Cross-Border Challenges & Opportunities Under the New Administration

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Save the dateFebruary 27, 20255:15 PM - 8:00 PM (CST) Add to Calendar

Venue Location

Target Productions And Studios

1380 River Bend Drive
Suite 109
Dallas, Texas

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Organizer

Organizer: AEM DFW, Ustun Law Group PLLC, Verdin Law Firm, LLC, Target Productions, Gutierrez Law Group, Deforest Attorneys, IBC Bank, Venture Point, Foster US & Global Immigration Services, Aeromexico, ROLL & HARRIS LLP

Phone: 2146356245

Contact Person: Marcela Nunez

Email: memberships.dfw@aem-usa.org

A Conversation on Cross-Border Challenges & Opportunities Under the New Administration: Trade, Foreign Investment and Immigration

This panel is part of the AEM DFW's 2025 Workshop Series and will bring together legal experts

to discuss critical issues affecting cross-border business. The conversation will focus on trade,

foreign investment, and immigration—key topics in today's legal and economic landscape.

Agenda

5:15 PM - 6:00 PM
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Immigration
Immigration
6:30 PM - 6:40 PM
Q&A
Q&A
6:40 PM - 7:10 PM
Trade
Trade
7:10 PM - 7:20 PM
Q&A
Q&A
7:20 PM - 7:50 PM
Foreign Investment
Foreign Investment
7:50 PM - 8:00 PM
Q&A
Q&A

Speakers

Armando Beteta

Panelist / Foreign Legal Consultant at Roll and Harris, LLP

Armando Beteta

Panelist / Foreign Legal Consultant at Roll and Harris, LLP

https://www.thetradelawfirm.com/

High impact global trade lawyer with 25+ years of international trade and customs experience; deep knowledge in executing customs risks assessments; proactive identification of customs benefits through strategic duty planning via Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Special Customs regimes; track record in minimizing/eliminating customs contingencies by timely advising on the critical risks and success factors for customs processes; mature project management and regional team leadership capabilities; regional experience on origin, classification and valuation topics.

Prior to joining Roll & Harris LLP, Armando was Managing Director in Ernst & Young LLP, leading the customs and international trade practice in their Latin American Business Center. He was also Mexico's representative at the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Center, a tri-national office in charge of providing exporters, importers and producers from North America with technical information regarding customs procedures under NAFTA. Armando was appointed to the NAFTA Center by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico (Tax Administration Service) in March 1995. During his 10-year career in the public sector, he served as the Chief of Staff for the Federal Fiscal Attorney of Mexico and Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs on Indirect Taxes. He also served as Legal Advisor to the Technical Secretariat of the Economic Cabinet in the Presidency of Mexico.

Over the years, Armando has also acquired extensive experience with customs guidelines for the establishment of IMMEX (Maquila) operations in Mexico; customs and NAFTA/USMCA due diligence and compliance reviews; customs and international trade advisory services; as well as duty strategic planning through FTAs.

Armando is certified as a Foreign Legal Consultant at the Texas Bar, has written several articles in the customs and international trade area and enjoys participating as lecturer in international trade conferences. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Master of Laws (LLM)
University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada)

Law Degree
Escuela Libre de Derecho (Mexico City, Mexico)

Patricio Gutierrez

Moderator / Partner at Gurierrez Law Group

Patricio Gutierrez

Moderator / Partner at Gurierrez Law Group

https://www.gutierrezlaw.group/

Patricio J. Gutiérrez is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Gutierrez Law Group PLLC and focuses his practice on corporate and international transactional law.

As a corporate and international lawyer, Patricio represents both domestic and international clients on a variety of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, real estate development projects, cross-border transactions, and complex corporate structuring.

Patricio advises foreign companies on matters concerning business operations in the U.S., and U.S. companies with business operations abroad.

He counsels medium to large companies and family offices from primarily Latin American and European countries that seek to expand their operations and investments to the United States. The firm is 100% bilingual and bicultural with offices in Dallas, Brownsville, and Monterrey.

Patricio obtained his Juris Doctor from the SMU Dedman School of Law and earned his B.A. in Political Science from The University of Texas in Austin. During law school, he pursued a Comparative Law Program at University of Oxford.

Patricio is a board member of Methodist Dallas Medical Center, which is considered one of the fastest growing health systems in America. He also serves as a Board Member of The Concilio, US-Mexico Bar Association, and Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos.

Patricio has recently authored various articles in Forbes Mexico and travels the world speaking about the legal implications of investing in the US.

As a business and corporate lawyer, Patricio advises clients on a variety of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, business formation, contract drafting and negotiation, and real estate development. He assists domestic and international clients with the creation, governance, and sale of corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, limited partnerships, and other legal entities in the State of Texas.

Rodrigo Marquez

Panelist / Partner and Senior Counsel at Deforest Attorneys

Rodrigo Marquez

Panelist / Partner and Senior Counsel at Deforest Attorneys

https://deforest.mx/en/

Rodrigo Márquez has participated in advisory of underwriters and issuers in domestic and international debt and equity offerings, including corporate bond offerings, sovereign debt and structured asset backed transactions, both public and private. He has also served as counsel for private equity firms in raising capital through private placements for the United States and Mexican private equity industry.

As part of his cross-border expertise, Mr. Márquez has advised purchasers, sellers and financial advisors in acquisitions of public and private entities in Mexico, the United States and LATAM, tender offers and corporate restructurings within the financial and industrial sector as well as private equity funds, buyers and sellers of private entities and assets in the healthcare, education, financial, housing, automotive industry and food production sectors in the United States and Mexico.

He has participated advising several domestic and international lenders in structuring and restructuring credit facilities for Mexican public and private companies.

In regards to the Real Estate industry, Mr. Márquez has served as counsel and co-counsel of several private equity funds and companies in the development and implementation of housing, touristic and industrial real estate projects.

He participated as part of ENDEAVOR as mentor, with the main objective to promote venture capital and entrepreneur culture in the region. Likewise, Rodrigo Márquez is part of the board of advisors of professional organizations such as Global Chamber ®, as well as non-profit organizations such as Consorcio Mexicano de Hospitales, A.C. and International We Love You Foundation.

Professional Experience

Mark K. Vasquez Law Firm PLLC (DeForest USA)
Foreign Legal Consultant 2021-current

DeForest Abogados
Equity Partner 2019- current

Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton LLP
Partner – 2016-2019

Jiménez, Márquez, Sentíes & Reyes Retana | Abogados (JMSR Abogados, S.C.)
Senior Associate 2009 – 2010
Junior Partner 2010 – 2011
Senior Partner 2011 – 2016

Mijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C.
Legal Intern 2003 – 2006
Associate 2006 - 2009

Baker & Mckenzie, S.C. (Mexico City Office)
Legal Intern 2001 - 2003

Education

Universidad Panamericana School of Law (Mexico City)

J.D. 2000 - 2005

University of San Diego - APDE (San Diego, CA)

Corporate and Business Program. Continuing Education, 2010

Dobrina Ustun

Panelist / Founder / Owner of Ustun Law Group PLLC

Dobrina Ustun

Panelist / Founder / Owner of Ustun Law Group PLLC

https://ustunlawgroup.com/

Dobrina Ustun is an experienced immigration attorney with over 12 years of expertise in work visas, including H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3. She also provides compliance guidance on PERM labor certifications, I-9, and e-Verify processes.

Her background includes managing a high volume of immigration cases for Infosys, a leading IT consulting firm.

Dobrina has extensive experience as Guest Speaker at national and international events:
The HR Southwest Conference, 2020; Dallas HR Legal Exchange Conference; 2020; Global Immigration Summit, 2020, Mumbai, India; University of North Texas, Global Workforce; MetroTex Global Forum, 2019; University of Dallas, Texas-Global HR Presentation;

As General Counsel to RiseIT Solutions, Dobrina, manages the in-house immigration, employment, and compliance matters, supervises and trains a team of immigration specialists and program managers. She implements digital solutions for Labor Condition Application (LCA) electronic posting and electronic I-9 and oversees both immigrant, and non-immigrant programs for the company.

As Founder and Principal Immigration Attorney of Ustun Law Group, PLLC, in Dallas, Dobrina's practice includes counsel and technical immigration advice to corporate clients, medical and educational institutions, and individuals. Dobrina advises her corporate clients on all aspects of employment-based immigration and assists with temporary visa categories: H-1B, TN, E-1, E-2, E-3, H-3, B, L-1, O and P visa classifications. Dobrina also counsels on employment-based permanent residency options, such as labor certifications (PERM), the multinational executive/manager classification, extraordinary ability filings (EB-1), and national interest waiver cases (NIW). She partners with stakeholders to provide immigration subject matter expertise as an in-house and outside counsel.

As in-house Immigration Attorney for ZeOmega Inc. in Frisco, TX, Dobrina developed and managed the in-house immigration program for the company. Partnered with the Talent Acquisition team and advised on questions related to candidate sponsorship needs prior to hiring.

As Assoiate Lead-Attorney-Global Immigration for Infosys Limited, in Plano, TX Dobrina managed FDNS (Fraud Detection and National Security) site visits and communication with the USCIS and DHS. Represented the company and company’s employees during DHS audits and site visits. Drafted and prepared high-volume Notices of Intent to Revoke (NOIR), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID), and RFEs responses. Oversaw Public Access File compliance by managing a team of 15 administrative assistants, paralegals, and file clerks. Reviewed and audited high volume LCAs and H-1B visa petitions (5000+). Worked closely with legal and HR departments to ensure 100% compliance with immigration and employment laws. Advised employees on issues related to H-1B, H-4, site visits, NOIRs, and NOIDs. Educated non-US citizen employees and staff members on current immigration laws and regulations.

VOLUNTEER of
International Rescue Committee (Dallas, TX)- GenR Member
Human Right Initiative (Dallas, TX)-Volunteer Attorney (U visa and VAWA Petitions)

MEMBER of
The District of Columbia Bar Association
American Immigration Law Association-Attorney member

EDUCATION
Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, CA
Juris Doctor
Student Organizations: Immigration Law Society-Vice President
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
BA in Violin Performance and International Studies

Isaul Verdin

Panelist / Founder & Managing Attorney of Verdin Law Firm, LLC

Isaul Verdin

Panelist / Founder & Managing Attorney of Verdin Law Firm, LLC

https://www.verdinlaw.com/

Practicing since 1999, Isaul Verdin is the founding and managing
attorney at VERDIN where he specializes in immigration law. In fact, he
is certified as an expert in immigration and nationality law by the Texas
Board of Legal Specialization. Attorney Verdin launched his career as a
Captain and Trial Attorney for the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s
Corps during the Iraq War. He also served as a Special Assistant U.S.
Attorney for the Central District of California. Since then, Attorney
Verdin has won multiple prestigious awards in the area of immigration
law to include: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 The Best Lawyers in
America©; 2017 and 2015 D Magazine’s Dallas Best Lawyers; and the
2012 Texas Super Lawyers- Rising Stars. Attorney Verdin focuses his practice in business and
investor visas, complex deportation litigation, and consular cases. Furthermore, Attorney Verdin
is a member of the Texas Bar College. Attorney Verdin represents clients throughout the United
States. He is also fluent in English and Spanish

Documents

Flyer 2.pdf

Sponsors and Partners

Community

Connect with 53 people attending this event

Tickets

AEM DFW Member

Individual Member ticket

Member Price Complimentary

Special Guests (Sold Out)

Individual Special Guest Ticket

Complimentary

Non Member Ticket

Non Member Individual Ticket Early Bird

Non Member

Individual Non Member Ticket Door Price

$50

GOLD SPONSOR

Gold Sponsor / Panelist

Primary Member Price $750

SILVER SPONSOR

Silver Sponsor Includes 1 table and 2 chairs
Sponsor can bring sponsoring materials and tablecloth

Member Price $250

AEM Chapters

Discount ticket for other AEM Champer members

$20

Cross-Border Challenges & Opportunities Under the New Administration

REGISTRATION & NETWORKING

REGISTRATION & NETWORKING

Immigration

Immigration

Q&A

Q&A

Trade

Trade

Q&A

Q&A

Foreign Investment

Foreign Investment

Q&A

Q&A

Armando Beteta

Panelist / Foreign Legal Consultant at Roll and Harris, LLP

Patricio Gutierrez

Moderator / Partner at Gurierrez Law Group

Rodrigo Marquez

Panelist / Partner and Senior Counsel at Deforest Attorneys

Dobrina Ustun

Panelist / Founder / Owner of Ustun Law Group PLLC

Isaul Verdin

Panelist / Founder & Managing Attorney of Verdin Law Firm, LLC

Organizer

Connect with 53 people attending this event

AEM DFW Member

Special Guests (Sold Out)

Non Member Ticket

Non Member

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

AEM Chapters