought leader” in labor and employment law), and Latinvex Magazine, the latter since 2020 has recognized her as the only labor lawyer in its list of “Top 100 Lawyers in Latin America.” In a field dominated by male lawyers, Mónica has routinely been recognized as the only female leader among Mexico’s practitioners.

She has extensive experience with the implementation of pension plans; coordinating and implementing labor structures dealing with expatriates; employee and business transfers; preparing internal labor regulations; reviewing and the implementation of compliance policies and programs including HR and compliance investigations; one-on-one coaching for executives; employee handbooks; discrimination and harassment in the workplace policies and training; employment contracts; incentive plans; confidentiality agreements; conducting due diligence and labor restructuring and collective bargaining agreements.

Mónica has authored several important articles which have appeared in various renowned publications on labor and employment matters in the Americas, and she frequently speaks at national and international labor law conferences.

 

Professional & Community Affiliations

Founding Member

Asociación Nacional de Abogados de Empresa (ANADE), The Labor Group of The Querétaro Chapter

Member

Asociación Nacional de Abogados de Empresa (ANADE)

Member

Asociación de Ejecutivos de Relaciones Industriales (AERIAC)

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in Mexico™

2014-2025

Global Elite Thought Leader, Labour & Employment

Who's Who Legal

2024

Recommended, Pensions & Benefits

Who's Who Legal

2024

Named, Labour and Employment

Chambers Latin America

2017-2018, 2022-2023. 2025

Named, International Who's Who of Management Labour and Employment Lawyers

Who's Who Legal

2022

Named, Latin America’s Top 100 Lawyers

Latinvex

2018-2024

Named, Latin America’s Top 100 Female Lawyers

Latinvex

2016-2024

Named, Lawyer of the Year

Best Lawyers in Mexico

2014

News, Analysis & Press

Networking para introvertidos

AbogadasMX

August 2024

The Global Guide Quarterly (Quarter 2, 2024)

Global Guide Quarterly

July 24, 2024

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q4 2023

Global Guide Quarterly

January 16, 2024

Mexico Increases the Minimum Wage

ASAP

December 4, 2023

México aumenta el Salario Mínimo

ASAP

December 4, 2023

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q3 2023

Global Guide Quarterly

October 17, 2023

Mexico Boosts Minimum Wage by 20 Percent

SHRM Online

March 8, 2023

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q2 2022

Global Guide Quarterly

July 18, 2022

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q4 2021

Global Guide Quarterly

January 19, 2022

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q4 2020

Global Guide Quarterly

February 26, 2021

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q1 2020

Global Guide Quarterly

April 15, 2020

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q3 2019

Global Guide Quarterly

October 16, 2019

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q4 2018

Global Guide Quarterly

January 16, 2019

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q3 2018

Global Guide Quarterly

October 11, 2018

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q2 2018

Global Guide Quarterly

July 20, 2018

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q4 2017

Global Guide Quarterly

January 19, 2018

Cubra al personal las labores conexas

IDC Asesor Laboral, Edition 394

May 15, 2017

Littler Global Guide - Mexico - Q1 2017

Global Guide Quarterly

March 31, 2017

How to Deal with Internal Investigations in Mexico

ACC Docket

July/August 2016

Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits - Mexico

Getting the Deal Through

June 1, 2016

Pensions & Retirement Plans 2016

Getting the Deal Through

May 1, 2016

Top Ten: Labor Restructuring in Mexico

ACC Connections

January 13, 2016

Top 10 Considerations when Outsourcing in Mexico

ACC Legal Resources

April 20, 2015

Employment Of Expatriates In Mexico

Corporate LiveWire

May 1, 2014

Outsourcing in Mexico: Best Practices

Association of Corporate Counsel

March 24, 2014

IP assumes responsibility for benefits

Vanguardia

February 27, 2014

Energy reform attracts more companies

Vanguardia

February 27, 2014

The Labor and Employment Specialists

Reforma

October 28, 2013

Prepare for an STyPS inspection

PymEmpresario

September 12, 2013

Protecting employers’ trade secrets and confidential information in Mexico

Practical Law, A Thomson Reuters Legal Solution

September 1, 2013

IMSS Exposed

El Norte

August 1, 2013

Request your paternity leave

Reforma

July 8, 2013

The IMSS Limits Maternity Leave

El Norte

July 3, 2013

Mexico’s Labor Law Reform: A Step in the Right Direction

Thomson Reuters’ Latin American Law & Business Report

February 1, 2013

Making a difference for entrepreneurs - Mexico

Doing Business

The World Bank Group

2011

Rule of Law Index

The World Justice Project

2010 and 2011

Labour and Employment Benefits: Mexico

Practical Law Company

2011

Reforming through difficult times - Mexico

Doing Business

The World Bank Group

2010

Mexico

Doing Business

The World Bank Group

2008-2009

How to reform - Mexico

Doing Business

The World Bank Group

2007

Creating jobs - Mexico

Doing Business

The World Bank Group

2006

How to Deal with Expatriates

International Bar Association

Books & Book Chapters

  • Pensions & Retirement Plans - Mexico, Getting the Deal Through, Law Business Research Ltd., chapter co-author, 2013 and 2014
  • Labour & Employment, Mexico, Getting the Deal Through, Law Business Research Ltd., contributing author, London UK, 2007-2011
  • International Labour and Employment Compliance Handbook, co-author: Oscar De La Vega, Kluwer Law International BV, Netherlands, 2010
  • Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets in Employment Law, contributing author, BNA and American Bar Association

Speaking Engagements

2024 Mexico Employer Conference

Ciudad de México, CDMX

November 6, 2024

2024 Conferencia Anual de Littler México - Ciudad de México

Ciudad de México, CDMX

November 6, 2024

2023 Conferencia Anual de Littler México - Ciudad de México

Ciudad de México, CDMX

October 11, 2023

2023 Conferencia Anual de Littler México - Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

October 10, 2023

A Global Approach to International Non-Compete, Non-Solicit, Confidentiality & and IP Agreements

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 11, 2023

México: Preparándonos para el reparto de utilidades 2022

March 15, 2022

Lecciones de la nueva normalidad desde la experiencia del liderazgo femenino

Asociación Nacional de Abogados de Empresa (ANADE)

February 23, 2022

México: ¿En qué nos quedamos? Cumplimiento de la NOM-035 sobre factores de riesgo psicosocial

Ciudad de México, CDMX

February 1, 2022

Effective Partnering with Employees: How Employers Can Assist Victims of Domestic Violence

Ciudad de México, CDMX

August 12, 2021

Mexico: Analysis, Labor and Tax Strategies in Face of the Outsourcing Reform

June 29, 2021

Análisis y estrategias laborales y fiscales ante la reforma de subcontratación laboral en México

June 8, 2021

Trabajo de las mujeres: Evolución, derechos y retos, para garantizar igualdad salarial y un ambiente laboral libre de acoso y discriminación

March 8, 2021

Reforma de teletrabajo en México

January 19, 2021

Efectos de la propuesta de reforma en materia de subcontratación

November 24, 2020

Acoso y Discriminación en el Centro de Trabajo

November 18, 2020

Structuring Cross-Border Telecommuting and Remote Work Arrangements in the Era of COVID-19

August 5, 2020

COVID-19 Strategies for APAC-Based Companies with Employees in North America

March 26, 2020

Fifth Annual Conference in Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

October 3, 2019

5a Conferencia Anual en Monterrey

October 3, 2019

Fifth Annual Conference in Mexico City

Ciudad de México, CDMX

October 2, 2019

5a Conferencia Anual en Ciudad de México

October 2, 2019

5ta Conferencia Anual en Colombia

Bogotá

September 6, 2019

The New Federal Labor Law Reform in Mexico: How Will it Affect Your Company?

May 21, 2019

La Nueva Reforma a la Ley Federal del Trabajo en México: ¿Cómo afectará a su empresa?

May 21, 2019

Fourth Annual Conference in Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

November 15, 2018

Cuarta Conferencia Anual en Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

November 15, 2018

Fourth Annual Conference in Mexico City

Ciudad de México, CDMX

November 14, 2018

Cuarta Conferencia Anual en Ciudad de México

Ciudad de México, CDMX

November 14, 2018

Fifth Annual Conference in Central America

October 19, 2018

Quinto Foro Regional de Derecho Laboral

October 19, 2018

#MeToo, #StandUp and Transformative Technologies in the Workplace

San Francisco, CA

September 13, 2018

International Employment & Labor Law Roundtable

Los Angeles, CA

September 12, 2018

Littler Global Summit 2018 - Part 1: A World of Change: The Current L&E Legal Landscapes in France, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica and Other Evolving Jurisdictions

Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, AZ

May 2, 2018

Littler Global – 2017 International Labour and Employment Law Update in Europe

Hamburg

November 7, 2017

Littler Global – 2017 International Labour and Employment Law Update in Europe

Paris

November 6, 2017

Third Annual Conference in Mexico City

Ciudad de México, CDMX

September 27, 2017

Tercera Conferencia Anual en Ciudad de México

Ciudad de México, CDMX

September 27, 2017

Third Annual Conference in Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

September 26, 2017

Tercera Conferencia Anual en Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

September 26, 2017

Global Migration in the Age of Nationalism

The 2017 Executive Employer® Conference

May 11, 2017

Inaugural Europe Conference - Germany

Berlin

November 10, 2016

Latin America Conference

Miami, FL

October 28, 2016

Segunda Conferencia Anual en México - Ciudad de México

Ciudad de México, CDMX

October 5, 2016

Second Annual Mexico Conference - Mexico City

Ciudad de México, CDMX

October 5, 2016

Segunda Conferencia Anual en México - Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

October 4, 2016

Second Annual Mexico Conference - Monterrey

San Pedro Garza García, NL

October 4, 2016

Inaugural Brazil Conference - São Paulo

September 14, 2016

The Cross-Border Conundrum: How Can Multinationals Centralize Their HR Data to Comply with the Multitude of International Data Protection Laws?

The 2016 Executive Employer® Conference, Scottsdale, AZ

May 5, 2016

Littler Global Mexico Conference

November 11, 2015

Littler Global Primera Conferencia en México y Monterrey

November 11, 2015

Littler Global Primera Conferencia en México y Monterrey

November 10, 2015

Littler Global Mexico Conference

November 10, 2015

Employer Considerations for Operations in Mexico

Chicago, IL

November 4, 2015

Littler Global Primera Conferencia en Centroamérica

San José

October 29, 2015

Littler Global Central America Conference

San José

October 29, 2015

Littler Global Peru Conference

Lima

September 23, 2015

Littler Global Colombia Conference

Bogotá

September 10, 2015

Investing in Mexico? Find out the latest reforms, their benefits and complexities

June 23, 2015

Latin America Labor & Employment Law Update

April 29, 2015

Global Data Privacy and Security

San Jose, CA

January 29, 2015

Doing Business in Mexico

San Jose, CA

January 29, 2015

Compliance and Liability Prevention on Global Level

San Jose, CA

January 29, 2015

Labor & Employment Issues: Three Things an Employer Should Master for Success in Latin America

Miami, FL

November 13, 2014

The 2014 Houston Employer Conference

Houston, TX

August 14, 2014

Labor Law in Texas

June 20, 2014

First Regional Forum: Proper Use of Technology Under Labour Law

November 14, 2013

International Employment Law Update

October 10, 2013

Investigating Cross-Border Whistleblower Claims: A Challenge for Multinational Employers

July 31, 2013

Critical Changes to the Labor Landscape in Latin America and the Implications for U.S. Employers

Dallas, TX

April 4, 2013

The Mexico Federal Labor Law Reform

February 5, 2013

Preventing Workplace Harassment in a Global Workforce

Global Employer Institute

Littler Mendelson, Washington D.C.

November 8, 2012

Mergers, Acquisitions and Other Transfers of Business: Due Diligence and other Employment Law Challenges for Multinational Employers

October 24, 2012

North American Law on Anti-Corruption, Cross-Border Enforcement and Discovery Issues

International, Business/Corporate & Intellectual Property sections - San Diego County Bar Association

October 23, 2012

Anti-Corruption - Local Legislative Developments and Coordinated Global Compliance Enforcement: The New Challenges for Global Employers

The 2012 Executive Employer® Conference

Littler Mendelson, Scottsdale, AZ

May 10, 2012

Pension dynamics in Latin America

World Pension Summit, Amsterdam, NL

November 4, 2011

Ageing, how does the world deal with this challenge?!

World Pension Summit, Amsterdam, NL

November 3, 2011

Pensions in an ageing world: A Global Comparison

World Pension Summit, Amsterdam, NL

November 2, 2011

Education

  • Advanced Law Degree, Centro de Estudios de Actualización en Derecho, 2007
  • Law Degree, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, MX, 2004With Honors

Languages

  • Spanish
  • German
  • English

Bar Admission

Mexico