Francisco J. Cerezo

Francisco J. Cerezo

Francisco J. Cerezo focuses his practice on corporate and international matters, advising U.S. and foreign companies, family groups and sovereigns doing business in the Americas and the Caribbean. He has been featured in numerous publications, including Latin Lawyer, Financier Worldwide and South Florida CEO. He is also a regular television commentator on matters of international and corporate law including appearances on CNN en Español and CNN Headline News.

Areas of Concentration

· Corporate and financial services

· Cross-border transactions

· General corporate counseling

· Mergers & acquisitions

· Public private partnerships

Significant Representations

· Represented selling shareholders in the sale of one of the largest mobile phone operators in Central America to a European telecom group.

· Represented a Japanese multinational in the divestiture of its Latin American assets.

· Represented a Latin American holding company in the divestiture of several of its resort properties and in the development of other resorts in the Caribbean.

· Represented an investment group in the formation and management of a New York headquartered hedge fund with assets under management in excess of US $1 billion.

· Represented European infrastructure company in a proposed public-private partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation to lease, operate, maintain and receive toll revenues from the 78-mile stretch of I-75.

· Represented the selling shareholders in the sale of a South American mobile phone company to a United States telecom company.

· Represented one of the largest banks in Central America in the sale of 19 percent of its equity to a major United States financial institution.

· Represented a Spanish media and Internet company in its acquisition of 100 percent of the capital stock of a United States consulting company.

· Represented a Latin American private equity fund in several acquisitions and strategic investments.

· Represented a major Spanish bank in private equity investments throughout Latin America.

· Represented a United States venture capital firm in numerous private equity investments.

· Represented an international travel services company in its acquisition of majority control of one of the largest ecotourism and travel related services company in Latin America.

· Represented a Latin American mobile phone operator in a private equity investment by several international telecom operators.

· Represented a large multinational Latin American food group in its acquisition of a candy manufacturer and distributor in the United States and in several asset purchases throughout the United States and Latin America.

· Represented a European rail company, and its rail services partners in the United States and Europe, in compliance with principles of both United States and European Union Law.

· Represented European luxury goods company in a joint venture agreement for the launching of a perfume line.

· Represented a venture capital firm in the acquisition of a United States toy manufacturer.

· Represented the selling shareholders in the sale of a telecommunications company to a private equity fund.

· Represented a European industrial and construction products company in its acquisition of a United States company.

· Represented the seller in the sale of a major sub prime mortgage lender to one of the largest banks in the United States.

· Represented a broadband network services company in several private placements of its convertible preferred stock.

· Represented a significant Latin American publicly traded company in its establishment of a Euro-Commercial Paper Program.

· Represented a European financial services institution in the establishment of a Euro Certificate of Deposit Program in the Dominican Republic.

· Represented a significant Mexican publicly traded company in its compliance and securities work before the Securities and Exchange Commission and New York Stock Exchange.

· Represented a major investment bank as underwriter's co-counsel in a multi-billion dollar bond issuance by a state agency.

· Represented an online brokerage company in its secondary public offering.

· Represented the United States underwriter in a public offering of a banking institution in Puerto Rico.

· Represented a major investment bank as underwriter's co-counsel in a US $95 million municipal bond issuance.

· Represented a major investment bank as underwriter's co-counsel in a US $54 million certificates of participation issuance.

· *Some of the above representations were handled by Mr. Cerezo prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig.

Professional & Community Involvement

· Member, Council of the Americas

· Member, American Bar Association

· Member, International Bar Association

· Member, New York State Bar Association

· Member, The Florida Bar

· Member, Lawyers for Children America, Inc.

· Member, Columbia University School of Law Alumni Association

· Member, Leadership Circle of the United Way of Miami

· Board Member and Trustee, Carlos Albizu University Foundation

Awards & Recognition

· Member, team ranked as the No.1 corporate law firm in Miami as selected by corporate directors, in the annual "Legal Industry Research Study" by Corporate Board Member magazine (eighth consecutive year), 2002-2009

· Recipient, John Edward Smith Child Advocacy Award

Articles, Publications, & Lectures

Articles

· Cited, "Driving M&A Growth in Latin America," Financier Worldwide Magazine, 2008

Lectures

· Moderator, International Management Network, Latin American Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing Forum, US, April 2009

· Speaker, CREW Miami, Spheres of Influence: How Foreign Investors are Impacting South Florida's Economy, US, October 2008

· Panelist, Latin Lawyer, Latin American Corporate Counsel Association Roundtable, Argentina, October 2008

· Panelist, Latin Lawyer, Latin American Corporate Counsel Association Roundtable, Costa Rica, June 2008

· Participant, Latin Lawyer, Latin American Corporate Counsel Association Roundtable, Mexico, February 2008