Biography
Rodrigo Montes de Oca is a research scholar at the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico. His research primarily focuses on the rule of law and corruption in Mexico. Montes de Oca previously worked for the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice for 10 years, where he held various positions such as career law clerk for Justice José Ramón Cossío Díaz. He also drafted and edited opinions on a wide range of civil, criminal and administrative issues, including class action lawsuits, consumer protection mechanisms, liability of public officials, organized crime, recreational use of marijuana and health regulations. From 2009 to 2011, he was part of the editorial board of Reforma, one of Mexico’s major newspapers. He is currently a member of the editorial committee for the “Law Practice” collection published by Tirant Lo Blanch.
Montes de Oca holds an LL.M. from the University of Houston, and a master’s degree in government and public policy from the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico. He received a law degree from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.
Contact at Rodrigo.Montes@rice.edu or 713-348-3585.
Recent Publications
Texas-Style Money Laundering
Money laundering continues to spread in the Lone Star State. FinCEN’s proposed real estate rule could help investigators flag dubious deals—but there’s a big loophole. “It’s an error to exclude commercial property,” Montes de Oca said. “We know these people often buy strip malls and warehouses and office parks, and all that is outside the rule.”
External Publications
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“Bilateral Cooperation between Mexico and the United States on Information Exchange and Asset Recovery,” in Essays in Honor of Professor Stephen T. Zamora: A Life Between Mexico and the United States, eds. Alfonso López de la Osa Escribano and James W. Skelton, Jr. (Houston: Arte Público Press, 2022).
- “Cooperación Bilateral en Materia de Intercambio de Información y Recuperación de Bienes entre México y Estados Unidos,” in Políticas Públicas para la Prevención de Lavado de Dinero (Mexico City: Tirant lo Blanch, 2022).
- “U.S., Trump Remain AMLO’s Biggest Bugaboos,” The Hill, June 7, 2019.
- “AMLO at 100: Trump-Mexican President Honeymoon Is Ending,” The Hill, March 9, 2019.
- “Populism Comes to Mexico as Old Symbols Are Laid to Waste,” The Hill, December 3, 2018.