Widely recognized as a guiding light in complicated international cross-border transactions, Miguel Zaldivar is a Partner and serves as Regional Chief Executive for Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Before taking up the role of Regional Chief Executive in 2018, Miguel served as member of the Global Board of Directors and as Co-leader of our Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects practice area.

With many years of experience in project development and finance, complex sovereign debt (including linked to commodity sales), and cross-border corporate transactions, he has facilitated multi-billion-dollar investments aimed at the development of projects across Latin America.

He advises U.S., European, and Asian multinational corporations in business dealings in the Americas, as well as Latin American state-owned companies and governments in a wide variety of international matters. He has many years of hands-on experience with global export-credit and development banks, including China Development Bank, the Export-Import Bank of China, Japan Bank of International Cooperation, IFC, Russia's Eximbank, and the European Investment Bank.

Miguel brings a strategic and unique approach to solving complex transactional problems, offering clients creative solutions that not only meet their legal needs, but also take into account business considerations. Miguel's distinct background underscores his approach to conflict resolution. Miguel is trained as a lawyer in both the common and civil law systems. Recognizing that focusing on differences in law is not the single driver in negotiating cross-border deals, he appreciates the importance of culture and familiarity with each country's unique political and legal systems.

Miguel taught the “Project Development and Finance in Latin America” course at the University of Miami School of Law from 2003 to 2010 and was a professor of law at Universidad Católica in Venezuela from 1991 to 1993. He has been a frequent lecturer at legal seminars and has published articles involving Latin American legal matters. He received the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review 2009 “Lawyer of the Americas Award”.

The Deal calls Miguel "a diplomat in a lawyer's clothing" and Hispanic Executive praises his "legal prowess" and "innate abilities" that distinguish him from other lawyers in the field. Even among his peers, he has been acknowledged as "a very intelligent attorney and a leading cross-border corporate lawyer" in several industry publications like The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers, and Legal 500.