José F. Valdivia, III | Miami | Hogan Lovells

José F. Valdivia, III

Chief Legal Officer and Partner Corporate & Finance

Languages

English, Spanish

Valdivia Jose

José F. Valdivia, III
Valdivia Jose
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events
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"Jose Valdivia is 'a true gentleman' and a 'hardworking attorney with the ability to negotiate all and any deal.'"

Legal 500

José Valdivia has helped clients in complex commercial transactions in Latin America for three decades. In 1993, prior to joining Hogan Lovells, he moved to Caracas, Venezuela, to establish his firm's presence there.

Since then, José has continued to help clients navigate the opportunities and challenges in the region, assisting them in acquiring and selling companies, developing and financing a wide variety of infrastructure projects, and entering into strategic joint ventures. He co-chairs the Latin American practice group, enabling him to keep up with trends throughout the region and across practice areas.

José has worked on transactions in almost every jurisdiction in Latin America and in all aspects of project documentation. He is experienced in civil law jurisdictions and with the legal structures used in implementing successful strategies for project financing and development, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and joint ventures. He has been involved in financings for private sponsors, multilateral lenders, and government-owned companies.

José prepares and negotiates documents in English and Spanish. He is passionate about helping clients bridge cultural and language differences to find solutions in which all parties benefit. Legal 500 notes that clients describe him as "a true gentleman" and a "hardworking attorney with the ability to negotiate any and all deals."

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"Jose Valdivia draws praise for his client focus and 'ability to get things done efficiently and inexpensively.' Sources also highlight that 'documents he prepares stand the test of time if they need to be revisited over disagreements.'"

Chambers Latin America

Representative experience

Represented a state-owned oil company in several billion dollars of oil and gas transactions and related financial structures.
Represented a multilateral investment fund in an acquisition of a mid-stream oil and gas business in Colombia.
Represented a sponsor in development and financing of a petrochemical plant in Venezuela involving a combination of Asian and multilateral lenders.
Represented a multinational company in the acquisition of bottling companies throughout the Caribbean and parts of South America.
Represented a state-owned oil company in several project financings and credit-linked notes with a total value exceeding several billion dollars.
Represented an issuer in a tender offer to purchase and solicitation of consents with respect to its senior secured notes.
Represented a European utility in the acquisition of hydroelectric plants in Panama and Mexico.
Represented an independent power producer in its offer to purchase all of its outstanding senior guaranteed notes valued at US$310m.

Credentials

Education
  • LL.M., New York University School of Law, 1985
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, magna cum laude, 1984
  • B.B.A., University of Notre Dame, cum laude, 1980
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • Florida
  • New York
  • Caracas (Honorary)
Memberships
  • Vice-Chair, Amigos of the Cuban Heritage Collection of the University of Miami
  • Member, International Law Section, American Bar Association
  • Member, International Law Section, The Florida Bar
  • Member, New York Bar Association

Recognition

Private Practice Powerlist: US-Mexico

Legal 500

2022
International Firms: City Focus: Miami, Projects & Finance

Legal 500 Latin America

2019,2022
Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power

Legal 500 US

2018-2020
Banking, Highly Regarded

IFLR1000

2018, 2020
Capital Markets: Debt, Highly Regarded

IFLR1000

2020
Capital Markets: Equity, Highly Regarded

IFLR1000

2020
Energy, Highly Regarded

IFLR1000

2020
M&A, Highly Regarded

IFLR1000

2020
Project Development, Highly Regarded

IFLR1000

2020
Project Finance, Highly Regarded

IFLR1000

2020
Social Infrastructure, Highly Regarded

IFLR1000

2020
Utilities, Highly Regarded

IFLR1000

2020
Banking and Finance Law

The Best Lawyers in America

2006-2016, 2020-2021
International Firms: Projects and Energy

Legal 500 Latin America

2018-2019
International Firms: Corporate and M&A

Legal 500 Latin America

2019
Finance: Project Finance

Legal 500 US

2013-2014, 2018-2020
International Firms: Banking and Finance

Legal 500 Latin America

2018-2019
Projects (Latin America-wide)

Chambers Global

2014-2019
Projects (USA)

Chambers Global

2014-2019
Top Lawyer in South Florida, Finance

South Florida Legal Guide

2014, 2018
Projects (Latin America-wide)

Chambers Latin America

2014-2018
Latin American Investment (Florida)

Chambers USA

2012-2017
Project Finance and Infrastructure, Capital Markets, and Corporate

Latin Lawyer 250

2014