2014 Keynote Speaker
The Honorable Gustavo Arnavat, L'91, was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed unanimously by the Senate in November 2009 to represent the United States on the Executive Board of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Investment Corporation and on the Donors' Committee of the Multilateral Investment Fund, both affiliates of the IDB. As the US ED for the IDB, he is a senior member of the Treasury Department's International Affairs team.
The IDB is the largest source of multilateral funding for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the US is the largest shareholder, with over 30% of the bank's voting capital. Since its founding in 1959, the IDB has invested over $200 billion in the region. The Board of Executive Directors is responsible for day-to-day oversight of the IDB's management, credit decisions and operations, including the approval of all loans, grants and technical assistance programs, as well as all bank policies. Mr. Arnavat led the negotiations within the IDB's Board that succeeded in securing the largest capital increase in the bank's history, resulting in a near doubling of the IDB's annual lending capacity and adoption of fundamental operational and financial management reforms.
Mr. Arnavat has over two decades of international legal and banking experience. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, he was a Director and Senior Legal Counsel at the Citi Private Bank in New York, where he was Legal Co-Head of the Latin America market region. At Citi, he managed a wide range of legal, regulatory and policy issues relating to banking, investment management and brokerage services. He began his legal career with the firm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton where he advised US and European banks, as well as Latin American companies and governments, on numerous international capital markets and other financial transactions. As a an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, he focused on the origination and execution of equity and fixed income public offerings and private placements by Latin American issuers, and provided strategic advice relating to M&A transactions and joint ventures.
Prior to attending law school, Mr. Arnavat was a Presidential Management Fellow at the White House (National Security Council), the State Department and the Department of Justice.
During the 2008 Presidential campaign, he was a member of the Obama for America National Leadership Council and advised senior campaign officials on Latin America policy. Following the election, he served on the Obama-Biden Transition Team in Washington, D.C.
The IDB is the largest source of multilateral funding for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the US is the largest shareholder, with over 30% of the bank's voting capital. Since its founding in 1959, the IDB has invested over $200 billion in the region. The Board of Executive Directors is responsible for day-to-day oversight of the IDB's management, credit decisions and operations, including the approval of all loans, grants and technical assistance programs, as well as all bank policies. Mr. Arnavat led the negotiations within the IDB's Board that succeeded in securing the largest capital increase in the bank's history, resulting in a near doubling of the IDB's annual lending capacity and adoption of fundamental operational and financial management reforms.
Mr. Arnavat has over two decades of international legal and banking experience. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, he was a Director and Senior Legal Counsel at the Citi Private Bank in New York, where he was Legal Co-Head of the Latin America market region. At Citi, he managed a wide range of legal, regulatory and policy issues relating to banking, investment management and brokerage services. He began his legal career with the firm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton where he advised US and European banks, as well as Latin American companies and governments, on numerous international capital markets and other financial transactions. As a an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, he focused on the origination and execution of equity and fixed income public offerings and private placements by Latin American issuers, and provided strategic advice relating to M&A transactions and joint ventures.
Prior to attending law school, Mr. Arnavat was a Presidential Management Fellow at the White House (National Security Council), the State Department and the Department of Justice.
During the 2008 Presidential campaign, he was a member of the Obama for America National Leadership Council and advised senior campaign officials on Latin America policy. Following the election, he served on the Obama-Biden Transition Team in Washington, D.C.
Panel One: "Is Latin America the Next Frontier for Top 250 Law Firms?"
Moderator
Donald Canavaggio L'13, C'07 is a first year associate at Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy. He is a 2013 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the Lauder Institute. Born and raised in the Republic of Panama, Donald speaks both Spanish and Portuguese.
Panelists
Cathleen McLaughlin L'88, C'84, is a partner at Allen & Overy in New York. Cathleen’s U.S. capital markets experience includes varied transactional and advisory securities experience relating to SEC registered and unregistered (Reg S and Rule 144A) debt and equity offerings by U.S., Latin American and other foreign issuers. Cathleen is the head of the New York office's international capital markets group andfounded the Latin American practice and has focused on building Allen & Overy’s finance practice in Latin America. Cathleen has extensive experience in sovereign, corporate and infrastructure-related financings involving Latin American and European borrowers. Cathleen is a native English speaker and has a working knowledge of Spanish.
Cathleen was recently named one of “Latin America’s Top 50 Female Lawyers” and “Latin America Top 100 Lawyers” by Latinvex 2013, and “Latin America’s Legal Stars” and “Latin America’s Top 50 Businesswomen” by Latin Business Chronicle 2012. Furthermore, she has been ranked in Chambers Latin Americasince 2010 for Capital Markets, Banking &Finance and M&A. Chambers says, “Cathleen McLaughlin is ‘extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of complex finance matters’.”
Cathleen was recently named one of “Latin America’s Top 50 Female Lawyers” and “Latin America Top 100 Lawyers” by Latinvex 2013, and “Latin America’s Legal Stars” and “Latin America’s Top 50 Businesswomen” by Latin Business Chronicle 2012. Furthermore, she has been ranked in Chambers Latin Americasince 2010 for Capital Markets, Banking &Finance and M&A. Chambers says, “Cathleen McLaughlin is ‘extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of complex finance matters’.”
Patricia Menéndez-Cambó L'89 is Vice President and Secretary of Greenberg Traurig. Additionally, she is the Chair of Greenberg Traurig's International Practice and Co-Chair of the Energy and Infrastructure Practice, where she brings extensive international legal and business experience to assisting clients in cross-border transactions and their global operations. She previously served as the Subdirectora General for Telefonica S.A. and General Counsel to a number of their global subsidiaries, assisting Telefonica with their global expansion. She is actively involved in the strategy and operations of her clients' businesses, providing practical solutions and serving as a catalyst for launching, growing and maintaining successful businesses on a global basis.
A first generation Cuban-American, she has been recognized by The National Law Journal as one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, one of the 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America, one of the 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America, and one of the Top 40 under 40 Lawyers in America, making her the sole recipient to have been distinguished with all four honors. Menendez-Cambo received her BA in Economics from the University of Miami and holds a Law Degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she currently serves on the Board of Overseers.
A first generation Cuban-American, she has been recognized by The National Law Journal as one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, one of the 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America, one of the 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America, and one of the Top 40 under 40 Lawyers in America, making her the sole recipient to have been distinguished with all four honors. Menendez-Cambo received her BA in Economics from the University of Miami and holds a Law Degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she currently serves on the Board of Overseers.
Antonia Stolper is head of Shearman & Sterling’s Capital Markets-Americas group and of the firm’s Latin America affinity group. Based in New York, Ms. Stolper’s practice focuses primarily on corporate finance transactions in emerging markets. She has extensive registered public offering experience for foreign private issuers. Recently her practice has focused on debt and equity securities offerings for Latin American corporate and sovereign issuers, representing both underwriters and issuers, and on restructuring transactions, primarily in Latin America, representing issuers, dealer managers and creditors. In addition, she advises a number of Latin American issuers on their ongoing SEC reporting requirements, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and corporate governance matters. Ms. Stolper has also advised the Climate Bonds Initiative pro bono on establishing standards for financing the transition to a low carbon economy. Ms. Stolper is also active in the Vance Center of the New York City Bar Association, promoting pro bono work by private lawyers in Latin America.
Ms. Stolper is currently ranked Band 1 in Latin America-wide Capital Markets Chambers Latin America and Band 1 in Latin American Investment in Chambers Global.
Ms. Stolper is currently ranked Band 1 in Latin America-wide Capital Markets Chambers Latin America and Band 1 in Latin American Investment in Chambers Global.
Alison Tanchyk is a partner in Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP's Litigation Practice in Miami. Ms. Tanchyk’s practice is concentrated in the representation of companies and individuals in all aspects of complex civil litigation, criminal investigations, and compliance and regulatory matters. She has defended companies and individuals in civil litigation and criminal investigations alleging antitrust and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and False Claims Act (FCA) violations, healthcare fraud, tax fraud, securities fraud, and other various business frauds.
Ms. Tanchyk also counsels clients on matters related to the development, implementation, evaluation, and auditing of internal anti-corruption compliance and ethics programs. She has advised companies in a variety of industries, including retail, infrastructure, life sciences, transportation, and IT, on anti-corruption compliance issues in the context of third-party due diligence, and compliance policies, procedures, and training.
Ms. Tanchyk earned her J.D., cum laude, in 2003 from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she was a member of the Temple Law Review.
Ms. Tanchyk is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey only and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Ms. Tanchyk also counsels clients on matters related to the development, implementation, evaluation, and auditing of internal anti-corruption compliance and ethics programs. She has advised companies in a variety of industries, including retail, infrastructure, life sciences, transportation, and IT, on anti-corruption compliance issues in the context of third-party due diligence, and compliance policies, procedures, and training.
Ms. Tanchyk earned her J.D., cum laude, in 2003 from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she was a member of the Temple Law Review.
Ms. Tanchyk is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey only and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Panel Two: "Essential Tips for Doing Business in Latin America"
Moderator
Gustavo Silva Cano L'13 is a law clerk at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York. Gustavo was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia and attended high school in Hong Kong and college at Princeton University, where he majored at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. At Penn Law, Gustavo was the LALSA Conference Chair, a senior editor of the Law Review, and a member of the Law School Light Opera Company and Lambda Law.
Panelists
Adam Brenneman L'06 is an associate based in the New York office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. Mr. Brenneman’s practice focuses on international corporate and financial transactions.
Mr. Brenneman joined the firm in 2007. He received a J.D. degree,summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2006, where he was a member of the Law Review. He received an undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the George Washington University in 2002. From 2006 through 2007, Mr. Brenneman was a law clerk to the Honorable Juan R. Torruella of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Mr. Brenneman is a member of the Bar in New York. His native language is English, and he is fluent in Spanish.
Mr. Brenneman joined the firm in 2007. He received a J.D. degree,summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2006, where he was a member of the Law Review. He received an undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the George Washington University in 2002. From 2006 through 2007, Mr. Brenneman was a law clerk to the Honorable Juan R. Torruella of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Mr. Brenneman is a member of the Bar in New York. His native language is English, and he is fluent in Spanish.
Enrique A. Conde L'05, C'01 is a member of the 300-lawyer Corporate & Securities Practice of Greenberg Traurig in Miami. Enrique is licensed in Florida and New York, and handles domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate financings, joint ventures and all types of general contractual matters throughout North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Europe. Fluent in Spanish, Enrique has also advised Latin American and European companies doing business in the United States.
Enrique is the founder of The Futuro Program in Miami, Florida, a community outreach program to provide high school students with positive role models and educational workshops. He also serves on the Alumni Board of Ransom Everglades School in Miami.
Enrique is the founder of The Futuro Program in Miami, Florida, a community outreach program to provide high school students with positive role models and educational workshops. He also serves on the Alumni Board of Ransom Everglades School in Miami.
Raul R. Herrera is a partner in the corporate and securities group of Arnold & Porter in Washington D.C., where he concentrates his practice on international arbitration and international corporate and financing transactions. Mr. Herrera has been involved in transactions in every country of Latin America and the Caribbean. He represents multilateral and bilateral agencies as well as sponsors in their project financing and private equity transactions. Previously he served as general counsel for Inter-American Investment Corporation, a multilateral financial institution affiliated with the Inter-American Development Bank.
Mr. Herrera serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of CODESPA AMERICA and as Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Latin American Studies Program of The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs; on the Board of Advisors of the Inter-American Dialogue's Energy Adviser; and as a member of the John Carroll Society.
He served on the Boards of Directors of the Inter-American Bar Association and Inter-American Bar Foundation; on the Executive Committee of the International Council of The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs; on the Advisory Council to the Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, as Chair of the Investment and Finance Committee of the DC Bar, on the advisory board of the Hispanic College Fund, as a member of the Southern Florida Regional Corporate Counsel Group, and the Steering Committee of the Choral Arts Society's Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Tribute in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Herrera serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of CODESPA AMERICA and as Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Latin American Studies Program of The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs; on the Board of Advisors of the Inter-American Dialogue's Energy Adviser; and as a member of the John Carroll Society.
He served on the Boards of Directors of the Inter-American Bar Association and Inter-American Bar Foundation; on the Executive Committee of the International Council of The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs; on the Advisory Council to the Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, as Chair of the Investment and Finance Committee of the DC Bar, on the advisory board of the Hispanic College Fund, as a member of the Southern Florida Regional Corporate Counsel Group, and the Steering Committee of the Choral Arts Society's Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Tribute in Washington, D.C.
George Mencio, Jr. is the Co-Leader of the International and Cross Border Transactions practice group at Holland & Knight in Miami. He practices principally in the areas of corporate and international law, with emphasis on cross-border mergers and acquisitions and joint venture transactions, dispute resolution, and administrative matters relating to international trade and commerce and the transportation industry. His clients include multinational concerns in the transportation, tourism, mining and agricultural sectors, major airlines, cruise lines, software and technology companies, operators and managers of hotel projects, and providers of goods and services in the international arena. Mr. Mencio has extensive experience in mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; international commercial transactions, such as franchising, distribution and licensing agreements; and is accustomed to working with foreign counsel on cross-border transactions and disputes. Mr. Mencio has conducted multiple international arbitrations in the United States, Europe and Latin America.
Mr. Mencio, was born in Havana, Cuba, on January 16, 1951. At the University of Miami School of Law, he was Articles and Comments Editor of its Law Review, and authored "Civil Procedure, Developments in Florida Law," 35 U. Miami L. Rev. 855 (1981). Mr. Mencio began his law career with Holland & Knight in 1981 and was named partner in 1987. He serves on the Board of Directors of Holland & Knight and Chairs the International Practice and Initiatives of the firm. Mr. Mencio is Past Chairman of the Global Initiatives Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Mencio, was born in Havana, Cuba, on January 16, 1951. At the University of Miami School of Law, he was Articles and Comments Editor of its Law Review, and authored "Civil Procedure, Developments in Florida Law," 35 U. Miami L. Rev. 855 (1981). Mr. Mencio began his law career with Holland & Knight in 1981 and was named partner in 1987. He serves on the Board of Directors of Holland & Knight and Chairs the International Practice and Initiatives of the firm. Mr. Mencio is Past Chairman of the Global Initiatives Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.
