Arturo H. Banegas Masiá

People

Internationally recognized for his cross-border, Latin America, and U.S. experience, Arturo Banegas Masiá represents financial institutions, telecommunication companies, Fortune 100 companies, and buyers and sellers in corporate, finance, and restructuring transactions. He has been recognized across jurisdictions for his work, including Chambers Global, The Best Lawyers in America, The Best Lawyers in Venezuela, LatinLawyer, and The Legal 500.

Arturo focuses on cross-border business strategies, leveraged acquisition financings, transactional finance matters in distressed settings, out-of-court restructurings, and liability management transactions.

Prior to joining Akerman, Arturo served as senior counsel for a leading wireless technology company, where he was responsible for mobile payment, carrier billing, and mCommerce initiatives.

Notable Work

Leaf Global Fintech Corporation:

Represented co-founders of a provider of digital wallet services in emerging markets in the acquisition of a start-up company by IDT, a public communications company.

Compliance and Legal Review:

Serve as lead Partner of legal review and negotiation of IT vendor contracts for clients.

Lead Regulatory Counsel:

Serve as lead regulatory counsel on AML-BSA requirements and general concerns of Fintech businesses.

Amerant Bank:

Represented a U.S. National Association in a transaction involving the registered offering of $60 million of subordinated notes.

Sofidel S.p.A.:

Participated in a €320,000,000 credit facility granted to the Italian parent company, representing the U.S. based operating subsidiary in the negotiations and drafting of the US Pledge and Security Agreement, and the creation of the agreed collateral to secure the loan.

Amerant Bank:

Represented a U.S. National Association in a transaction involving joint venture with a residential mortgage origination group to expand the bank’s product offering.

Credit Risk Insurance:

Represented a foreign bank lenders as beneficiary of credit risk insurance in preparing the claim to insurers in a number of commercial loans.

Verizon Communications:

Represented Verizon in the re-nationalization process of CANTV in Venezuela.

Asset Protection:

Represented clients operating challenging jurisdictions in designing and implementing corporate structures to protect investments.

Food and Beverage – Venezuela:

Represent seller in the pending disposition of a large beverage and food processing company in Venezuela.

Media – Colombia:

Representation of acquirer in negotiations for the pending acquisition of a television broadcaster and producer in Colombia.

Disposition – Venezuela:

Representation of seller in the sale of Tio Rico, an ice cream processing and distribution company in Venezuela, to Unilever.

Food Manufacturing – Colombia:

Representation of Promesa (Alimentos Polar) in its acquisition of a corn meal manufacturing facility in Colombia.

Finance – Venezuela:

Representation of bank lenders in financing a $2.4 billion extra-heavy oil project in Venezuela for Petrozuata.

Finance – Venezuela:

Representation of bank lenders in financing a $810 million petrochemical project in Venezuela for Fertilizantes Nitrogenados de Venezuela, FertiNitro.

Mining – Venezuela:

Representation of bank lenders in financing a pending mining project in Venezuela for Mineras Las Cristinas C.A.

Acquisition – Venezuela:

Representation of possible acquirer in conducting due diligence and negotiating the potential purchase of a major bank in Venezuela.

IBM de Venezuela:

Represented IBM de Venezuela in designing and implementing a corporate structure to manage personnel for outsourcing services.

IBM de Venezuela:

Represented IBM de Venezuela in designing and implementing credit transactions for large purchases of technology by the financial sector.

VenWorld Telecom, CA:

Served as Secretary of the Board of the joint venture that acquired Venezuelan incumbent telephone company when privatized.

Anti-Takeover Strategies:

Designed and implemented a set of poison pills and other protective measures for listed companies in Venezuela.

Verizon Communications:

Represented Verizon in successfully defending a hostile tender offer of a Venezuelan incumbent telephone company.

Exchange Control Compliance:

Represented major clients in designing and implementing structures to comply with Venezuelan exchange control.

Divestiture – Venezuela:

Represented clients in divesting assets in Venezuela.

Show all

International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference, Speaker, "The Future of Money," November 2, 2022
International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference, Session Chair, "Always for a 'Good Cause'? Managing the Politics of Pro Bono Representation," October 31, 2022
Latin America Energy Advisor, Contributor, "Energy Emergency," February 2020
Energy Advisor, Contributor, "How is Venezuela's Political Stalemate Affecting Citgo?" August 2019
Newsletter of the International Bar Association Latin American Forum Legal Practice Division, Author, "Is Latin America prepared for Mobile Banking?," March, 2014
International Bar Association, Author, "Negotiated M&A Guides - Country Guide: Venezuela," 2014
Duke University School of Law, Speaker, "A Conversation with Arturo H. Banegas Masiá (Verizon Wireless) and Julien Vasques (PricewaterhouseCoopers)," Durham, North Carolina, 2012
Business Laws of Venezuela, Author, "Establishment of Commercial Activities," 2010
Business Laws of Venezuela, Author, "Overview on Finance," 2010
Business Laws of Venezuela, Co-author, "Labor and Employment Law," 2010
Business Laws of Venezuela, Co-author, "Telecoms and Media," 2010
II Latin American Legal Leasing Forum, Panelist, "Legal Remedies to Enforce Creditors' Rights of the Parties Arising from Leases," Miami, Florida, 2009
Telecoms and Media, Co-author, "Venezuela - Telecoms and Media Regulations Overview," 2009
Telecoms and Media, Co-author, "Venezuela - Telecoms and Media Regulations Overview," 2008
Telecoms and Media, Co-author, "Venezuela - Telecoms and Media Regulations Overview," 2007
Tributación Municipal y Exacciones Parafiscales - VIII Jornadas Venezolanas de Derecho Tributario, Author, "Contenido Tributario de la Ley Orgánica de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación," 2006
VIII Annual Meeting Venezuelan Tax Society (AVDT), Presenter, "Fiscal Contribution in Science and Technology," Caracas, Venezuela, 2006
International Bar Association (IBA) Conference, Panelist, "How Should Lawyers Protect and Encourage Investments in Challenging Environments at the Latin American Forum," Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2006
El Derecho Privado y Procesal en Venezuela, Co-author, "Única Experiencia Exitosa en Venezuela de Defensa contra una Oferta Pública de Toma de Control (OPTC) Hostil," 2002

International Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee, North America Regional Forum Liaison Officer, 2021
Duke Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, 2017-present
American Bar Association, Member, 2013-present
New York State Bar Association, Member, 2013-present
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Attorney and Counselor at Law, 2013-present
Duke University School of Law, International Advisory Board, Board Member, 2011-present
International Bar Association, Member, 2008-present
Asociación Venezolana De Derecho Tributario (Tax law Venezuelan Association), Member, 2001-present
Ilustre Colegio De Abogados Del Distrito Capital, Abogado, 1994-present
Universidad Monteavila, Law Professor, 2009-2010
International Bar Association, Latin American Forum, Officer, 2008
Tribunal Superior Septimo Contencioso Tributario, Deputy Judge, 1995-1996

The Best Lawyers in America, 2016-2021, Listed in New York for Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Chambers Global 2011, Recognized for Banking and Finance in Venezuela
Chambers Latin America 2009-2011, Recognized for Corporate/M&A and Banking & Finance in Venezuela
LatinLawyer 250 2009-2010, Recognized for Corporate and Banking
The Best Lawyers in Venezuela 2013-2015, Listed in Corporate Law
The Best Lawyers in Venezuela 2013-2015, Listed in Mergers & Acquisitions Law
The Legal 500 2016, Recommended for Mergers, Acquisitions & Buyouts: M&A National Middle Market

Arturo H. Banegas Masia

Notable Work

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