Miguel A. Zaldivar, Jr.

Widely recognized as a guiding light in complicated international cross-border transactions, Miguel Zaldivar is a partner and serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) responsible for the firm’s overall global direction and strategic leadership. He became CEO in July 2020 and is one of only a handful of Latino leaders of any major global law firm.

Before taking up the role of CEO, he served as Regional Chief Executive for the Asia, Pacific Middle East region. He had been a member of the Global Board of Directors, served as Co-leader of our Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects practice area and co-founded our Latin American Practice. Miguel’s versatility, determination and ability to rise to a challenge were evident throughout.

His leadership is focused on driving the firm's vision to provide clients with valuable solutions and superior client service. As CEO, he puts an emphasis on delivering our vision by leveraging our global reach, industry sector knowledge, and unique capability to advice at the intersection of business and government. He is passionate about collaboration, actively listening to clients’ needs and mentoring lawyers to build deep and enduring relationships wherever they practice. Pro bono work, citizenship and the creation of a truly diverse and inclusive workplace are also among Miguel’s top priorities. He has put in place a plan to foster the development and progression of the firm’s diverse lawyers, and to increase the number of diverse lawyers the firm hires.

As a practicing lawyer he brings 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 has advised 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.

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.