Awards and Rankings
Hogan Lovells iERP – Legal Adviser of the Year
12 May 2017
Partner, Miami
Email miguel.zaldivar@hoganlovells.com
Phone +1 305 459 6636
Fax +1 305 459 6550
LanguagesEnglish, Italian, Spanish
Practice groupFinance
Widely recognized as a guiding light in complicated international cross-border transactions, Miguel Zaldivar is a Partner and serves as member of the Global Board of Directors.
With his 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.
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.
Projects (Latin America-wide)
Chambers Latin America
Energy and Natural Resources (Latin America-wide)
Chambers Latin America
Energy & Natural Resources (USA), Foreign Expert for Venezuela
Chambers Global
Projects (USA), Foreign Expert for Latin America-wide
Chambers Global
Projects (Latin America-wide)
Chambers Global
Energy & Natural Resources (Latin America-wide)
Chambers Global
Corporate/M&A (Latin America-wide)
Chambers Global
Latin American Investment (Florida)
Chambers USA
Corporate/M&A (Latin America-wide)
Chambers Latin America
International Trade and Finance Law
The Best Lawyers in America
International Who's Who of Banking Lawyers
International, Business/Corporate
Florida Super Lawyers
Lawyer of the Americas Award
University of Miami Inter-American Law Review (IALR)
Education
J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law, 1995
LL.M., Fulbright Scholar, University of Illinois College of Law, 1988
LL.B., Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, 1986
Memberships
Co-chair, International Business Transactions Committee, International Law Section, Florida Bar
Dean's Advisory Council, Florida International University College of Law
Bar admissions and qualifications
New York
Florida
District of Columbia
Venezuela
In 2014, advised Ecuador in securing a multibillion dollar return to the global capital markets after its last sovereign bond issuance in 2005.
Advised ENEE of Honduras in developing and financing a US$300m hydroelectric project financed by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
Has acted for more than 20 years as external international counsel for the Central American Bottling Corporation in complex cross-border transactions.
Advised Ecuador in securing a US$1.7bn loan from the Export-Import Bank of China for the construction of the Coca Codo hydroelectric project.
Represented Pemex in the development of US$2bn large-scale olefins production complex in Mexico.
Advised the Ministry of Non-Renewable Resources in the development of model service contracts currently used for the exploration of oil in Ecuador.
Advised Metanol de Oriente in a US$334m development project financed by IFC, JBIC, and private banks for a methanol plant in Venezuela.
Represented Wal-Mart Stores on its first ever investment in Central America, a two-stage acquisition of equity in a regional retail holding company.
Counsel to AES Andres in the development of a combined cycle 309MW power project and liquefied natural gas terminal in the Dominican Republic.
Counsel Pequiven in the FertiNitro project, a joint venture with Kock Industries, Snamprogetti, and Polar, that developed a fertilizer complex.
Sponsorships and Speaking Engagements
20 April 2011