Source: http://worldcityweb.com/home/MIA/publications/magazine/4/575/

Sky Warrior

by Mary Dempsey

Energy projects are where Hogan & Hartson attorney Miguel Zaldivar**has carved out his greatest expertise, but he’s also called in on project finance and privatization deals for corporate clients. Since he specializes in a sector, rather than a geographic region, it means that he’s on the road constantly.

Zaldivar averages more than three work trips a month, clocking as many as 120,000 air miles annually a pace he’s been keeping since 1998. By comparison, he puts just more than 7,500 miles on his car odometer each year. As evidence of how farflung his work assignments are, his most likely destinations over the past year have been Mexico City, Milan and Washington, D.C. where Hogan & Hartson has its headquarters.

*Do you have a favorite business destination? *

Milan, because I truly enjoy the food, the language, the culture, the architectural surroundings, the espresso coffee shots and the opportunity to escape and pray at the Duomo. At night, after a long day of work, I have been able to “disconnect” by attending operas or concerts at old churches throughout the city.

*What about a favorite business hotel? *

The Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, D.C.

And restaurants?

**In Mexico City I try to eat Mexican food every day (a habit that doesn’t always make my law partners very happy). One of my favorites in the Polanco area is Aguila y Sol, a great example of Mexican fusion cuisine. In Milan, I always go to Il Verdi, a very traditional trattoria and one of the best-kept secrets in the city. My favorite dishes there are the risotto Milanese with ossobuco and the cotoletta, a breaded veal cutlet. In Washington, D.C., I walk to the Bombay Club, my favorite Indian restaurant in the city.

*What cell phone service do you use? *

This is an area in which I have not yet done my homework well, based on the number of cell phones that I carry around. Within the U.S. and in Mexico I use Cingular, in Milan I use TIM, the leading local provider, and in other countries if the prior two do not work I use the phone feature of my T-Mobile Blackberry.

How do you kill time in the airport?

I always get to the airport so late that I barely have time to rush through security in order not to miss my flight.

*Do you have a favorite airport? *

Heathrow. If connecting through London after an intercontinental flight, I always try to use the shower facilities upon arrival at either American Airlines’ arrival lounge in Terminal 3 or the “Spa” at British Airways Club Europe lounge in Terminal 1. On the return trip, I buy tin soldiers for my son, teas and jellies for my wife and a gift for my daughter at the Harrod’s duty free store before boarding.

*Is there an airport you really dread? *

The long lines at Miami International’s immigration lounge. Unless corrective measures are implemented,*international travelers will chose other U.S. airportsfor their connections to other destinations.

What’s the zaniest thing that’s ever happened on a business trip? *

After one of my law partners and*I finished a document review with our client at2:30 a.m. on a Sunday in Jersey in the ChannelIslands, we took a break and went together for awalk around town. It was chilly and damp, so weeach wrapped a hotel towel around our neck.The streets were dead. Then we happened on abar named Chambers that appeared open, butnot busy from the outside. When we opened thedoor, however, we were overwhelmed by thehottest and wildest party we had ever seen, withlive rock and roll music and people from everycountry in Europe. As we stood there with ourmouths agape, the music suddenly stopped andwe heard a young woman with aclipped British accent exclaim: “Why,they’re wearing towels!” You have*never seen towels get whipped off so quickly.