Michael Garcia > White & Case LLP > Miami, United States > Lawyer Profile

White & Case LLP has an intense focus on Latin America, which features a well-established white-collar crime and investigations practice led by Michael Garcia and Maria Beguiristain in Miami. The department has built a strong geographic profile, based on headline engagements in Brazil and -more recently- throughout Latin America; it continues to represent some of the biggest names in Brazil, along with other Latin American businesses and an array of multinationals with interests in the region. The team is multi-lingual and has tight cultural connections to Latin America. It has achieved recognition for its expertise in FCPA investigations, internal investigations and M&A due diligence. It is also developing its name in matters related to gaming, crypto and online platforms, and has achieved further growth in US sanctions programmes. Enrique Espejel is another key figure; based in Mexico City where he co-heads the disputes practice, he is frequently engaged in internal investigations for international clients and their Mexican subsidiaries, and also has fine record in enforcement actions.

White & Case LLP’s Miami office houses one of the most complete Latin America practices. From white-collar crime and investigations to international arbitration, banking and finance, and projects and energy, it has a huge and highly developed team with a major focus on the Latin America region. On the projects front, the team in Miami includes head of Latin America Carlos Viana, a leader in project finance, along with IDB Invest relationship partner Sean Goldstein, and up-and-coming yunger partner Anna Andreeva. The group have a fine background in energy projects and have carved-out a growing portion of infrastructure financings over recent years, with mandates including a series of project financings in Chile, along with metro projects in Brazil. Solar projects and 4G road refinancings have also featured in the team’s caseload. Another key member of the team, Christian Hansen has particular expertise and an extensive record in the aviation finance segment in Latin America. More broadly, the Miami team is also recognised for acquisition finance, sustainability-linked financings and debt restructurings. It has a flourishing white-collar crime and investigations practice led by Michael Garcia and Maria Beguiristain, which has a major presence in FCPA violations, internal investigations and M&A due diligence; the team is increasingly active in relation to gaming, crypto and online platforms. In international arbitration, a group which includes Silvia Marchili (who divides her time between Houston and Miami), has a strong presence in commercial, construction and investor-state arbitration; the Miami team forms part of the firm’s broader, market-leading Latin America arbitration practice, which has an outstanding record in energy and LNG-related arbitrations. Arbitration specialist Estefanía San Juan was elected to the partnership in January 2023.