PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Gerson Vaca is a distinguished legal professional and partner at Basham, Ringe y Correa, where he leads the firm’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practice. His deep commitment to ESG values is not a peripheral endeavor—it lies at the core of his identity as a legal advisor. Gerson has redefined the role of corporate counsel in today’s world, integrating sustainability, equity, and purpose into every facet of legal service and strategy.
With more than 20 years of experience, Gerson advises clients in corporate law, M&A, foreign investment, real estate, and compliance. He has played a transformative role in driving ESG-centered legal innovation at the firm, embedding ESG values into client service delivery and Basham’s internal culture. He authored the firm’s first Environmental Policy and works directly with the Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Committee to ensure ESG principles guide corporate governance and operations.
Gerson’s academic background underscores his ESG expertise, including postgraduate studies in Sustainable Capitalism at UC Berkeley and Sustainable Business Initiatives at Stanford. He has been a professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, where he educates senior law students on corporate social responsibility in commercial transactions.
As ESG lead, Gerson has strategically expanded ESG integration across various legal areas, including labor, data protection, antitrust, banking and finance, corporate law, and criminal prevention. He collaborates with NGOs to design cost-effective sustainability programs and actively promotes access to ESG best practices for under-resourced organizations. His efforts demonstrate that ESG strategy not only aligns with values but delivers measurable value for businesses and society.
Gerson serves as the coordinator for the ESG LatAm Working Group for Lex Mundi,the Business Responsibility Group for Ius Laboris as is part of the executive commite of Compliance Latam. In these roles, he helps shape international ESG strategy and develops resources such as the ESG Latin America & the Caribbean Guide 2024, while coordinating regional ESG initiatives like Impact Week. He is a frequent speaker at global forums and has contributed to numerous publications, including the Legal Industry Review, El Universal, LexLatin, and industry podcasts.
In addition to his legal work, Gerson is a mentor and advocate for inclusive leadership. He plays an active role in Basham’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, supports young lawyers internally, and works with organizations like Abogadas MX to promote female leadership in the legal field.
Gerson’s leadership has been instrumental in Basham’s recognition as a firm advancing ESG transformation. He regularly participates in national and international panels, including those hosted by the International Bar Association, American Chamber of Commerce, and Mexican Institute of Financial Executives, sharing forward-looking insights on topics ranging from sustainable real estate to supply chain human rights risks and ESG governance in nearshoring.
RECENT ENGAGEMENTS (2024)
- Panelist at Ius Laboris ESG in Milan
- Training sessions with Basham Foundation and Appleseed México
- Contributor to Legal Industry Review on ESG, real estate, and human rights
- Participant in high-profile forums (IBA, ANADE, AmCham, IMEF, Mexico-Canada Chamber)
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Gerson is a professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, where he teaches courses on corporate responsibility in commercial transactions, preparing future legal professionals to lead with an ESG mindset.
MEMBERSHIPS & RECOGNITION
Certified by the Compliance Officers Institute of Spain
Member of Basham’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and mentor through Abogadas MX
Frequent contributor to publications and international panels on ESG, sustainability, and legal innovation
