10 June 2011
Wlson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, a New York-based law firm known for defense litigation, is expanding its Miami office and its Latin America practice by creating a Latin America Business Group.
The new group will provide services to U.S. companies active in Latin American region and regional clients who wish to use Miami as a gateway to markets in the United States and Europe.
Leading the firm’s new business group is Francisco J. González,a veteran attorney specialized in international business and the former chairman of the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce of the United States. In Miami, he had been a partner at Yoss LLP and with Holland & Knight.
Gonzalez also has experience with the World Bank’s private sector development group in South Asia. His resume includes work with businesses and governments on deals worth more than $18 billion.
He holds degrees from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in Venezuela and George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.
“This is a natural progression for our Latin America practice group and for our firm as a whole,” said Ricardo J. Cata, regional managing partner of the Miami office, who co-chairs the Latin America practice with E. Stratton Horres Jr., regional managing partner of the firm’s Dallas office. “We can now provide our clients legal services in areas that complement those we’ve historically offered.”
Besides Miami, members of the firm’s Latin America practice also work in Dallas, Los Angeles and San Diego. The Latin America practice began more than a decade ago and has centered on litigation.
The move highlights a recent trend by large U.S. law firms to open new offices or expand in Miami to serve the booming Latin American business market. International law firm DLA Piper opened a Miami office in March, and Jacksonville-based Boyd & Jenerette PA started up in Miami this spring.
Wilson Elser, a full-service and defense litigation law firm, has nearly 800 attorneys in 22 offices in the United States and works with affiliates worldwide. It recently opened an office in West Palm Beach. Founded in 1979, it is ranked among the 50 largest law firms in the United States.
For more information on Wilson Elser, visit www.wilsonelser.com.