Latin America Practice

Overview

Fredrikson is the only Minnesota law firm with a subsidiary in Latin America. Fredrikson & Byron, S. de R.L. de C.V., located in Saltillo, Mexico, supports clients throughout Latin America, including Central and South America, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Our Latin American lawyers in Mexico and Minnesota advise clients on a broad spectrum of corporate and international matters ranging from corporate structure, tax, foreign investment, mergers and acquisitions, finance, contracts, labor and employment, securing debt, manufacturing (including setting up maquiladora and PITEX programs), joint ventures, and sales, distribution, licensing and franchising. We also work extensively with real estate developers and individuals purchasing and/or developing real estate in Latin America. Our work includes representing U.S. lenders, hedge funds and investors on deals in Latin America.

The firm’s Latin America practice includes attorneys with diverse backgrounds and experience with international companies and the issues they face. Patrick Kelly and Luis Reséndiz oversee the Saltillo office, drawing on their diverse cultural backgrounds and experience to counsel clients from Latin America doing business in the U.S. and from the U.S. doing business in Latin America. Having lived in both Spain and Mexico, Pat is fluent in Spanish and reads Portuguese. Pat has advised clients doing business throughout Latin America for over 25 years. Pat assists clients with structuring cross-border operations and has experience working with clients on cross-border electricity and biofuels projects. Luis, a native of Mexico, graduated from law school in both Mexico and Minnesota, and he is licensed and has practiced law for 10 years in both jurisdictions. His dual education and experience uniquely qualify him to advise individuals and companies performing cross-border operations.

Richard Weiner, chair of the firm’s International department, has worked on projects in Latin America for over 30 years. Having lived and worked for a law firm in Puerto Rico, Richard is fluent in Spanish and reads Portuguese. He has worked on corporate transactions in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and the Caribbean. Richard has extensive experience advising clients on cross-border energy projects. Marvic Salminen-Morillo practiced law in her native country of Venezuela before moving to Minnesota in October 2009. A native Spanish speaker, she also reads Portuguese. Other attorneys in the firm’s International Group also work on Latin America projects on a consistent basis.

Services

Acquiring international patent, trademark and copyright rights
Equity joint ventures
Export licensing
Foreign investments in U.S. enterprises
Developers buying and developing real estate in foreign countries
Distribution, licensing and franchising
Foreign investments in U.S. real estate, including tax and regulatory aspects
Immigration matters
International patent litigation
International joint ventures
Foreign sales corporations
Foreign subsidiaries of U.S. corporations
International banking transactions
International sales and distribution
International franchising
International sourcing
Foreign tax treaties interpretation
Labor and employment including expatriate Issues
International collections
Letters of credit and other international trade finance mechanisms
Licensing patent, trademark, know-how and rights in other jurisdictions
Cross-border wind energy, electricity export and biofuels projects
Mergers, acquisitions and disposition of companies and business segments
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), MERCOSUR and World Trade Organization (WTO) Issues
Worldwide intellectual property registration
Strategic alliances
Technology transfer
United Nations Convention on the international sale of goods
Customs country of origin labeling requirements
Investments in foreign corporations