Holland & Knight creates Venezuela focus team

Law firm Holland & Knight has formed a Venezuela focus team, a group of partners who will assist clients with interests in Venezuela, and which was created in response to the current political turmoil in the country.

The team will include 20 partners experienced in sanctions and trade, corporate and tax, energy and natural resources, real estate and hospitality, and international disputes, according to an announcement from the law firm’s Miami office. 

“Many of our clients hope positive changes will emanate from recent events,” according to José Sirven, the Miami-based co-chair of the team.

“We are beginning to get expressions of interest from many clients for a return to what was once a thriving market.” 
 
Holland & Knight has had a strategic alliance with the Tinoco Travieso Planchart & Nuñez law firm for more than 20 years. The two firms have jointly represented dozens of clients on Venezuelan matters, from entry into the Venezuelan market, mergers and acquisitions, issues relating to exiting the country, dealing with expropriation issues, and litigation and arbitration relating to disputes with the current government.
 
“We are  fortunate to have a close relationship with a well-established Venezuelan law firm that has been in existence for over 100 years,” Sirven said. “Our work with Tinoco Travieso is seamless and of the highest quality.”
 
Holland & Knight’s Latin America practice has more than 175 lawyers, and is one of the largest among US law firms. The firm also has offices in Colombia, Venezuela’s neighbour, where many of its top natural resources professionals currently reside in exile.
 
“We are preparing now to help our clients move quickly when appropriate,” according to Bogotá-based team co-chair José Vicente Zapata.

“We have been advising banks and transportation clients concerning the recent sanctions, and we expect more needs to arise in the near future.”

Law firm Dentons set up an office in Caracas in January. Jorge Alers, Dentons’ CEO for Latin America and the Caribbean, told The Latin American Lawyer the firm is optimistic that the political and economic situation in the country will improve, “and that it will again become one of the most dynamic economies in the region”.