Miami law firm Carey Rodriguez is opening a new Cuba Practice Group to advise clients on doing business on the island.
The announcement comes in response to the surge of interest by U.S. businesses seeking to invest and and trade with Cuba since the progress in diplomatic ties between the countries last year.
“Without a doubt, the opening of Cuba represents one of the most historically important business opportunities in the region, and our clients are finding South Florida to be the ideal jumping-off point to manage these new relationships,” said Juan J. Rodriguez, partner at Carey Rodriguez. “Our Cuba Practice Group, led by experienced Cuban and Cuban-descended lawyers, is well positioned to advise on the complex regulatory, political, and economic environment on the island necessary to successfully manage risks and develop opportunities in this relatively untapped market.”
The Cuba Practice Group aims to leverage its expertise in technology, communications, and intellectual property law to serve clients investing and trading in the Cuban economy.
The firm’s legal expertise is bolstered by a strong local network of key relationships.
In November, members of the Carey Rodriguez Cuba Practice Group visited Havana, where they met with the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, the President of Cuba’s Bar Association, the Secretary of the Core Cubana de Arbitraje Comercial Internacional, and the legal advisor to the Mariel Special Development Zone, a tax-free zone created by the Cuban Government to attract foreign business.
“Cuba is entering into an uncharted phase of rapid political and social change, and while businesses should exercise caution and awareness of complex local considerations, there is no doubt that there are important opportunities to explore without delay,” said Rodriguez.
Carey Rodriguez is one of the first U.S. law firms to establish a ground presence in Cuba, and in December co-sponsored the U.S.-Cuba Legal Summit in New York.
