Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is a formidable global player in white-collar defence and investigations, and routinely lands major roles in large and complex enforcement and regulatory proceedings. The firm has achieved considerable success in Latin America where it has gained landmark results for a series of major clients, notably securing a coordinated resolution in 2023 for Grupo Aval in connection with FCPA investigations by the DOJ and SEC into allegations of corruption relating to a Colombian highway construction project. It also has an impressive record in achieving declinations for clients in prospective enforcement proceedings. Based in New York, Tatiana Martins is a former federal prosecutor, a Brazil native, and a leading figure in Latin America white-collar defence and investigations. The former head of the DOJ’s Criminal Fraud section, Washington DC-based Daniel Kahn has extensive experience in investigations involving Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru. New York’s Antonio Perez-Marques is also noted for government and internal investigations relating to Latin American businesses and operations.
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Key clients
- Grupo Aval
- Inter-American Development Bank
- dLocal
- Eletrobras
- Arcos Dorados
Work highlights
Represented Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores and its majority-owned subsidiary Corporación Financiera Colombiana (Corficolombiana) in securing a coordinated resolution of investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; the investigations concerned allegations of improper payments to public officials in connection with a project in Colombia carried out by a joint venture led by Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht and in which Grupo Aval and Corficolombiana were minority participants.
Successfully secured a dismissal for Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., in companion cases City of Ouro Preto v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. et al, 23-cv-8139, and Antonio Pereira Association et al. v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. et al., 23-cv-81600, pending before Judge John P. Cronan in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Conducted an internal investigation into potential misconduct by the President of Inter-American Development Bank.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Tatiana Roesler Martins
Practice head
Greg Andres; Martine Beamon; Neil MacBride
Other key lawyers
Tatiana Martins; Daniel Kahn; Antonio Perez-Marques