Cubatrade-June-Digital

management, due diligence, and obtaining
concessions from a Cuban partner.
Caribbean Portal XXI
www.cpxxi.com
Headquarters: Miami, Florida
Specialty area for Cuba practice: Consulting
across a wide range of topics from the
perspective of Cuban requirements. Work
includes preparing industry-specific market
surveys and analysis; staying up-to-date with
the latest Cuban regulations relevant to foreign
entities; registering and licensing companies;
preparing and submitting documents for
compliance with accounting, banking and tax
requirements; securing approval for business
travel, import, export, and immigration issues;
strategic planning and business development;
customary business practices in Cuba.
Basics of firm: Led by three lawyers in Miami
and two lawyers in Havana, with access to top
Cuban law firms that engage with foreign investment,
trade, and commerce. Also, features
representatives from various industries including
senior business executives, financial consultants,
economists, accountants, engineers,
and contractors. Has reach into all provinces
in Cuba.
Key people in Cuba practice: Manuel Supervielle
and Antonio Zamora
Location for key people: Miami
Biggest opportunity for Cuba business: The
Cuban people. Tapping the vast potential latent
in the Cuba population, especially the
younger generation, represents a gold mine
of talent not found on a per-capita basis anywhere
else in the Western Hemisphere and
perhaps, anywhere else on earth.
Biggest challenge for Cuba business: Development
of a Cuban business culture is moving
forward at a very slow pace. At times, it
may feel like there is no progress at all. Thus,
the key component for foreign investors and
business people interested in Cuba is patience.
… Foreigners may view the process as overly
restrictive, cumbersome and antiquated, but
there is no other way to engage in Cuba.
Carlton Fields
www.carltonfields.com
Headquarters: Tampa, Florida
Specialty area for Cuba practice: Corporate
and healthcare
Basics of firm: 335 lawyers and consultants in
10 U.S. offices, including five in Florida and
one each in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta,
Hartford, and Washington DC.
Key people in Cuba practice: Robert Macaulay
and Irma Reboso Solares
Location for key people: Miami
Biggest opportunity for Cuba business:
Medical tourism
John Price
Americas Market Intelligence
Michelle DiGruttolo
Ankura Consulting Group
Robert Macaulay
Carlton Fields
Biggest challenge for Cuba business: Absence
of a reliable legal system for enforcing
contracts and property rights.
Chevalier Law Firm PLLC, The
www.chevalierlaw.com
Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Specialty area for Cuba practice: Advises
companies in various industries seeking to enter
the Cuban market on the legal framework
in the U.S. and the business, legal, and political
landscape in Cuba. Also, provides clients cultural
insight and on the ground guidance on
conducting business in Cuba.
Basics of firm: Offices in Houston and Washington
DC. Works with others on projects, as
needed.
Key people in Cuba practice: Felix Chevalier,
Tamika Spaulding
Location for key people: Houston, Washington
DC
Biggest opportunity for Cuba business: U.S.
firms have an opportunity to grow their businesses
and enter a nearby market that has been
virtually untapped by U.S. companies for more
than 50 years.
Why clients come for Cuba advice: For relationships
and on the ground experience.
Guidance on whether Cuba is seeking the
products or services that a U.S. company provides
or how to seek U.S. government permission
are important preliminary steps for doing
business in Cuba.
Coto & Associates
www.crlawpr.com
Headquarters: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Specialty area for Cuba practice: Foreign
investment, trademarks, Cuban assets control
regulations, construction.
Basics of firm: Seven lawyers, one office in
Puerto Rico.
Key people in Cuba practice: Ramon “Chito”
Coto-Ojeda, managing partner
Location for key people: San Juan, Puerto
Rico
Biggest challenge for Cuba business: Normalizing
relations with trading partners, travel
restrictions, and regaining access to money
markets.
Why clients come for Cuba advice: Protect
and defend trademarks, learn about Cuban
law and opportunities, develop their Cuban
contingency plans.
Cuba Strategies Inc.
www.cubastrategiesinc.com
Headquarters: Larchmont, New York
Specialty area for Cuba practice: Renewable
energy, infrastructure.
Basics of firm: Five consultants and two at-
torneys in three offices.
Key people in Cuba practice: Guennady Rodriguez,
Juan G. Espinosa, Jose de Lasa
Location for key people: New York, New Jersey,
Miami
Biggest opportunity for Cuba business:
Large-scale renewable energy projects.
Biggest mistake U.S. companies make in
Cuba: Underestimate how much Cubans value
their independence, something that will be
reflected in any business consideration.
Foley & Lardner LLP
www.foley.com
Headquarters: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Specialty area for Cuba practice: Construction
and infrastructure work, compliance, U.S.
trade and export controls, intellectual property,
immigration, corporate and aviation law.
Basics of firm: 840 attorneys in 19 offices
worldwide.
Key people in Cuba practice: Ralf Rodriguez,
Laura Ganoza, Roy Barquet, Lauren Valiente,
Kimberly Ashby, Christopher Swift, Gregory
Husisian, Carlos Abarca, David Bannard
Location for key people: Boston, Miami, Orlando,
Tampa, and Washington DC
Biggest opportunity for Cuba business: Under
the current legal framework, construction
and infrastructure work presents a huge opportunity
– basically for humanitarian projects
that improve the lives and welfare of the Cuban
people. Likewise, the telecommunications
and technology sectors appear to present large
opportunities.
Biggest challenge for Cuba business: Trust
and establishing norms of contact acceptable
to both Cuban and U.S. entities for managing
risk and resolving business disputes. Identifying
and understanding the limits on Cuban
business opportunities that can arise from domestic
Cuban laws and reconciling any conflicts
with U.S. law.
.
GrayRobinson P.A.
www.gray-robinson.com
Headquarters: Orlando, Florida
Specialty area for Cuba practice: Trade with
and travel to Cuba, as well as changing U.S.
laws and regulations. Helps clients obtain specific
licenses for restricted activities, and advises
in structuring business transactions permissible
under U.S. law, among other activities.
Basics of firm: Full-service corporate law firm
with 300 attorneys and consultants in 13 offices
across Florida.
Key people in Cuba practice: Peter Quinter
and Milton Vescovacci
Location for key people: Miami
Biggest opportunity for Cuba business: International
logistics and hospitality.
Felix Chevalier
The Chevalier Law Firm
Laura Ganoza
Foley & Lardner LLP
Peter Quinter
GrayRobinson P.A.
Why clients come for Cuba advice: To obtain
a legal opinion about whether the proposed
business activity is allowed under U.S. law and
then, to obtain any U.S. government approval,
if necessary.
Greenberg Traurig
www.gtlaw.com
Headquarters: Miami
Specialty area for Cuba practice: Assists clients
in obtaining U.S. regulatory clearance to
do business in Cuba, including implementation
of related compliance programs. Advises
clients on Cuba’s foreign investment process.
Has advised clients doing business across
many industries, including hospitality, logistics,
aviation, real estate, software, arts and entertainment,
energy, and infrastructure. Team
includes Osvaldo Miranda, a Cuban lawyer
who served as a judge in Cuba and now, focuses
his practice on advising foreign investors
seeking to do business in Cuba.
Basics of firm: An international, multi-practice
law firm with approximately 2,000 lawyers
serving clients from 38 offices in the United
States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the
Middle East. Founded in Miami, the firm is
recognized for its Latin American practice.
Key people in Cuba practice: Yosbel Ibarra,
co-chair Latin American and Iberian practice;
Kara Bombach, shareholder, export controls
and economic sanctions practice; Carl Fornaris,
co-chair, financial regulatory and compliance
practice
Location for key people: Miami and Washington
DC
Biggest opportunity for Cuba business: In
the short term, tourism and hospitality, including
commerce necessary to support those industries
such as banking, telecommunications,
and food imports. Longer-term, there could
be opportunities in industries such as agriculture
(including food processing), pharmaceuticals
(both research and production), software
development (happening on a basic level), and
if the Port of Mariel is further developed, light
manufacturing/assembly for export.
Biggest mistake U.S. companies make in
Cuba: Frequently, U.S. companies focus on
what they need to address regarding U.S. regulations
and licensing requirements, almost
to the exclusion of Cuban laws, policies, and
practices. But a parallel track is required for
exploring and managing the necessary approvals
on the Cuban side. It can take a year to get
an authorization from the U.S. government,
but may take as long or longer to achieve an
agreement with Cuban authorities. If not
managed concurrently, a U.S. license may
expire or need to be renewed. Consider both
sides of the equation, and be prepared to be
patient with both.
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