Compliance, white-collar crime and investigations continues to be a major source of business for international law firms that have a focus on Latin America. Since the Lavo Jato scandal in Brazil, there has been an ever-increasing focus on the region amongst enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has a Miami-based corruption squad targeting Latin America. Investigations under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) continue to be a feature of the market. White collar crime and investigations specialists are also frequently brought in as part of M&A due diligence processes.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a global leader in international investigations and this standing is illustrated by its acclaimed track record and reputation in Latin America. It frequently advises clients on internal investigations and public investigations by civil regulators and criminal prosecutors, often involving parallel investigations in multiple jurisdictions. The firm is steeped in FCPA compliance expertise and has extensive experience in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and other key markets. It has landed key roles in connection with Operation Lava Jato and the FIFA corruption scandal. The firm frequently represents major multinationals in cross-border investigations and regulatory defence matters, including matters involving Latin American subsidiaries, and also acts for large Latin American corporates, senior executives and individuals. Along with regular big-ticket investigations, the white collar and regulatory defence team is often involved in risk-based compliance due diligence relating to proposed M&A transactions. Andrew Levine is co-head of the Latin America group and is a ‘rock star’ in anti-corruption and investigations in the region. Washington DC partner Kara Brockmeyer previously had over 15 years working at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including five and a half years as chief of the enforcement division’s FCPA unit. Also in Washington DC, David O’Neil has an extensive record in FCPA investigations around the world, including Latin America. Bruce Yannett is chair of the white collar and regulatory defence group. Named partners are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is another global leader in FCPA and anticorruption investigations, with a number of senior practitioners that have a significant focus on Latin America. This was further augmented by the hire of Latin America specialist Bryan Parr as of counsel from Paul Hastings LLP in November 2022. The firm has an extensive record in Latin America white-collar and investigations matters, including due diligence related to M&A and other transactions. Moreover, it has an especially impressive background in FCPA monitorships pursuant to settlements with the SEC and DOJ. The practice is also noted for its prominence in investigations related to Operation Lava Jato in Brazil. Joseph Warin is chair of the litigation department and co-chair of the white-collar defence and investigations group; a leader in the field, he has a long track record in Latin America. Similarly highly rated, Los Angeles partner Michael Farhang is prominent in Latin-America-related internal investigations and M&A diligence, thanks to key roles in some of the biggest cases to have involved the region.

Washington DC firm Miller & Chevalier Chartered is an established leader in corporate crime and investigations. The firm has an outstanding record in anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, sanctions, compliance and governance.  It has a considerable emphasis on Latin America, with more than 20 lawyers that have a major focus on the region, many of which are Latin America natives (or have lived and worked in the region), and speak fluent Portuguese or Spanish. Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru are among the firm’s primary markets. Fluent Spanish and Portuguese speaker Matteson Ellis is at the pinnacle of the market, leads the Latin America practice and is a recognised authority on FCPA cases. James Tillen is also at the forefront of investigations and compliance programmes, bringing extensive Latin America experience from the Lavo Jato scandal and many other high profile matters. Alejandra Montenegro Almonte is a pivotal member of the team and has been instrumental in building the firm’s compliance and investigations practice in Central America. Jeffrey Lehtman, William Barry and Margarita Sánchez are also key members of the Latin America-facing practice; along with fluent Spanish-and-Portuguese speaker and emerging talent, Gregory Bates. Counsel Leah Moushey is another impressive practitioner.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has the market leading Latin America practice among international firms. This has provided the foundation for a thriving white-collar defence, investigations, anti-corruption and compliance  practice in the region. It has an especially strong record in Brazil and Mexico, but nevertheless demonstrates genuine region-wide experience. The firm regularly defends clients before the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), as well as representing some of the biggest corporate players in Latin America, including large state-owned businesses, major financial institutions, airlines and a number of mining giants, among others. Lisa Vicens is a Latin America specialist, having acted for big-name Latin American businesses over the years; she led the team that represented Vale in investigations of allegations that it failed to conduct appropriate diligence prior to a strategic transaction with an entity subsequently discovered to have engaged in corrupt payments. Jonathan Kolodner is another prominent practitioner with a significant focus on Latin America.

Covington & Burling LLP is a global leader in white-collar crime and anti-corruption, and has developed a strong emphasis on the Latin America region. This growth saw Veronica Yepez, head of the Latin America anti-corruption and investigations practice, elevated to the partnership in October 2022. Many in the core Latin America group have lived and worked in the region, while the practice as a whole has an extensive record in engaging with the DOJ and SEC in anti-corruption investigations. It is also regularly engaged in anti-corruption due diligence linked to M&A and other transactions in the region. Steven Fagell is co-chair of the white-collar defence and investigations group; he too is active in Latin America matters, as is Lanny Breuer, who has an especially impressive record in white-collar crime investigations in Brazil and elsewhere in the region. Donald Ridings is global chair of the anti-corruption practice group and is an authority in FCPA investigations. Jennifer Saperstein is another key partner and Leah Saris impresses at associate level. All named individuals are based in Washington DC.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has acted for clients in some of the biggest investigations in the Latin America market. It has worked on key matters relating to the FIFA corruption scandal, Lavo Jato and the high-profile Grupo Aval investigation; in the latter it advised Grupo Aval (Colombia’s largest financial conglomerate), on investigations by the SEC, DOJ and Colombian authorities into allegations of corruption relating to a Colombian highway construction project. Washington DC partner Daniel Kahn is the former chief of the DOJ’s FCPA unit and has worked with enforcement authorities throughout Latin America, including on a range of major FCPA resolutions. Tatiana Roesler Martins is a native Portuguese speaker and the former chief of public corruption at the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; she is active in enforcement actions and internal investigations throughout Latin America. Native Spanish speaker Antonio Perez-Marques is also active in government and internal investigations in the region. Greg Andres and Martine Beamon are additional senior members of the practice who have a strong focus on Latin America. Named partners are based in New York unless stated otherwise.

Jones Day has continued to develop its geographic coverage with additional engagements in Uruguay and Bolivia, building on its already established record in key markets such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. It has proven capability in internal investigations, enforcement and financial controls, and is a growing force in anti-money laundering and sanctions-related matters. The team is also recognised for anti-corruption due diligence relating to M&A and other transactions, and is at the forefront of anti-corruption programmes for international clients that have assets and interests in Latin America. Cristina Pérez Soto leads the Miami litigation team and is an established figure in internal investigations, anti-money laundering, sanctions and anti-corruption due diligence for transactions; she is noted for her experience in the energy and infrastructure, financial services and fintech sectors. Of counsel Guillermo Larrea is another key figure; based in Mexico City, he is frequently engaged for investigations relating to anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and fraud matters. At associate level, senior Fernando Pastore in Sao Paulo is also noted. Eric Snyder moved to McGuireWoods LLP in June 2022.

White & Case LLP has an intense focus on Latin America, which features a well-established white-collar crime and investigations practice led by Michael Garcia and Maria Beguiristain in Miami. The department has built a strong geographic profile, based on headline engagements in Brazil and -more recently- throughout Latin America; it continues to represent some of the biggest names in Brazil, along with other Latin American businesses and an array of multinationals with interests in the region. The team is multi-lingual and has tight cultural connections to Latin America. It has achieved recognition for its expertise in FCPA investigations, internal investigations and M&A due diligence. It is also developing its name in matters related to gaming, crypto and online platforms, and has achieved further growth in US sanctions programmes. Enrique Espejel is another key figure; based in Mexico City where he co-heads the disputes practice, he is frequently engaged in internal investigations for international clients and their Mexican subsidiaries, and also has fine record in enforcement actions.

Diaz Reus International Law Firm & Alliance is based in Miami and has strong ties to Latin America and an established record in white-collar crime and investigations. It has a history of securing government declinations of criminal prosecutions and pre-indictment resolutions strategies in criminal investigations. The firm is widely recognised for its representation of senior executives and government officials in investigations by US law enforcement agencies; it recently acted for Alejandro Andrade, the former Treasurer of Venezuela who is serving a 10-year prison sentence, in the defence of the US government’s efforts to secure and forfeit assets and monies from third parties as part of the largest FCPA case in South Florida history. The firm also has an increasing profile in sanctions violations cases. Michael Diaz has an outstanding record in major cases involving senior executives and government officials. Robert Targ  is another senior practitioner with a fine reputation in representing Latin American corporates and individuals. Marta Colomar-Garcia is a key figure in anti-money laundering cases, while Javier Coronado, Juan Vargas and Houston/Mexico-based Greg Ahlgren are also prominent practitioners in the white-collar crime area. Of counsel Jorge Schmidt, a native Spanish speaker and Latin America white-collar crime specialist, joined the firm in May 2023. All named individuals are based in Miami unless stated otherwise.

 

Kobre & Kim’s Latin America government enforcement and defence practice features a number of Miami-based team members. The group is frequently engaged in matters linked to investigations by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including multi-jurisdictional cases that have a strong Latin America element. Representing both corporates and individuals in big-ticket cases, the firm has a strong record in FCPA and money laundering violation investigations, and allegations of corruption. São Paulo partner Martin De Luca is a former DOJ prosecutor, speaks Portuguese and Spanish, and is often engaged in investigations linked to FCPA and RICO Act. Evelyn Sheehan, a former US assistant attorney in the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of Florida, is also noted for DOJ investigations, including FCPA and money laundering violations. Adriana Riviere-Badell is also recognised for regulatory and internal investigations, representing big-name US corporates and other multinationals. São Paulo lawyer Carolina Leung is another key figure. Named individuals are based in Miami unless stated otherwise. Gabriela Ruiz left the firm in May 2023.

 

Paul Hastings LLP  has built an enviable Latin America practice over the last decade with compliance and investigations being a core practice-segment for the group. The firm frequently represents multinationals that are facing international investigations and enforcement actions, and has also acted for major Latin American corporates regarding internal investigations and engagement with the DOJ, SEC and other agencies. The firm has a range of senior figures in the white-collar defence and investigations sphere that have extensive international experience, including matters that centre on Latin America. Robert Luskin, Nathaniel Edmonds (who chairs the litigation department in Washington DC), and John Darden, all have deep knowledge of the Latin America region. Kwame Manley, global chair of the white-collar defence and investigations group, and Corinne Lammers are also key figures in the team. Bryan Parr has left the firm to join Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP is a global leader in litigation with a major focus on investigations, government enforcement and white-collar defence. The firm houses a number of former government officials and has an extensive record in representing corporates and individuals in major cases, including those against the DOJ, SEC, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It has particularly notable experience in cases involving Brazilian and Mexican entities, including internal investigations and enforcement processes. The white collar and corporate investigations group features a number of Latin America-born practitioner as well as others with strong cultural links to the region. Colombian-born Juan Morillo is co-chair of the department, and Gabriel Soledad is of Mexican-American origin. Co-chair of the department, William Burck also has a strong track record in the region, including representing Latin American businesses and individuals. David Orta provides additional senior-level gravitas. All named individuals are based in Washington DC.

Ropes & Gray LLP represents both corporates and individuals in white-collar cases and investigations. The firm houses a large number of anti-corruption, government enforcement and white-collar crime specialists that are fluent in Spanish or Portuguese; this includes a substantial group of former federal prosecutors, including co-chairs of the firm’s global anti-corruption and international risk practice, Chicago-based partner Ryan Rohlfsen and María González Calvet, who were members of the DOJ’s FCPA unit. González Calvet also co-chairs the Latin America practice. The practice is frequently engaged by clients in relation to government investigations, internal investigations, compliance and sanctions, and its specialists in this area are also noted for due diligence relating to M&A and other transactions. The team has an exceptional record in representing life sciences, technology and healthcare businesses, along with asset managers and financial sponsors. Alexandre Rene and Ama Adams are also key members of the practice. All named individuals are based in Washington DC unless stated otherwise.

Sidley Austin LLP has a fine reputation in Latin America, including for corporate crime investigations and engagement with US government agencies. It has a long track record in FCPA investigations and is also recognised for sanctions cases. The firm is home to a number of former federal prosecutors and former officials from the DOJ and SEC. The team frequently represents clients in headline investigations by the DOJ and SEC. The Latin America corporate crime team includes New York partners Timothy Treanor and Michael Mann, along with Dallas partners Paige Holden Montgomery and David Silva; Treanor is a former federal prosecutor and is especially active in anti-corruption and white-collar defence work in Latin America, and led the team that represented CONCACAF in the DOJ’s global investigation into corruption in world football.

Vinson & Elkins LLP frequently represents clients before the DOJ, SEC and other regulators. It has an extensive record in government and internal investigations, compliance, compliance-related advice connected to M&A and other transactions; additionally, it enjoys an especially strong reputation in the energy and technology sectors. The firm works with a range of multinationals and financial sponsors that have assets and interests in the Latin America region. It also advises Latin American businesses that are facing allegations of FCPA violation and other enforcement actions. Anti-bribery and corruption due diligence linked to transactions is another growth area for the team. New York partner Palmina Fava specialises in multi-jurisdictional investigations, often involving Latin America, and frequently advises on international compliance programmes for large global businesses. Washington DC partner Ephraim Wernick is an expert in FCPA cases, having previously served in the criminal fraud and FCPA unit at the DOJ.

Arnold & Porter has an impressive history in Latin America, which includes extensive geographic experience. This has provided a foundation for its well-established white-collar defence and investigations practice to build a solid Latin America-facing business, notably in internal investigations, government investigations, due diligence reviews and compliance, and risk assessment. The practice group features a number of former prosecutors and lawyers from the DOJ and SEC, and various of its practitioners are native or fluent Spanish and Portuguese speakers. Recent mandates saw the team continue to represent Samsung Heavy Industries in obtaining declinations from the DOJ related to a large FCPA case. New York’s Marcus Asner  is a key partner with strong Latin America experience.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP has a large white-collar defence and special investigations practice, while the firm has a lengthy history in Latin America. The firm represents a variety of multinationals and Latin American businesses, along with sovereign entities, government officials and senior executives, in connection with cross-border investigations, including allegations of FCPA violations. Notably, it advised the Bolivian government in US civil and criminal proceedings against a group of corrupt former officials that received bribes in exchange for lucrative weapons' purchase contracts. Washington DC partner Daniel Pulecio-Boek is a genuine Latin America white-collar defence and investigations specialist and has a blossoming reputation.

Morrison Foerster has a sizeable investigations and white-collar defence practice that has strong links to Latin America. New York partner Ruti Smithline  who was born and raised in Colombia - is co-chair of the investigations and white-collar defence practice group, and is also co-chair of the Latin America department. Her team has a prolific record in internal investigations, defending clients before the DOJ and SEC, third party and transactional due diligence, and compliance programmes and training. It also advised Odebrecht (now Novonor) on its compliance monitorship, following one of the largest FCPA settlements in history. Washington DC partner Charles Duross is co-chair of the investigations and white-collar defence practice group, and is a leader in FCPA cases.

Steptoe LLP is a big name in anti-corruption and FCPA cases and has experience of matters in a broad range of Latin American jurisdictions. It represents a large number of multinationals with interests in the region, along with a range of Latin American businesses - particularly Brazil-based organisations. The firm is also engaged by senior executives and individuals in the region. Lucinda Low is a prominent practitioner in FCPA and government investigations, and is a fluent Portuguese speaker having lived and worked in Brazil. Spanish speaker Brigida Benitez - a former Chief of the Office of Institutional Integrity at the IBD - is another experienced figure in anti-corruption matters and internal investigations, often involving the FCPA.

Winston & Strawn LLP is a major force in corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defence, acting for both corporates and individuals. Coupled with this, the firm has a rapidly growing presence in Latin America matters, where it is increasingly active in cross-border investigations and enforcement cases. Along with anti-corruption matters, the firm is also building its standing in sanctions cases, including those under OFAC. The launch of a Miami office in May 2022 has significantly reinforced the firm’s reputation in Latin America and bolstered its contacts in the region. Abbe Lowell is a market leader in white-collar defence and has extensive experience in Latin America. San Francisco partner Pamela Davis heads the FCPA and anti-corruption team, and is another key figure for Latin America matters, as is Cari Stinebower, who previously lived and worked in Colombia.