LATAM & International

Overview

We represent the interests of U.S. and international clients in transactions and disputes around the globe. We analyze complex cross-border issues, develop strategies that account for regional differences, manage multicultural teams of lawyers and experts, collaborate with local counsel in emerging markets, and counsel global stakeholders in this challenging and ever-changing environment. We have lawyers and professional staff who are fluent or conversationally proficient in French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian, Russian and Ukrainian.

We maintain relationships with law firms in South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean to assist clients doing business in those emerging markets. Latin American clients interested in expanding their businesses into U.S. markets utilize our knowledge and resources regarding market trends, investment structures, financing, access to capital markets, governmental strategies, U.S. and international tax matters, and international dispute resolution. We conduct comprehensive analysis of changes within the areas of inbound real estate structuring in the U.S., reorganizing existing entities into more tax efficient structures, estate and trust planning and implementation for non-resident aliens, exit tax applications, voluntary disclosures, portfolio debt structuring and other sophisticated cross-border tax issues. The firm’s Miami office provides convenient access for LATAM clients hoping to reach U.S. markets.

We regularly navigate legal and regulatory frameworks of LATAM and Caribbean nations and territories, and have experience counseling global clients with interests in Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, and Venezuela.

The firm is a member of the Meritas® network of law firms, a global alliance of legal professionals located in key markets in more than 90 countries.

Range of Services

Corporate

• Represent financial institutions in Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering investigations, compliance matters, policy development, and look-backs
• Advise U.S. clients on structuring outbound foreign investments and businesses
• Advise foreign clients on structuring inbound U.S. investments and businesses
• Represent U.S. and foreign individuals regarding design and implementation of cross-border business structures, acquisitions and joint ventures

Immigration

• Represent foreign individuals who are considering immigrating or temporarily moving to the U.S. and families with one or more members who are U.S. citizens or are currently residing in the U.S.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Represent clients in cross‐border litigation for foreign individuals, corporations, and governments, from pre‐trial through trial and appeal in state and federal courts in the U.S. and in arbitration
• Advise multi-national corporations operating in Latin America regarding compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and coordinate and conduct internal investigations
• Conduct International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) Arbitration

Real Estate

• Represent foreign clients in the acquisition, sale, financing, construction, development and management of real estate in the U.S.

Tax

• Advise foreign individuals with pre-immigration tax planning
• Represent foreign clients investing or doing business in the U.S. on federal tax and treaty-related issues, especially with regard to inbound investments in real estate within the U.S. and other issues involving the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA)

Trust & Estate Planning & Administration

• Assist foreign individuals with international trust and estate plans
• Represent individuals in trust and estate law cases and tax issues related to U.S. and foreign trusts and estates and cross-border families