Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm, today announced the expansion of the Latin America & the Caribbean Practice with the addition of partner Arturo Banegas Masiá in New York. He builds upon the firm's strengths in cross-border transactions across the U.S. and Latin America, particularly within the heavily regulated financial services and telecommunications sectors.
"As a bilingual, dual-licensed lawyer, Arturo will help our clients effectively achieve their cross-border business objectives," said Carlos Méndez-Peñate, co-chair of Akerman's Latin America & the Caribbean Practice. "His extensive knowledge of structuring transactions will help to protect our clients' investments throughout Latin America."
Banegas Masiá has extensive experience in corporate, finance and restructuring transactions, with an emphasis on cross-border business strategies, leveraged acquisition financings, out-of-court restructurings, and liability management transactions.
Prior to Akerman, he served as senior counsel for a leading wireless technology company, where he was responsible for mobile payments, carrier billing and mobile commerce initiatives. Before serving as in-house counsel, he practiced law in Venezuela, where he represented foreign and domestic financial institutions in corporate, banking and finance matters throughout the Latin America region.
Banegas Masiá has been recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers Latin America and Latin Lawyer for his experience in corporate/mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance matters. He earned his LL.M. at Duke University School of Law and his LL.B. at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas, Venezuela. He also was a law professor at Universidad Monteavila in Caracas, Venezuela. He is licensed to practice law in Venezuela and the United States, as a member of the New York State Bar Association.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The American Lawyer (2015). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2015).
Akerman's Latin America & the Caribbean Practice includes lawyers experienced in representing multinational clients on a wide range of cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities offerings, syndicated and secured lending transactions, project financings and debt restructurings, as well as complex construction and other international disputes. The team also is experienced in representing global companies in connection with establishing and developing their U.S. presence as well as managing their Latin American operations. Akerman lawyers have spent years working in Latin America and the Caribbean and are familiar with the legal, regulatory and cultural systems of countries in the region.