J. Mario Fontes, Jr.

J. Mario Fontes, Jr.

J. Mario Fontes, Jr.'s practice consists of general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance, including the representation of pre-qualified bidders in connection with the privatization of government-owned telecommunications and energy companies, acquisitions of private and public companies, private and public offerings of debt and equity securities and representation of financial institutions in regulatory and compliance matters and trade finance transactions.

Areas of Concentration

· Mergers and acquisitions

· Corporate finance

· Private and public offerings of debt and equity securities

· Financial institutions - regulatory and compliance

· Trade finance

· Cross-border transactions

Significant Representations

· Representation of a telecommunications infrastructure services company in connection with its $250 million credit facility consisting of a $150 million loan provided by a syndicate led by Credit Suisse and a $100 million loan provided by a syndicate led by Tennenbaum Capital Partners. The facility involved a collateral package including complex technology and real estate parcels in several states in the U.S. and in Belgium, Spain, Brazil and the U.K.

· Representation of winning bidder in connection with the purchase of 49% of the outstanding shares of voting stock of a government-owned telecommunications operator in Latin America in the amount of $652 million.

· Representation of U.S. energy company in connection with the purchase of a majority interest in government-owned energy generation and distribution companies valued at approximately $200 million each.

· Representation of South American government-owned petroleum company in connection with the private placement of medium-term debt securities.

· Representation of South American mining company in connection with the registration of its securities under U.S. securities laws.

· Representation of U.S./Latin American companies in private placements of debt and equity securities, initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions.

· Representation of U.S. and foreign companies in connection with the acquisition of telecommunications, IP, services, manufacturing and health care entities located in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, U.S. and Venezuela.

· Representation of U.S. manufacturer in connection with the supply of wireless pagers and handsets to carriers in the People's Republic of China valued at U.S. $1.5 billion.

· Representation of North American telecom equipment manufacturer in connection with vendor financing transactions in Latin America.

· Representation of lender in connection with debt restructuring of Latin American media group.

· Representation of European and Latin American financial institutions in connection with trade finance transactions.

· Representation of international bank agencies in connection with Federal and Florida state regulatory matters, including review of account opening documentation for corporate and individual customers for compliance with "know your customer" policies and procedures.

Professional & Community Involvement

· Florida Bar Association

· Pennsylvania Bar Association

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

· Selected by Super Lawyers magazine, 2007

Other Experience

· Inter-American Development Bank - Country Studies Division

· International Monetary Fund - Department of External Relations