Overview
MADRID (JULY 22, 2015) – Following the renewal of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, leading Spanish law firm Olleros Abogados and McDermott Will & Emery today announced that they are coordinating efforts to provide top quality and broad-ranging legal advice to American, European and Cuban clients on Cuba-related matters.
The move comes as Olleros’ founding partner Jaime Olleros announced that his firm is committed to opening an office of Olleros Abogados in La Habana, which he foresees taking place, “as soon as the Cuban system allows international law firms to establish offices in the country.” In the meantime, Olleros will establish a Cuba desk in Madrid to handle its growing Cuba-related work.
Olleros Abogados has a long involvement in Cuba. Led by Mr. Olleros and supported by Olleros lawyers Ignacio Aparicio and Javier Mata, Olleros Abogados has represented Spanish and international clients in Cuba for over 15 years in virtually all areas of commerce, including in the agriculture, automotive, renewable energy, telecommunications, and tourism industries.
McDermott also has a long history of advising clients on U.S.-Cuba legal matters. Such work has been particularly active in recent months as McDermott lawyers advised agribusiness clients on U.S.-Cuba trade policy, the December 2014 executive branch announcement and its implementing regulations and the outlook for U.S.-Cuba trade policy, including changes to the Helms-Burton Act.
Mr. Olleros, who is recognized as a Cuba expert by the Chambers international legal directory, points out that the “excellent historic relations between Spain and Cuba have placed Cuba in the center of international operations for multiple Spanish based companies, positioning Spain as Cuba’s third leading trading partner, only exceeded by Venezuela and China.” In particular, Mr. Olleros notes that, “the number of Spanish companies established on the island has doubled in the last year. It has gone from 116 to a total of 230 in December 2014.”
“With the rapid improvement in relations between the U.S. and Cuba, McDermott and Olleros are poised to deliver a full-service approach to clients doing business both from and into Cuba,” said Jeffery E. Stone, co-chair of McDermott Will & Emery LLP. “Both firms will benefit as we exploit common synergies for our American, Spanish and European clients on Cuba-related matters. We expect to be particularly strong in the areas of International Trade, competition, corporate, regulatory and tax as we serve clients in the hospitality, agriculture, and tourism sectors, among others.”
“We see Cuba as a significant opportunity for McDermott and our clients,” added McDermott co-chair Peter J. Sacripanti. “As the market opens up, our lawyers will be able to serve clients on a full range of corporate legal matters, particularly those who specialize in industries such as Health, Hospitality and Energy.”
About Olleros Abogados
Olleros Abogados is a premier medium-sized Spanish law firm with more than 100 lawyers in Madrid and Valencia. Founded in 1986, our principal focus has been on providing outstanding legal services to a broad range of Spanish and international clients in all aspects of their legal needs. http://ollerosabogados.com
About McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott Will & Emery is a premier international law firm with a diversified business practice. Numbering more than 1,000 lawyers, we have offices in Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. Further extending our reach into Asia, we have a strategic alliance with MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai. www.mwe.com
