Greenberg Traurig adds two lawyers to Latin America practice

Greenberg Traurig has hired two attorneys to strengthen its Latin America and corporate practices in its Miami office.

Carol Barnhart (pictured) rejoins Greenberg Traurig from packaging manufacturer Grupo Phoenix, where she served for several years as general counsel, chief compliance officer, and chief human resources officer. She directly managed the company’s corporate, litigation, and regulatory strategy, and advised management on legal, strategic, transactional, financing, and general commercial, also served Grupo Phoenix as corporate secretary for its Board of Directors. 

“Barnhart has broad experience in complex strategic negotiated deals, mergers, acquisitions, and compliance, having led legal teams and operations both in North America and throughout Latin America, advising clients on ways of working and complex compliance issues arising from operating in free trade zones and at the US-Mexico Border,” the law firm said in a statement.

Prior to her position with Grupo Phoenix, Barnhart was general counsel and chief compliance officer for GlobeNet Cabos Submarinos, where she was responsible for leading the legal, regulatory, and compliance agenda for the international subsea telecom cable owner and operator. Prior to that, she was vice president and assistant regional counsel for M&A for Diageo.

“We have had the privilege of working with Carol for years, and know that she is a hands-on lawyer with tremendous technical expertise,” Yosbel A. Ibarra, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office, said.

“Given her substantial experience at leading in-house legal departments, she will be a key resource for our clients in achieving their business objectives and we are pleased to welcome her to the firm,” he added.

Arnaldo C. Rego Jr. joins the firm as of counsel, and who previously practiced at New York-based global firms in their New York and São Paulo offices.

He advises on domestic and international transactions and represents foreign clients in acquisitions and transactions in the US, and US clients in acquisitions abroad, in various Latin American countries including Brazil.

Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, he also advises start-up, early-stage, and well-established technology companies in a broad range of matters, including blockchain, cryptosecurities, and cryptocurrency, the law firm said.

“Arnaldo adds dimension to our capital markets and cross-border expertise – particularly in Brazil, where he has many years of experience assisting clients doing business there, and advising Brazilian clients doing business abroad,” Marc M. Rossell, co-chair of the firm’s Latin America practice, said.

“Together with Oscar Stephens, who recently joined our New York-based Latin American capital markets practice, we are pleased to add this new talent to our team,” he added.