International Practice Chair Pedro Freyre alongside Augusto Maxwell, chair of Akerman's Cuba Practice and Carlos Méndez-Peñate, co-chair of the Latin America & the Caribbean Practice, discussed with national and foreign media the business significance behind the ongoing opening of U.S.-Cuba relations, including the recent joint embassy opening in Havana and Washington, D.C. Coverage appeared in AdWeek, The Economist, Latin Lawyer, Law360, The Miami Herald and The Sun Sentinel. Freyre, Maxwell and Méndez-Peñate addressed the extent to which renewed bilateral relations affect the two countries, in particular which industry sectors are slated to benefit in the short run from the historic policy shift. Though the U.S. embargo is still in place, they noted how the joint opening of embassies and Cuba's removal from the U.S. terrorism list have opened doors for multiple business opportunities, including for financial institutions, telecommunications services, travel companies, farm equipment manufacturers and biomedical companies, among many others.

AdWeek: "Capitalist Trappings Are Slow to Come to Cuba"
The Economist: "Foreign Businesses Eye New Frontiers. But Many Obstacles Lie in Their Way"
Latin Lawyer: "An Island of Opportunity"
Law360: "Fla. Bank 1st To Forge Ties With Cuban Bank Amid Thaw"
The Miami Herald: "Cuban Flag Flies over Embassy in Washington for First Time in 54 Years"
The Miami Herald: "Broward's Stonegate Bank makes a banking breakthrough in Cuba"
The Sun Sentinel: "Stonegate Bank of Pompano Beach Signs Historic Banking Deal in Cuba"