Internationally recognized for his cross-border, Latin American, and U.S. experience, Arturo Banegas Masiá is a New York lawyer licensed in Venezuela, where he previously practiced under challenging conditions. He participated in some of the jurisdiction’s most complex and significant transactions before moving to the United States. He serves as a trusted advisor to financial institutions, telecom operators, technology companies, and Fortune 100 companies on complex corporate, finance, restructuring, acquisition, and digital transformation matters. His practice centers on structuring and executing sophisticated U.S. and international transactions, navigating U.S. and international sanctions regimes, and designing strategies to protect and enhance investors’ assets in higher-risk markets, including Venezuela.
Arturo approaches these matters with the mindset of a seasoned general counsel, focusing not only on the narrow application of the law but also on the client’s broader business, regulatory, and risk profile. He represents financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and strategic and financial investors in corporate, finance, restructuring, and acquisition transactions, including the establishment of new businesses across Latin America and the United States, with a particular focus on opportunities in Venezuela and risk mitigation. His work includes cross-border business strategies, leveraged acquisition financings, transactional finance matters in distressed settings, out-of-court restructurings, and liability management transactions that frequently involve Venezuelan counterparties, collateral, or exposure, often requiring multi-jurisdictional solutions that align U.S. law, sanctions compliance, and local law considerations while preserving value and maximizing recoveries in complex cross-border situations.
He has been recognized in multiple jurisdictions by Chambers Global, Best Lawyers, Best Lawyers in Venezuela, Latin Lawyer, and The Legal 500 for his work on cross-border mandates and sophisticated finance and restructuring transactions. Prior to joining Akerman, Arturo served as senior counsel for a leading wireless technology company, where he led mobile payments, carrier billing, and mCommerce initiatives, giving him perspective at the intersection of technology, financial services, and telecommunications that informs his advice to clients operating in regulated and sanctions-impacted markets.